16. Frodo and Sam Hide Amongst the Orcs
This gruelling scene was added to the extended edition, to make the Hobbits journey through Mordor even more terrifyingly perilous than it was already. While the theatrical version showed the Orc armies conveniently melting away, allowing the Ringbearer to reach Mount Doom unmolested while Saurons forces were off confronting Aragorn at the Black Gate, the extended cut forces Frodo and Sam to don Orc armour and try to slip through the marching ranks of the Enemy, while under the cruel eye of a drill sergeant who regards them as just another pair of conscripts. By this point Frodo is on the brink of collapse, is surrounded by brutes that would tear him apart in an instant if they could see under his helmet, and is being swept away from his destination by a tide of Orcs. The tension is genuinely excruciating, in spite of the fact you know deep down that the Hobbits are going to make it out of this mind-blowingly dangerous situation. Then the scariest-looking Orc officer in history sees Frodo sagging with weariness, screams in rage, and starts shoving through the ranks towards them. Only Frodos courageous and quick-thinking decision to tell Sam to start a fake fight, throwing the troop into disorder and letting them sneak away in the confusion, saves them from a grisly fate.
15. Arwen Outruns the Ringwraiths
Disliked by some for bringing an unpopular romantic subplot to the table, the elf princess Arwen nonetheless proved her worth right off the bat, pinching the role of another elf, Glorfindel, aka Sir Not-Appearing-In-This-Film(ish), in carrying Frodo to the safety of Rivendell. The sight of the rider and her charge galloping on a white horse, with all nine Nazgul hurtling in pursuit, is one of the most jaw-dropping images in The Fellowship of the Ring; beautiful, evocative and scary. With the grasping hands of the Nazgul mere inches from Frodos wounded form, you could almost believe that the spooky horrors are on the brink of reclaiming the Ring.