Lord of the Rings: Opening Scene Analysis

The Lord of the Rings:

Opening Scene Analysis

The scene begins as non-diegetic music plays over the narration of one of the characters and the main titles fade in. A shot of the rings getting created with lava is shown, and is given to the Main races of middle earth, the elves, the dwarves and the humans. A cut in of the elves 3 rings show their how they are unique to each other’s, a P.O.V what looks like the person giving each of the races the rings. We then learnt that this will be a fantasy film due to elves being non-existent except in the concept of fantasy. It then cuts to a crane shot of the dwarf’s rings on a cushion as they prepare to take them. The crane shot is used possibly to illustrate their size but the rings are shown, indicating that they needed to use that shot to get each of the dwarf’s rings on the shot. They then raise the rings to the sky indicating that they are grateful for the rings, or that they are celebrating the fact that they have achieved some power. It cuts to a mid-shot of the race of men, 9 of them. Unlike the elves and dwarves their rings cannot be seen as well as the others. This may hint at the secretive ways of this race as opposed to the elves and dwarves who flaunt theirs, whereas the men hide theirs, which is a use for the low-key lighting. As it fades out it shows that the story of these rings are over, moving onto the next part. A map of middle earth is then shown, as a massive land, as the camera slowly pans over to Mordor and through the use of the narration we know this is where we are going. It cuts to a volcano inside Mordor (we presume at this point) as lava spurts out of Mt Doom, through the use of this name we know this is where the antagonist is going to call home. The scene cuts to “the dark lord” Sauron, showing he is an intimidating character, flames cut across the screen and as fire is often associated with danger therefore we know he is a dangerous character. The scene cuts to Sauron raising his hand into the air, which may show he has succeeded in, completed a task of his. As fire once again crosses onto the screen we (the audience) get our first glimpse of Sauron ring, as the ring is first shown with fire it can be used to indicate disaster but also we learn this is how it is forged and how it is destroyed, with fire/ lava in MT doom. The next shot is a cut in of the ring on Sauron’s hand, showing that he controls it and that the power directly comes from him. A cut onto the map shows how Sauron’s forces have devastated multiple areas  as the map dissolves and shows this, giving another hint to how the rings cause evil and devastation wherever. A establishing shot is used as the kings armies are then shown marching through Mordor on the base of MT Doom. Close ups of warriors between the two sets of armies are shown. Men and elves are on the side of the kings whereas freakish creatures are shown on the side of Sauron. As well as fighting for the actual antagonist, we automatically get the impression that these are going to be evil due to their colours and looks (e.g. stereotyping).  The use of mis-en-scene during these scenes gives another indication of the fantasy setting, the swords/shields, capes, armour and horses as well as the actual make-up used on Sauron’s army. It also uses mis-en-scene to indicate that good vs. evil e.g. the kings armies are dressed in bright colours such as Gold and silver opposed to Sauron’s forces in dark grey and black colours. The elves are then shown on the battlefield battling SF (Sauron’s forces) in sync with the movements of the swords. The battle scene is used as a slight montage as the king’s men begin to win, until Sauron enters the battlefield. We know he is coming before he actually appears due to the expressions on the king’s men’s faces and how his footsteps could be heard, even throughout the massive battle. A high-angle shot is used on Sauron and vice-versa on the humans just as he is about to strike and a slight roar is heard from inside his armour. The shot then cuts to the ring, showing this is what they are here for. As the king charges at Sauron, he is taken down and Esildur (son of the king) runs to his side. Sauron marches to Esildur preparing to kill him until Esildur picks up his father’s broken sword (key later in the story) and cuts off Sauron’s hand with the ring on it, and Sauron is beaten. It cuts Esildur looking at the destroyed hand, with the one chance to destroy it. The scene cuts to Esildur riding away victorious wearing the ring as a necklace, proving how the narrator said earlier “above all men desire power”. He is then ambushed, as the scene fades out and in again showing Esildur’s dead body floating in the water, but the ring is nowhere to be seen. The scene fades out again indicating this is the end of esildur’s journey with the ring as it is shown at the bottom of the lake, forgotten for many ages. This shot remains black for a few moments and we get weather/establishing shots which show the passing of time, the ring is shown once again at the bottom of the lake surrounded by shadow, until a hand grabs it. The character is not shown, which surrounds them in shadow and mystery. A establishing shot of the misty mountains show that this is where Gollum (the person who grabbed the ring) has travelled in order to protect the ring by isolating it and him. Low key lighting is used to keep the audience’s imagination of what Gollum looks like running wild. From there the shot fades out, and once again shows the passing of time once again, as the moon sets and the sun rises it shows that “it’s time had come”,  until it is found by the “most unlikely creature of all. A hobbit”. This is where we first see Bilbo as he finds the ring, and pockets it (which is a constant shot used in Bilbo’s scenes). A final shot of the misty mountains, indicating Bilbo is most likely leaving or escaping and the scene fades out, showing all the history of the ring up until that moment.

This opening montage shown that a lot can be done in 7 minutes, showing a massive history/ lifespan of an object and not requiring a entire film just to show it.