I have to admit that LotR is the first case where I prefered the movie, and not the book version of the story. I usually read very fast, and the size of a book does not deter me, but LotR just did not catch me. I stopped reading somewhere in the middle of The Two Towers, something that hardly ever happens to me.
Wonder if I'm alone in this...
- Thread starter Paul_Klein
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Tiefling
First Post
It took me four tries to read the Hobbit. I finally finished it three years ago, and then, after three attempts, finally got through Fellowship of the Ring. I then went on to the Two Towers, abandoned it pretty quick, and am now trying to work back through Fellowship to refresh my memory so I can try Two Towers again, which I want to finish in time for the movie.
So you can put me down as someone who's not too enchanted by Tolkein's style.
So you can put me down as someone who's not too enchanted by Tolkein's style.
Dragongirl
First Post
Tewligan said:
Yes it does. I often skip over the first chapter as it really doesn't do much to inform you of ME history. Chapter 2 is short and introduces the evil "god" Melkor. Chapters 3-8 lets you understand the elves better. And starting with Chapter 9 you start getting into the meat of ME history with the return of the Noldor to the mortal lands. So even if you don't like creation, or the story of the gods getting the elves to Valinor, you have almost 300 pages of actual ME history that I just love.
Kid Charlemagne
I am the Very Model of a Modern Moderator
I'm not surprised that, having not read the books, you found the film tough going at first. By the same token, it doesn't surprise me that you enjoyed it more and more on repeat viewing; many people (myself included) find that the books have so much depth that repeated readings always seem to reveal something that you didn't notice before, or that seems new and different as you look on it with new eyes.
The good thing is that now that you have a solid grounding in the story, The Two Towers should be pretty clear sailing. And from what I've seen, the film looks to be incredible. I'm so stoked!
The good thing is that now that you have a solid grounding in the story, The Two Towers should be pretty clear sailing. And from what I've seen, the film looks to be incredible. I'm so stoked!
Mathew_Freeman
Adventurer
Can't wait to see the next film...
And although I do agree with whoever said that characters are introduced badly, it's only when I look back I realised that that's what happens - because in the film <i>every character</i> and I mean that literally is so well visualised that I picked up on who they were straight away!
Maybe the film makers simply forgot that not everyone had read the books? Or maybe they thought they could get away with it?
But as for the trailer for the Two Towers..."I come back to you now, at the turning of the tide..." Sheer magic. I swear. The <b><i>trailer</b></i> gave me goosebumps.
And although I do agree with whoever said that characters are introduced badly, it's only when I look back I realised that that's what happens - because in the film <i>every character</i> and I mean that literally is so well visualised that I picked up on who they were straight away!
Maybe the film makers simply forgot that not everyone had read the books? Or maybe they thought they could get away with it?
But as for the trailer for the Two Towers..."I come back to you now, at the turning of the tide..." Sheer magic. I swear. The <b><i>trailer</b></i> gave me goosebumps.
Re: Re: Wonder if I'm alone in this...
Hmmm, let me see ... Boromir on the mountain, when Frodo drops the Ring. Aragorn calls him by his name. Boromir does the "It is a strange fate" thing that is taken from scene in the book where he tries to take the Ring from Frodo.
Galadriel ... She asks Frodo, "Will you look into the Mirror of Galadriel?" It's not apparent that she is Galadriel until after Frodo offers her the Ring and she resists the temptation. "I shall diminish, and go to the West, and remain Galadriel", or words to that effect.
Celeborn isn't named at all, that I can remember.
Anyway, despite loving the movie, I agree that it was probably unclear to people who don't know the books. For instance, if you've read the books, you know the route the Fellowship is taking from Lorien. In the movie, all you know is that they have boats all of a sudden. You also don't know (although this isn't really relevant) that it's the same river that Isildur dies in, and where Deagol finds the Ring. Another instance is when Aragorn attacks the Uruk-hai: he yells "Elendil!" That's the first mention of that great king, the founder of Aragorn's line.
Having said that, I love the fact that Bilbo's adventures are hinted at, but never explained in detail. It gives you the feeling that there is much more to the world than is presented in the movie, rather than the movie being a self-contained world in which every detail has to be explained. Plus, it gives me hope that Peter Jackson might actually make a movie of The Hobbit.
JERandall said:
Hmmm, let me see ... Boromir on the mountain, when Frodo drops the Ring. Aragorn calls him by his name. Boromir does the "It is a strange fate" thing that is taken from scene in the book where he tries to take the Ring from Frodo.
Galadriel ... She asks Frodo, "Will you look into the Mirror of Galadriel?" It's not apparent that she is Galadriel until after Frodo offers her the Ring and she resists the temptation. "I shall diminish, and go to the West, and remain Galadriel", or words to that effect.
Celeborn isn't named at all, that I can remember.
Anyway, despite loving the movie, I agree that it was probably unclear to people who don't know the books. For instance, if you've read the books, you know the route the Fellowship is taking from Lorien. In the movie, all you know is that they have boats all of a sudden. You also don't know (although this isn't really relevant) that it's the same river that Isildur dies in, and where Deagol finds the Ring. Another instance is when Aragorn attacks the Uruk-hai: he yells "Elendil!" That's the first mention of that great king, the founder of Aragorn's line.
Having said that, I love the fact that Bilbo's adventures are hinted at, but never explained in detail. It gives you the feeling that there is much more to the world than is presented in the movie, rather than the movie being a self-contained world in which every detail has to be explained. Plus, it gives me hope that Peter Jackson might actually make a movie of The Hobbit.
Eosin the Red
First Post
I will be the oddball out --- The Silmarillion is my favorite Tolkien book. I have had a difficult time getting through the series both times that I read it. The one and only time I was able to read the Hobit was when my 3rd grade teacher read it to the class over a semester (I think). The Silm has enchanted my brain 6-7 times and each time I enjoy it more than the last.
The movie really hammers my love for fantasy -
The movie really hammers my love for fantasy -
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