The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002), The Return of the King (2003)
Cast- Ian McKellan, Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Orlando Bloom, Liv Tyler, Hugo Weaving,
Directed by Peter Jackson
This trilogy, based on the fantasy books by JRR Tolkien, is based in Middle Earth in a dangerous time. The dark lord Sauron wants to rule over Middle Earth and he must find the One Ring that can make that possible. The wizard Gandalf, four hobbits, two men, an elf, and a dwarf form a fellowship to destroy the ring, but there are many evil forces at work and they don’t all make it to the end.
Why I love it– I think this trilogy tells the perfect story. It is the quest for good in a world turning evil. There is betrayal, redemption, forgiveness, honor, death, love, and loyalty. It has all of the classic themes that make a story satisfying. Not to mention the idyllic beauty of the movie itself. Filmed in New Zealand it definitely made me want to take a trip.
And with the first film, so began my love affair with Aragorn or Strider. I call him both depending on my mood. I mean, c’mon, look at this guy. He is the strong hero, the future king, and all hotness.
I liked the movies as a whole, although the Fellowship of the Ring was my favorite. I loved the bond between the nine. Frodo was the ring bearer, but the other eight were there to make sure he completed his dangerous task. In the second and third movies the fellowship was working for the same purpose, but not together.
I read the first of the series in college and loved it and it’s been too long for me to make a comparison, but I loved the way this came to life on the big screen. I loved the acting, the sets, the music and the story. I don’t watch a lot of fantasy films, but this is one I’ve watched more than once which quite a commitment since it runs 558 minutes (or 683 if I watch the extended version).
Stacy's Books 
I remember watching these in the theater with my sons and couldn’t believe how quickly 3 hours flew by. Excellent choice! and yes..he is all hotness!! 😀
I saw them all in the theater too. I couldn’t wait!
I have never read the books, even though my husband has encouraged me to for all the 30+ years we’ve been together. I have, however, watched the movies multiple times. Ah, I love these movies. Like you, I think I like the first one best, but there are parts of the others that are wonderful too. And Aragorn, well, yes, all the hotness. LOL
I hope to read the books in the upcoming months. Hubby says that Peter Jackson did a really good job with the movie adaptations. He felt that it really showed that Jackson was a true lover of the series.
I loved the first book, but got stuck somewhere in the middle of the second one. I put it down years ago and haven’t picked it back up yet.
Viggo definitely makes the trilogy worth watching! :–)
Glad I’m not the only one who thinks so 🙂
While the movies weren’t completely faithful to the books (which is a good thing or else we’d still be watching it), they had the look, the feel, perfect casting, music, and setting. Peter Jackson and his team did a marvelous job of recreating Tolkien’s world.
Viggo certainly made Aragorn way sexier than he was in the books!
I’m glad that a lover of the books can appreciate the films.
Even though I have seen all three movies, it has been bits and pieces, here and there. I have yet to sit down and watch one from beginning to end. My sons are so disappointed in my watching style! LOL
You really do need to sit and watch them in their entirety, although not all in the same day!
We watched them all in a row over the course of a few weekends by borrowing my co-worker’s DVD set. The first one absolutely flew by – we couldn’t believe how it sucked is in completely. We both like the second one the best – those battle scenes are stressful and just jaw dropping visually. The third was my least favorite. But I didn’t mind suffering through another round of Viggo in the least ;0)
At the theater the second one was my least favorite, but I watched them all in the course of a weekend a few weeks ago and liked it more.
I saw all of these in the theater and just loved them … though the first one was my favorite too.
I’ve seen the first one so many times. It really stands on its own.
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE Aragorn! I loved the movies too! I think I like the last war too!
And i love the part where Aragorn goes to the dead! He is so good!!!!!!!!
Aragorn is awesome and I loved that scene with the dead too.
I really enjoyed these movies too! However, my eldest daughter read the trilogy and was not happy about all the stuff they left out about Merry and Pippin.
Yeah, I figured some good stuff had to get left out. I did love Merry and Pippin in the movies though!
My all-time favorite. This is the only trilogy I watched without missing a beat when they first appeared in the cinemas. I absolutely love LOTR!