How close is Peter Jackson's visualisation of LotR to yours?
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WizarDru
Adventurer
The first time I saw the commercial showing Gandalf opposing the Balrog at the Bridge of Khazad-Dum, I got chills. I STILL DO. The visual appearance of Jackson's interpetation is, to me, the quintessential version of LotR. I know some things are different, but that's as much a change due to a different medium as anything else.
And I'm going to a put another heresy out there, parallel to Henry's: I think the movie does some things better, for me. The series has many slow moments that, while good for a mythic poem or a romantic tale of old, don't really work as effectively as they might for the story being told. I realize Tolkien was working at different goals, but some of Jackson's choices (such as showing things happen that in the books are always told in flashbacks) improve the flow and pacing. The race for the Buckleberry Ferry, for example, is nothing like the book, but manages to deliver a lot of punch in a little time.
Arwen: well, since she has such a minor part in the books, I couldn't say.
Aragorn: not like I originally pictured him, but Viggo has made Aragorn his own...moreso than John Hurt, for example.
Gandalf & Saruman: Best. Casting. Ever.
Elrond: I thought he worked. The elves, in general, worked out well, but Celeborn was one of the characters who greatly benefited from extended release.
Hobbits: Not exactly the physical look I expected, based on appearances elsewhere (although not incorrect from my reading of the books, per se), but they worked all the same. All of the hobbits work well for me, but Sean Astin in particular seemed spot on for Sam, to me, in performance.
Gimli & Legolas: See Gandalf & Saruman.
Bilbo: Ironic that he once was Frodo, and now is Bilbo. A truly wonderful performance from a great actor. Spot on. The extended DVD really gives him some nice extra material.
Visually, Moria was better looking than I could have imagined. Lothlorien and Rivendell were spot on. The Shire was, IMHO, perfect and exactly as I had envisioned it. Weathertop was completely different, but the use of real location that unique made up for it.
I wonder if we'll get to see the WIndow on the West in TTT?
And I'm going to a put another heresy out there, parallel to Henry's: I think the movie does some things better, for me. The series has many slow moments that, while good for a mythic poem or a romantic tale of old, don't really work as effectively as they might for the story being told. I realize Tolkien was working at different goals, but some of Jackson's choices (such as showing things happen that in the books are always told in flashbacks) improve the flow and pacing. The race for the Buckleberry Ferry, for example, is nothing like the book, but manages to deliver a lot of punch in a little time.
Arwen: well, since she has such a minor part in the books, I couldn't say.
Aragorn: not like I originally pictured him, but Viggo has made Aragorn his own...moreso than John Hurt, for example.
Gandalf & Saruman: Best. Casting. Ever.
Elrond: I thought he worked. The elves, in general, worked out well, but Celeborn was one of the characters who greatly benefited from extended release.
Hobbits: Not exactly the physical look I expected, based on appearances elsewhere (although not incorrect from my reading of the books, per se), but they worked all the same. All of the hobbits work well for me, but Sean Astin in particular seemed spot on for Sam, to me, in performance.
Gimli & Legolas: See Gandalf & Saruman.
Bilbo: Ironic that he once was Frodo, and now is Bilbo. A truly wonderful performance from a great actor. Spot on. The extended DVD really gives him some nice extra material.
Visually, Moria was better looking than I could have imagined. Lothlorien and Rivendell were spot on. The Shire was, IMHO, perfect and exactly as I had envisioned it. Weathertop was completely different, but the use of real location that unique made up for it.
I wonder if we'll get to see the WIndow on the West in TTT?
Olgar Shiverstone
Legend
Pretty good adaptation thus far, from where I sit. Many of the deleted scenes were ones I would have cut (though from the extended version I think the Green Dragon scene and the gift-giving scene should have made the theatrical cut).
My casting/location gripes:
- Arwen. Yawn. Don't mind her inclusion too much, but poor choice of actress.
- Aragorn. Would have preferred someone older, less grungy. Sean Connery in his younger days, for example.
- The wizards, Legolas, & Gimli -- spot on.
- Hobbits -- should have been a little more rolly-poly.
- Elrond -- well acted, but I kept expecting a monotone "Welcome to Rivendell, Misssster Bagginsss."
- Prancing Pony/Bree -- a little too dark
- Hobbiton/Moria/Rivendell/Lorian -- perfect
Plot points:
- I'm not sold on the modification of Saurman's role. It works for the film, but I liked the three-way power struggle of the book.
- Reforging Narsil -- still don't understand why this was omitted/postponed.
- The Galadriel ring scene -- the rotoscoped-CGI monster look spoils much of the Lothlorien footage.
From what I understand of TTT spoilers, I'll have a lot more gripes about plot modifications there. Still, looking forward to movie #2!
My casting/location gripes:
- Arwen. Yawn. Don't mind her inclusion too much, but poor choice of actress.
- Aragorn. Would have preferred someone older, less grungy. Sean Connery in his younger days, for example.
- The wizards, Legolas, & Gimli -- spot on.
- Hobbits -- should have been a little more rolly-poly.
- Elrond -- well acted, but I kept expecting a monotone "Welcome to Rivendell, Misssster Bagginsss."
- Prancing Pony/Bree -- a little too dark
- Hobbiton/Moria/Rivendell/Lorian -- perfect
Plot points:
- I'm not sold on the modification of Saurman's role. It works for the film, but I liked the three-way power struggle of the book.
- Reforging Narsil -- still don't understand why this was omitted/postponed.
- The Galadriel ring scene -- the rotoscoped-CGI monster look spoils much of the Lothlorien footage.
From what I understand of TTT spoilers, I'll have a lot more gripes about plot modifications there. Still, looking forward to movie #2!
WizarDru
Adventurer
Olgar Shiverstone said:
Actually, that bothered me too, at first. But having just re-read the Two Towers, where it's made pretty plain that Saruman WAS an agent of Sauron (unintentionally, at first), I'm not bothered by it at all, anymore.
You also have to accomadate a lot of information that the movie viewer who isn't familiar with Tolkien isn't going to get without some re-arrangment or too much exposition. The scene with the Palantir in Fellowship really saved Gandalf from having to spend a lot of time discussing the situation later, for example.
Narsil's reforging, I'm guessing, is being done so as to make it a much more momentous event. In the books, the reforging is almost an afterthought...."Hey Aragorn, remember Isildur's sword, the one that cut the ring from Sauron's hand? Asked Moe over there to reforge it for ya. Here it is." Given how much build-up the blade gets in Fellowship, just tossing it out there as the book does would be anti-climactic. I realize that it's in the book much longer, of course, but that's a whole nother discussion.
Lurks-no-More
First Post
I'm extremely happy with Peter Jackson's work. It has done a lot to wipe away the bad memories of the Bakshi abomination...
Especially good locations:
The Shire looked great. Peaceful, prosperous, rustic, not grungy but neither too neat. It looked like a real place, not a set.
The elven and Numenorian ruins visible here and there in the background really gave me the impression of a world with ages of history behind it.
Isengard and Orthanc. The change from tree-filled garden into an industrial hellhole shows the effect of Sauron well. And the cold, sharp-looking interior was classy.
As for characters, Elijah Wood was maybe a bit too pretty for Frodo, but it doesn't bother me. Sam was great; he's not a bumpkin any more.
The elves were nice, and Elrond was good too. He is a half-elf, remember, and despite being immortal, he should look like he has lived for a long time.
Orcs, for me, were excellent. Ever noticed that Tolkien never gave a very clear description of them? That's why we have the old piggish orcs of AD&D, green hulky orcs of WH and Warcraft, and so on. Jackson's orcs looked like someone had taken an elf and twisted them until they broke, then raised the result with concentrated malice and random cruelty.
And finally, speaking of Saruman's role in the movie: a good thing. In the books, we never see Saruman until he is defeated (except in Gandalf's exposition in the Council). I want to see a villain doing the villaineous things, especially if he is as cool as Saruman.
Especially good locations:
The Shire looked great. Peaceful, prosperous, rustic, not grungy but neither too neat. It looked like a real place, not a set.
The elven and Numenorian ruins visible here and there in the background really gave me the impression of a world with ages of history behind it.
Isengard and Orthanc. The change from tree-filled garden into an industrial hellhole shows the effect of Sauron well. And the cold, sharp-looking interior was classy.
As for characters, Elijah Wood was maybe a bit too pretty for Frodo, but it doesn't bother me. Sam was great; he's not a bumpkin any more.
The elves were nice, and Elrond was good too. He is a half-elf, remember, and despite being immortal, he should look like he has lived for a long time.
Orcs, for me, were excellent. Ever noticed that Tolkien never gave a very clear description of them? That's why we have the old piggish orcs of AD&D, green hulky orcs of WH and Warcraft, and so on. Jackson's orcs looked like someone had taken an elf and twisted them until they broke, then raised the result with concentrated malice and random cruelty.
And finally, speaking of Saruman's role in the movie: a good thing. In the books, we never see Saruman until he is defeated (except in Gandalf's exposition in the Council). I want to see a villain doing the villaineous things, especially if he is as cool as Saruman.
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