The Fellowship of the Ring Movie Reaction

Since we finished reading The Return of the King last week, tonight’s family movie night (a weekly tradition) was The Fellowship of the Ring—extended edition of course. I kept track of much of what the kids said, figuring that those who followed along with them through the books might enjoy their movie reactions from their first viewing.

Just before we started I set expectations, reminding the kids that things had to be changed in movies, with some things added and some removed. I let them know that, for example, Tom Bombadil had to be left out. “WHAT???” hollered the eight year old. “But what about the Council of Elrond where they talked about if he should be given the ring.” I had to tell her that he wasn’t mentioned there either.

8YO: “Didn’t [the book] say [Bilbo] went out with dwarves” after the party?

When Frodo and Sam set off alone the eight year old said “where are Merry and Pippin? They’re missing Merry and Pippin” several times until they finally caught up with them in Farmer Maggot’s field.

When the Black Riders almost caught the Hobbits the eight year old piped up: “That didn’t happen. Is that one of the added bits?”

When they arrived at Bree the eight year old observed “They skipped a lot of bits! They skipped so much.”

Whenever Frodo appeared to be about to put the ring on the six year old got worried and called out “no, don’t put it on!”

As the orcs in Isengard toppled tree after tree the six year observed.

“The ents will be angry about that, but not until later, in the Two Towers.”

8YO: “Unless they leave out the ents.”

6YO: “They wouldn’t leave out the Ents would they?”

Me: “No.”

6YO: “Whew!”

Then “Weathertop! Weathertop!” came from both of the older two as soon as Amon Sûl was visible on screen.

When Arwen and Aragorn kissed we of course heard from the six year old “EWWWW!!!”

All three kids burst into excited giggling when Pippin and Merry ran into the middle of the Council of Elrond to join the Fellowship.

* * * end of first disc * * *

During intermission the eight year old said “Did you notice something? One, three, seven, nine! All odd numbers of rings!”

* * * start of second disc * * *

At the Doors of Moria the older two were slightly exasperated that Gandalf didn’t just say Friend since they already knew how to get in and so obviously should he.

When the Watcher in the Water attacked Frodo the eight year old postulated, “it must be related to an octopus“ after seeing all of its arms.

In the Chamber of Mazarbul this exchange panned as the battle began.

6YO: “What’s a cave troll?”

4YO: “A troll in a cave.”

6YO (after said troll came on screen): “Daddy has a Lego cave troll!”

*troll jumps out at Frodo from behind the pillar*

6YO and 8YO: *loud scream*

My wife: “Aren’t you glad Daddy didn’t have you watch the movie before you knew who lived and died?”

6YO: “Yeah!”

Gandalf: “Swords are of no use.”

8YO: “Frodo, don’t throw away yours. It is of some use.”

6YO: “Don’t throw away any swords made by elves. Actually don’t throw away anything made by elves.”

As the Fellowship approached Caras Galadhon the eight year old interjected. “Wait, they skipped the part where they were blindfolded?”

*Frodo approaches the Mirror of Galadriel*

8YO: “Doesn’t Sam go first?”

When everyone got into Lothlórien boats.

8YO: “I thought they were circle boats.” And when Galadriel gave Sam rope she said “what about the box of dirt? What about Sam? They missed his box. I hope they don’t leave it out at the end.”

My wife: “Why is it needed at the end?”

8YO: “The tree!”

*Legolas eats Lembas*

8YO: “Why didn’t they have Gimli eat it? Did you hear them? [Merry and Pippin] ‘How many did you eat?’ ‘Four.’ ”

*Uruk-hai run through woods*

4YO: “They are scusting!”

*Fellowship floats by the Argonath*

4YO: “They look like Gandalf. It a statue.”

Aragorn: “Let us hunt some Orc.”

Gimli: *gutteral yay!*

8YO: “He just wants to hunt Orcs!”

8YO: “Can we watch The Two Towers?”

My wife: “No, you need to wait until next week.”