Quote:
Originally Posted by Mithadan
I rarely post in this forum. But I recently spent several hours, as a result of a minor COVID exile, re-watching all three. On these forums, when the movies came out there was discussion after discussion about what members liked and did not like, what actors we liked and did not like, and changes or omissions from the books.
While watching the movies again, a slightly different question occurred to me. Tolkien, perhaps reluctantly, sold the movies rights to LoTR and the Hobbit during his lifetime. However, he avoided conveying to rights to companies that he believed would eviscerate his vision of Middle Earth. So my question is, what specifically would JRRT have liked or particularly disliked about the movies?
This question is limited to the LoTR movies. I suspect that tomes could be written about the Hobbit movies and RoP.
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I would say Tolkien would be utterly appalled by:
1) Arwen facing the Nazgul at the Ford of Bruinen instead of Glorfindel. It is quite clear that an Eldar like Glorfindel, who had been to Valinor (not to mention being reincarnated), would be the only Elf with standing to drive the Nazgul into the Ford. It is well established that the WitchKing had already fled the countenance of Glorfindel in his wrath. Arwen simply did not possess that power. Or as Gandalf related:
"In Rivendell there live still some of his chief foes: the Elven-wise, lords of the Eldar from beyond the furthest seas. They do not fear the Ringwraiths, for those who have dwelt in the Blessed Realm live at once in both worlds, and against both the Seen and the Unseen they have great power."
2) The debasement of Faramir. Faramir dragging the Hobbits off to Osgiliath would have made Tolkien's head explode. It was a plot point that, to say the least, was embarrassing. The ignoblement of Denethor would probably be up there in making Tolkien throw up in his mouth a little.
3) The Elves magically appearing at Helm's Deep. But I guess that enormity would have been more palatable than Arwen arriving, ready for battle, in her guise as Xenarwen warrior princess.
4) Frodo dumping Sam. A cornerstone of the books is the faith, fealty and friendship of Frodo and Sam.
5) "Arwen is dying." A fundamentally absurd misconception by Jackson.
6) The WitchKing destroying Gandalf's staff. So much for Tolkien having Eru himself ressurrecting a Maia in order to complete his mission. The breaking of a wizard's staff is seen as a dimiunition of power, an emasculation, as when Gandalf destroys Saruman's. Sometimes I wonder if Jackson actually comprehended Tolkien's writing at all.
I could go on, but I will merely irritate myself to no end. I think Tolkien would be vehemently opposed to the many canonic omissions allegedly cut due to time compression that were inexplicaby replaced by random fan-fic nonsense. An irate Tolkien would have bit through the stem of his pipe.
What would Tolkien like?
1) Bilbo's birthday party.
2) Moria. I would think Tolkien couldn't find much fault in the depiction. Even when Frodo gets skewered by a Troll rather than an Orc.
3) Frodo's departure on the last ship to Valinor. It was done well and fairly faithful to the book.
4) The omission of Tom Bombadil. I think Tolkien himself sort of admitted that Bombadil was an added storyline that meant something to him, but did not necessarily seem germane to the overall plot. As I mentioned previously, it's not the omission of a plot point, it's the glomming on of superfluous addenda that would have infuriated him.