Fellowship Of The Ring hailed as one of the greatest movies of all time

‘Tis the season to declare your love for The Lord of the Rings, especially the cinematic adaptations which, as far as many are concerned, are among the greatest films of all time. Leading that charge, naturally, is the The Fellowship of the Ring.

When people think of Peter Jackson’s trilogy, they likely think of the great battle of Helm’s Deep, arguably one of the most gripping in cinematic history, or they’ll think of the epic conclusion that Return of the King gave to its fandom. But the Fellowship of the Ring is where it all began (okay, technically The Hobbit is the beginning, but we’re talking about the LOTR trilogy here).

Are you brave enough to Return to Moria?

“The Fellowship of the Ring is a masterpiece and one of the greatest sequels of all time. The Battle remains the greatest fantasy battle sequence ever put to screen,” posted one fan on social media, with yet another debate over which of the three films is best beginning.

My main question is which battle the OP is referring to, as there are two crucial battle sequences in the first film, both of which are chillingly sublime and utterly heartbreaking for differing reasons: The Battle of Moria and The Battle of Amon Hen. I remember watching The Battle of Moria at the cinema and sobbing because, back then, I didn’t know Gandalf wasn’t dead.

For those still not sold on the notion that the first film is the best, there are plenty of other avid fans awaiting to explain why you need educating – “I used to think Fellowship was the weakest of the three, but in past years I've changed my tune and now it's my favourite [...] Just a masterclass in worldbuilding,” said WastingTimesOnReddit.

“Oh yes, I love all that. The transition from the shire as an idyllic pastoral land of peace, to the dark sinister burning hatred of Sauron when Gandalf reveals it to Frodo after the party ... what an immense mood swing over like a half hour of film,” exclaimed another, reminding us that, while hobbit life looks quaint, it has many secrets if you look deep enough.

If you can’t decide which film in the trilogy is the best, here’s my advice: re-watch them all. They’re all incredible and equally deserving of praise.