Entertainment Weekly calls LOTR Trilogy second best movie of the past 25 years - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Quempel · 06-23-2008, 10:24 PM

I just got through looking over the lists....

I am not sure about these people who did the rankings, I think they must have been partying with Winehouse too much.

Nerwen · 06-23-2008, 11:44 PM

I have to say though, that I'm not sure whether getting onto this list constitutes an achievement. I really have no idea what half the other entries are doing there.

Lush · 06-24-2008, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Does anyone else think they listed Spinal Tap at 11 for the sake of a gag?

LOL

All lists like that are highly subjective, and usually take into account not only the quality of the actual film, but things such as hype, star-power, nostalgia etc. (which is why I think "Casino Royale" is on that list, not that's a bad film.... just... new classic? I don't know).

I can make my own top 25 list, and I'm sure plenty of people would call it idiotic as well. In fact, I know they would.

But if you're in entertainment journalism, this is the sort of thing you do. It's fun, to be sure.

Sauron the White · 06-24-2008, 05:14 AM

To say that anyone could make a list or somebody does not like something completely misses the point. I would assume that in both the AFI survey naming FOTR as the #2 Fantasy Film of all time, and in the EW article, there was some sort of process, using various peoples ideas and critieria employed. For anyone - regardless of who you are - to compare one individual with the AFI - is more than a bit of a stretch and minimizes the honor by reducing it to the whine "its only an opinion and mine is just as good".

In point of fact. Its not.

Or if it is, please make you list, alert the media to your results, and I will stand by an await the resulting press coverage.

I love this site because of all the knowledge that people have about Tolkiens writings.
I find it wonderful in that respect.

When it comes to the movies and knowledge in general about how they are made and what the process is, it does come through loud and clear many times, in many threads, from many people, that the opinion of the movies displayed here is far more negative and far more petty and far more mean spirited than most other Tolkien sites.

I take the rose with its thorns.

Nerwen · 06-24-2008, 05:35 AM

So far, nobody on this thread has expressed surprise that LotR is on this "best movies" list. We are just wondering at some of the other films being on it. I mean, why is Titanic in third place? Not a bad film, to be sure– but the third best of the past twenty-five years? Really?

To put it another way– actually, these lists are subjective. Getting a job with EW does not grant you some extra-sensory movie-judging power that can't be argued with.

Quote:

the movies displayed here is far more negative and far more petty and far more mean spirited than most other Tolkien sites

Really? I can see that your thought process regarding this thread has been as follows:

EW staff put LotR on the Top 25 list.
Downers question EW staff's taste (based on other choices).
Therefore they're questioning the worth of LotR.

Right?

Because even when we describe it as one of the

Quote:

great films

we're just dissembling in order to, I don't know, lull you into a false sense of security, are we?

Lush · 06-24-2008, 06:18 AM

Quote:

To say that anyone could make a list or somebody does not like something completely misses the point.

I didn't say "anyone" can make a list, I said I can make a list, and I am not anyone.

Furthermore, I'm glad the movies made it to that list. I don't like "Pulp Fiction" nearly as much as I like this trilogy, personally. And I would argue that it is a more accomplished piece of cinema, no matter how much I dig Tarantino.

Sauron the White · 06-24-2008, 06:49 AM

Nerewen..... if you go to other sites .... lets use theonering.com or theonering.net or board77 or halloffire or many others, you will find the opinion on the movies is not universal. I agree with that. But, and lets be frank here, there is a very loud contingent here who take real pride in putting on an air of superiority which goes something like this
*** we read Tolkien before Peter Jackson was born
*** we know more about Tolkien than most other people
*** we are above the crass commercialization of Hollywood film making
*** its the rest of the world that is badly out of step by embracing these films
*** poor Professor Tolkien was coerced by a bad evil government into making a bad deal to seel the film rights in the first place

Those ideas come through in many posts, from many people in many threads on this site.

Yes, I have read the posts and understand that many other EW selections on this list have been attacked. But is that not to give the tar and feather treatment to the very idea of putting LOTR on the list? After all, if you can show that there are silly or worthless selections on the list, then it also calls into doubt the inclusion of LOTR in such a lofty position doesn't it?

As I have stated, I return to this site again and again because it is a wonderful source of knowledge and information about Tolkien and his writings. There are many wonderful people here. But to deny the anit-film bias among a large crowd here is simply a denial of reality.

06-23-2008, 10:24 PM	#1
Quempel Haunting Spirit Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In a flower Posts: 97	Well well well I just got through looking over the lists.... I am not sure about these people who did the rankings, I think they must have been partying with Winehouse too much. __________________ Lurking behind Uncle Fester

06-24-2008, 05:14 AM	#4
Sauron the White Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 903	To say that anyone could make a list or somebody does not like something completely misses the point. I would assume that in both the AFI survey naming FOTR as the #2 Fantasy Film of all time, and in the EW article, there was some sort of process, using various peoples ideas and critieria employed. For anyone - regardless of who you are - to compare one individual with the AFI - is more than a bit of a stretch and minimizes the honor by reducing it to the whine "its only an opinion and mine is just as good". In point of fact. Its not. Or if it is, please make you list, alert the media to your results, and I will stand by an await the resulting press coverage. I love this site because of all the knowledge that people have about Tolkiens writings. I find it wonderful in that respect. When it comes to the movies and knowledge in general about how they are made and what the process is, it does come through loud and clear many times, in many threads, from many people, that the opinion of the movies displayed here is far more negative and far more petty and far more mean spirited than most other Tolkien sites. I take the rose with its thorns. Last edited by Estelyn Telcontar; 06-25-2008 at 03:45 AM.

06-23-2008, 11:44 PM	#2
Nerwen Wisest of the Noldor Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: ˙˙˙ssɐןƃ ƃuıʞooן ǝɥʇ ɥƃnoɹɥʇ Posts: 6,694	I have to say though, that I'm not sure whether getting onto this list constitutes an achievement. I really have no idea what half the other entries are doing there. __________________ "Even Nerwen wasn't evil in the beginning." –Elmo. Last edited by Estelyn Telcontar; 06-25-2008 at 03:44 AM.

06-24-2008, 06:49 AM	#7
Sauron the White Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 903	Nerewen..... if you go to other sites .... lets use theonering.com or theonering.net or board77 or halloffire or many others, you will find the opinion on the movies is not universal. I agree with that. But, and lets be frank here, there is a very loud contingent here who take real pride in putting on an air of superiority which goes something like this * we read Tolkien before Peter Jackson was born * we know more about Tolkien than most other people * we are above the crass commercialization of Hollywood film making * its the rest of the world that is badly out of step by embracing these films *** poor Professor Tolkien was coerced by a bad evil government into making a bad deal to seel the film rights in the first place Those ideas come through in many posts, from many people in many threads on this site. Yes, I have read the posts and understand that many other EW selections on this list have been attacked. But is that not to give the tar and feather treatment to the very idea of putting LOTR on the list? After all, if you can show that there are silly or worthless selections on the list, then it also calls into doubt the inclusion of LOTR in such a lofty position doesn't it? As I have stated, I return to this site again and again because it is a wonderful source of knowledge and information about Tolkien and his writings. There are many wonderful people here. But to deny the anit-film bias among a large crowd here is simply a denial of reality.