It’s been nearly 20 years since The Fellowship of the Ring, the first film in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, debuted in cinemas. For many, it was a life-changing experience, an adaptation of the classic book series by JRR Tolkien that was fully realized in a way few thought possible, winning legions of new fans and turning nearly every character, word uttered and frame into a part of the cultural vernacular.
For those in the UAE that missed the chance to see those three films when they were initially released, including The Two Towers which followed the first in 2002 and the grand finale The Return of the King in 2003, or those who would love to revisit them with their loved ones, now is their chance. Lord of the Rings is back in cinemas including IMAX for a limited time, with a staggered release of the trilogy in cinemas across the country, where open.
The Fellowship of the Ring opens in cinemas today, February 18, with The Two Towers opening on February 25 and The Return of the King opening two weeks later March 11. The entire engagement is expected to finish in one month’s time.
One does not simply rerelease Lord of the Rings in cinemas, of course. Each of the films has been remastered in 4K by director Peter Jackson himself, who meticulously restored the film to his original vision, even retouching some of the animation for modern eyes, such as the confrontation between Gandalf the Grey and the ancient monster Balrog.
“We got the opportunity to go back and to remove and paint out any imperfections. It’s fun to have all the toys now. I sure didn’t have all this stuff to play with in the old days,” says Jackson.
For those unfamiliar with the story, we’ll try to summarize: An ancient evil has reemerged in a land called Middle Earth, looking for its ring of power in order to rise once again. A small humble creature called a Hobbit is tasked with bringing the ring across the land in order to destroy it once and for all, with the help of friends and warriors from diverse backgrounds. It’s as epic and accessible an adventure as any that’s ever been told on the big screen, we promise.
Esquire now has a newsletter – sign up to get it sent straight to your inbox.
Want up-to-the-minute entertainment news and features? Just hit ‘Like’ on our Esquire Facebook page and ‘Follow’ on our @esquiremiddleeast Instagram and Twitter account.
