The Lord Of The Rings Versus Harry Potter

[biffos]

Just watched Harry Potter and thought what a load of old crap! all I kept thinking was this is not very original is it.

[Macros746]

I myself have pondered the craze that is Harry Potter. Like I said before, I liked it, but I have read at least 40 fantasy novels that kick it's ass (which is why I was so offended when people kept comparing it to LOTR) THen I figured it out....the people who are saying these things have only read two fantasy series in their lives: Harry Potter and LOTR and, in worst case scenario, they haven't even read LOTR they have just heard of it. So, IMHO, the reason that Harry Potter is such a craze is that it is fantasy 'lite' and it is introducing many people who have never been exposed to the magical world to the magical world. In that sense I suppose it is performing a good service....I just wish I could set the reading requirements. Now class for the first two weeks we will be studying the HObbit and for the next three the Lord of the Rings. Then we will move onto a bit of Lovecraft, followed by Tad Williams, Robert Jordan, Robert Martin, Andrea Norton, Patricia McKellup (sp?), Steven King, Charles De Lint and Orson Scott Card....you will then have two months do do personal reading from my list....

Macros

[hitechjunkie]

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On 2001-12-12 15:09:51, bilbogod wrote:
Someone is already offering a CAM version of the movie on Morpheus!!!!!!!!!!! Don't know whether this is legit yet as I'm in the queue for it.. How do they do these CAM versions?? I've never seen someone in my local cinema sat there with a bloody great camcorder.
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My nephew is manager at the local Multiplex and he's always inviting me and the family down for midnight screenings of movies that just came in (something about making sure the media is not faulty). I am sure if I brought my miniDV cam with me, he wouldn't object.

[Feslmogh]

I wonder what all of you have to say about this....

http://www.family.org/resources/itempg.cfm?itemid=2604

I have the book and it's very uplifting! I am looking forward to the LOTR movie! Poo-Poo on Harry "Pooter"

http://www.family.org/pplace/pi/magic/

[ember]

I am sure there are some ppl who have found God in "A Clockwork Orange" and even "Emanuelle"..

[bilbogod]

I must admit I haven't read most of the other titles mentioned in the previous posts, but I did love reading something called " The Dragonlance Chronicles". Are you folks all familiar with these?
p.s I saw Emmanuele when I was fourteen...Oh what a day...and then there was Nine and a Half Weeks - bitter disappointment and then Eleven Days Eleven Nights. If there is a God then I see these as fitting tribute to his beautiful species

[Shabubu]

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On 2001-12-13 07:51:52, Macros746 wrote:
I myself have pondered the craze that is Harry Potter. Like I said before, I liked it, but I have read at least 40 fantasy novels that kick it's ass (which is why I was so offended when people kept comparing it to LOTR) THen I figured it out....the people who are saying these things have only read two fantasy series in their lives: Harry Potter and LOTR and, in worst case scenario, they haven't even read LOTR they have just heard of it. So, IMHO, the reason that Harry Potter is such a craze is that it is fantasy 'lite' and it is introducing many people who have never been exposed to the magical world to the magical world. In that sense I suppose it is performing a good service....I just wish I could set the reading requirements. Now class for the first two weeks we will be studying the HObbit and for the next three the Lord of the Rings. Then we will move onto a bit of Lovecraft, followed by Tad Williams, Robert Jordan, Robert Martin, Andrea Norton, Patricia McKellup (sp?), Steven King, Charles De Lint and Orson Scott Card....you will then have two months do do personal reading from my list....

Macros
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I agree, Harry Potter at least got most of the basic's of Fantasy right (the way magic is used, witch vs warlock vs sorceror and all of that jazz). And hopefully it will bring kids to more in depth books (who'd read all 9 wheel of time books without at least some introduction !!!) Though from that list I was wondering if you've read any David Eddings (the Belgariad in particular) and Clive Barker (much more fun than S King )

[bilbogod]

Source Annanova

Star Wars fans launch online appeal for Lord Of The Rings director

Star Wars fans want Lord of The Rings director Peter Jackson to take charge of the space movie series.

A petition has been launched on the internet urging George Lucas to hand control to Jackson.

More than 1,100 fans have so far signed the online petition.

The petition reads: "In light of recent George Lucas movies, more specifically The Phantom Menace and the soon to be released Attack Of The Clones, we beg thee of Star Wars creation to pass all creative rights to Peter Jackson.

"This endeavour would not go unnoticed by your loyal Star Wars fan base, who would see the movie repeatedly and buy many action figures and other Star Wars items.

"We ask this of you George Lucas in our most desperate hour of need."

The petition is available at http://www.petitiononline.com/dgkomxpq/petition.html

Story filed: 12:20 Monday 17th December 2001

Well, Well.... How many people have seen this movie yet, its not on at my local cinema until 19/12/01.





<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: bilbogod on 2001-12-17 12:53:34 ]</font>

[Macros746]

Shabubu,
I am a total idiot! I TOTALLY forgot about David Eddings and he is perhaps my favorite fantasy novelist. Although, I think you'll agree that the Belgariad and the sequel series are far and away the best he has written. His more recent books simply aren't as inpiredd. As for Clive Barker I do agree that he is amazing but I don't think that he has the craft that King has. Stephen King sometimes has truly crappy endings (from what I gathered from his book 'on writing' he usually doesn't know exactly where the book is going to go when he starts writing...this makes for some amazing endings...and some shocking bad ones...say IT for instance) but his craft and beautiful story telling are matched by very few modern authors. But CLive Barker mixes sexuality, horror and fantasy in a way that no other author ever has.

Macros

[Shabubu]

lol, I REALLY have to start reading again

Unfortunately Eddings did go to the dogs, same with Tad's other series (I think it was tad anyway, the one about the empire, where they saw it from the other side of the war from his first series).

The reason I love clive, well basically after reading the books of blood, was The Great and Secret show, was listeneing to orbital's "The Box" a lot at the time and it just fit so well

Did you ever try RA Salvator's the Dark Elf Trilogy (then played Baldurs Gate ) ??

[Macros746]

you aren't thinking of Tad Williams, you are thinking of Raymond E. Feist...and yes, he did go down the tubes too. I actually haven't read Tad's Otherworld series....a little afraid to really. I have never tried RA Salvatore's Dark Elf Trilogy but, now that you recommended it, I will....


Macros

[tlegion]

At least LOTR was't plagarized from an earlier work ala Larry (I mean Harry) Potter.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/entertainment/newsid_1224000/1224264.stm

[Shabubu]

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On 2001-12-17 13:45:28, Macros746 wrote:
you aren't thinking of Tad Williams, you are thinking of Raymond E. Feist...and yes, he did go down the tubes too. I actually haven't read Tad's Otherworld series....a little afraid to really. I have never tried RA Salvatore's Dark Elf Trilogy but, now that you recommended it, I will....


Macros
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Sorry that was the guy (I haven't actually read a fantasy book in 2 years, other that Jordan ) RA SAlvatore's book is series is a little... "Conan the Barbarian", but the Drow are such a cool subclass of elves that we forgive him He also invented the Character Dizzt Dourdan, the most famous character in the forgotten realms... (just for info Drow are completely immune to magic and all their armour and weapons give +4-5 bonuses... nasty little fuckers.)

[thump01]

To Jarry: Is it not thought of as a trilogy? (Lord of the rings) My mother gave me the 3 volume set in a nice, tidy holder. I know they were called "volumes", but I always thought of it as a trilogy. Considering they followed the story line, even though it went to the past and forward? (that I remember, geez I was like 10 at the time, and now 30!)Yes, The Hobbit, too, was interlaced with the story in it's own right. I have always thought of it as a trilogy because of the way it is packaged, not by the way it is named (volumes). So, what I am asking is: would it be appropiately labeled volumes with The Hobbit an extra to the story line? My mother still has it on my old bedroom dresser, in hopes my daughter will pick it up someday. I should grab it again and read it! There is just not a whole lot of encompassing the imagination as those books wrapped me into these days!
These days, I don't have the time to read as often as I would love. I couldn't think of anything better to start back to my favorite things: reading. Well, besides my husband and children! My memory is not what it use to be. It would be like reading it all over again. All those days of partying did my memory in.
Tracey

[bilbogod]

This movie is out today everwhere in the U.K.!!! Feedback please as soon as people have seen it

[bilbogod]

O.k. Just got back from seeing this and what can I say.... Excellent - Jackson has taken on difficult task and made a highly watchable and exciting film. I only wish I was five years old again, to enjoy it on a totally different level. The landscapes are stunning, lots of frightenening action scenes (little kids beware) and first rate acting. I have read the book before, and felt that they've made the best of it that they could. Don't want to spoil anything, except to say...."What Are You Waiting For, Go And See It"....

[marvel2020]

Lord Of The Rings For Me

Harry Potter Sucks

[jarry]

thump (Tracey):
I was being picky b/c so many newspaper movie reviewers whom never obviously read the books were calling it a trilogy and calling Mt Doom "crack of Doom," etc.! Agh! Blasphemy! However, since you asked, I went to look it up to make sure. In my edition of FOTR (Fellowship) there is a 4 page 'Note on the Text" at front of book. Very first line reads, "The [LOTR] is often erroneously called a trilogy, when it is in fact a single novel, consisting of six books..." -Douglas A. Anderson, Ithaca, New York, October 1986

Also, interesting footnotes say that Tolkien had titles for the 6 books but were dropped. According to manuscripts at Marquette University they are:
"The First Journey"
"The Journey of the Nine Companions"
"The Treason of Isengard"
"The Journey of the Ringbearers"
"The War of the Ring"
"The End of the Third Age"
ALso states that a variant on these titles is found in book Letters of JRR Tolkien, p 167. Also says that Tolkien preferred "The War of the Ring" as a title to 3rd volume [instead of ROTK] as it gave away less story.
I don't really know what The Hobbit is. I think it is often referred to as the Prelude to LOTR but that could be erroneous also. Hope this was interesting!! It was for me. I saw the movie WED night and it was absolutely stunning. I was speechless. Cannot be described.
I am re-reading them now. Finished Hobbit before movie. Now on FOTR. Worth the re-read. Only book I have EVER read more than once is now these. I too had many brain cells annihilated in college (when I read them). I'm soon 34 and will no longer have time for this when my first-born comes ANY DAY NOW!

Amazing how many great stories have used LOTR. Even B5 sci-fi series on sci-fi channel which is probably the best sci-fi series ever written and put on TV uses LOTR ideas: Shadows, Third Age of Man, the list is endless.

[Bullworth]

Ha! Just got back from watching LOTR and I have to say if they other ones are as good as this and follow the book as good as this one then it's a shame we have to wait two years between films. I wasn't too crazy abou it at first because I know that alot of movies today are mostly hype, and this can especially apply to book adaptations since alot of directors and studio execs butcher the entire plot to make a quick buck. This was totally worth it!
Just the other day I was watching on TV how they were explaining why movies have become essentially so shallow here without much to offer but big names and special effects. For a long time now movie studios have counted on the revenue the movie will make outside the U.S. Movies which do OK or disappear within the first few weeks are hits elsewhere, so in order to exploit this most movies are made with the impression they'll cause in Europe and Asia, not the U.S. I knwo it's crappy but that's the way it is. Gone are the days when all that was required was a good plot and a chance to meet with a director or someone close to him/her to get a good movie made. Now all these decisions are made by a group of about 30 to 50 people who ask: How much money can we expect to make off of this? (obviously) How many big names can we hire to substitute for the story? How many fast food chains can we sign with to get kids to drive their parents crazy to buy some crappy toy in the kid's meal? How much hype can we generate before people realize we just robbed them blind?
I know I posted earlier that J.R. Tolkien's son said that his father wouldn't have cared about this movie at all, but after what I saw even I have my doubts.

[Roswell_Kris]

hey
i have got a copy of the cartoon version of LOTR..
how much is it worth ?

cant wait till LOTR comes out here, Us aussies have to wait till Boxing day....

[bilbogod]

The Cartoon is only worth a lot if you have the original Thorn EMI release. I posted a picture of it on the page before this... Last year it would fetch £100 no problem.
I totally agree with Bullworth's comments, its far too easy for the industry to cop out for the money... TLOTR retains a special magic for the movie industry in that it doesn't try to be "sophisticated and cool". It'll be a timeless film because it's not trying to plug the latest Nokia technology or create interest in superficial things like branded clothing and Gel swept hairstyles....
On a real downpoint my friend hated the film. I feel like a total wretch even saying this. He has never read the books (arguing this shouldn't be necessary) and claimed that it lacked originality using 2 dimensional characters. I swiftly tried to remind him that growing up on a staple of inferior cast offs doesn't help. But my impression is that most of the cinema was awestruck, I must see this movie again if only to lose myself in the wonderous landscapes.
p.s. If New Zealand is half a patch on the landscapes seen in the film, I have got to come and visit. Any offers??

[jarry]

NZ is quite awesome (sorry Kris, Australia is nice too but NZ is AWESOME). Visited both in '99.
Bilbogod- If you can go to both, great. If can choose only one: south island of NZ. Nobody lives there. We went in July and had the island practically to ourselves! Magnificent. Of course, the castles were CGI.
-No Worries!
(just so u know, I'm a Yank)

[Maui_Lover]

I have seen both movies and enjoyed them both for what they were. I have read both sets of books and enjoyed them both very much.

Why must it be an either/or choice? Although they are both fantasy I never would have thought to compare the two. And the only reason they are being compared now is the fact that they have been released so close together. Would you compare, say, Dirty Harry to The Naked Gun simply because they are both cop films?

Lets face it The Lord of the Rings was excellent but it ain't really gonna draw in the core Harry Potter audience. And, as seen by posters here, The Lord of The Rings crowd is looking down its nose at Harry Potter.

Personally, I think both were well done and absolutely accomplished what the filmmakers wanted and I'm glad I saw both. It's rare enough to have a Fantasy movie released let alone two good ones at the same time. Maybe if both are hugely successful the studios might try to make more. i am sure we all have our favorite fantasy authors whose work we would love to see made into a film.

[bilbogod]

The question didn't really start out as a comparison, so much as a speculation over which would draw the biggest box office. I still haven't seen Harry Potter, and would welcome any film that is engrossing with its viewers