The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is the first of the trilogy epic fantasy adventure movies based on the first volume of J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.  The movie is entirely shot in New Zealand where the director / producer Peter Jackson was born.  The story follows the journey of a ring “The one ring to rule them all”.   It is the classic epic of good vs evil and the struggles that unfolds.  At the 74th Academy Awards it was nominated for thirteen Oscars.  The movie won four Oscars for Best Cinematography, Best Makeup, Best Original Score and Best Visual Effects.  It was also nominated for five British Academy Film Awards, including Best Film and Best Director BAFTA awards.

Soul Stars – Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, John Rhys-Davies, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan…

What we like

• After reading a novel often times it is a disappointment to view the screen version.  It is not the case here.  Although the story line does alter it works to enhance the movie.  The imagination, creativity and execution of this movie exceeds expectations

Soul experience

• In Matamata, in New Zealand’s north island the movie set of Hobbiton can be visited.  The scale of the movie set is amazing and this is only one small part of the movie.  The set has an incredible feeling and just being there transports you into this magical world.  The hobbit homes are actually just the front façade.  The dressing by the windows give an appearance of a livable area.  Simple things trigger your memory of the movie and carry you to the magic of the scenes itself.  One flashed while actually walking on the road, was the scene that Gandalf rode on the horse and cart into the town with Frodo.   Gandalf was carrying fire works for Bilbo’s birthday celebration and let some ignite for the children.  Our tour guide told us of how Ian McKellen (Gandalf) struggled with this scene as the road was narrow and high in some parts and he had a fear of heights.  There are great stories to be told by the tour guide about the preparation for the movie and behind the scenes.  View a selection of photos above that we photographed while there

To reflect on

• Frodo:  You’re late.
  Gandalf:  A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins.  Nor is he early.  He arrives precisely when he means to.
• Frodo:  I know what I must do.  It’s just… I’m afraid to do it.

Map the soul movie location
Map the photograph location