by Sophia Caneira ’29 on February 5, 2026
A&E - Film & TV
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of seeing a simply fantastic film at the cinema. Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings (2001–2003) returned to theaters this January to commemorate the 25th anniversary of The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), the first installment of the trilogy. Jackson’s film adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien’s timeless series are deserving of all praise, with a total of 17 Academy Award wins, countless other accolades and nominations, and a hugely loyal fanbase.
It’s not hard to fall in love with Tolkien’s world. His is a fantastical mythology, intricately crafted over decades. Tolkien’s work features elves, dwarves, wizards, battling forces of good and evil, lost kings, forbidden love, and the beauty of nature. He presents both male characters who are non-toxically masculine, and strong, fierce female characters. In the appendixes of his works (found at the end of Return of the King), Tolkien demonstrates the depth of his passion by describing in detail the nature of different languages found in his world, extensive family trees, and a general history of Middle-Earth.
As one becomes increasingly immersed in the LOTR world, you start to see the sources from which Tolkien drew inspiration. Elements of ancient myths, epic poems, and folklore appear in his work. For example, the dragon Smaug (involved in The Hobbit, which takes place roughly 60 years before the events of Lord of the Rings) is often compared to the dragon in Beowulf. A devout Catholic, Tolkien also employed numerous biblical themes in his works, from the fundamental role of sacrifice, to the roles of various characters, to the symbolic imagery scattered throughout.
To me, this trilogy is a rare example of three perfect books accompanied by three (nearly) perfect film adaptations. I find it challenging to decide which I like better—the original source material or the movies that came after. Most fans can agree that the films truly embody the spirit of Tolkien’s world, though we can only wonder what Tolkien himself would have thought had he been alive to see them come to the silver screen.
Jackson’s films (as with most adaptations) abbreviate portions of the material, yet still do the series justice. The films feature the enchanting, unforgettable music of Howard Shore, brilliant cinematography by Andrew Lesnie, and the undeniable acting talents of Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Sir Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Orlando Bloom, and many others.
I sadly missed all three chances to see the Lord of the Rings movies when they were originally released in theaters, as the movies were released before I was born. My first exposure to them was during the pandemic, when Friday movie nights became a daily occurrence. I immediately fell in love with the series and the world of Middle-earth.
I’m grateful to have been able to experience The Return of the King (2003) in theaters this year, surrounded by fans who showed up despite the Pass of Caradhas-level snowstorm. Before the movie began, audiences heard a special message from Peter Jackson, thanking the fans for visiting the theater to see the film, congratulating the diehards who saw all three, and honoring members of the cast and crew who have passed away, namely Christopher Lee (Saruman), Ian Holm (Bilbo Baggins), Bernard Hill (King Théoden), and Andrew Lesnie (cinematography). Jackson shared anecdotes from the time he spent with each of them, focusing not only on their contributions to the film franchise, but also on their impact on his life and the lives of others. His message was a wonderful reminder that a film is a product of the effort, time, and devotion of thousands of people—especially when it comes to a project so complex and beloved as Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.