Just caught LoTR this afternoon and I feel terrible and disgusted after watching it. Disgusting! No other word for it.
Hey, I didn’t expect that. Can you be more specific? Was it bloody and gory? Or just in bad taste? Or did they mangle Tolkien so as to disgust you?
Thanks.
Yes, please provide some more information. I was going to take a couple of my older children to see it but maybe thats not such a good idea.
Eldarion, I’m very curious why you felt this way about LOTR.
I also saw it last night and I thought it was beautiful, poetic, wonderful and exciting. There is a bit of violence, but certainly nothing more than children are exposed to daily on television. The film is rated PG-13, and I think one should probably think twice about bringing kids under 10 and those who are easily scared.
However, I found this film to be absolutely amazing, poetically beautiful and full of almost non-stop excitement. Frodo and Gandalf are both absolutely wonderful. It does take some serious liberties with the story, especially in the beginning, but it does a beautiful job anyway. I recommend it whole heartedly.
Chris
[ This Message was edited by: ChrisLaughlin on 2001-12-19 11:27 ]
I’m going to see it at 4pm today. Looking forward to it! 
I’ve been waiting for this movie. I’m sure there are some liberties taken with the story line but from the previews this looked like it might be a really good adaptation. Why didn’t you like it?
Mary
Hi all,
I’m new to this board although I have been exploring the joys of C&F for a number of weeks now. I picked up a whistle perhaps two years ago and find that it has been growing on my mind lately, I feel like it is constantly wanting me to pick it up to play, and when I do I seem to become “invisible” to those around me (those within earshot anyway). Sometimes I feel like there is something evil in it, like when I am forced to play “a glass of beer” so horribly that I cower in fear. I am afraid that my only hope is to have the thing destroyed, before I no longer have a will of my own…or perhaps I just need more practice.
Anyway…
About the movie, I have high hopes for it as the books have always been dear to me. I have the CD of the Score to the film and it has a Whistle on it if I am not mistaken. I think the Hobbit theme is probably played on a low D of some variety and this theme is a pretty tune, although altogether it is too short and repeated without too much variation. I’ve been playing it on my whistle and it puts me in mind of something, but I can’t place my finger on it.
If anyone hears this tune and knows perhaps what Traditional song it is based on, I would love to know the name of it.
Thanks
[ This Message was edited by: amanderthad on 2001-12-19 12:49 ]
I haven’t seen it yet myself but from what I have heard and seen so far many liberties have been taken with the story. For example: I hear that the Tom Bombadil part of the story doesn’t exist. Trailers show a Black Rider chase to the ferry that never happened in the book. There is supposed to be a love interest between Strider and Arwin that never happened in the book. As much as I love the books I plan to go to the movie with an open mind. After all how many movies made from books can you count that were absolutely true to the book? I’m looking forward to a fun adventure flick based on “The Fellowship of the Ring”.
Cheers,
David
P.S. It surely will be better than that rubbish we got from Bakshi with it’s inappropriate and clunky blending of animation styles.
[ This Message was edited by: Feadan on 2001-12-19 13:23 ]
There is a positive review into today’s New York Times. You can find it here.
I know Enya has done several of the tracks for the LOTR soundtrack. She’s as Irish as they come, if not completely traditional.
As for the storyline, I don’t know how it would be possible to include EVERYTHING from a book in a movie, without making it SO long and drawn out it would be unpleasant to sit through.
I’ve been a HUGE Tlkein fan for the last ten years or so, and am waiting to see this film when I have the time to sit down and really enjoy it for what it is.
I doubt I’ll be disappointed. But then I see to like lots of movies others don’t. guess I’m just weird!
Bri~
Feadan,
I hate to disagree with you but there is a chase scene in the book where Legalos and Strider I beleive stay back to hold off the Dark Riders while Frodo escapes into Rivendale, and there is most definately a love interest between strider and Arwen in the books. It is played out during the visit to rivendale. Arwens father forbade the love until and only if strider regained his crown.
Why do I suddenly feel like a geek for knowing this?
Ron
Ron, just to outdo you in geekiness. In the book Frodo, Sam, and Pippin are brought to the Ferry by the farmer in a pony cart. They get a fright when they are met by Merry on horseback at the ferry, and looking back see a black rider on the ridge at Woods End.
The chase you are referring to is to the river crossing before Rivendell and there is no ferry there. You’ll remember Frodo riding through the shallow water on Legolas’ horse, and the black riders following him into the water, where they are swept away by the flood summond by Elrond and enhanced by Gandalf.
You are absolutely right about the love interest between Aragorn and Arwen: They met at Rivendell when Aragorn grew up there and Arwen returned to her father’s house after a stay in Lothlorien. After his coronation, Aragorn and Arwen marry. 120 years later, when Aragorn chooses to lay down and die, Arwen returns to the now-deserted woods of Lothlorien and also dies there (having chosen mortality in her union with Aragorn). This is in Appendix D, I think.
Whose the geek now? 
Bloomfield wins the geek contest 
you win Bloom, I humbly hand my LOTR geek crown to you on bended knee
Loved it, It’s the best movie done out of a book I’ve seen (a major challenge) since Dune (the one with Sting).
I was surprised with how many people were in the theatre who never have read LoTR.
Okay, guys, I sit corrected I haven’t actually read the books since my mid twenties. Lets just say it is well over a decade now
Cheers,
David
P.S. And Ron, please never “hate” to disagree with me. Feel most welcome to anytime
[ This Message was edited by: Feadan on 2001-12-19 22:53 ]
Just got back from seeing it. Liked it. They did a good job. I hadn’t realized Hobbits were of Irish decent.
I have never read the LoTR books, nor have I seen the movie. What is it about? I have seen some previews for it and it sort of looks like Harry Potter. I haven’t seen the Harry Potter movie yet, but am hoping to really soon. Have any of you seen the Harry Potter movie? Sorry if this is a bit off-topic.
Peace,
sara
Okay this is why I didn’t like the movie. Didn’t want to do any details previously in case it became a major spoiler for someone watching it. Theres so many points of eekiness.. I almost don’t know where to start.
ADVERT YOUR EYES IF YOU’VE NEVER READ THE BOOK OR HAVEN’T SEEN THE MOVIE YET. SPOILERS AHEAD!
Man, I can’t imagine why they would make Elrond look like a jerk! He’s practically a jerk in the movie! Then since when has Galadriel turned into a pseudo-witch when she saw the ring? They are supposed to be fair and noble!
I think Gandalf looked more like a wild man, than a wizard with a long beard and hair. Sometimes I think his facial expressions seem to convey senility rather than wisdom and authority. And the fight scene between Gandalf and Saruman? Please! I’ve no idea whether to laugh at how stupid the two men look shoving each other around with magic, or cry at how these two characters are vilified! (not to mention the part when Gandalf is defeated and spinning around the floor as if he was doing some breakdance thingy) Don’t wizards have magic blasts of energy or something else more cool looking?
Another thing I didn’t like was that they actually acted out the character of Sauron. Moreover, he looks rather stupid and clumsy in his armour too. Plus, in the story, they did not remove his ring in the battlefield, but when he was defeated in his tower. Minor point there. But the whole idea of Sauron, I think, is a dark forboding presence. Once you put things out in the open (especially when portrayed with lesser magnificence), the effect is lessened.
They practically made Isildur a jerk too! I had always thought Isildur was a noble king, ensnared under the Ring. They way they slanted things made everyone (except Boromir, which I thought was planned well) inherit these very “false” characteristics.
And in the movie, they made Saruman a servant of Sauron! Saruman was an independent enemy and I think I would have prefered him to remain so. It made the story more complex and interesting. I don’t know why they did this either.
Something I really cannot forgive is that they said Orcs originated from Elves. I can’t quote you the exact line but in the Silmarilion, it says that Melkor created Orcs, in semblence and in mockery of the elves. (because Melkor could create nothing of his own, but only ruin others’ creations or make copies of them). The words “orcs originated from elves” has far reaching effects. I know that elves can turn selfish or greedy as demonstrated in Silmarilion, but they can’t turn into orcs! Gosh!
And the elves, I can’t imagine why elves, or anyone would do anything as silly as to point a bow and arrow at someone at point blank range. Drawing a bow at close range, when you can be safely tucked away somewhere and posing the same threat, puts you in unecessary danger.
Okay these are some of the reasons why I didn’t like to movie. There are many others. (the way the Director used dramatics indiscriminately to the point of melodrama, the way the portrayed Gimli, the way the Council of Elrond argued childishly, the way the Nazguls move sluggishly, etc)
I do wish they had kept more details in accordance to the book, like they did Harry Potter.(or so I heard, for I have never read HP) If I had some time to write a post longer than this is now, I can probably list down more than 30 details that are different off the top of my head (discounting the parts when the characters’ personalities are warped). While I understand that some parts must be ommited for the length of the film, I think the distortions were done with less sensitivity than deserved. What is the point of calling it LoTR when so many things are not the same?
There are some good parts in the film though, but they don’t redeem the whole thing IMO. The scenery is really beautiful and magnificent, especially the part when they were hiking across the mountains. Some details were well done too, like the way the flood came down, and the small bit of action where Gandalf and the Balrog fought (and the way Gandalf was dragged down by the whip). Otherwise, I’m not too happy with it. I have to crawl into my hole and mend the scars this movie has inflicted on my mind. Probably get therapy too.
[ This Message was edited by: Eldarion on 2001-12-19 21:15 ]
On 2001-12-19 20:50, Sara wrote:
I have never read the LoTR books, nor have I seen the movie. What is it about?
Oh good, it’s not too late for you. Do youself a favor you’ll never regret (in my unwavering opinion) and read The Hobbit and the Trilogy. Then, and only then, go see the movie. I read the series in 1974 and reread it a few weeks ago so I’d have that taken care of before tainting the experience by seeing the movie (which I’m very much looking forward to). I never reread books, but that was a worthwhile exception.
You did ask a question, I almost forgot. It’s about long ago when there was good and evil and not much in between. A naive, innocent person gets saddled with a dangerous burden which makes him the target of the foulest and most powerful evil sorcerer in the world. And he becomes the last desparate hope of all good people. He’s accompanied on a dangerous journey by friends and heroes. It’s been done a zillion times since this series, but never better. Tolkien was a scholar of ancient Northern European myth and poetry and he borrows heavily and skillfully from a great wealth of storytelling. The movie makers admit to unavoidably condensing and editing heavily from the story. You’ll never know who Tom Bombadil and Goldberry are if you don’t read the books! I beseech you.
To give you an idea of the dedication of Tolkien fans, a Russian woman learned to speak English for the purpose of reading the books in their original language after reading them in Russian.
Tony