Aragorn's Take On the Movies

[Kuruharan]

I saw a summation of this article on ew.com found it interesting, read the original article, and then couldn't resist coming to the Downs to see if the redirection problem had been sorted. Huzzah it seems to have been!

It is nice to see that at least one person involved in the production shares our dismay at how things turned out.

Recently I have been greatly (and I mean *greatly*) enjoying cruising around Song of Ice and Fire websites and discussions and laughing uproariously at all the rending of garments and gnashing of teeth going on in those locations regarding the changes the TV show has made to the story of the original stories.

It is hilarious!

I will, however, fully admit that my antics are entirely motivated by schadenfreude in watching what we suffered (and until this last Hobbit abomination is over are still suffering) happen to somebody else.

It is still a world of fun...especially watching the unfolding hand wringing and worry about whether or not the TV show will pass the books (spoiler alert: it will, and in one respect it already has.) At least we Tolkien fans never had to suffer through that.

Originally Posted by Morthoron

I actually liked the Balrog; after all, it did have wings as is canonically correct.

Tsk.

[Snowdog]

Yeah, the effects took over. I guess itas why I can still manage to watch Fellowship every couple years or so.

[Mister Underhill]

Wait, what? Fourteen years? Lord.

Anyway, to the extent that the original trilogy did work, I thought Viggo was a significant part of it. He got a lot of critiques about how his physicality -- voice, height, etc. -- didn't match up for a lot of fans, but I thought he brought a commitment and a maturity that helped anchor the cast. For me he was believable -- as a legitimate outdoorsman, as a dangerous combatant, as a grown man. They put the character through some gyrations I didn't care for, but I thought Viggo always acquitted himself honorably. He's an actor who genuinely values good work, interesting work, challenging work over a payday.

[Belegorn]

I liked his Aragorn.

[Tuor in Gondolin]

Let me put it this way. I bought all three LoTR films, but only
have watched FoTR after one dvd viewing. The others take such
liberties and even have continuity problems. One tiny example, PJ
makes a big thing of Merry and Pippin drinking Treebeard's drafts
but then at the end of TTT they're the same size as other hobbits,
when it would have been simple to have them a bit taller-and no
need to say anything or add one second to airing time. Then
there's the ridiculously oversized wargs in TTT, the horse kissing,
and on and on. FoTR I give a B- to, esp. the prequel, but the
other two, fagetabotit. And you see PJ's continued degenerative use
of cgi in The Hobbit movies (disclaimer, I've only seen the first,after
that there's no interest in seeing more destruction of the classic
children's book.

[Nogrod]

I guess everyone "knows" there is no turning a book into a movie without some compromises or a need to both cut and fill things as they are two different media with their own dynamics. A movie which would follow the storyline of the book in minute detail would be boring - and way too long (like 15 hours instead of 3).

So in principle all those who complain about changes made by movie-directors should be able to suggest how they would have done it differently and not just complain.

That said, I think we have a lot to complain with PJ's LotR - and even more with the Hobbit. Many of those criticisms have been made here and on other forums.

Instead of delving into those I'd like to continue where Kuruharan left us and compare PJ's movies to the Game of Thrones -series. For I think that in the GoT the changes made - sometimes pretty major ones - are actually made for the good. In the GoT the changes are oftentimes consistent, aid the developement of the characters and the plot, make the whole more dynamic and tight-knit... so more or less totally the opposite of the changes in the LotR (not to talk about the Hobbit). *

Now it is true it is easier to lay emphasis on all important issues and build storylines & characters when you can use ten hours to tell a story of a novel, but I still think the GoT screenwriters have something the PJ stuff didn't: an understanding or recognition of the spirit of the original text - and a will to transmit that into another medium.

Btw. I just saw that HBO had gotten their old problem with the producers of the Deadwood -series solved and it is once again to be seen... after seeing again after a long-long time the four first episodes in the last two days I must say I'm even more convinced that the future (or present) of visual storytelling is on the shoulders of the TV, not with cinema.


* There is a possibility some of the differences can be explained by the quality of the "originals" though...

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

So in principle all those who complain about changes made by movie-directors should be able to suggest how they would have done it differently and not just complain.

Easy enough. My solution would have been to simply not attempt the unattainable.
To me, Tolkien's works have always been unique. There are tangible reasons why, such as the Professor's wonderfully authoritative, yet intimately archaic verbiage.
But there is also an ethereal quality that defies description, save that the books, and LOTR in particular, have a distinct feel that I have never encountered with any other work of fiction. Certainly none has left as deep an impression upon me.
To translate that intangible to another medium is quite futile. Not only that, but the act of making the story "suitable" for the Big Screen cannot help reducing it to the baseline of just another "fantasy movie", indistinguishable from the Eragons and Harry Potters.
My opinion of these movies has not changed from the time I first heard of PJ's intentions back when I first joined this forum. The act of translation was an unnecessary exercise in futility.

[Kuruharan]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

Instead of delving into those I'd like to continue where Kuruharan left us and compare PJ's movies to the Game of Thrones -series. For I think that in the GoT the changes made - sometimes pretty major ones - are actually made for the good. In the GoT the changes are oftentimes consistent, aid the developement of the characters and the plot, make the whole more dynamic and tight-knit... so more or less totally the opposite of the changes in the LotR (not to talk about the Hobbit). *

Now it is true it is easier to lay emphasis on all important issues and build storylines & characters when you can use ten hours to tell a story of a novel, but I still think the GoT screenwriters have something the PJ stuff didn't: an understanding or recognition of the spirit of the original text - and a will to transmit that into another medium.

I am curious now that Season 4 is over if you still feel this way about the GoT changes.

It is not surprising to note that most of the hardcore Song dislike the changes and are growing to have an increasing loathing for the show. Hardcore LOTR fans had similar reactions. The amusing (and slightly annoying) thing is that PJ's Lord of the Foozle trilogy is frequently held up by the Song hardcores as an epic adaptation done right.

I guess all fandoms feel they are abused and exploited the worst.

[Aganzir]

Originally Posted by Kuruharan

I will, however, fully admit that my antics are entirely motivated by schadenfreude in watching what we suffered (and until this last Hobbit abomination is over are still suffering) happen to somebody else.

I know what you mean, brother, I know.

I have a major issue with Peter Jackson's lack of subtlety (among other things), and I feel sort of justified (not that I need a justification, but even so) knowing that somebody massively involved in the production agrees.