No Contest: Tolkien runs rings around Potter

Weekend Journal (WSJ) ^ | 30 Nov 01 | Brian M. Carney

[Petronski]

Just when the menace of terrorism has darkened normal life and the guns of war have sounded, moviegoers on both sides of the Atlantic are turning out in huge numbers to see Harry Potter ride a broom across the silver screen and fight . . . evil.

[spoosman]

Well, I figured you might feel that way, considering your handle :))

[Sir Gawain]

That's silly, the ROYGBIV normal spectrum of light is bent by the 'magic' but infrared isn't?

No infrared isn't. I use the Predator style infrared. Think of that movie. It's based on heat. You can detect heat patterns even when something's invisible.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

in order to read this intelligently, YOU need to be able to understand written Anglo-Saxon, Old Norse, and Latin

I'll bet that this reduces the mass market potential somewhat.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

We're just up to the part where Gandalf explains to Frodo that his is the one ring.

Well, that would mean that you finished the Hobbit, which takes place about 30 years or more before the Fellowship, how did they like that?

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

LOTR looks pretty violent.

I think that they may have managed to squeeze it into a PG rating, instead of PG-13. All action movies don't have to be like Braveheart, you know, fine as that film was.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

I saw the first one, "Fellowship of the Ring," yesterday,

How, where, can I see it too. It is mean to say just this, while the rest of us have 18 days to go!!

[freebilly]

Rowling is unreadable by anyone over 10.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

my first one's only 7 weeks old... :)

Congrats, but how many others have you had in the last 7 weeks.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

did Frodo actually fail in his mission?

That is just one of the aspects of LOTR, EVERY character fails, at one point or another, even Gandolf and the Elves. But they never give up in their resolve.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

I was showing off my new son to one of the earth-hugging POB's (Pompous Old B^$#@rd) on campus last week and he had the gall last week to infer my Wife and I shouldn't have any more kids because the "planet was already overcrowded."

In the days when people were more civil, because they didn't live long if they weren't, you could have taken off your glove, slapped this guy in the face, and given him his choice of weapons. Ah, progress.

[freebilly]

The Narnia Chronicles, beginning with "The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe," are excellent children's fantasies.

I've read the Chronicles of Narnia to five of my children, and when the last is old enough she'll have them read to her, too.

Lewis and Tolkien were both Oxford professors and friends, and the accomplishments of these men have enriched and ennobled us.

I doubt I'll be able to say that about HP

[MLedeen]

My father worked for Walt Disney, so every now and then old family friends invite us to such things.

[freebilly]

LOL-- People starting raising their eyebrows at me after child #3 came. After child #5 someone told me I was being "selfish".

I asked her which one of the 5 I should dispose of to be less selfish. She had no answer.

#6 is now 6 & 1/2 months.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

I'm still envious though. Would it be rude of me to suggest that the fact that you are THE MLedeen probably didn't hurt either. Don't get me wrong, I believe that RHIP is a good thing.

[MLedeen]

I'm grateful for the flattery (as Gen Walters once said, anyone who thinks flattery doesn't work has obviously never had any), and it is certainly an enviable opportunity. On the other hand, there were other screenings "for distributors" several weeks ago, and at those events the theaters are filled up with all sorts of invitees, typically disadvantaged children, handicapped seniors, and the like.

So there are thousands of people to envy, you see...meanwhile, if you haven't seen the trailer (which is on something like www.lordoftherings.com), you should. It's beautiful, and it gives you a real taste of the movie.

18 days to go :=)

[SauronOfMordor]

"The wizard Saruman, a scholar and originally a good man, is corrupted by the ring. He starts out studying its history and eventually becomes obsessed with having it. In the end he is ruined, done in by the conceit that only he is wise enough to direct its powers toward the proper ends."

I say, without the slightest hint of sarcasm or tongue in cheek, that this is a perfect description of your typical Democratic legislator.

And also your typical Leftist/Communist agitator.

The seductiveness of power is most dangerous to people who percieve themselves to be better/smarter than average. From that follows the idea that the "masses" should be controlled "for their own good". And from THAT inevitably follows the death camps, gulags, and killing fields, because it is inevitable that the masses will not cooperate...

What Tolkein points out is that desire for power over others will corrupt even someone who was originally good

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

I'm glad to hear that the trailer isn't a cheat. As a computer geek, I have it right here on my hard drive of course (patting his mini-tower affectionately). I also have the song by Enya that plays over the close of the film. I have always preferred her to your typical pop singer, and i've read that in the context the song is extremely moving -- do you agree? Besides, she sings in Sindarin (and Quenya too?), anyone who does that has a lot to recommend her, I think. I'm probably going to buy the score -- I understand that it is much more subtle than a John Williams Star Wars type thing.

I know I'm going on too long, but if I could, I'd be questioning you for hours, but as I remember you handled experts in that field (and Democrats too, of course). General Walters always impressed me as a very savvy individual, your quote shows that he is both subtle and sharp.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

What Tolkien points out is that desire for power over others will corrupt even someone who was originally good.

Well I guess you would have to be considered the resident expert on that subject, Sauron.

[BlueHorseShoe]

Re: The Sillmarillion you said..."Like LOTR, it's a really wonderful "lose-yourself" read with a cigar and a cognac. :)..."

I'm not a cigar kind of girl! ;^D

"...Read it last if you're trying to get through the trilogy before the movie. You only have 20 days left! :)..."

I read the trilogy thirty years ago and savored every moment so I would enjoy reading it at my leisure (although sans cigar...hehe). I don't care if I reread it before the movie, I'm only hoping it is as remarkable as I remember it. Then I'll have to finally dig into The Silmarillion (on your recommendation) however I have promised myself to read Through the Looking Glass first. Seems this is a particularly good time to read wonderful books. Thanks.

[js1138]

I don't know much about dumbing down from personal experience, althoug I'm sure it has happened. Fourty years ago I attended a private military school. Spitshine, Brasso, the works. My daughter recently graduated from a public school magnet program for college prep. She had better teachers than I had, did more homework, and passed enough AP tests for two years of college.

I do not believe kids are any stupider today than in my day, although I believe more stupid kids are getting better grades (if that's what you mean by dumbing down).

You have only to read this thread to see that some kids today are still reading. I don't know any boys from my generation who read novels as young children. What we read was Popular Science, Boys Life, Field and Stream, and by age 12, Scientific American.