How should a commercial epic film end?
This question is subjective; different directors might have different answers.
Peter Jackson's answer was clear: with a battle, a thrilling grand war to conclude the film. This would leave the audience exhilarated and also build anticipation for the next installment.
Peter Jackson succeeded.
At the climax of the film, this sudden battle grabs all the attention.
The iron-willed Aragorn, the brutal Gimli, the graceful Legolas... The members of the Fellowship reveal their formidable combat skills.
Even in this chaotic battle, Martin Meyers' portrayal of Legolas remains poised, effortlessly navigating the battlefield, taking lives with his sword and arrows.
In the end, the Fellowship escapes from the battle.
However, what's an epic battle without some emotional moments?
Someone has to make a sacrifice, and the perfect choice is Boromir, who was previously seduced by the Ring.
Boromir dies by an arrow, the only warrior in the Fellowship wielding a shield. But throughout the many battles, we never see him use that shield!
And then, in his final moments, he dies from an arrow wound, leaving us to wonder: was his shield just for decoration?
"I would have followed you, my brother, my captain, my king..." Boromir's last words undoubtedly pull at the heartstrings.
This moment also marks Aragorn's change of heart. He abandons his desire to remain a ranger and decides to take on the responsibility of saving mankind!
When Boromir breathes his last, the sound of wind chimes fills the air...
Aragorn rises, donning Boromir's bracers, inscribed with Gondor's symbol, the White Tree.
A king is destined to return and shoulder his rightful responsibilities.
This scene differs from the original novel.
In The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien briefly mentions the battle scenes, and regarding Boromir's death, he deemed it deserved but didn't dwell on it.
Peter Jackson's adaptation adds emotional depth and enhances the film's appeal.
This scene of "war and death" stirs emotions—first stirring excitement, then sorrow, and finally, determination!
Peter Jackson's alteration gives Boromir, a relatively minor character in the original, a newfound depth.
Of course, the biggest change in the film adaptation is Legolas.
In Tolkien's work, Legolas was one of the weakest and least useful members of the Fellowship. But in the film, he becomes one of the most standout characters.
Even in a scene centered on Aragorn, Peter Jackson gives Legolas a prominent role.
As Aragorn holds Boromir's body, crying out in grief, Legolas plays a mournful melody on his flute, the sound mingling with the chimes of the wind, dispelling sorrow and soothing wounds...
When Aragorn puts on Boromir's bracers, the flute's tune becomes more stirring.
Golden sunlight breaks through the clouds above, shining down on Aragorn, and also casting a glow on Legolas' half-turned face.
The two men—one standing straight, one slightly turned—one rugged, one graceful—create a strong contrast, making the scene feel almost poetic.
The film nears its end.
Gandalf's fate remains uncertain, Boromir is dead, Merry and Pippin have been captured, and Sam and Frodo are setting off on their own journey...
The Fellowship is shattered, and the mission to destroy the Ring seems to have failed.
At this moment, in the golden sunlight, Legolas puts away his flute and walks forward, embracing Aragorn tightly.
"Aragorn, are you alright?"
"My heart hurts, my brother is dead." Aragorn says in a low, broken voice.
"Shh, I know. I know." Legolas responds, patting Aragorn's back.
"Legolas, I'm worried..." Aragorn begins.
"I know." Legolas repeats. "We can do this. We'll succeed."
When he says this, his voice doesn't sound entirely certain, but then—
Legolas' hand moves to the sword at his waist, and his gaze hardens as he says:
"Aragorn, you must stay strong. Gandalf chose you to be our leader for a reason," he continues, his tone more resolute, "He believes in you. So do I!"
They pull apart, and Aragorn takes a deep breath, looking at Legolas and Gimli, and says: "I won't abandon my responsibility."
Gimli, downcast, mutters, "It's all in vain, the Fellowship has failed."
"No," Aragorn stands tall, looking at both Gimli and Legolas.
Then he steps forward, placing his hands on their shoulders, "As long as we remain loyal to each other, it's not a failure. We won't abandon Merry and Pippin. We'll save them, no matter what, as long as we have breath left."
Aragorn quickly walks to their supplies, grabs his fighting knife, and straps it to his waist.
"Leave behind anything unnecessary," he says firmly, "We'll travel light."
Then, turning to his two companions, he declares, "Let's go after the Uruk-hai."
This part emphasizes the camaraderie and brotherhood among the three.
However, due to Peter Jackson giving Legolas more screen time, many viewers feel that Aragorn and Legolas share a deeper bond of brotherhood, with Gimli somewhat sidelined.
This doesn't detract from the viewing experience. In fact, many female viewers found themselves moved, especially when Legolas embraces Aragorn to comfort him.
Many fans entertained thoughts of a romance between the two, something the authors likely never intended.
"Oh, that would be so beautiful!"
But let's not delve too deep into the minds of fangirls.
The movie finally concludes.
But this is not the end—an epic journey has just begun.
After a brief pause, a wave of applause erupts in the theater, lasting for a long time!
At nearly three hours in length, the film didn't tire or bore the audience. The pacing was a bit slow at times, but the almost perfect depiction of Middle-earth through special effects made up for any sluggishness in the plot.
With several thrilling moments in the film, Peter Jackson captures the audience's emotions beautifully.
In those three hours, only a handful of people left for the bathroom. Many viewers, who had entered with popcorn and soda, barely touched them until the end of the film.
Even critics and professionals were left in awe, visibly shaken. The film exceeded their expectations, and Peter Jackson had crafted a perfect opening for this "Ring-bearing journey."
Martin also revealed a new side to himself to the critics.
Previously, in films like The Royal Tenenbaums, Hide and Seek, and The Sixth Sense, Martin's performances focused on his acting skills.
But this time, Martin showed everyone, "I can also be a top-tier visual icon."
The critics were perplexed. Is this progress? Or a step back?