Dinner and a Movie: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Dive into Middle-earth with "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," paired with a Hearty Lamb Stew and a robust Shiraz for a truly immersive cinematic dining experience. The comforting, communal meal and complex wine reflect the strong bonds of friendship and intricate destinies within this epic adventure.
Based on the J.R.R. Tolkien epic fantasy of the same name, Peter Jackson’s THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING (2001) began with major pre-production work. Frequent Jackson storyboard collaborator Christian Rivers joined conceptual designers Alan Lee and John Howe, as well as Wētã Workshop, the props, and special effects concern, to create the world of Middle-earth with as much believability as possible. The story follows hobbit Frodo Baggins as he and eight comrades seek to eliminate the One Ring and rescue Middle-earth from the Dark Lord Sauron. Jackson co-wrote the script and made certain alterations to Tolkien’s narrative to facilitate the cinematic landscape. Howard Shore was enlisted to write the film’s score, while Andrew Lesnie was Director of Photography. The cast of “The Fellowship of the Ring” includes Elijah Wood, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Cate Blanchett, Sean Astin, Ian McKellen, and John Rhys-Davies. Principal photography began across a wide range of New Zealand locations on October 11, 1999, and occurred concurrently with production on the two sequels comprising the “Rings” trilogy. An army of 40 seamstresses created some 19,000 costumes and make-up artists, CGI artists and editors worked continually to contribute to the epic-scale storytelling. In a new development at the time, MASSIVE, a CGI animation program created by Stephen Regelous, allowed for thousands of independently-behaving warriors to interact for the series’ battle sequences. The Reception “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” debuted on December 10, 2001, at the Odeon Leicester Square in London and was released on more than 10,000 screens worldwide on December 20th. A runaway hit, the film went on to gross over $898 million. It opened at number one in the United States, as well as in 29 of its additional international markets. A critical success, many have asked why is “The Fellowship of the Ring” so good? As the reviewers agree, it is because its allegiance to the source material is realized with a technical mastery that matches the love of Tolkien’s original tale. As Rolling Stone’s Peter Travers said in his review: “…Episode One in Peter Jackson’s three-part screen version of the massive tome that is J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, really gets those pages dancing….Working in New Zealand with his own crew, away from the Hollywood sharks, Jackson pulls off a directing coup that should give George Lucas pause. It’s an amazing achievement, with a script by Jackson, Fran Walsh (his wife), and Philippa Boyens that never allows the computer-generated marvels to overwhelm the personal story. Jackson is the ringmaster of this year’s wildest spectacle. He does it up proud.” “The Fellowship of the Ring” won four Oscars from thirteen nominations, and five BAFTAS, including Best Film and Best Director. The film was voted one of the 100 greatest American films in history by the American Film Institute in 2007, and it was selected in 2021 for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. In answer to another frequent query, the “Rings” films should follow “The Hobbit” in viewing order, as the Ring narrative follows that of Frodo Baggins’ uncle, Bilbo Baggins.
The Dinner Pairing Embark on an epic journey with "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," complemented by a Hearty Lamb Stew and a robust Shiraz. The film, renowned for its grand adventure and deep bonds of friendship, finds a culinary parallel in the warming, communal nature of a Hearty Lamb Stew, which evokes the rustic hospitality of Hobbiton and the communal meals shared on their journey. The richness of the stew, with tender lamb and earthy root vegetables, mirrors the comforting and reliable presence of Sam, Frodo's faithful companion. A glass of robust Shiraz, with its rich and spicy notes, reflects the complexity and depth of the characters and their intertwined destinies. This pairing, much like the fellowship, creates a perfect harmony, offering an immersive experience into the fantastical world of Middle-earth, echoing the camaraderie and resilience at the heart of this iconic film. Dinner: Hearty lamb stew Drink: Shiraz Streaming: Netflix
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