Lord of the Rings book

[Tancred]

Originally posted by Balgin: Unfortunately the film looks like it'll be a poor attempt. Allow me to explain, firstly quite a few of the stories elements are being tuned down to allow the director to concentrate on the love story (barely mentioned in the original) between Aragorn and Arwen. He's also using a lot of American and New Zealand actors whose culture and speach patterns just doesn't fit in with Tolkiens linguistic visions. The good man himself described his work as a "journey through a world of different languages, it is as if the map is a map of languages". They at least got Alan Lee to do a lot of the concept art for the film (he's done a lot of good fantasy/ Celtic mythology art) and that should be good. I recently dug up some old miniatures from the back of my modelling draws, Dean men of Dunharrow, an Easterling, a Rohirim (on foot and on horse), Tom Bombadil, the best Balrog I have ever seen (the 80's Citadel one) and a whole host of others. However, they're cutting Tom Bombadil out of the film for no reason at all! This happened with the radio version as well (try to get hold of it, it's reasonably good on pronounciation and Michael Horden makes the best Gandalf ever).

I'm very glad to see Bombadil just vanish. Let's think about this: the scenes involving Bombadil would, on-screen, be INCREDIBLY difficult to get 'right' without making Tom look schmaltzy or deranged. Either way, a loss of a scene. Secondly, Bombadil is apochryphal; he has no actual place in Tolkien's mythology of Middle-Earth, and appears as a 'guest star' from one of Tolkien's earlier poems.

To changes in the script... I found the fact you see Arwen little in the book to be somewhat sad. The three main female characters in Tolkien's work make up three different images of womanhood - Gladriel, the queen; Arwen, the princess; and Eowyn, the shieldmaiden. But without much of Arwen to see - because this is a film and cannot be dependant on appendices to fill in the gaps - the entire subplot regarding Eowyn's attraction to Aragorn doesn't seem to make sense.

As for the actors... well, what can you expect? The film's costing a bomb to make anyway. They can't afford an all-english cast. In no way can any director faithfully bring the full scope of Tolkien's vision of his entire world into the silver screen - without making an extremely LONG trilogy.

BTW - Games Workshop got the rights to do an actual wargame based on the film, should be interesting.

Tancred

[Axterix]

Originally posted by Balgin: Unfortunately the film looks like it'll be a poor attempt. Allow me to explain, firstly quite a few of the stories elements are being tuned down to allow the director to concentrate on the love story (barely mentioned in the original) between Aragorn and Arwen. He's also using a lot of American and New Zealand actors whose culture and speach patterns just doesn't fit in with Tolkiens linguistic visions. The good man himself described his work as a "journey through a world of different languages, it is as if the map is a map of languages". They at least got Alan Lee to do a lot of the concept art for the film (he's done a lot of good fantasy/ Celtic mythology art) and that should be good. I recently dug up some old miniatures from the back of my modelling draws, Dean men of Dunharrow, an Easterling, a Rohirim (on foot and on horse), Tom Bombadil, the best Balrog I have ever seen (the 80's Citadel one) and a whole host of others. However, they're cutting Tom Bombadil out of the film for no reason at all! This happened with the radio version as well (try to get hold of it, it's reasonably good on pronounciation and Michael Horden makes the best Gandalf ever).

Well, first off, they are trying to get close to the lingo's as possible. In short, the elves will speak elvish. Sure, those are actors from that area... where it's being filmed. But you know, there's actors the world over and I'm sure many of them are good. For most bit parts you aren't going to bring in major names. As for cutting things out, again, it is to be expected. Each book is about 300 pages or so, if I recall right. Check your typical book version of a movie... they are much, much shorter. Additionally, Tolkien doesn't go over most battles in detail. So what he covers in a paragraph or less there can take much more screen time. Things have to go. Tom Bombadil is an excellent thing to cut, as while he may be interesting, he takes up a big chunk of time and adds nothing of relevance to the story. If you want to completely tell a book, then you need to go miniseries.

As for the Tolkien, well, I'm pretty sure there's no other writer that had as big an impact on his choosen genre as Tolkien. Look at other categories of books... the idea of trilogies and that sort of thing is rare. Yet in Fantasy, it is considered a norm. One reason for that... LotR.

But without that series, well, Tolkien would be an unknown, forgotten except for a children's book he wrote. Most people don't care too much for all the language building things he threw into his books. I, for one, tend to skip most of the pointless songs. Of course, the language studies is why Tolkien wrote the books, it is what he taught. Myself, while I like his attention to detail, I'd rather have a bit less detail on the lingo's and a bit more on the battles

[dominions]

I, for one, tend to skip most of the pointless songs

Hi Axterix

I'll admit that one is tempted to skip the songs in the books, but if you listen to the radio version they really seem to fit in (IMHO).

As for the film: my main worry is that if it's bad it will discourage people from reading the books.

BTW has anyone tried reading the Silmarillion lately? It seems anyone I've talk who's read it seems to have picked it up, read so far, got mired, gave up, went back after a couple of months, started where they left off, and then really enjoyed it.

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Hey! Like RPGs? See the DungeonCraft - RPG Game Maker on the Ironworks Gaming Forum

[This message has been edited by dominions (edited 06-02-2001).]

[Fljotsdale]

The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings is probably the best fantasy tale ever written in English. Yes, it borrows heavily from mythology, but Tolkien has brilliantly used those myths to create an entirely new mythology, with its own history, its own tales, its own logic. Actually, I re-read it about once a year!
I'm not saying its perfect in every way, because it is not. Tolkien wrote it over quite a few years, with wide gaps when he was not able to find time to continue it, and there is sometime a lack of what film-makers call 'continuity' (for example, Gollum is sometimes described as black and sometimes as white); but the atmosphere and characterisation are beautifully done and the plot(s) brilliantly realised.
I cannot recommend it too highly. It is my favourite book ever.
You should read The Hobbit first, as it is really an important Prologue to LOTR as well as being a good read in its own right.

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[Cloudbringer]

Originally posted by Ziroc: I never did finish LOTR, I read some when I was real young, but never finished all of it.. I just bought the 'Trilogy' (it's actually one large story), and I'm reading anew.. I never knew that this book was printed in 1955!!! WOW! Question is, how good is it?? (I bet it's AWESOME).. it's a total of 1100+ pages too! Is this an Advanced reading book? I read L.Ron Huddards books (some) is it advanced like that? Learning a language and stuff sounds fun..

Oh ZIROC! I am so envious! FIRST time in Lord of the Rings...sigh... It is terrific! Some of the most memorable characters inhabit those pages. ENJOY it!

Cloudy in nostalgia mode

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Raindancer of the Laughing Hyenas Clan
Storm-Queen
StormCloud of the Black Knight
Heart Mind Soul Forever

[Lord of Alcohol]

Z you havent read LoTR???? I'm shocked! LOL As someone just said read The Hobbit first, a lot of background there. Seeya!!!!

[arion windrider]

lotr is a great collection no doubt about that... but i would have to put dark elf trilogy and anything about drizzt is the best... these forgotten realms authors are the best... tolken was the foundation in which all others are judged

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Swordmaster to the King of Riva.. ALL HAIL TO BELGARION KING OF RIVA

[Row Firecam]

I'm currently reading FOTR, I wan't to finish it before the movie is out, it has taken hella long time.

Did anyone see the new trailer for the movie ?
WOW!! It will be a great movie I promise you that
I read Hobbit about 4 years ago and really liked it

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Keldorn's Younger brother

[Gustave]

LOTR is just plain awesome! 'nuff said!

[Gustave]

(sorry, forgot to post this with my other one)I personally, did not like the Drow stuff and in my opinion, does not even stand in the same leaugue as LOTR