Lord of The Rings Analysis

Fellowship of the Rings

The first shot shows the Hobbits hiding underneath a tree. This is a wide shot and is shot from a low angle. This means that the Hobbits do not take up much screen space and appear to be trapped in. The Hobbits seem vulnerable due to the low angle of the shot, even though this usually means they are dominant. All of the Hobbits are visible in the shot, showing that at that moment in time all of the Hobbits are of equal importance.  There is also a lot of space above the Hobbits, showing that something is going to appear there.

The second shot is a continuation from the first shot. This shot shows that the Hobbits are still hiding under the tree, but now you can see what they are hiding from, the Ring Wraith. This is also a wide shot and is also shot from a low angle. The Ring Wraith takes up most of the shot, showing that he is much more powerful than the Hobbits who now have a much smaller space on the screen, showing that they have become vulnerable and remain trapped. When the Ring Wraith enters the shot all of the background sounds (birds and wind) stop, showing that the Ring Wraith is very unnatural and takes the life away from things. This also shows that something bad is going to happen because it gives the impression the birds have ran away because they are fearful of the Ring Wraith. The Ring Wraith is above the Hobbits, showing that he has the power over them in this shot. Due to the shot being a low angle, this makes the Hobbits seem even more vulnerable because not only do they have a very small amount of screen space, they also look weak compared to the Ring Wraith who is much larger in the shot.

The third shot is a medium close up of Frodo’s face. It is also shot at a low angle, this shows that Frodo is weak and vulnerable. Frodo also takes up a lot of screen space, showing that he is the main subject of the shot. Frodo also looks a lot more isolated due to him being the only Hobbit in the shot, showing that he is isolated from the other Hobbits, which makes him an easier target for a potential attacker.  Frodo also appears to be scared or fearful of the Ring Wraith, showing that the Ring Wraith is dominant over the Hobbits.

The fourth shot is an extreme close up of Frodo through a gap in the tree. This is shot from a high angle, showing that Frodo is vulnerable, weak and afraid of the Ring Wraith. Frodo is in the centre of the shot but does not take up much screen space. This shows that Frodo is trapped in a very small space. Frodo is also hiding underneath the tree, showing he is fearful of the Ring Wraith, this also shows that Frodo is trapped meaning that if the Ring Wraith were to attack then Frodo could not escape.

The next three small shots show small details of the Ring Wraith in detail, meaning this is a cut in. Small details on the Ring Wraith are focused on to make it seem more threatening and dominant. This also emphasises the Ring Wraith’s power over the Hobbits by making him appear a lot more threatening and dangerous. This shot could also be a point of view shot from Frodo’s perspective looking through gaps in the tree. This Ring Wraith has a lot of sharp details and appears unnatural due to the amount of metal and lack of colour.