No crying in the rain - where's Disney?

[Lalwendë]

I was going through the films in my mind a couple of days ago and came to think about the sad and dramatic scenes in LotR and how they were done. Now, if Disney had shooted the films, wether they were animated or not, there would be this certain cheesy style to do every battle and death scenes and such. Lots of rain, crying and what's even better - crying in the rain.

I wouldn't object to use of weather, atmospheric conditions and so on if they fit the scenes as they are shown in the books, and as such, the films did not meddle too much with that. In general, weather does add a good sense of mood to a film, and H-I gives a perfect example of this. But I would have objected most strongly to too much in the way of histrionics. Thankfully, I found that the films retained the gravitas of the books, i.e. deaths were portrayed nobly. the Grey Havens scene was a little over-egged for my liking, but I know most would disagree with me, and I can allow for a little emotion at the end of all things.

[Encaitare]

Well, when a character dies, strangely enough, I rather like it if it's bright and sunny -- it's a cruel twist of irony. Anyone ever read the Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane? Not the best book I've ever read, but it had some really good themes, one of which was how nature can be so beautiful while people spill blood in its midst.

Back on topic and to answer ungoliant's question about Boromir's death:

I believe it was actually a sort of dappled sunlight, broken by the shade of the trees. As H-I mentioned, Boromir did redeem himself by fighting to his death. So, just as his death was a mix of good (redemption) and bad (the fact that he... well, died ), the location of his death was a mix of dark and light.

[Elanor]

Originally Posted by Encaitare

Well, when a character dies, strangely enough, I rather like it if it's bright and sunny -- it's a cruel twist of irony. Anyone ever read the Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane? Not the best book I've ever read, but it had some really good themes, one of which was how nature can be so beautiful while people spill blood in its midst.

Excuse me butting in - haven't posted in many a long time, but this caught my eye.

I was recently watching the DVD of Doctor Zhivago, and listening to the commentary. There was a point made that either David Lean or Nic Roeg (who was involved in the cinematography) had been very keen to contrast the weather and lighting conditions with the action. This results in the bloody battle scenes being shot in bright sunlight, with beautiful light playing off the cornfields and the trees; and the love scenes being filmed in dull, grey light, sometimes with rain.

I believe that the contrast makes it all the more poignant. Boromir's death in bright sunlight worked really well, and I think it can become very trite if characters die, and sad scenes take place in the rain. (Although it is possible to go the too far in that way entirely, and have a happy moment take place in pouring rain, which characters then claim not to notice, à la Four Weddings... *shudder*)