Peter Jackson, unlike many other directors working on big franchises, understands that the feeling of epic comes not merely from big things happening, but when you make even the most mundane stuff look like it has weight to it. If this scene was filmed for the MCU, it would just have characters walk on a bad green screen for one shot to tell us the idea they're walking somewhere and have them make corny jokes all the time. They'd not include montage of real locations with no dialogue in it. Again, this is what James Cameron was referring to in his chitchat with Dennis Villenueve when he said he doesn't find Marvel films epic.
Love the way the fellowship is arranged Gandalf the wisest leading the way Strong fighters gimli and legolas in front and boromir in the back to protect the vulnerable hobbits in the middle And the King in the end
Haha, so true, and just look at their faces. Gandalf in front, looking ahead, concentrating on the way, but somewhat concerned, because he is the only one, who knows the dangers that lay in front of them. Legolas totally relaxed, cause he travels so easily without getting exhausted and does not sense any immidiate dangers with his elven senses. Gimli not impressed by the view and kind of grumpy inside, because he has to climb over the mountain instead of going under it. Frodo looks at the view, but can't really take it in because he is focused on the way and absorbed with his task, trying to spare his strength. Merry kind of sceptical of the lands beyond the Shire. Pippin not looking around, just somewhat bored and exhausted asking himself when they finally will arrive in Mordor. Sam just focused on his pony trying to get it through safely. Boromir somewhat taking the view in, but too distracted by his own thoughts, beginning his inner struggle and starting to get influenced by the ring. And Aragorn at the end keeping an eye on everybody, because he knows about the vunerability of the fellowship, trying to protect Frodo at all costs.
This is the only time in the trilogy that you hear the Fellowship leitmotif in it's full form. Wherever it appears otherwise, it's either fractured, or otherwise missing pieces.
What about "to the bridge of Khazad Dum" moment, and then the moment where they catch Aragorn and Frodo off the collapsing steps? Of course they don't end it on the perfect note.
Almost the entire movie, sequence per sequence, was structured around being iconic, in order to convey all the weight the epic story deserved. Something modern filmmakers almost never do anymore. In fact, one of the only times it has been done since was with the MCU's Avengers.
Peter Jackson: Okay. You’ve made walking past a rock seem to be the most epic adventure the Fellowship could ever embark upon. You know they’re fighting a balrog later in the movie, right? Howard Shore: Hold. My. ALE!!
Incredible. It's hard to appreciate what a masterwork this was. Drones did not exist in 1999: these epics sweeping landscapes were filmed using a helicopter, and every re-take required hiking long distances across the rocks and re-deploying the chopper with an entire camera crew on board--never mind coordinating by walkie-talkie when the cast needed to start walking over the rocks.
@@TheArcher101 Add in the fact that Sean Bean is terrified of flying so getting to those remote locations was not easy for him. He even walked two hours in full costume to get to the shooting location.
Curiosity with the music: 0:32 each tone of the music means: “here, there and back again” and then, 9 trumpet sounds meaning the 9 companions of the fellowship.
The music is absolute perfection. I love the high-pitched strings lingering in the background during the build up to the main theme - makes you feel how *nervous* the characters must be to set out on their journey. But then the horns come in, and the characters (along with you!) steel themselves for the adventure to come.
I’ve spent two three month stints backpacking in New Zealand, and I can honestly say, every time I stepped off the main road and on to a trek path, this music sounded inside my head 😂❤️
I hope you know it’s a dangerous business going out your door. You step onto the road and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.
@@TJSaw(insert Bilbo singing) The road goes ever on and on, Down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the road has gone, And i must follow if i can! Pursuing it with eager feet, Until it joins some larger way, Where many paths and errands meet! And wither then I cannot say.
im curious what holds you back from saying that about the extended edition? did you find some of the scenes to make it drag or something? i know the intro is altered slightly as well. ultimately just wondering what your thoughts are
@@tawmydukes as a LOTR fan, of course I prefer the EE as it has more lore and we get to spend more time in middle earth. But as a film, it is true that every extra scene messes with the pacing a little bit and that ultimately the theatrical version is the better "film" from a critic's point of view.
@@BinaryRex18 i haven’t watched the theatrical release in 15 years at least i think maybe i will give it a go. I think Two Towers is the only one where theatrical release was probably the best version but maybe its because i watched that dvd like hundreds of times as a kid.
@@tawmydukes honestly speaking I find it hard to watch any of the theatricals because I am so used to the EEs. But I would agree with Peter Jackson's view that the theatrical versions are the best from a film critic's perspective. The extra scenes in the EEs are often aimless and corny
i dunno if this was in the promotional videos but watching this on the dvd i knew this was a hallmark moment of the movie and viewing it again years and years later it's still so great. the agents moving to preserve all freedom and goodness in the land, the moment known as "The Ring Goes South", the working title of the story. i love it
"The Ring Goes South" is the name of the chapter of the book this scene covers. As with most of the soundtrack, the music track was named after the chapter, and from the music track comes the name of this scene.
It's really perfect that it starts with shire (home) theme but more intense (with the strings background) and it resolves a new theme of the Fellowship. Not only the story going forward, the music also keep going forward entire all the movies. Tolkien + Howard Shore + Peter Jackson gave us a beautiful magic.
Fun Fact: J. R. R. Tolkien actually did integrate a lot of his knowledge from being in the military when he wrote Lord of the Rings. This scene and a lot of the Fellowship traveling together actually reflects that as the most skilled combatants are often placed at the front and back of the line while the least skilled fighters will be placed in the middle.
every single time i love these movies more and more. ill go like a year without watching them then spend a month binging the extended cuts on repeat. AND NOT GET TIRED OF THEM
This was the highest point in all cinema history. Name me one more epic shot that tops the hero shot of all these characters. Give that camera man a raise!!
For me this is my favorite scene in the entire trilogy and it's always the first scene that comes to mind when someone mentions the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Genuinely movies need to go back to this "grainy" non-3 billion pixel view. We have just pure TALENT here, from the score to the actors. The Lord of the Rings will always be my favourite movie series. The books I liked, but this. Fantastic. I can't imagine growing up without the hours of love and passion I got from watching these movies. The put me to sleep when I needed it. They gave me excitement when I was feeling low. I watched them with my family and bonded over them. I'd like to thank them all for it.
Searched for "Fellowship in the mountains scene" and RU-vid showed that a plataforma of videos does not make mistakes, it gives us PRECISELY what we need to 😂
I vividly remember this iconic shot being revealed early in the promotional run-up to the film, in a teaser trailer, but without the epic music. But having seen it already by the time I watched FOTR in the theater for the first time didn't spoil it in any way. Another iconic moment from my favorite film of all time.
The music in this scene is just phenomenal. The shire theme played over this main theme creates so much otherworldly tension, who knows whats to come?! But its okay, because our heros are ready to face anything!
I love the detail of Aragorn being the one to bring up the rear. Why? Because while Gandalf is the guide at the front, Aragorn is the one making sure nobody falls behind, as a good leader should.
YT made a genius invention: which is not to darken the whole image for 2 seconds when one pauses to look at a scene. Mind-boggling, how did they come up with this.... 200 years ahead. I mean, there just has to be 2 seconds of bothersome darkness over the screen, right, even when one just moves the cursor.
