New Read on 'Rings,' Double Standard on Slurs (Lord of the Rings is Racist)

Fox News ^ | Dec. 29, 2003 | Scott Norvell

[MorningCoffee]

The deep thinkers at Indymedia have come to the conclusion that the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy paints a "racist stereotypical tapestry" that does a disservice to young viewers everywhere.

Lloyd Hart says people of color are all associated with the Dark Lord Sauron in the movie and the elephant-riding mercenaries too closely resemble the cultures of Africa, Persia and East Asia. The Uruk-hai also too closely resemble Native Americans, which is sure to cause "a great deal of cultural and racial alienation."

[The G Man]

I thought Eowyn's fight with the Witch King was dead on.

My only pet peeve was that they didn't do justice to this passage, my favorite of the entire trilogy:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"The Black Rider flung back his hood, and behold! he had a kingly crown; and yet upon no head visible was it set. The red fires shone between it and the mantled shoulders vast and dark. From a mouth unseen there came a deadly laughter.

"Old fool!" he said. "Old fool! This is my hour. Do you not know Death when you see it? Die now and curse in vain!" And with that he lifted high his sword and flames ran down the blade.

Gandalf did not move. And in that very moment, away behind in some courtyard of the City, a cock crowed. Shrill and clear he crowed, recking nothing of wizardry and war, welcoming only the morning that in the sky far above the shadows of death was coming with the dawn.

And as if in answer there came from far away another note. Horns, horns, horns. In dark Mindolluin's sides they dimly echoed. Great horns of the North wildly blowing. Rohan had come at last."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the movie, the Witch King doesn't ride into the city to face Gandalf and the sounding of the great horns of the North is for only the briefest of moments, such that I didn't even realize that it had occurred until after they cut to the next shot of the Rohirrim preparing to charge across Pelennor Fields. (it was still exciting as hell though)

[Eowyn-of-Rohan]

Oh I am just getting TOO excited!!!!!:) Yes, Cate is a GOOD Galadriel! We are now designing our special NY Eve outfits to wear to the movie... thing is, we will be in the theater at midnight! What to do!? silly string probably wouldn't go over well... Fireworks or smoke rings? ;)

[Eowyn-of-Rohan]

I have done the same as you--read each book again before the movie comes out. I wanted my own impressions to stay intact, and not be affected by someone else's interpretation...I have only read the trilogy 3 times though, in about 20 years, so I defer to you (and my brother, who is a LOTR expert extraordinare also!) I will read the appendices, and I thank you for that information.

What I didnt like about the Aragorn and Arwen love affair was that I got tired of the close ups of Liv Tylers lips, but then I am a girl ;)

[Momaw Nadon]

Drool!!!

[MrConfettiMan]

In the movie, the Witch King doesn't ride into the city to face Gandalf and the sounding of the great horns of the North is for only the briefest of moments, such that I didn't even realize that it had occurred until after they cut to the next shot of the Rohirrim preparing to charge across Pelennor Fields. (it was still exciting as hell though)

We can always hope this scene is in the Extended DVD. :)

[ArrogantBustard]

her RotK fight with the Witch King.

Y'all seem to be forgetting her little comrade-in-arms ... taking out the Witch King was a tag-team effort.

[ArrogantBustard]

I can assure you, there's nothing whatever tiresome about Liv Tyler's lips.

[Eowyn-of-Rohan]

In YOUR mind, not in mine! ;)

[dljordan]

One, two, three, four, we don't want your Ring War! Equal rights for Orcs!

[Naspino]

Err -- it seems to be that to say the Orcs are Native Americans is RACIST. How anyone can see any resemblence is amazing.

[kb2614]

Wait, aren't Orcs just disenfranchised Elves???

[Gothmog]

Yeah, I missed that part too. I kept waiting for it to happen. The best part of the ROTK INMHO was when the orcs were chanting MY name when using the ram to smash down the city doors. Very cool.

[Rummyfan]

The battle at Minis Tirith was the greatest battle scene in the history of film btw.

Agreed. Those scenes was absoluteley incredible, especially the charge by the Riders of Rohan.

[Rummyfan]

No, in the book, Eowyn was in love with Aragorn but he was already planning to go with Arwen. Eowyn wound up marrying Faramir (Boromir's brother) and they were given the lands on the other side of the river from Minas Tirith to rule.

[JenB]

What, your name is "Grond"?

Gothmog was a Balrog at, I believe, the Fall of Gondolin. Grond is the name of the battering ram used on the gates of Minas Tirith.

[Rummyfan]

Someone complained about the Clones being Mexican and how this was racist. But it was revealed that the actor playing Bobo Fett (the Elder) is SAMOAN.

[rwfromkansas]

Doesn't gimli represent an attack on "fat, lazy, white male?"

/sarcasm :)

[rwfromkansas]

well, her lips are tired in my dreams.

j/k....:)

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

What color was Tom Bombadil? He wasn't in the films so they can't say. What color was Treebeard and the Ents? Can't say...but they looked fairly dark to me and they were heroes. Without the Ents...the world of men would have fallen. What color was Sauron? Can't say because all we saw was the Eye of Sauron and that was orange. What color was the King of the Eagles? Can't say for sure but he looked fairly dark to me. And Gandalf is dead without his efforts which makes him a hero. Not a human you say? Doesn't count? Well, the orcs and the Uruk-Hai weren't human either. They don't count by that rule. End of argument.

This article is so much puke.

[baseballfanjm]

That top Orc is offensive to Rastafarians. Let's boycott the movie.