RotK spoilers: The Sauruman Problem

[Dimwhit]

Hmmm...While I haven't seen either movie I've heard from several people that Manhunter is better than Red Dragon.

They're very, very different. I really enjoyed them both. If push came to shove, I'd give a slight nod to Red Dragon.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Well based on his "folly" in taking the people to Helm's Deep he is. He is told by Aragorn not to take them there, but he does anyway, and in the movie it is a disasterous decision. He nearly dooms his enter nation because he is too proud to listen to Aragorn. Somthing that isn't in the book, and somthing that really weakens his character IMO.

Actually, he doesn't ignore Aragorn out of pride...think about it. He was just under the control of Sauruman. A puppet...and now after he's free, everyone's suggesting tons of things he SHOULD be doing according to them. Of COURSE he's going to be resistant to being controlled again.

 

[Pants]

Well based on his "folly" in taking the people to Helm's Deep he is. He is told by Aragorn not to take them there, but he does anyway, and in the movie it is a disasterous decision. He nearly dooms his enter nation because he is too proud to listen to Aragorn. Somthing that isn't in the book, and somthing that really weakens his character IMO.

Where else are they going to go? Fighting the Uruk armies on the field just wasn't a viable option in the book or the movie. And since Eomer/Erkenbrand were so far off, they needed to hold out as long as possible. Helm's Deep was perfect.

 

[Shadowdancer]

While I agree that most movie adaptations are better off not trying to stay close to the source material (the first Harry Potter movie immediately comes to mind), there are a few occassions when a movie sticks close to the source material and succeeds.

The best example is probably "Sophie's Choice." While there were things that were in the book that were cut from the movie because of length -- some exposition and some backstory -- what was in the movie stayed very true to the book.

 

[Welverin]

No one's ever made a bad movie by trying to be too loyal to the source material? Come on, now...

Congratulations on successfully ignoring the point.

I did not say that strictly adhering to the original source produces a better movie, I was denying that it can never work. Saying that it has happened doesn't disprove my point.

Saruman's "blasting fire."

I have that card!

Anyway what's stupid about that bit isn't the explosion but the dumb ass Olympic flame runner who lights it, along with how he gets there.

Remember, Faramir's temptation wasn't to wield the Ring (he never takes the Ring away from Frodo), but to deliver it in order to earn Denethor's respect. An interesting distinction, I think.

One that makes no difference what so ever. Remember, Boromir didn't want the ring for himself either, you wouldn't argue that he wasn't corrupted by it would you?

 

[diaglo]

Hmmm...While I haven't seen either movie I've heard from several people that Manhunter is better than Red Dragon.

i would say Manhunter is better.

the only thing Red Dragon had going for it was the better quality of actors...aka...bigger budget.

 

[TiQuinn]

i would say Manhunter is better.

the only thing Red Dragon had going for it was the better quality of actors...aka...bigger budget.

Except that I couldn't get past Edward Norton as Will Graham. Not after William Petersen, who took the role with him and became Gil Grissom on CSI.

 

[diaglo]

you know they filmed part of Manhunter in Atlanta. The High Museum to be exact. the scene with him running around platforms.

 

[kengar]

Anyway what's stupid about that bit isn't the explosion but the dumb ass Olympic flame runner who lights it, along with how he gets there.

Granted the torch thing was cheesy. My point was that the bombs were in the books.

One that makes no difference what so ever. Remember, Boromir didn't want the ring for himself either, you wouldn't argue that he wasn't corrupted by it would you?

I wouldn't argue Boromir wasn't corrupted, but you are wrong about his motivation. Boromir wanted the Ring himself. Re-read the scene where he is talking to Frodo before he tries to take it (I don't have my copy of FOTR with me). Boromir starts off talking about how the Ring could help Gondor and ends up imagining himself the wielder of the Ring and a great lord. In the movie -which, I grant, the dialog isn't 100% verbatim from the books- he says (to Frodo) "It is not yours save by unhappy chance! It could have been mine. It should have been mine! Give it to me!"

I see a huge difference between the brothers here.

Faramir (in the film) never tries to take actual possession of the Ring but bring it his father and Gondor. That is a HUGE difference. Look at how badly the Ring tempted Galadriel (arguably the wisest person in Middle Earth). Faramir is certainly influenced by the power of the Ring, but not in the same way. One could even make the argument that the Ring knew that Faramir would have resisted a direct "tempting", so the will of the Ring worked around that by playing on Faramir's weakness regarding his father's lack of respect for him.

 

[kengar]

you know they filmed part of Manhunter in Atlanta. The High Museum to be exact. the scene with him running around platforms.

Cracked me up to see the High Museum of Art used as the set of an insane asylum.