What would Tolkien like most? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

MatthewM · 04-12-2007, 12:15 PM

Some could argue that he would dislike the whole thing - or refuse to even see it - which seems likely. However, say J.R.R. Tolkien did see the movies, and a few things made him smile. Maybe he would smile about the whole new wave of Tolkien fans the movies created, fans that didn't just watch the movies but read the books and really became involved in Tolkien's, not Jackson's, world.

What about Jackson's trilogy do you think Tolkien would be most pleased with?

I'm going to have to say it would be the musical score by Howard Shore. The music, in my opinion, captures the spirit of Tolkien's books. All of the scores fit so perfectly in all of the scenes they are played to. What's also good is that Jackson really didn't use much of the poetry or songs in the movies (and although Tolkien might have frowned upon that) it allows us to make melodies to them ourselves as we read them in the books. The one's that Jackson did use, such as "The Road Goes Ever On and On..." is a great adaptation. I hum the melody to myself when reading it in Tolkien. It just works. For me, anyhow.

I also think that Tolkien would have enjoyed the scenery, the falling of the leaves (in such scenes as Rivendell, Lorien, etc), and the magic about the movies.

What do you think he would have enjoyed?

Elmo · 04-12-2007, 01:11 PM

I always find it uncomfortable when people try and guess what dead people would do or think. But to be a hypocrite, I have to agree with you and say he would have loved the music.

radagastly · 04-12-2007, 05:28 PM

I agree its very likely he would have loved the music.
I also think he would have loved the scenery, with the possible exception of Rohan. Tolkien's description was very much like the great plains of North America. New Zealand has nothing quite like that landscape. Jackson had to make do with an open plain that was rough and rocky and less rolling than what Tolkien described. It didn't look bad, not at all, but it was the only landscape that didn't seem to fit what Tolkien described. Also, the major sets/CGI mattes were dead-on, especially Moria and Minas Tirith.
There were some performances he would have appreciated as well. Ian McKellan did incredibly well portraying Gandalf (up until he bashed Denethor in the head!) Also, Bilbo, Gollum, Wormtongue, Eowyn and Eomer were all exactly what I would have expected. I wonder what he would have thought of the more 'human' and 'multi-dimensional' Boromir. I think he would have appreciated the need to flesh-out the character when putting him on film. I certainly did.

Elfchick7 · 04-13-2007, 07:16 AM

I think he would've loved the shire.

04-13-2007, 04:13 PM

I wanted to say something nice and insightful for your thread here, but I just.. I just bloody well can't.

Elfchick7 · 04-13-2007, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neithan Tol Turambar

I wanted to say something nice and insightful for your thread here, but I just.. I just bloody well can't.

What do you mean? Oh and this isn't MY thread.

MatthewM · 04-16-2007, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radagastly

I wonder what he would have thought of the more 'human' and 'multi-dimensional' Boromir. I think he would have appreciated the need to flesh-out the character when putting him on film. I certainly did.

None can say for certain. Multi-dimensional maybe, but I wouldn't use "more human." I think what Jackson did was expanded a bit more on what Tolkien already gives, such as Boromir's emotion. Boromir may come off to some as very callous in the books, but he does indeed weep after he tried to take the Ring from Frodo. I think what PJ did was looked at this scene and made that emotion come through in Boromir a little more than we see in the books (for example, the tear in Lothlorien, and the conversation that follows between Boromir and Aragorn.)

TheGreatElvenWarrior · 08-05-2007, 04:20 PM

I think that Tolkien would like the Shire and the music and the scenery yes having an exception of Rohan...sorry Rohan.

Laurinquë · 01-27-2008, 03:16 AM

I think Tolkien would have liked the people who played the characters, they were chosen very carefully and are very good at what they do. And yes, he would have liked the music. And not Rohan. I also think he may have liked the scene where Fairmir asks Frodo who Sam is saying "who is he, your bodyguard?" and Sam goes "No, his gardener." Of course that is not in the book but still I think he would find it cute.

ninja91 · 04-14-2007, 04:15 AM

I think he would be pleased with Sam's character, and how well he was played. Tolkien would have loved the battle scenes, there were no films back then with that kind of action. (excluding Ben-Hur...)

Remember, it is not that Tolkien did not want the movies to be made, but that he did not think it could be done.

Sauron the White · 04-14-2007, 08:11 AM

I have to believe the sweeping landscapes would have just amazed him. I remember the first trailer where we saw the Fellowship slowly come to the top of that hill - I think he would have liked that. The music of course. Some of the sets like Barad-dur and Helms Deep should have pleased him also. I imagine the sore points would be character deviations and script changes.

Ernest Hemingway had the right idea. He said that a writer and producer should meet at midnight on a deserted beach. The writer tosses the book to the producer while a briefcase of cash is tossed his way in return. The two never speak to each other again.

Eönwë · 04-02-2008, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ninja91

Ben-Hur

Well, That and Titanic are the only other movies to get 11 oscars

Sauron the White · 04-02-2008, 06:27 PM

And keep in mind that it took those other films more than 11 nominations to win their 11. ROTK had 11 nominations and a perfect sweep winning all 11- as Mr. Spielberg said when he handed over the Best Film Oscar to Jackson. Thats batting 1.000%.

yavanna_kementari · 04-10-2008, 03:03 AM

he would have loved the whole movie... tolkien lovers believe the movies did not bastardize the books and that is saying a lot...

tolkien himself would have liked the way gondor was made... such a beautiful city set to life by jackson and his team...

The Sixth Wizard · 04-10-2008, 05:54 AM

I'd say the Shire would be the one of the only ones Tolkien could really relate to, because he was from a period of time that didn't include digital effects or all the other things we have in movies these days.

I must say he would have loved King Theoden's speech in RotK, and the whole grandness of the Rohirrim.

I think he wouldn't have minded the idea of Elves at Helm's Deep much, at least until they started fighting so freakishly...

04-12-2007, 12:15 PM	#1
MatthewM Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York Posts: 627	What would Tolkien like most? Some could argue that he would dislike the whole thing - or refuse to even see it - which seems likely. However, say J.R.R. Tolkien did see the movies, and a few things made him smile. Maybe he would smile about the whole new wave of Tolkien fans the movies created, fans that didn't just watch the movies but read the books and really became involved in Tolkien's, not Jackson's, world. What about Jackson's trilogy do you think Tolkien would be most pleased with? I'm going to have to say it would be the musical score by Howard Shore. The music, in my opinion, captures the spirit of Tolkien's books. All of the scores fit so perfectly in all of the scenes they are played to. What's also good is that Jackson really didn't use much of the poetry or songs in the movies (and although Tolkien might have frowned upon that) it allows us to make melodies to them ourselves as we read them in the books. The one's that Jackson did use, such as "The Road Goes Ever On and On..." is a great adaptation. I hum the melody to myself when reading it in Tolkien. It just works. For me, anyhow. I also think that Tolkien would have enjoyed the scenery, the falling of the leaves (in such scenes as Rivendell, Lorien, etc), and the magic about the movies. What do you think he would have enjoyed? __________________ "Loud and clear it sounds in the valleys of the hills...and then let all the foes of Gondor flee!" -Boromir, The Fellowship of the Ring

04-12-2007, 01:11 PM	#2
Elmo Pittodrie Poltergeist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: trying to find that warm and winding lane again Posts: 659	I always find it uncomfortable when people try and guess what dead people would do or think. But to be a hypocrite, I have to agree with you and say he would have loved the music. __________________ As Beren looked into her eyes within the shadows of her hair, The trembling starlight of the skies he saw there mirrored shimmering.

04-12-2007, 05:28 PM	#3
radagastly Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Washington, D. C., USA Posts: 302	I agree its very likely he would have loved the music. I also think he would have loved the scenery, with the possible exception of Rohan. Tolkien's description was very much like the great plains of North America. New Zealand has nothing quite like that landscape. Jackson had to make do with an open plain that was rough and rocky and less rolling than what Tolkien described. It didn't look bad, not at all, but it was the only landscape that didn't seem to fit what Tolkien described. Also, the major sets/CGI mattes were dead-on, especially Moria and Minas Tirith. There were some performances he would have appreciated as well. Ian McKellan did incredibly well portraying Gandalf (up until he bashed Denethor in the head!) Also, Bilbo, Gollum, Wormtongue, Eowyn and Eomer were all exactly what I would have expected. I wonder what he would have thought of the more 'human' and 'multi-dimensional' Boromir. I think he would have appreciated the need to flesh-out the character when putting him on film. I certainly did. __________________ But all the while I sit and think of times there were before, I listen for returning feet and voices at the door.

04-13-2007, 07:16 AM	#4
Elfchick7 Wight Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: In the Greenwood Posts: 201	I think he would've loved the shire. __________________ "Yesterday is history. Tommorow is a mystery. Today is a gift from God. That's why it's called the PRESENT!"

04-13-2007, 04:13 PM	#5
Neithan Tol Turambar Guest Posts: n/a	sorry Elfchick I wanted to say something nice and insightful for your thread here, but I just.. I just bloody well can't.

08-05-2007, 04:20 PM	#8
TheGreatElvenWarrior Mighty Quill Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Walking off to look for America Posts: 2,346	I think that Tolkien would like the Shire and the music and the scenery yes having an exception of Rohan...sorry Rohan. __________________ The Party Doesn't Start Until You're Dead.

01-27-2008, 03:16 AM	#9
Laurinquë Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 385	I think Tolkien would have liked the people who played the characters, they were chosen very carefully and are very good at what they do. And yes, he would have liked the music. And not Rohan. I also think he may have liked the scene where Fairmir asks Frodo who Sam is saying "who is he, your bodyguard?" and Sam goes "No, his gardener." Of course that is not in the book but still I think he would find it cute.

04-14-2007, 08:11 AM	#11
Sauron the White Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 903	I have to believe the sweeping landscapes would have just amazed him. I remember the first trailer where we saw the Fellowship slowly come to the top of that hill - I think he would have liked that. The music of course. Some of the sets like Barad-dur and Helms Deep should have pleased him also. I imagine the sore points would be character deviations and script changes. Ernest Hemingway had the right idea. He said that a writer and producer should meet at midnight on a deserted beach. The writer tosses the book to the producer while a briefcase of cash is tossed his way in return. The two never speak to each other again.

04-02-2008, 06:27 PM	#13
Sauron the White Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 903	And keep in mind that it took those other films more than 11 nominations to win their 11. ROTK had 11 nominations and a perfect sweep winning all 11- as Mr. Spielberg said when he handed over the Best Film Oscar to Jackson. Thats batting 1.000%.

04-10-2008, 03:03 AM	#14
yavanna_kementari Newly Deceased Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: valinor Posts: 4	gondor he would have loved the whole movie... tolkien lovers believe the movies did not bastardize the books and that is saying a lot... tolkien himself would have liked the way gondor was made... such a beautiful city set to life by jackson and his team...

04-10-2008, 05:54 AM	#15
The Sixth Wizard Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stuck under a rock in Valinor with Ar-Pharazon. Posts: 495	I'd say the Shire would be the one of the only ones Tolkien could really relate to, because he was from a period of time that didn't include digital effects or all the other things we have in movies these days. I must say he would have loved King Theoden's speech in RotK, and the whole grandness of the Rohirrim. I think he wouldn't have minded the idea of Elves at Helm's Deep much, at least until they started fighting so freakishly...