Analysis of the Black Rider scene from 'Fellowship of the Ring'

The scene opens up with a wide-shot that is also used as an establishing shot. In this scene the Hobbits are shown to be enclosed in a small area in the bottom of the screen. Jackson does this to show how trapped and enclosed which creates connotations of fear. Jackson then tilts the camera upwards to position the 'Nazgul' above the hobbits, who are still shown to be in a very small and enclosed area. The usage of this shot is very effective as it shows the 'Nazgul' to be intimidating and powerful whilst the Hobbits below are depicted as being small and weak. After this Jackson used a low angle medium close up that focuses on Frodo, the protagonist. This is used to make us feel empathy for Frodo and also feel a sense of fear for the character. Next a high angle shot is used which shows Frodo looking up at his enemy. Most of Frodo's face is obscured in this shot; furthering the idea that Frodo is trapped which again has connotations of fear and paranoia. The next shot shows extreme close up of certain parts of the 'Nazgul' and it's horse. Jackson may have done this to have an idea of what Frodo is seeing which furthers the audience's empathy for the protagonist. Also using quick shots of the body parts forces the audience to be fearful of the enemy as we can't see it's full body. This effect is created as we are naturally fearful of the unknown. Finally the following shot is a low angle shot that is tilted. Jackson tilting of the camera creates the effect that the 'Nazgul' is unnatural which again forces our mind to be fearful of it. Again, Jackson has strategically placed the Hobbits to be under the 'Nazgul' to give off the idea that they are trapped and fearful. The scenes is instrumental in establishing the ideas that in Middle-Earth, the villains are very powerful and dominant as the 'Nazgul' is shown to be above the Hobbits, creatures that are depicted as being the most pure and good in all of Middle-Earth.