As Sauron gathers his forces, the kingdom of Gondor is in need of its king, Aragorn. Gandalf sets off to Minas Tirith to try and rally the troops of Gondor, while King Theoden of Rohan brings his forces to help keep Sauron distracted from the movements of the ring bearer. Meanwhile Frodo, accompanied by his friend Samwise Gamgee and the former ring bearer Golem, continues his journey to cast the One Ring into Mount Doom. However Golem intends to lead them not to their destination but into the lair of Shelob.

The tale continues with the Fellowship broken and three groups heading their different ways. Frodo and Sam carry on for Mordor and acquire along the way a travelling companion by the name of Gollum who promises to help them reach the Mountain of Doom. Elsewhere Merry and Pippin’s attempt to escape the Uruk Hai leads them to enter Fangorn Forest where they encounter Treebeard, a walking, talking tree shepherd. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli reach Rohan to discover that King Theoden has been taken over by Saruman, All the residents of Rohan are ordered to go to Helm’s Deep where a massive battle against the Uruk Hai ensues.

In a small village in the Shire a young Hobbit named Frodo has been entrusted with an ancient Ring. Now he must embark on an Epic quest to the Cracks of Doom in order to destroy it.

Fifth Avenue socialite Ouisa Kittredge (Stockard Channing) and her purveyor of high-art husband Flan (Donald Sutherland), are pedigree parents of “two at Harvard and one at Groton.” But the privileged insular world inhabited by the Kittredge family, as well as their public status as distinguished arbiters of culture, makes them easy prey for a consummate con-artist like Paul (Will Smith). One night, he mysteriously shows up at their front door–injured and bleeding–claiming to be Sidney Poitier’s son and a close college crony of the Kittredges’ Ivy League progeny. Impressing Ouisa and Flan with his articulate literary expositions, Paul proves to be a sharp-witted, learned young man with epicurean taste and surprising culinary skill. His highbrow facade is so charmingly persuasive, Paul soon has the Kittredges loaning him money, putting him up for the night and taking satisfaction in his appraisal of their posh lifestyle. Much to the Kittredge’s shock Paul is revealed to be a highly persuasive con-man, who has charmed his way into many upper-crust homes along the upper East side with his wit and insider knowledge. As Paul’s plot unravels he becomes an urban legend of the upper crust, a witty anecdote to banter about at cocktail parties. However, he has a profound effect on the many individuals who encounter him, linking them in their shared experience.
This film version of John Guare’s highly successful stage play features remarkable ensemble acting and incredibly witty dialogue with an insider’s ear for the excesses and delights of upper crust Manhattan.

In a parallel universe, young Lyra Belacqua journeys to the far North to save her best friend and other kidnapped children from terrible experiments by a mysterious organization.