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.

[MrConfettiMan]

I was first introduced to Tolkien in my high school British Literature class by Mrs. Buehner. I can't thank her enough. After reading The Hobbit in that class, I took it upon myself to get a copy of The Lord of The Rings. I've read it at least half a dozen times since then and am just about to finish The Fellowship of The Ring in preparation for the movie. I'm currently at the tail end of the Council of Elrond.

[billbears]

LOL!! I remember the first two weeks in first grade I refused to read the Dick and Jane books. The teacher requested a meeting with my parents. She wanted to put me in LD(Learning Disabled, and yes here in NC they actually called it that, talk about a shot in the arm of cofindence) I had been reading the newspaper since I turned five. Should have seen the teacher's face as I read the front page of the paper at the parent/teacher conference

[MLedeen]

I saw the first one, "Fellowship of the Ring," yesterday, and was amazed at how perfectly Tolkein's universe was translated onto the screen. The characters are perfect, and you know the movie's gonna be ok when you first go to the Shire, which is exactly the way I imagined it when I first read LOTR 36 years ago.

[ikanakattara]

To compare HP and LOTR is like comparing apples and oranges. HP is in many ways a *satire.* In England there is a whole genre of "school stories" - most are realistic but there are some "magical" ones, and most of them make fun of the whole boarding school experience. Besides, there is the strong element of satire, which IMO makes Rowling closer to someone wickedly funny like Roald Dahl or (in the US) Shel Silverstein or Jack Prelutsky. Finally, Rowlings' books are directly aimed at children, even though so many adults have found them engaging that the British publisher even came out with "plain cover editions" for those too embarrassed to let their fellow Tube riders know that they were reading HP.

[Sir Gawain]

True infrared vision (not night vision as some would define it), which most non-human races have, can easily detect invisible creatures.

[Jefferson Adams]

And I shouldn't have to point out that at the time the Hobbit was written in 1937, LOTR to follow in the late 40s-early 50s, that it was written for the 10-13 age group. So that tells me several things. One, morality was much more important at an early age than now, and two, the educational level of this nation has fallen so low that we have to read such basic short sentence novels like Potter to children rather than allow them to explore not only their vocabulary but their inner selves as well with Tolkien

Correct, and extremely well put. Sad, isn't it?

[Jefferson Adams]

I saw the first one, "Fellowship of the Ring," yesterday, and was amazed at how perfectly Tolkein's universe was translated onto the screen.

Now THAT is good news! :)))

[ArGee]

In other words, the book equivalent of a "special effects" action movie.

Maybe so, but Tom Clancy does that much better. Of course, Tom writes for adults.

Doesn't he?

Shalom.

[PJ-Comix]

We need a really good movie this year. So far most of the movies have been horrible. "Planet Of The Apes" was extremely disappointing and most of the other flicks were pretty lame. Even the much-touted "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" wasn't nearly as good as the hype plus I got sick of that phony looking air floating routine.

[Sideshow Bob]

If you never attended a boarding school you can't fully appreciate the humor. You might understand it intellectually, but not feel it.

It's a boarding school thang, you wouldn't understand.

[js1138]

Last time I looked the gross for Dirty Harry didn't quite match the take for Star Wars. I'm talking box office, not quality. Between any two action movies sharing equal hype, the one that appeals to younger kids will win the greater audience. And be watched more often on video.

[ArGee]

A story telling us that evil cannot be appeased, but must be opposed and destroyed, even at great personal cost, is so right for our times.

And that it can only be defeated by the most ordinary of men doing the most extraordinary of things.

Or so my old Gaffer would have said.

Shalom.

[BlueHorseShoe]

And we shouldn't leave out Lewis Carroll's, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass.

I have a copy of The Annotated Alice which I'm getting ready to start reading and it looks to be quite interesting. It is touted as follows: "...the first and only edition of Lewis Carroll's two masterpieces that contains the full text, original Tenniel illustrations in correct position, and includes a full annotation by the celebrated scholar Martin Gardner."

I have always wanted to read this and never have done so. Now seems a good time.

[Huck]

Hmmm. So much to read, so little time. What's the first one in the series? Maybe I'll have a go at it (although I bet the library doesn't have a spare copy right now). I was going to get back into some history, maybe the new John Adams book. But maybe I'll get into the Tolkien books.

[Carry_Okie]

Both girls, both doing high school algebra. The elder has completed high school in math. I recently got copies of Kidnapped and Treasure Island and they both loved them. Another big hit with the nine-year old was Twain, especially A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. Last year the elder (FReeper NattieShea) published her first paper here.

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

I think you are missing a vital point. It is the Adults that are reading Children's books. And thinking that they are great literature. Education is fading fast. Welcome to the new Dark Ages.

[Billthedrill]

Read The Hobbit first to get a feel for the terminology and the territory. Then begin the series with The Fellowship of the Ring, followed in turn by The Two Towers and The Return Of The King. The Hobbit is a nice little story that sucks you in, kind of like wading in a kiddie pool...you get the same feeling in The Fellowship for about the first two chapters, then all of a sudden you realize you've just stepped off into the deep end, and there ain't no turning back. It is very profound literature that may be understood on a number of levels, as well as a riveting story. Might just change your life...

[Texas2step]

Review...we demand a full review! How good is it? Can I take my 10 year old? She's absolutely dying to see it, but I'm afraid it might be too gory or violent.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

You were lucky enough to get to see an advanced screening? Can you write a review for us to read?

[js1138]

How could I have guessed they were both girls? Most younger boys just don't read much fiction. Girls are several years ahead of boys in social development at age 10.

I'm a bit amazed at the snobbiness on this thread. Sound like a bunch of Ha'vard professors sitting around the faculty lounge.

You cannot directly compare two books written in different genres for different audiences.