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HairOfTheDog's Lord of the Rings experience
HairOfTheDog

Posted on 12/24/2001 9:31:44 AM PST by HairOfTheDog

I saw the movie on Saturday night… the latest show of the night… 8:00

The theater scene…. The show was sold out… I had pre-purchased the tickets… We showed up in line about an hour before the film started and were about 50-people back from the front of the line. With me was my brother, who read the books a few times long ago, and a girl-friend that had never read them. Everyone liked it… I was not able to talk about it coherently immediately afterwards. I hope I can now.

I was stunned to see that there were a few small children in line, both because of the subject, and because of the lateness and length of the show. There was one woman with an infant and a toddler. I don’t think I hid very well my looks of disdain at her decision to bring them. I don’t understand parents that set their children up to fail. No way would they be able to sit quietly very long.

I mentioned to my brother that the composition of the line was predominantly adult and “normal” looking. He said – “Yeah, but did you see the people that are outside?” I had not. We were approached by a Kurt-Cobain-type teenager coming out of the prior show, who bummed a smoke before telling us that the movie was awesome and that when they let us in we better “bum-rush” through the crowd to get a good seat. I thanked him for his advice, but told him we were much too old to “bum-rush” anyone.

THE MOVIE

Starting off with a RANT? – How rude!

I guess my review is going to begin with a nit-pick. I did not feel at home immediately, unlike the reports of other Freepers. When the intro began I felt that the images were changing too fast for me to study them and too dark and evil for the start. I wanted to pause it. I was thinking OH NO.

I would not have shown the dark history graphically at the start of the movie… because I think it robbed the movie of the innocence that exists in Hobbiton at the start of the Fellowship. A reader that has transitioned from the Hobbit into the Lord of the Rings has not seen those things yet. The first black riders are not fully understood by the hobbits until later. The hobbits only knew that they were REALLY BAD. Only Frodo could sense that his ring was what was drawing them, and only after meeting up with Aragorn did they learn what the ringwraiths really were.

I think the movie played right from the perspective of the hobbits, but the film audience would have been better off if we didn’t know it all yet either. In the book, we knew the ring was magic, we knew that it had powers that may be dangerous, we learn that Gandolf suspects it is something far more dangerous than anyone ever dreamed. We know that Gandolf wants it out of the Shire, but Sauron and Isildur’s bane are hints and whispers that are slowly explained throughout the first book, either told by Gandolf, or Aragorn, or Elrond from the safety of Rivendell. I spent the beginning of the film after the intro trying to clear my mind again and regain the innocence, but you can’t really.

OK – NOW the RAVE

Who was outstanding?

Frodo captured my heart. His eyes expressed enormous depth in his joy and laughter, and in the honest naivety of dutifully taking on such a burden. You can see the weight begin to build as his understanding of the enormity of the task comes over him in waves, all through his eyes as if no words needed to be spoken. That role was such a tall order, and he was so beyond perfect. Sam was also very good, but not as developed in the film yet.

Legolas was THE elf…. He was so incredibly beautiful and so shockingly deadly with his bow. His speed and beauty and grace were captivating.

Aragorn was exactly right. He is the man women want. I would follow him anywhere, trust him completely with both my life and my heart, and adore him for his rough edges that would make my father nervous.

In fact, none of the characters were wrong.

I haven’t bonded with Merry and Pippen yet, but we won’t really get to bond with them until they are drug along by the orcs, and their role in the film will really begin when they escape and meet Treebeard and the ents. I would have bonded more with them at this point had the movie lingered longer in the early story.

Gandolf is credible and very much like my vision, and Gimli was good for the shortened role he got.

Boromir has more muscle in the book, plowing through the snow like a great bear and fighting off more orcs than one man could expect to beat. His sheer strength was worth taking him along on the trip, even if we couldn’t really trust him, we would be safe as long as Aragorn was around to keep Boromir in check.

Arwen was lyrical to listen to and beautiful as well as strong. I don’t have a quarrel with her expanded role except that there was no time for us to get up to speed. The depth of her love for Aragorn and the enormity of her sacrifice seemed like to much to give up after only a few minutes of relationship screen time. It seemed rushed, but was played with such sincerity that I was able to assume there had been more to the story that we did not have the privilege to see.

I was disappointed in Galadriel. She was not lyrical to listen to, but rather an actor reciting lines that she did not feel in her heart.

I did not miss Tom Bombadil, and some of you know how big of a statement that is for me. Clearly a high-point of the book, he would never have been developed enough to fit in at the rapid pace this film was moving at.

I would have told the story with more background, more film, and less orc-fighting. There will be more than enough time for orc-fighting in the next two books. I would have slowed it down to capture more of the back-story that brought all of these cultures together to fight as a fellowship for such a seemingly impossible goal. Had I not read the books, one may never understand how complex and individually grand all these characters are.

Overall it was great, and I look forward to seeing it again. I wish I had already seen it twice before writing this to be sure of the accuracy of my first impression, but I may not have time again until next week.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: tolkien
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Talk amongst yourselves…
1 posted on 12/24/2001 9:31:44 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
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To: Ecurbh; Texas2Step; Ramius; RosieCotton;Darth Sidious
OK-I wrote something down... took awhile to get around to it - I trust you will indulge me by pinging the others?
2 posted on 12/24/2001 9:34:12 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
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To: HairOfTheDog
Read The Books!
3 posted on 12/24/2001 9:35:26 AM PST by shuckmaster
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To: HairOfTheDog
...and Gimli was good for the shortened role he got.

Oh, bad pun.

I thought it was over done. Every scene at maximum emotional level. Hobbits crying half the time. Fifty to a hundred shots of the ring lying in open hobbit palm (We get it! Ring important!) Lake scene filmed under the harshest possible light conditions.

4 posted on 12/24/2001 9:37:30 AM PST by Henk
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To: Henk
I didn't even see the bad pun when I wrote it.

The emotion was what I wanted more of, so I would disagree with you on that point. Alas.

5 posted on 12/24/2001 9:41:00 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
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To: HairOfTheDog; texaggie79
I saw it last night. It couldn't live up to the buildup. It's not the greatest movie of all time. It was good, but it was no Star Wars. Frodo is a wuss. If it weren't for the humans, he would've been dead a long time ago.
6 posted on 12/24/2001 9:43:00 AM PST by Sir Gawain
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To: sirgawain
Of course Frodo would have been dead long ago without the help of the others. You don't get it.
7 posted on 12/24/2001 9:48:00 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
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To: HairOfTheDog
With your review 100%. I remember specifically the chapter in the book called "The Shadow of the Past". It sent shivers up my back. In it Gandalf first reveals the true danger of the ring. With all the history revealed in the opening scene, there was no space for this chapter to be revealed properly. To Sir Gawain: In the book Frodo was not a wuss. But his brave part in the flight to the ford was given to Arwen to expand her part. In the book he alone rides the elven horse to the ford, and stands in the saddle and says, "You shall have neither the ring nor me!" at which point they strike him senseless in the saddle. I missed that. But I agree with you that Star Wars was wonderful. How can you compare a 25 year old PG movie to this new PG 13 one? It's like apples and oranges. It was a movie with heart.
8 posted on 12/24/2001 9:49:46 AM PST by I still care
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To: HairOfTheDog
Arwen started two tears rolling down my cheek. I am not sure why other than Liv Tyler reminds me of the loveliness of the brunette beauties I knew in high school. In the middle somewhere I was choking up because I realized that Peter Jackson had captured the book as perfectly as anyone can translate a marvelous book to the screen. Then a few more tears when I realized that Boromir would die soon. (BTW I am a tough old guy.)
9 posted on 12/24/2001 9:50:49 AM PST by SurferDoc
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To: HairOfTheDog
I loved Galadriel and missed Tom Bombadil. I wish they had made the movie longer with more scenes and hope they actually did and will release the cut material with the DVD.
10 posted on 12/24/2001 9:53:27 AM PST by a_witness
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To: sirgawain
"It was good, but it was no Star Wars."

Unless Lucas gets a whole lot better, Jar Jar Wars will never look good in comparison to LotR. It's that obvious. Side by side, LotR makes Star Wars look like Bantha doo doo.

LotR is to Star Wars as the Beatles are to the Beach Boys.

11 posted on 12/24/2001 9:54:19 AM PST by Harp
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To: HairOfTheDog
Hiya Hair, indulge me one rant of the movie on your thread. I expected for the 'horn of Gondor' to shake the very walls of the theater, instead, it was like a Yugo in traffic. :)

ps - I saw it again yesterday. Great flick!

12 posted on 12/24/2001 9:57:21 AM PST by 68 grunt
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To: 68 grunt
You said something the other day about the horn didn't you? I was conscious of the comment during that moment in the film... yes it did seem to underplay the tone and range of the horn as described in the books :)
13 posted on 12/24/2001 10:02:46 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
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To: a_witness
I'm disappointed, so far, in the movie. The pacing was wrong and the unfolding of characters was weak. I'dve preferred the opening violent prologue occur after the arrival at Rivendell, and that the opening sequences been of the peacable Shire, and developing Frodo and Samwise better.
14 posted on 12/24/2001 10:04:00 AM PST by bvw
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To: jrherreid; HairOfTheDog; RosieCotton; billbears; ObfusGate; austinTparty; Texas2step; billbears...
ping
15 posted on 12/24/2001 10:05:08 AM PST by ecurbh
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To: bvw
I loved the movie. I left wanting it to be even longer. Of course I wanted the book completely put to film but I know a 10 hour movie was not forthcoming. It is easily my favorite movie.
16 posted on 12/24/2001 10:06:03 AM PST by a_witness
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To: a_witness
I have not heard any rumor that Tom Bombadil was even cast. I know that many were very taken by Galadriel...It may just be me. Her overall role definately may be improved in the longer version.
17 posted on 12/24/2001 10:06:26 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
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To: sirgawain
Can you still watch Star Wars ?
I think this will be a classic long after Star Wars fades.
18 posted on 12/24/2001 10:07:16 AM PST by a_witness
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To: 68 grunt
Well, I saw it and loved it. I have read the books and I though that the movie was one of the best movie remakes of a book ever!... Now for my comments.
  1. No background on the Hobbits fear of water, and how much effort it took for them to cross water.
  2. The Mines of Mordor were awesome.
  3. I missed the Borrow Downs. They should of been included.
  4. The hobbit holes were awesome.

19 posted on 12/24/2001 10:12:28 AM PST by vannrox
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To: bvw
I liked the opening prologue too, especially the battle scene against Sauron.
20 posted on 12/24/2001 10:18:28 AM PST by a_witness
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