The movie Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, based on J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy trilogy, dramatizes the quest of nine travelers to destroy a ring critical to the power of the Dark Lord.

Elijah Wood stars as Frodo, a brave but vulnerable hobbit, who has inherited the deadly ring from his cousin, Bilbo (Ian Holm). When his wise counselor, the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen), discovers the Dark Lord is looking for this ring and now knows its whereabouts, he warns Frodo to leave his homeland and take the ring with him.

In time, a fellowship of eight joins him, and they begin a dangerous trek through the mines of Moria. When the fellowship comes to an opening with three passages, Gandalf, obviously perplexed, admits he has "no memory of this place." The fellowship breaks to rest while Gandalf ruminates on what passage will lead them out.

Meanwhile, Frodo reflects on the dangers he's passed through and will yet face. Tense with anxiety, he says to Gandalf, "I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened."

"So do all who live to see such times, responds the wizard gently. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. There are other forces at work in this world besides the will of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the Ring. In which case, you also were meant to have it. And that is an encouraging thought."

Content: Rated PG-13 for epic battle sequences and frightening images.