LOR Trilogy

[Marco33]

I finaly sat down to watch the LOR trilogy. First off, I've never read the books, seen the cartoon etc. I couldn't tell you the difference between a gelfling and a hobbit but, I'm into movies and I felt I should watch some movies in my lifetime. LOR being one of them... or three of them.

I don't realy care for "fantasy" films. I love sci-fi but, fantasy seems like a stretch for me. Sci-fi still has some basis in fact... a discussion for another time.

I enjoyed them. In the first 45 minutes I was hooked to the story line. Over the three movies I like them in that order. Fellowship-4 stars, Towers 3 1/2 stars and the ROTK 3 stars.

That said, it seems to me the story dragged in some spots while glossing over others. Could have used 2 or 3 more movies to move the story along better. Sitting for 3 hours at a pop seems like force feeding. By the last fillm I was full hence the low ratting.

FYI the SE version of the ROTK has 50 additional minutes... that's like 4 and a half hours, uh

Was it written like that? Meaning, broken into three parts?

Could they have broken it up more and still made complete movies?

[Cobra]

I was disappointed with the way they didn't accurately follow the story. In the last film, they should have gone to the Shire and found that it was overrun by orcs, but that didn't happen in the film. Various inaccuracies like that really bugged me since I read the books before I watched the films.

Still, very good films.

[Marco33]

In the last film, they should have gone to the Shire and found that it was overrun by orcs, but that didn't happen in the film.


I totaly expected that to happen at the end but it didn't. Wierd.

[yoda313]

Hello,

FYI - Common short hand notation for THE LORD OF THE RINGS is:

LOTR

note the T

Anyway.....

ORIGINALLY the LOTR was supposed to be ONE GIANT NOVEL. It was split into three books because they couldn't print a small enough book back then to hold all the pages. So they decided to split the book.

Much of the LOTR movie trilogy was done at the same time. So pieces were stitched together as they filmed it. Some scenes were rewritten several times or cut out completely. Many major story arcs were changed and/or omitted from the movies to fit the medium.

If you watch it with the director commentary Peter Jackson and the writers give a detailed explanation of why certain elements were changed or eliminated. Some were for pacing reasons and others were for "indiviualizing" this version.

Overall though they more than capture the whole spirit of the LOTR trilogy. I HAVE read the entire trilogy INCLUDING the HOBBIT. So I know they left out major parts and changed whole sub stories.

Like in the TWO TOWERS. The elves never join the battle at HELMS DEEP.

In FELLOWSHIP it's GANDALF who takes Frodo to Rivendel and not ARWEN. ARAGORN has the SWORD from the beginning of the story. It is reforged later. ELROND doesn't bring it to him in ROTK.

HOWEVER - despite all the major story changes - (like SAM being seperated from FRODO before meeting up with SHELOB) the EMOTIONAL thrust and underlying story is intact. Remember - this is a MOVIE. Movies can't retain EVERYTHING from a book. And somethings in a book simply can't be recreated.

Even some of the interviews in the BONUS material admit that some book adapations on the big screen don't follow closely enough while others should have branched out and explored more with the different aspects movies allow (I believe CHRISTOPHER LEE stated that opinion can't remember for sure).

BUT by all means they are an enoyable series. Well crafted and made with exacting tenderness for a beloved story the whole world has fallen in love with for the past 50 odd years.

Kevin

[flaninacupboard]

The extended versions help pull out a little more story.

I'd love to see the trilogy in a HD format....

[Marco33]

So all three have extended versions... cool. I'll try to rent those next time. I think I would like to see the story fleshed out more.

[waheed]

its rather impossible to do a movie straight from the book page by page. it would be a mess.

i haven't read the books, but though the movies were great. the extended editions go into more depth. one of my favorite movies of all times alongside star wars.

[Silvas]

In FELLOWSHIP it's GANDALF who takes Frodo to Rivendel and not ARWEN.

Acutally, it was Glorfindel, an elf-lord, that took Frodo to Rivendell.

[yoda313]

In FELLOWSHIP it's GANDALF who takes Frodo to Rivendel and not ARWEN.

Acutally, it was Glorfindel, an elf-lord, that took Frodo to Rivendell.

Hello,



I'm shamed.......

Kevin

[Xylob the Destroyer]

These are definitely high on my list of all time favorite movies.
I love all three films, but they are crap compared to the books.
Marco33, you should definitely take the time to read the books, BUT, read "The Hobbit" first.
If you have a lot of patience and are good at remembering names, "The Silmarillion" is also an excellent read, but can be difficult to follow -- many of the characters have upwards of 10 different names.....

[yoda313]

Hello,

Marco33, you should definitely take the time to read the books, BUT, read "The Hobbit" first

I second that suggestion!!! I read all 4 books - the HOBBIT plus the trilogy over a two year period - sometimes just 10 or 15 minutes a day during lunch.

But start with the HOBBIT as that REALLY explains how BILBO got the ring in the first place. Plus it gives a beginners road map of MIDDLE EARTH so its easier to follow the landscape in the LOTR.

Kevin

[Marco33]

Ok I'm back... upgraded my PC.

I would love to read the books... but, I have a bad speed reading hobit..er habit.

I read real fast and understand but I realy don't enjoy myself. That bugs me.I might try it anyway.

[yoda313]

Ok I'm back... upgraded my PC.

I would love to read the books... but, I have a bad speed reading hobit..er habit.

I read real fast and understand but I realy don't enjoy myself. That bugs me.I might try it anyway.

Hello,

Try books on tape

Though you might only get an abridged version - LOTR would be what, 50 tapes or cds????

Kevin

[Noahtuck]

FYI the SE version of the ROTK has 50 additional minutes... that's like 4 and a half hours, uh

I know, i loved the movies but damn!!! 3 hours was pretty hard to sit for a whole movie... can't wait to get recliner sore's watching the extended version... but i will :P

[waheed]

FYI the SE version of the ROTK has 50 additional minutes... that's like 4 and a half hours, uh

I know, i loved the movies but damn!!! 3 hours was pretty hard to sit for a whole movie... can't wait to get recliner sore's watching the extended version... but i will :P

i would definitely recommend watching the extended version. I really enjoyed it.

[Marco33]

Next time I got a hanker'en for Frodo's and Gandalf's... I'll watch the EX versions.

Look at that they are already on my Netflix list.

Wo ho