This summary is based on the movie. All speculative information provided below represents attempts to interpret or extrapolate information only implied in the movie.

A prologue opens the story with a history lesson on the Rings of Power. The cinematic history stipulates that the Rings were made for the various races which received them (in the literary history, the Elves made the Rings for themselves and Sauron later stole the Seven and the Nine and subsequently gave them out to Dwarves and Men). There appears to be no reference to Arnor. Instead, all lands were apparently once ruled by Elendil as King of Gondor. It is Isildur who deals the death-stroke to Sauron (the literary history is unclear on who kills him). The Third Age history reveals that Sauron does not begin to stir until until Gollum finds the Ring (in the book, Sauron returns to life around the year 1000). The cinematic Third Age Sauron is a disembodied eye (the literary Third Age Sauron possesses a humanoid body of large though not gigantic proportions).

Part of Bilbo's adventure is recapped, enough to show that he found the One Ring and returned to the Shire with it. The main story then opens with Gandalf's arrival in Hobbiton for Bilbo's 111st birthday. Frodo greets Gandalf but is unaware of Bilbo's intention to leave Bag End and the Shire. The Party unfolds much as in the book, although Merry and Pippin set off Gandalf's main firework, the Smaug homage. Bilbo vanishes from the Party and sneaks back into Bag End. Gandalf persuades him to leave the Ring as in the book, but Bilbo does not leave in the company of Dwarves. He simply walks off alone, singing or chanting his "Road goes ever on" song.

Gandalf now becomes concerned about the effect Bilbo's Ring has had on him. He warns Frodo to keep the Ring safe and secret and then goes off to find answers to questions. An unspecified amount of time unfolds, and Gandalf eventually travels to the white city of Minas Tirith (in the book, only Denethor's tower is white -- the city's outer wall is black and smooth, like Orthanc). At Minas Tirith, Gandalf searches through old scrolls until he finds the history set down by Isildur, and the details concerning the writing on the One Ring. Gandalf returns to the Shire immediately. About the same time, the Nine Ringwraiths depart from Minas Morgul.

Frodo looks as young as ever (and, in fact, so do Sam, Merry, and Pippin -- so the implication is that not much time has passed at all). Gandalf throws the Ring into Frodo's fire and the magical writing appears. Gandalf tells Frodo something of the Ring's history. Gandalf tells Frodo he must take the Ring to Rivendell, and then he catches Sam listening at the window. Gandalf decides that Sam should accompany Frodo on his journey. They set out at once, but Gandalf leaves Frodo and Sam in the Shire, telling them he must consult with Saruman, head of his order. He tells Frodo to wait for him at Bree, at the sign of the Prancing Pony.

Frodo and Sam continue on and the Ringwraiths arrive in the Shire. By the time Gandalf reaches Isengard, Frodo and Sam have met up with Merry and Pippin, and the Ringwraiths have almost overtaken them. The four Hobbits flee the Shire, crossing the Brandywine river at the Buckleberry Ferry. The Ringwraiths have to travel 20 miles to the nearest bridge.

At Isengard, Saruman reveals to Gandalf that he has a palantir, and Gandalf realizes that Saruman has betrayed his allies. They duel and Saruman imprisons Gandalf, where he watches Saruman's forces work on a secret project.

The Hobbits reach Bree and are questioned by the gatekeeper. They go on to the Prancing Pony and there Pippin blurts out Frodo's identity. Frodo panics, falls, and the Ring slips out of his pocket. It falls onto his finger and he vanishes. When Frodo reappears, Strider takes him into another room and introduces himself. Strider warns Frodo that the Nazgul are after him.

The Nazgul come in the middle of the night and ride down the gatekeeper. They invade the inn and attack the Hobbits' room, but Strider has prepared bedrolls to look like sleeping Hobbits, and the Nazgul fail to kill their prey. In the morning, Strider takes the Hobbits out of Bree and leads them east.

As Gandalf languishes in Isengard, Sauron orders Saruman to build an army worthy of Mordor. Gandalf is visited by a moth, which he uses to send a message for help.

Strider takes the Hobbits across the countryside. They reach Weathertop (a ruinous fortress, whereas in the book it is merely a stone circle, all that remains of the foundation of the old watchtower). Strider goes off to search the area. Frodo loses himself in contemplation, but he comes out of his reveries when he realizes the other Hobbits have lit a campfire, giving away their location. The Nazgul attack and Frodo, in fear, puts on the One Ring, thus revealing himself fully to the Nazgul. They stab him with a morgul-blade, but before they can kill him, Strider returns and drives them off. He concludes, after Frodo has taken off the Ring, that only Elvish healing can save Frodo. They set off at once for Rivendell.

An unspecified amount of time passes and Gandalf escapes from Isengard with the help of a giant eagle. Strider eventually reaches the Trollshaws forest with the Hobbits. There he is found by Arwen, who examines Frodo and decides she must ride with him to Rivendell. She knows that five Nazgul come behind Aragorn and four more wait somewhere ahead. Soon, all nine Nazgul converge on her and Frodo. She reaches the Ford of Bruinen and raises the river against them (having warned Aragorn that the river would be raised by the power of her people -- in the book, Elrond raises the river and Gandalf enhances the effect).

Elrond heals Frodo, who awakens to find that Gandalf is there with him, as is Sam. Bilbo is reunited with Frodo, and now Bilbo appears to be very old (thus implying that either many years have passed or else Bilbo aged as he got away from the Ring).

As Frodo grows stronger, strangers begin to arrive at Rivendell: a group of Elves, a group of Dwarves, a lone man. Aragorn and Arwen meet together, and it is revealed by Elrond that Aragorn is the rightful king of Gondor, but he has turned away from his heritage. Elrond argues with Gandalf about the Ring, recalling how it corrupted Isildur. He insists the Ring cannot remain in Rivendell, which is not strong enough to face the power of both Mordor and Isengard. A council is held at which the Fellowship of the Ring is formed. They are given the mission of taking the Ring to Mordor, there to be destroyed. Aragorn begins to wrestle with his destiny. Boromir, the lone man who arrived before the council, is conflicted by his inability to defeat his enemies and his pledge to help Frodo get the Ring to Mordor. In one scene, Aragorn sits near the shards of Narsil. Boromir comes in and finds them, and though amazed at the sword's preservation, decides it offers no hope for his people.

In time, Bilbo gives Frodo Sting and his mithril coat. The Fellowship assembles and sets out from Rivendell. They travel south and come to Eregion, passing by the ruins of an ancient tower. When a flock of Crebain from Dunland (crows) flies overhead, Gandalf decides that it is too dangerous to seek the Gap of Rohan. Gimli urges the party to pass through Moria, where he is sure his cousin Balin will give them aid. But instead, Gandalf tries to lead the party over Caradhras, but Saruman uses his power to summon a blizzard and cause avalanches. He drives the party back, so that Gandalf must enter Moria. Saruman knows what waits for Gandalf there, as does Gandalf.

The Fellowship reaches Moria and releases Bill, their pony. While Gandalf ponders how to open the gate, Frodo realizes that one need only say the Elvish word for "friend". The gates open as Gandalf utters the word. Gimli, Gandalf, Aragorn, and Boromir rush in. They find Dwarf and Orc corpses everywhere. Boromir declares the place to be a tomb. Gandalf commands everyone to get out. But now the Watcher in the Water strikes at Frodo. The Fellowship attack the creature, and Boromir strides into the water and slashes away at it to free Frodo.

Once the Fellowship are inside Moria, the Watcher destroys the gate. Gandalf then tells his companions it will take four days to pass through Moria. They travel for three days before coming to a place where Gandalf is uncertain of how to proceed. As he thinks, Frodo hears something in the caverns down below them. Gandalf tells Frodo that Gollum has been following them. At this point, Gandalf chooses the way he wishes to follow and the Fellowship moves on to the main city that was once Khazad-dum. There they wander through magnificent halls until they come to the Chamber of Mazarbul. There they find Balin's tomb, and Gimli collapses in grief.

Gandalf finds the Book of Mazarbul and reads from the last pages how the Dwarves were destroyed. As he does so, Pippin accidentally drops a skeleton into a well. Gandalf rebukes him with "Fool of a Took! Next throw yourself in!" But it's too late. They begin to hear drums in the deep.

Aragorn and Boromir seal the door but Orcs come storming in. They bring a cave troll with them. The battle is fierce. Aragorn, Legolas, Boromir, and Gimli kill many Orcs. They slowly wound the cave troll and kill it, but it manages to skewer Frodo. After the battle has ended, Aragorn examines Frodo, who says he is alive. Gandalf says, "There is more to this hobbit than meets the eye", and Frodo reveals he is wearing the mithril shirt.

Gandalf now leads them out of the chamber and down toward the main gate. But they are chased by Orcs and surrounded. Suddenly, a new sound approaches, and the Orcs melt away in terror. Gandalf realizes that a Balrog has come, and he leads the Fellowship toward the main bridge. The Balrog overtakes them and Gandalf sacrifices himself, destroying the bridge and sending the Balrog tumbling into the chasm. The Balrog drags Gandalf down with it.

The Fellowship escape Moria and grieve for Gandalf briefly. But then Aragorn orders the others to continue on. He leads them down to Lothlorien, where the Elves take them prisoner and lead them to Celeborn and Galadriel. Celeborn and Galadriel offer the travelers time to rest. Galadriel summons Frodo to a secret garden and there lets him look into her mirror. He sees a terrible future in which Sauron recovers the One Ring and conquers the known world, including the Shire. Terrified, Frodo offers the Ring to Galadriel. She is sorely tempted to take it, but refuses finally, and realizes that she may now pass into the West, and remain herself.

Saruman's army of Uruk-hai matures and hatches, and he arms them and sends them off to find the One Ring. He orders them to kill all members of the Company except the Hobbits, and to bring them back to him unspoiled. The Company leaves Lothlorien in boats and travels down the Anduin. They pass the Argonath, the giant statues of Elendil and Isildur which guard Gondor's northern border. They come ashore and began to deliberate where to go next. Boromir tries to take the Ring and Frodo flees. Frodo goes up to the high seat of Amon Hen and, while wearing the Ring, looks upon Barad-dur far away and draws Sauron's attention. Gandalf mentally urges Frodo to take off the Ring, and Frodo does so before Sauron discover's Frodo's location. Aragorn meets Frodo and realizes that Frodo must go on alone. Just as he comes to this conclusion, Saruman's Uruk-hai attack.

Frodo slips away to the river and the scattered Fellowship fight the Orcs. Sam, figuring out what Frodo is up to, follows Frodo to the river. Boromir struggles valiantly to protect Merry and Pippin, but Lurtz, leader of the Uruk-hai, coms up and fires arrow after arrow into Boromir. Eventually, Boromir's wounds render him too weak to fight any longer. The Uruk-hai surge past him and take Merry and Pippin prisoner. They flee then, but Lurtz remains behind to finish off Boromir.

Yet now Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli arrive, and Aragorn slays Lurtz. He finishes off the Orc just in time to hear Boromir's confession. As the Uruk-hai flee across the countryside, Frodo and Sam reach the far side of the river and Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas send Boromir's body off in a boat. Aragorn then decides to follow the Uruk-hai. Frodo and Sam come to the high hills across the river and Frodo tells Sam he is glad that Sam has come with him.

The Lord of the Rings movies
· Peter Jackson, with funding from New Line Cinema, produced three movies based on J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings". Filmed entirely in New Zealand, and starring actors such as Elijah Wood (Frodo Baggins), Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn), Sir Ian McKellen (Gandalf), Liv Tyler (Arwen), Orlando Bloom (Legolas), and Christopher Lee (Saruman), the movies approximately follow the three volumes of The Lord of the Rings with which most Tolkien fans are familiar: "The Fellowship of the Ring" (December 19, 2001), "The Two Towers" (December 18, 2002), and "The Return of the King" (December 17, 2003). Xenite.Org has been keeping fans informed about the progress of the movies since February 1998, longer than any other LoTR movie news site. We are also home to some of the best Tolkien and Middle-earth forums, fan fiction, and commentary on the Internet today.