The Children of Hurin - The Film

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by tumhalad2

I suppose to really answer this question we need to look at CoH itself, and more narrowly come to see where it contrasts with LoTR, and particularly the filmed version thereof, but I think it is obvious, even from cursory inspection, that the kinds of characters and thematic outcomes audiences were led to expect would be thwarted by a faithful film version.

CoH has nothing to do with LotR, really. I don't quite understand why you so strenuously desire to contrast the two. The two stories take place in separate ages altogether. CoH's Age, the First, deals mostly with Elves, with Men as subordinates; whereas, in the 3rd Age plot, LotR is driven primarily by Men (and their miniature genealogical cousins, the Hobbits).

The dynamics are very much different, and the treatment very much darker -- not just in CoH, but in several stories compiled in the Silmarillion: the Kinslayings, Eol's abduction and later murder of Aredhel, the betrayal of Maeglin, the abduction of children by the sons of Feanor, and so on. Dwarves and Elves are at war, Elves are at war against other Elves, Men fight alongside the Elves, Men betray the Elves -- we are dealing with two separate historical entities, even if the historical context is part of a subcreated world.

It's rather like contrasting the 14th century during the plague and WWII. There are certain similarities and corresponding human behaviors, but otherwise we are dealing with totally different mindsets, ethics, codes of morality and political policies. A movie set in the 14th century would be decidedly different than one in the 20th century.