HairOfTheDog's Lord of the Rings experience

HairOfTheDog

[HairOfTheDog]

The scenes with Sauron and the story of the other rings were very well done... I only would have moved them to the council meeting with Elrond.

[HairOfTheDog]

Thank you. I truly loved the experience, I just am not sure they put things in the right order or gave enough time to the back story.

I am not sure, of all movies, why Star Wars even enters conversations about this story.

[Sangamon Kid]

My two cents...

1. The hideous change of expression in Bilbo's face as he grasps for the ring at Rivendell was totally unnecessary. The torment of Bilbo's soul was already apparent. By that time in the movie it seemed obvious that the ring had an evil influence on men's (and hobbitt's) souls.

2. There were several places where the movie "lied to us". The scene in the mines of Moria where it looked as though Frodo had breathed his last, only to learn moments later that nothing had really seriously happened to him at all.

3. When Galadriel was offered the ring, the physical change that took place was goofy. The same holds true for the parts of the film when Frodo put the ring on. Apart from the initial unveiling of the Ringwraiths, subsequent scenes got pretty old.

4. If that's New Zealand, then I'm moving. What a gorgeous place! ( I say this realizing some of the scenes were mixed.)

5. The huge stone gate figures on the lake were awesome.

6. Liv Tyler is a doll despite having a loser for a dad.

[Buckeroo]

I will never forget the book called, "Bored of the Rings." It was the wittiest parody upon any book (or series of books) that I have ever read. I can't imagine a movie doing justice to this fine trilogy .... I won't waste my money.

[Neanderthal]

This is Mrs. Neanderthal. I have an eight year boy who saw the previews to LOTR when he saw the Harry Potter movie and he insists on seeing this. Is this movie inappropriate for an eight year old who seems to be scared of nothing?

[Restorer]

2. There were several places where the movie "lied to us". The scene in the mines of Moria where it looked as though Frodo had breathed his last, only to learn moments later that nothing had really seriously happened to him at all.

That scene is straight from the book. I believe Aragorn actually carries Frodo for a while believing him dead.

[Sangamon Kid]

Even some adults in the audience were physically suprised (gasp or light scream) at some of the visuals, though I can't remember exactly which scenes. Some of those orcs were pretty ugly. The movie at times overwhelms the senses.

[HairOfTheDog]

I don't know about your child. The violence is not what would stop me, but your child's ability to grasp it all when there is a LOT that is not clearly explained. If your child had read it and loved it, then I would say yes, but it is very long. My butt was sore at the end, and the few children within earshot said inappropriate things out of lack of maturity that almost earned my wrath. I am not sure kids benefit from it.

My adult friend that was not a reader of the books didn't "get" a lot of it. She said that she thought at various points that she hoped I would explain some of it later.

[Ditter]

I have not seen the movie or read the books. After reading your review & the reviews of others........ I am going to HATE it I'm sure I'm going to hate it. I don't want to hate it, its just sounds so stupid to someone who hasn't read the books. Maybe I should read the books first, what do you think?

[Gordian Blade]

Having just come back from the movie, I can safely say, "No." This is not a movie for the sub-13 audience. It's not the scary parts only, it's the length of the movie and the complexity of the story. My 12+ year old son chose not to bring a friend or two with us because he felt they couldn't sit still that long. He was right. (He's more mature than his friends.)

[Sangamon Kid]

That scene is straight from the book. I believe Aragorn actually carries Frodo for a while believing him dead.

You're right, but the book gives the impression that Frodo was knocked unconscious. The long drawn out expiring process shown in the film was misleading. At least that's the impression it left with me.

[HairOfTheDog]

Bilbo's change was OK for me.... He became gollum-like for an instant at seeing it again. It was kind-of shocking, but I thought it was OK

I agree about the change in Galadriel. The words were right, but as I recall she was beautiful and terrible, not demon-ghost-like.

The visualization of what Frodo sees when he wears the ring was good and important. I do recall that putting on the ring made him part of another world, with only dark images of the real world. It also explains through example why the riders could not see him better when he was NOT wearing it, because they see the same thing wearing their rings, relying instead on half-blinded instinct and the "sniffing".

[RogueIsland]

It was good, but it was no Star Wars.

Star Wars ceased to be great the day George Lucas decided to make Greedo shoot first. Alas, Lucas killed his own magnificent spawn. (yeah, exaggeration for effect. But the intense wussification of Lucas over the decades has been a sad and pathetic spectacle to behold).

[HairOfTheDog]

Definately read the books. If you love them, you will like the film. If you dont love them, you will at least know more about it than you did before. Begin with the Hobbit though... not the Fellowship.

[Sangamon Kid]

I guess the problem I have with some of those scenes is the choice of visual effects used by the moviemakers. In the case of Frodo's "ring on" scenes, I think the weird audio could have been dumped and the needed visual images could have been accomplished by using simple "out of focus" photography.

A little less reliance on "hi-tech" by the moviemakers could have helped. After 3 hours of sensory bombardment, I too was longing for my hobbit hole in the Shire.

[Paul Atreides]

It could get pretty intense for a kid. Once scene that I felt was inappropriate was the implied beheading of a hobbit. It was not in the book and I don't think it served any real purpose since it was not integral to the plot. I saw plenty of kids at the movie, but whether or not they were scared, I don't know.

The cast was great, and I was glad they chose such an outstanding actor as Sean Bean for the role of my favorite character, Boromir.

[HairOfTheDog]

After 3 hours of sensory bombardment, I too was longing for my hobbit hole in the Shire.

I know what you mean... I think that is why it took 2 days before I was able to come back to FR and talk about it.

[HairOfTheDog]

You would like it more than you think. Frodo will measure up, as will the rest of the cast.

[HairOfTheDog]

Where was this scene beheading a hobbit? In Galadriel's mirror? or Bree? I don't remember it.

[B Knotts]

Begin with the Hobbit though... not the Fellowship.

I agree! The Hobbit is the proper starting point. After reading it, you really care about Hobbits. And you need to care about Hobbits to care whether their peaceful world is destroyed. If you just jump into FOTR, you don't fully appreciate how unlikely a hero a Hobbit is.