Lord of the Rings: Why It Remains Undefeated

Lotr will never be topped

LotR is perfection itself. Perfection is ever-lasting.

Howard Shore's musical score is a main character of the films, and has since become inextricably linked with Tolkien's world in my mind.

I love that 20+ years later whenever I’m trying to think of who my favorite villain, favorite protagonist, or what my favorite scene is, in a movie, I have to first think: other than the lord of the rings.

Howard Shore's score is so damn good that I literally can't read the books now without hearing it in my head for certain paragraphs

I'm both glad and amazed that they greenlighted and filmed all three together.

20 years later and The Lord of the Rings still remains absolute. The 2000’s were best times for skilled movie creation. From Pirates of the Caribbean to Harry Potter. Even Gladiator to Troy. Though nothing will beat Peter Jacksons sheer dedication to his craft and commitment in telling JRR Tolkiens tales.

I agree with all of this except one thing..... this generations Lord of the Rings isn't Dune.... it's still The Lord of the Rings.

I think what most people gloss over is that Peter Jackson as a director had focused pretty much entirely on horror films and/or character driven stories up until he ended up directing lotr, and it really shows especially in fellowship. You see all his strengths in the first film especially, Peter Jackson turned a fantastical adventure into a very grounded thriller with most of the focus being on the powerlessness and lack of agency in the individual, perfectly capturing the theme of the trilogy and the one ring itself and what it represents. There’s a real triumph felt seeing these characters, pulled by forces beyond their control, come together to overcome what feels like a predetermined doom.

it was more than just the crew, the whole of NZ got behind it in anyway we could.

Practical effects!! The orcs were stunt men in prosthetics, Viggo is on record as saying they scared him when filming, because they looked like they wanted to kill him. You don't get the genuine reactions when orcs are in green body suits to be CGI'd in later. And things like the orcs banging spears before the fight of helms deep came about because the stunt men were bored between takes, so they were singing and dancing. One of them started banging their spear to the rhythm which producers saw and turned into the orcs banging them when they show up. Everything being CGI and green screens loses that organic realistic feeling

The Witcher series is a testament on "I am more important than the source material" from a director. Jackson, like you said, didn't want to crowbar his own politics and views into Lotr and just his love for the world Tolkien made. While the director and most of the crew (Cavill excluded) didn't even like the books or its author.

If you’re ever sad, think of this. Humans have existed for of 300,000 years. Just be thankful you were here to experience these movies. That is an encouraging thought.

I saw Extended LOTR in the cinema last weekend as well. Twenty years after the first time I watched those movies, over 12h in the cinema and hell, I wasn't bored for a single moment. It doesn't matter I know most of the lines by heart. Those movies sure kept the ring, they have not aged despite the tech progress we've had since then. Also I noticed one more thing - 20 years of exposure to memes and jokes concerning those movies or using scenes from them does not affect me when I watch LoTR. Yes, I may smile here and there when I remember a meme, but that's all. All of that doesn't ruin the experience of watching. Not to mention that the screenings were fully booked <3

They’re reshowing The Trilogy because they’re starving & desperately trying to fill seats & Hollywood isn’t producing anything to help with that, so showing older films that people actually want to see is definitely a move they should make.

One thing I have to say about modern cinematic entertainment is that there’s no escapism. Instead, modern directors and story writers insist on constantly reminding us of modern issues and political values. When I watch Star Wars, game of thrones, house of the dragon, I want to be transported to a completely different world. Not have our current world shoveled down my throat.

"Lighting in a bottle" — exactly.

I remember when The Return of The King was released and watched whole trilogy in the theatre with my family and friends. It finished at 6 in the morning. Ahhh one of my fond memories being excited about Lord of The Rings and sharing that time with the ones I love.

Went to see the trilogy in theaters. The room was packed.

They really are just THAT good. Chokes you up thinking about the care that went into them not knowing whether or not they would turn out good or people would even like them. But here we are, over 20 years later reminding ourselves. These movies are some of the best cinema ever created, they will always be remembered.