The Opening Sequence of The Fellowship of the Ring

The Opening Sequence of The Fellowship of the Ring

The purpose of any opening sequence is to give the audience a brief

insight into the plot, themes and characters of the film. As it is the

first impression the audience will get of the film it needs to grab

their attention and keep them interested. To achieve this there are

many devices available to the director. These include special effects,

changes in colour, narrative voice over, long shots, close ups and

sound. If the film is in the horror genre the director may use fire to

symbolise evil and fear. The director may also start the film with

total darkness to create a mysterious atmosphere. Sound can be used to

great effect when building up tension. For example the sound of

beating drums before an explosion of action.

'The Fellowship of the Ring' is an action fantasy film. It is about

two young hobbits' conquest to destroy a corrupted ring. On their

journey they meet many characters, good and evil. To succeed they must

battle their way through ferocious monsters and overcome challenging

conditions. The fate of middle earth rests on their shoulders.

During the opening sequence the director uses a narrator to give a

summary of the plot. The narrator focuses particularly on the history

of the ring, this is significant because the whole film evolves around

it. In 'The Fellowship of the Ring' the narrator relays the story in

chronological order so the audience can catch up with the story and

therefore will be able to understand it.