The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

All Critics (210) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (208) | Rotten (18) | DVD (76)

It's full of scenic splendors with a fine sense of scale, but its narrative thrust seems relatively pro forma, and I was bored by the battle scenes.

March 5, 2008 Full Review | Comments (61)

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

In unveiling the Holy Grail for action-fantasy aficionados, director and co-writer Peter Jackson has begun a series to rival Star Wars in the pantheon.

January 26, 2006 Full Review

Time Out

Top Critic

Tolkien completists won't find any of this overkill, but for those uninitiates among us, less is more is still a dictum worth heeding.

January 22, 2002 Full Review | Comments (7)

Peter Rainer

New York Magazine

Top Critic

[I]t goes on forever.

December 27, 2001 Full Review | Comments (49)

Richard Roeper

Ebert & Roeper

Top Critic

The production design is a marvel, and the special effects are dazzling.

December 21, 2001 Full Review

Claudia Puig

USA Today

Top Critic

The real deal, a movie epic that pops your eyes out, piles on thrills and fun, and yet stays intimately attuned to character.

December 21, 2001

Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

Top Critic

Stunning in every department, The Fellowship Of The Ring remains a stirring, spectacular achievement. The fantasy film to rule them all.

December 16, 2012 Full Review

Stephen Carty

Flix Capacitor

An epic movie of a once-in-a-lifetime sort.

December 9, 2012 Full Review

Tim Brayton

Antagony & Ecstasy

It's to Jackson's credit that the saga leaves viewers panting for more.

September 13, 2012 Full Review

Matt Brunson

Creative Loafing

Director Peter Jackson has not only attempted the most ambitious film project in modern cinema history, he's pulled it off with a breathtaking mixture of nerve and verve, too.

December 9, 2011 Full Review | Comment (1)

Graham Young

Birmingham Mail

An insurmountable amount of extras comes second only to New Line Home Video's stunning visual and audio transfer of Peter Jackson's exhilarating and exhausting epic.

July 8, 2011 Full Review

Chris Cabin

Slant Magazine

Visually striking, thematically poignant, and morally weighty, the first film of Lord of the Rings is superb.

June 20, 2011 Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Fabulous, but also violent and scary.

December 28, 2010 Full Review | Comments (6)

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

"Fellowship" bears well the burden of exposition and character introduction, and also features two of the series' best action setpieces -not just visual-effects reels, but trials by fire of the camaraderie among this ragamuffin band of brothers.

September 19, 2010 Full Review

Nick Rogers

Suite101.com

...glorious sights and sounds. (Blu-ray Extended Edition set)

March 23, 2010 Full Review

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

...the project couldn't have made me happier. (Extended Edition)

March 23, 2010 Full Review | Comment (1)

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

I loved it and I suggest you watch it, too.

April 29, 2009 Full Review

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

A stunning adventure story realized with genuine artistic flair.

April 28, 2008 Full Review

Matthew De Abaitua

Film4

The sets and special effects are near flawless.

March 5, 2008 Full Review

Philip French

Observer [UK]

Jackson ... conjures the most potent major-motion-picture magic in years.

August 13, 2007 Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

eFilmCritic.com

Thankfully, if the audience has the patience, the film is good enough to warrant watching again.

July 14, 2007 Full Review

Joe Lozito

Big Picture Big Sound

Putting formula blockbusters to shame, Fellowship is impeccably cast and constructed with both care and passion.

December 30, 2006 Full Review

Colin Kennedy

Empire Magazine

• 1. Frodo Baggins: Mordor! I hope the others find a safer road.
  2. Samwise 'Sam' Gamgee: Strider'll look after them.
  3. Frodo Baggins: I don't suppose we'll ever see them again.
  4. Samwise 'Sam' Gamgee: We may yet, Mr. Frodo. We may.
  5. Frodo Baggins: Sam? I'm glad you're with me.
  – Submitted by Jean R (49 days ago)
• 1. Bilbo Baggins: No, thank you! We don't want any more visitors, well-wishers, or distant relations!
  2. Gandalf: And what about very old friends?
  3. Bilbo Baggins: Gandalf?
  4. Gandalf: Bilbo Baggins.
  5. Bilbo Baggins: My dear Gandalf!
  6. Gandalf: Good to see you, 111 years old! Who would believe it? You haven't aged a day.
  – Submitted by Jean R (2 months ago)
• 1. Frodo Baggins: I think we should get off the road. Get off the road! Quick!
  – Submitted by Travis E (3 months ago)
• 1. Gimli: Not the beard!
  – Submitted by Travis E (3 months ago)
• 1. Legolas: Lembas! Elvish waybread. One small bite is enough to fill a stomach of a grown man.
  2. Meriadoc 'Merry' Brandybuck: Merry: How many did you eat?
  3. Pippin: Four.
  – Submitted by Daniela T (3 months ago)
• 1. Boromir: It is a gift. A gift to the foes of Mordor. Why not use this Ring? Long has my father, the steward of Gondor kept the forces of Mordor at bay. By the blood of our people are your lands kept safe. Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy, let us use it against him!
  2. Aragorn: You cannot wield it! None of us can! The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master.
  3. Boromir: And what would a Ranger know of this matter?
  4. Legolas: This is no mere Ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance.
  – Submitted by Cody H (4 months ago)