“Greatest Story Ever”…
When 2025 was coming to a close, my friend Jacob and I sat down and watched The Lord of the Rings extended editions. I grew up with these films, but Jacob had never seen the film nor was familiar with the whole story (somehow). I was hesitant to create a post about the films, as so much has been said that it seems almost impossible to formulate an original thought for the films’ excellence. However I decided, tonight, on the day of the new year, that it seems appropriate for me to go into this next chapter of my life appreciating something so dear to me.You see, I graduated this past December, and this trilogy is what drove me into my love of creativity. I distinctly remember watching The Hobbit (1977) to oblivion as a young child, and then going over to my uncle’s at every chance I could to watch these films with him on the legendary dvd set he had. So now, sit back, relax, and light up your pipes as I describe what moves me in regards to what Jacob called the “greatest story ever” upon finishing this watch of the most critically acclaimed trilogy of all time.
I am writing to you while listening to the soundtrack of course. The master craft of Howard Shore is more than likely half the reason that these movies are as emotionally effective as they are. My favorite among the three films is The Fellowship of the Ring but I find when asking other fans what their favorite is, that I always end up with the same sentiment: all three are worthy choices for favoritism and it is extremely hard to pick one. Fellowship starts in the Shire, one of my favorite of all fantasy places, and the journey this film takes you on feels more open and shut of a story than the next two, which blend together more seamlessly for me. I will not retread the story too much for sake of not boring you with the details you more than likely already know, but I mention this one’s plot due to its crescendo in nature. I appreciate, among many others, what Peter Jackson removed from the books in this one, as the tonal consistency across all three seems more cohesive to me, especially for the visual medium.
Owning the films across my lifetime has been an interesting topic I hear not discussed by my peers, but those older than me that got to appreciate them during their initial release period and love movies as much as I do. The DVD extras, which then became the BluRay extras, and so on, are some of the most extensive I have seen done, and Jackson took time to make sure that everyone’s work on set did not go without the fullest amount of appreciation. One thing we often forget, even as film lovers, is the grunt work that goes into making certain parts of a scene work. It was nice to see so many different departments highlighted, and how groundbreaking the technology used was. Owning the trilogy now, on 4K UHD discs, seems to be the last form of physical media for films and they have been remastered for better or worse depending on how you look at it. I do not feel like I am watching a movie when I see these films, I feel like I am truly watching one of the greatest fantasy worlds come to life before my eyes. This can scream success on the account of the vision Jackson was going for, but there are some choices such as vehemently removing the film grain as much as possible, that strikes me as strange. But, that being said, if you’re looking for the definitive way to watch these films, watch the 4K discs. There is nothing quite like it.
So why this story? Why did it spark my love for creativity? One word: moments.
“I can’t carry it for you, but I can carry you.”
“You cannot pass! I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the Flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you, Flame of Udûn! Go back to the Shadow! You shall not pass!”
“Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden! Spears shall be shaken, shields shall be splintered, a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises! Ride now! Ride now! Ride! Ride for ruin and the world's ending! Death!”
Must I continue? These films showed me what sort of scale is possible, what dreams can amount to. What true passion and care for stories looks like. Surely the content of the story is not for everyone, but to everyone there is a series of moments more than anything, as a storyteller, that define their values. That is what The Lord of the Rings provides for me. The next chapter of my life will be full of tests, hurdles, and seemingly an endless quest for purpose. I remember the moments that define who I want to be as a creative, and the reason I chose to be in the first place. The rest will follow.
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.
J.R.R. Tolkien
