Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/05/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi Marc, now your talking! I enjoy the movies (extended DVDs are the only ones to get) as there is a reasonable correlation with the books. My biggest beef is the downplaying of Aragorn's inherent majesty and leadership, surely one of the key themes of the books. They way that he grows to fullfil his potential in the books is thrilling. Some of the best passages from the books are when Aragorn allows his heritage and kingliness to shine through - canoeing through the Argonath; meeting Eomer and his Eored on the fields of Rohan, handing over Anduril to Hama at Meduseld, looking out for the dawn at Helm's Deep, summoning the dead to the stone of Erech (not begging like in the movie!). At least the movie gets it right in the end with his speech to the troops outside the Black Gate. Great story. Great movies. Absolutely excellent casting - though the directing and editing left a lot to be desired IMHO. Rick. On 03/05/2005, at 9:23 AM, Marc James Small wrote: > I was rather distressed to note that several of you seem to have found > the > film version of the Lord of Rings unsatsfactory. I found the trilogy > reflected well most of the books though it comprehensively misses the > subtle nature of Saruman's degradation into evil. Other than that, the > films work rather well. > > (I can always nitpick: the presentation of Elrond is far too harsh and > there is no real stress on his import within the forces of good, as the > surviving son of Earendil and the brother of Elros, the founder of the > royal line which Aragorn represents. Thus, Elrond's disapproval of > Aragorn > in the films is a bit of a problem, but, then, Elrond is a > behind-the-scenes player in the books so this mischaracterization is > less > troubling than the failure to properly portray Saruman.) > > Christopher Tolkien was extremely careful to ensure that the movies > held > close to the books in their plot and this was accomplished. Do the > movies > represent MY views of the trilogy? No, but they come close. > > And understand that I am a Tolkien freak of the first water: my copy > of > the FELLOWSHIP, bought new, is a first-edition Ballantine printing and > I > bought the Ace editions of the next two books as Ballantine delayed in > releasing theirs. (Yes, yes, the copy I read now is a much later > edition > and incorporates all of the later emendations.) I appreciate the > conscientious effort to produce a series of movies being true to the > author's vision, something which I feel is lacking in the HITCHHIKER'S > GUIDE. > > Marc > msmall@aya.yale.edu > Cha robh b?s fir gun ghr?s fir! > > NEW FAX NUMBER: +540-343-8505 > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >