This post responds to the CineTV Twitter wondering: What's your favourite movie trilogy? You can find the CineTV Twitter here.
I can still remember the popcorn. I was sitting in the cinema with my parents and my sister; I was not quite 14 years old - and I was captivated. Nearly exactly the right age to get sucked into a saga, burning into my imagination the possibilities of the fantasy genre. I don't believe I ever would have picked up this book and read it, but what gift to the world that Peter Jackson took Tolkien's masterpiece, and set it on the big screen.
As the film journeyed, I became so very much a part of the small group who travelled with the ring to Mordor. I was tense, concerned, relieved, overjoyed - every emotion - as I felt the weight of the ring as we approached the mountains, and the group got smaller.
It was the film that gave us, 'You shall not pass'. What a classic. And as it came to its conclusion, on the outskirts of Mordor - I needed more. For emphasis, I'll say it again, I needed more.
How relieved I was, then, that there was more - and each year I looked forward to the adventure; each year dutifully attending the cinema. My parents didn't need to see the next ones until they were out on DVD, and my sister really didn't care - but, as The Two Towers came out - I needed it - and so off I went.
Now, if I was to be really honest, the second film gave me one of my most favourite film lines ever. A friend of mine had a Bali (pirated) copy of this film which I borrowed, and on Golem's lines, they put up subtitles - anyways.
He stares at the ring, and says, 'My precious' - and we burst into laughter as the subtitle popped up, 'Very expensive' - completely ruined the moment the director worked so hard to achieve, but so very memorable.
And then of course, the dramatic conclusion - the holding of the stronghold, the battle between good and evil. The entire world on the shoulders of a wee hobbit. The music in this one was brilliant, and it was shot in higher key lighting - the army scenes and the horsemen were magnificient - and it was the brilliant triumph.
Concluding with a much older Frodo returning to 'The Shire' - older, wiser, more mature, he knew something the world, the value of family and friends, the value of hope and trust, and the knowledge that goodness always prevails.
What a wonderful trilogy for a young man to find, at just the right time in his life each year.
I really should get around to watching these again; my wife, I know, will refuse to watch them - but it won't be a bad thing at a time like this, to know - there's always a little bit of good in the world.
Tim
