'An attrocious movie which is a despicable insult to a wonderful book'

[Erulasto]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> These character 'modifications' change the essential nature of the story. There's a difference between interpreting Tolkien's work for film and re-writing it so unfaithfully. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Okay, explain to me the 'essential nature of the story'. What is it? How the hell does it matter who floods the Ford? How is Glorfindel essential to Lord of the Rings? How is Tom Bombadil essential to Lord of the Rings?<P>Here's the definition of 'essential':<P>es·sen·tial (adj)<BR>1.Constituting or being part of the essence of something; inherent. <BR>2.Basic or indispensable; necessary: essential ingredients.<P><BR>Here's the <I>essential</I> Lord of the Rings:<P>"A young Hobbit named Frodo Baggins comes across a ring, which the wizard Gandalf discovers to be the One Ring of the Dark Lord Sauron that can cover all of Middle-Earth in darkness. Aided by his gardener, Sam Gamgee, and his relatives Merry and Pippin, the hobbits flee from the Shire to destroy the ring in Mount Doom, in which it was made. On the way they get three more companions, Aragorn the man, Legolas the elf, and Gimli the dwarf. Rejoined by Gandalf, who escaped the clutches of corrupt wizard Saruman, they head towards Mordor. After having problems crossing the Misty Mountains, they go through the mines of Moria, where Gandalf falls to his doom into a chasm with a Balrog, while the rest of the company escape. Boromir, who desires the Ring, attacks Frodo, who escapes with his friend Sam. The remaining company is attacked by Saruman's orcs, who kill Boromir and capture Merry and Pip. Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas go looking for them, while Frodo and Sam stumble on Gollum...<P>...yadda yadda yadda, Gollum bites Frodo's finger off and falls into Orodruin. Aragorn rules Gondor, marries Arwen who just popped up from somewhere, and most of the characters sail off to Valinor.<P>The End."<P>I think we can all agree this is a pretty adequate summary of the essence of the story.<P>Here's what's <I>essential</I> to convey the previous story:<P>1. Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin<BR>2. Gandalf and Saruman<BR>3. Aragorn, Boromir, Denethor, Faramir<BR>4. Legolas and Gimli<BR>5. Gollum<BR>6. Sauron<BR>7. The Ring<BR>8. Treebeard<BR>9. MIDDLE EARTH (the most important aspect)<P>It's quite possible to leave out or replace:<P>Bilbo (Frodo found the ring)<BR>Galadriel, Elrond, etc. (they don't do anything except explain, and Gandalf can handle this)<BR>Rohan and everyone in it (written out completely, Ents save Merry and Pippin)<BR>and many many more characters and events<P>You'll still have the <I>essential</I> story I summarized above.<P>Glorfindel is about as essential to LOTR as Greedo is to Star Wars.<p>[ February 16, 2003: Message edited by: Erulasto ]