OT- LOTR fan discussion thread - SPOILER WARNING

[Growltigger]

DONT READ THIS THREAD IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE LOTR MOVIES, AND DONT WANT THEM RUINED FOR YOU

As a major Tolkien fan, whilst I thought the movie triology was fantastic, there were quite a few things which rankled with me as being ruinously omitted. Now I appreciate that movies never replicate the books, and that artistic license has to be given when producing the movies, but I wondered what the other Tolkienistas on the forum felt to be their biggest gripes, comments and/or criticisms with the movies!!

Mine (in no particular order of importance), are as follows:

1 missing out Tom Bombadil and the Barrow Downs in Fellowship;

2 Irish music being played in Hobbiton, when they were English (OK OK minor gripe I know)

3 Elves turning up at Helms Deep!!

4 Completely underplaying Faramir, he is one of the most noble and heroic characters in the book, and that suicide charge in ROTK was bloody silly;

[Will]

While I would have liked to see Tom Bombadil, I realize that it isn't really necessary to the story. Same goes for replacing Glorfindel with Arwen, taking Frodo to Rivendell. They're extra characters that don't end up doing anything for the rest of the story.

For Two Towers, yeah, Elves showing up at Helms Deep was a little off, but it helped illustrate Galadriel's confidence in Aragorn and Men, as opposed to Elrond's skepticism. Elrond is finally convinced in Return, and is starting to be convinced in Two Towers. In Fellowship, he was certain that Middle Earth would fall to darkness, and was only concerned with getting the Elves out.

Faramir gets a little more depth in the extended edition Two Towers, showing that all he wants is a little praise from Denethor, but never gets it. Not exactly how I remember things in the book, but it better explains the suicide rush. Also, Faramir is described as a Captain loved by all the soldiers of Gondor, but I haven't really seen that in any of the movies.

One thing I wish was included (and it wouldn't have been very long, either), is showing Wormtongue hurling the palantír at Gandalf, et al. Instead, Pippin just finds it in the water.

Also, maybe it's just because I read the books, and know that Éowyn and Faramir end up marrying... but it seems like they're "together" at Aragorn's crowning ceremony, but no explanation is ever given in the movie. I'll have to see if anyone who hasn't read the books noticed the same thing.

Otherwise, I think the movies were as faithful as they could possibly be to the books. Really, I'm just glad it was Merry and Éowyn who killed the Witch King

[narf poit chez BOOM]

2 Irish music being played in Hobbiton, when they were English (OK OK minor gripe I know)

well, there irish english. seriously, it fit them. minor comment.

4 Completely underplaying Faramir, he is one of the most noble and heroic characters in the book, and that suicide charge in ROTK was bloody silly;

bad Peter Jackson! wasn't there a suicide charge in the book? or am i getting confused again?

[Will]

Originally posted by narf poit chez BOOM:
wasn't there a suicide charge in the book? or am i getting confused again?

Going over my copy of Return of the King, it looks like there was a desperation attack on Osgiliath. Although it doesn't read as much as a rout as it was portrayed as in the movie. It was more of an attack-and-fade, to slow the crossing and buy more time before the attack on Minas Tirith.

Oh, and this is my 500th post, and I get... absolutely nothing. 100 more...

[narf poit chez BOOM]

hey, one more post and you can start singing '99 pre-Posts to go'.

[ January 07, 2004, 09:51: Message edited by: narf poit chez BOOM ]

[Atrocities]

Over all how close would you all say the "extended" Versions of the movies are to the books?

Remember now that ROTK's extend Version will be close to or over five house long.

(NOTE: I would wait to buy the special 3 set DVD edition that will have an additional few hours of material for the first two movies.)