Why are people so critical of PJ? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

TheSquireof Aragorn · 12-25-2003, 08:39 PM

Going on what I've seen, the majority of people on this message board are quite critical of Peter Jackson. I think people should should give him a break, sure he left some things out or changed things, but it wasn't his goal to appeal to only Tolkien fans, he had to make LOTR appeal to the average person. I just think people should take it a bit easier on him.

The Only Real Estel · 12-25-2003, 08:59 PM

Well, that's pretty much what you'll get on a Tolkien site like this one. I for one that that the movies were fasinating & I commend him for doing them, but everyone will say that, so I (we) like to touch on irks we had . Besides, most peole just feel like things could've been done a lot better in spots (certainly me included), but that's just my opinion.

Child of the 7th Age · 12-25-2003, 09:45 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Going on what I've seen, the majority of people on this message board are quite critical of Peter Jackson. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Actually, that's not the impression I had when I read over the thread where people put down their general comments. Many posters, I would say the majority, are quite positive about RotK. Then they went on to list what impressed them the most and the things they'd like to see changed. I've seen RotK several times now, and found it emotionally gripping. But that doesn't mean that there aren't points where my preferences and PJ's are not the same.I think PJ would have understood this. He never claimed that his movies had the same standing as the books: <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> "You shouldn't think of these movies as being The Lord of the Rings. The Lord of the Rings is, and always will be, a wonderful book, one of the greatest ever written. Any films will only ever be an interpretation of the book. In this case my interpretation" <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Some folk like PJ's interpretation and others don't. And, from the tone of the above quote, I imagine PJ wouldn't be shocked at that. And even some of us who liked the movies overall have little or big things that we'd like to have seen handled differently. That kind of positive disagreement is the heart of this board. So I wouldn't worry too much about the discussion and criticism. It's just part of the normal discussion.

Knight of Gondor · 12-25-2003, 09:45 PM

I guess some people are just a little to hard to please. I don't mean to offend anyone, but I don't think many people realized what an amazing effort it was to get the film as near-perfect as it is today. I don't think anyone else here could do 1/99 as good of a job with the movie, and I don't think anyone realizes the problems to overcome in film making today, as far as adapting a popular book series like this without cutting too many corners.I think we should be grateful that the movies are as awesome as they are. And I think they are simply spectacularly awesome!!

Gorwingel · 12-26-2003, 12:49 AM

Well I think it is just because we really want these films to be the best they can possibly be. We understand that they have to appeal to all audiences, and that they can't have everything that the books contain, but most of us have read the books, and we want them to have all the things that we personally think they should have. I don't know, but it is just hard to explain. I don’t have a problem with Peter Jackson, and I do think that he did a pretty good job on the films.I also think that maybe some of the opinions you find on this site are because it tends to be a very book related forum, most of the members are primarily book fans (I don’t want people to get mad at me, I know that not everyone is that way. We have all types of people here. This is just what I notice). Who (well the people who were here before the films were released) were not exactly comfortable with the idea of their favorite novels being turned into films. But then again I do have to say that many of the opinions have not been as critical of Peter Jackson as I have seen on other sites.

Everdawn · 12-26-2003, 01:02 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> Going on what I've seen, the majority of people on this message board are quite critical of Peter Jackson.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Its true that people can have their own opinions, but i aree, there is a lot of critical analysis. But id have to say that im a PJ fan, i really appreciate his work even if they do stary a little in parts from the book.

Eomer of the Rohirrim · 12-27-2003, 01:19 PM

I think Jackson has done a tremendous job and he has my respect.However, I do find some things quite strange about his movies. For example, the scenes of the Middle-earth landscape and the activation of Gollum was amazing, as were so many other aspects of the movies.But he brings the movies down quite a bit (and the splendid aspects of the movies do not deserve these burdens) by letting in some ridiculous scenes, such as 'Aragorn-falls-off-cliff' and 'Denethor-jumps-off-city'Bits of the book that really don't need to be altered have been altered, and this is why Jackson gets stick. Let's be honest, the guy was going to get criticism anyway because the project was so massive.

Finwe · 12-27-2003, 05:16 PM

I used to be one of those die-hard book fans who nearly turned Denethor-ish at the mention of movies. But now, I realized that each person brings something of their own when they interpret something. PJ's always loved blood, gore, horror, and action. It's just a part of him. It would be ridiculous for us to expect him not to let that seep into his interpretation of LotR. And honestly, does it detract from the movie? Can you honestly say that you weren't amused (after being horrified) when Roc was decapitated in The Two Towers by Ugluk? Can you honestly say that you didn't laugh (externally or internally) when Denethor pulled his Olympic-worthy dive off of the Citadel? No. Deep down inside, we love it, just as we love most of PJ's "changes." They bring a new, bright, color to the story.

12-25-2003, 08:39 PM	#1
TheSquireof Aragorn Animated Skeleton Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Michigan U.S.A. Posts: 46	Why are people so critical of PJ? Going on what I've seen, the majority of people on this message board are quite critical of Peter Jackson. I think people should should give him a break, sure he left some things out or changed things, but it wasn't his goal to appeal to only Tolkien fans, he had to make LOTR appeal to the average person. I just think people should take it a bit easier on him. __________________ "One more soldier dies, and when he gets to Heaven, to St.Peter he will tell, one more soldier reporting for duty, I've served my time in Hell."

12-25-2003, 09:45 PM	#3
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Going on what I've seen, the majority of people on this message board are quite critical of Peter Jackson. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Actually, that's not the impression I had when I read over the thread where people put down their general comments. Many posters, I would say the majority, are quite positive about RotK. Then they went on to list what impressed them the most and the things they'd like to see changed. I've seen RotK several times now, and found it emotionally gripping. But that doesn't mean that there aren't points where my preferences and PJ's are not the same.<P>I think PJ would have understood this. He never claimed that his movies had the same standing as the books:<P> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> "You shouldn't think of these movies as being The Lord of the Rings. The Lord of the Rings is, and always will be, a wonderful book, one of the greatest ever written. Any films will only ever be an interpretation of the book. In this case my interpretation" <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Some folk like PJ's interpretation and others don't. And, from the tone of the above quote, I imagine PJ wouldn't be shocked at that. And even some of us who liked the movies overall have little or big things that we'd like to have seen handled differently. That kind of positive disagreement is the heart of this board. So I wouldn't worry too much about the discussion and criticism. It's just part of the normal discussion. __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote.

12-25-2003, 09:45 PM	#4
Knight of Gondor Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kentucky Posts: 744	I guess some people are just a little to hard to please. I don't mean to offend anyone, but I don't think many people realized what an amazing effort it was to get the film as near-perfect as it is today. I don't think anyone else here could do 1/99 as good of a job with the movie, and I don't think anyone realizes the problems to overcome in film making today, as far as adapting a popular book series like this without cutting too many corners.<P>I think we should be grateful that the movies are as awesome as they are. And I think they are simply spectacularly awesome!! __________________ Eagerly awaiting the REAL Return of the King - Jesus Christ! Revelation 19:11-16

12-26-2003, 12:49 AM	#5
Gorwingel Beholder of the Mists Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Somewhere in the Northwest... for now Posts: 1,419	Well I think it is just because we really want these films to be the best they can possibly be. We understand that they have to appeal to all audiences, and that they can't have everything that the books contain, but most of us have read the books, and we want them to have all the things that we personally think they should have. I don't know, but it is just hard to explain. I don’t have a problem with Peter Jackson, and I do think that he did a pretty good job on the films.<P>I also think that maybe some of the opinions you find on this site are because it tends to be a very book related forum, most of the members are primarily book fans (I don’t want people to get mad at me, I know that not everyone is that way. We have all types of people here. This is just what I notice). Who (well the people who were here before the films were released) were not exactly comfortable with the idea of their favorite novels being turned into films. But then again I do have to say that many of the opinions have not been as critical of Peter Jackson as I have seen on other sites. __________________ Wanted - Wonderfully witty quote that consists of pure brilliance

12-26-2003, 01:02 AM	#6
Everdawn Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: On the sand dunes outside of Ilium, watching it burn. Posts: 1,291	<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> Going on what I've seen, the majority of people on this message board are quite critical of Peter Jackson.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Its true that people can have their own opinions, but i aree, there is a lot of critical analysis. But id have to say that im a PJ fan, i really appreciate his work even if they do stary a little in parts from the book. __________________ "Athena, stepping up behind him, visible to no one but Achillies, gripped his red-gold hair. Startled he made a half turn, and he knew her upon the instant for Athena." ~The Iliad~ ~My lord, Éomer~

12-25-2003, 08:59 PM	#2
The Only Real Estel Raffish Rapscallion Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Far from the 'Downs, it seems :-( Posts: 2,835	Well, that's pretty much what you'll get on a Tolkien site like this one. I for one that that the movies were fasinating & I commend him for doing them, but everyone will say that, so I (we) like to touch on irks we had . Besides, most peole just feel like things could've been done a lot better in spots (certainly me included), but that's just my opinion.

12-27-2003, 01:19 PM	#7
Eomer of the Rohirrim Auspicious Wraith Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 4,859	I think Jackson has done a tremendous job and he has my respect.<P>However, I do find some things quite strange about his movies. For example, the scenes of the Middle-earth landscape and the activation of Gollum was amazing, as were so many other aspects of the movies.<P>But he brings the movies down quite a bit (and the splendid aspects of the movies do not deserve these burdens) by letting in some ridiculous scenes, such as 'Aragorn-falls-off-cliff' and 'Denethor-jumps-off-city'<P>Bits of the book that really don't need to be altered have been altered, and this is why Jackson gets stick. Let's be honest, the guy was going to get criticism anyway because the project was so massive. __________________ Los Ingobernables de Harlond

12-27-2003, 05:16 PM	#8
Finwe Deathless Sun Join Date: May 2003 Location: The Royal Suite in the Halls of Mandos Posts: 2,609	I used to be one of those die-hard book fans who nearly turned Denethor-ish at the mention of movies. But now, I realized that each person brings something of their own when they interpret something. PJ's always loved blood, gore, horror, and action. It's just a part of him. It would be ridiculous for us to expect him not to let that seep into his interpretation of LotR. And honestly, does it detract from the movie? Can you honestly say that you weren't amused (after being horrified) when Roc was decapitated in The Two Towers by Ugluk? Can you honestly say that you didn't laugh (externally or internally) when Denethor pulled his Olympic-worthy dive off of the Citadel? No. Deep down inside, we love it, just as we love most of PJ's "changes." They bring a new, bright, color to the story. __________________ But Melkor also was there, and he came to the house of Fëanor, and there he slew Finwë King of the Noldor before his doors, and spilled the first blood in the Blessed Realm; for Finwë alone had not fled from the horror of the Dark.