Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring analysis

In Lord Of The Rings: Fellowship Of The Rings, the director Peter Jackson uses a variety of shots during the scene when the RingWrather is searching for the ring. The first shot used is a ‘long shot’. The characters are made to look small and vulnerable as the Hobbits are hid beneath a tree trunk. Due to the use of a low angle it creates a lot of empty space above the tree trunk and suggests that they may not be alone. Due to hiding, they are surrounded and trapped by the trunk increasing the tension and sympathy of no escape.

In the next shot Jackson also uses a wide shot with a low angle. The positioning of the RingWrather above the tree trunk and the hobbits indicates that he is made to look bigger and dominate the frame. However we are closer to the hobbits and distanced from the RingWrather, which suggests we are supposed to feel empathy for the hobbits and a dislike for the RingWrather.

The camera position then switches to Frodo, in a close up low angle. This portrays him as alone and isolated yet it also introduces him as a main character. The camera then switches position again into an extreme close up. This shows Frodo’s face however he is mainly covered by the tree trunk and leaves, this makes him seem trapped and alone due to him being the only character in the frame and the fact he cant ‘move’ due to the tree trunk blocking the rest of his body.

For the next frame Jackson uses cut in’s and close ups to create fear, as we don’t get a true sense of the scale of the RingWrather. This then creates suspense by giving us little detail about the RW.  Jackson also uses slow motion during this scene, it places importance on the items such his boot, the horses metallic hooves and the horses head.

Yet in the next frame, the director uses a low angle shot with a wide camera shot. The position of the RW is overbearing and is made to look huge and fill the frame as he leans over the tree trunk. Still the hobbits are crowded together, squashed and no were to go just like the third frame, it establishes the power relationship. The RW is so much more powerful than the hobbits. 

The position the changes to a high angle shot with a close up. In the frame the RW’s hand is not in focus however Frodo is, this indicates that Frodo should be our main attention. The RW’s hand is metal and looks as if its about to smother him as he is so close to Frodo this creates a feeling of sympathy for Frodo and fear as the RW is about to catch Frodo. Following this frame is a series of cut in’s. These consist of an extreme close up of Frodo, the RW’s hand and the ring. The extreme close up of the RW’s hand portrays a creepy, unnatural and scary feeling.