I'm traditionally a bit of a 'guns and grenades' or sci-fi kind of guy, rather than 'swords and sorcery', when it comes to my entertainment. I have read most of LOTR:Book 1, but after having to read all the hippy rubbish about 'Tom Bomsomethingoranother' (thankfully cut from the film) and getting a little bit confused as characters are introduced en masse, I gave up. (Ok, my holiday came to an end too, and I must admit, that is the only time I read fiction).
But anyway, my point is, I don’t care if it is not true to the book, as not every word Tolkein penned was genius in my opinion (Russ expects to be flamed). And Return of the King just blew me away – it is an amazing spectacle. Even if I didn't care for Frodo’s tale much, the battle scenes are just AWESOME. I knew Peter Jackson could not get it wrong. Anyone who has seen Dead Alive (aka Brain Dead) knew what this man was capable of… 😉
-Russ
Originally posted by JackoYou mean all the stuff after the destruction of the ring? I thought a lot of that could have done with cutting out of the book. I'm sure Saruman will make an appearance in the extended DVD version.
i didnt like it, they missed too many crucial parts out of the film!
David
That bit with Legolas flying around the oliphant like spiderman and taking it down singlehandedly was just plain silly. I didn't care much for the überelephants at all, actually. They reminded me too much of Imperial land walkers from Star Wars. I kept expecting Rebel fighters to come zooming by and wrap cable around their legs to disable them.
All in all, a superior movie, though.
I've red the books in Dutch several times, I've red the books in English a few times and have seen the movie more often than...than...whatever...😀
I saw ROTK for the third time last saturday, it keeps amazing me...🙂
I have played most of the games too, I like the first-person one best, has anyone else played any of the LOTR games?
Olav
Originally posted by RussI agree with that, being a sort of "Bad Boys 2" gun...I mean guy myself 😀.
I'm traditionally a bit of a 'guns and grenades' or sci-fi kind of guy, rather than 'swords and sorcery', when it comes to my entertainment.
Because the cinema was full-on packed sold-out (being the Boxing Day open...yes, I am a lucky B@$t@rD...) I had to choose a seat right near a speaker. That is deadly, especially when the Ringwraiths dragon squels for a good three-and-a-half minutes. I can still hear my ears ringing.
Originally posted by AcolyteYes I agree! I think the ending could have done with a little trimming around the edges. The movie was mostly spectacular though.
You mean all the stuff after the destruction of the ring? I thought a lot of that could have done with cutting out of the book. I'm sure Saruman will make an appearance in the extended DVD version.
The only scene I thought was badly done was the one towards the end where Frodo wakes up to find himself re-united with his companions. I think that was just plain corny - so much so that it looked almost like some sort of a "happy ending parody" to me. After such a life threatening, epic adventure, where they didn't know whether their friends were alive or dead, each having come within inches of death, I should think that the re-union would be bit more about sombre, greatful tears of joy than the sort of "slow-motion jolly frolicking" seen in the movie.
Overall, the movie was good enough to get away with one bad (very bad) scene though, I think. 🙂
-Jarno
Originally posted by PyrrhoYou know what, I had forgotten that bit, and yes, it was truly awful. In fact, everything after the ring's destruction seemed a little bit redundant to me. Some of that stuff should have been kept for the director's cut, me thinks.
I should think that the re-union would be bit more about sombre, greatful tears of joy than the sort of "slow-motion jolly frolicking" seen in the movie.
Overall, the movie was good enough to get away with one bad (very bad) scene though, I think. 🙂
-Jarno
-Russ
Originally posted by rwingettAs much as I enjoyed this third installment, as it is closest to the books, I have to agree with this, the CGI is almost appallingly clumsy. I was also a bit disappointed with the Hollywood-ization of the scene at Orodruin/Mount Doom.
That bit with Legolas flying around the oliphant like spiderman and taking it down singlehandedly was just plain silly.
***SPOILERS***
My few nitpicks about the movie:
1) In the book, Smeagol/Gollum bites the ring off of Frodo's finger, and as he's rejoicing in finally regaining the ring, one of the constant tremors in the volcano catapults him off of the ledge. Frodo is NOT left hanging to be dragged to safety by Sam.
2) The portrayal of Denethor, Steward of Gondor, was off the mark. He's presented in the movie as an unreasonably irrational man who has simply given up. In the books, he is a toweringly noble figure who has been driven mad by a palantir (of which no mention is made in the film).
3) One of my favorite scenes in the book, the confrontation between Gandalf and the Witch King after the fall of the Gates of Gondor, was omitted. I can only hope that this will be in the full-length version on the DVD.
4) Frodo and Sam are somehow back in hobbit attire after escaping from Cirith Ungol. They ought to be in Orc armor for the entire journey to Mount Doom.
5) Too much of Saruman is cut. Again, I can only hope that this is corrected when the DVD is released.
6) Liv Tyler. I dislike how the romance between Aragorn and Arwen is played up, as it is based on material from the appendices, not the actual text.
There's a few other things (like Sam actually wearing the ring), but I don't want to give the impression that the movie is poor. It's far and away the best of the three.
Some things that I liked:
1) When the Rohirrim were mustering they are encamped at a place called Dunharrow. You may have noticed that there was a zig-zaggy path up a cliff-face and there were rudely carved statues on that path. These are described in the book; they're known as Pukel-men and no one knows who carved them, although they suspect the wild men who help Rohan in the book but not in the film.
2) The skulls at the entrance to the Dwimmerberg were pretty close to how I had pictured them when reading the books as a kid.
3) Gimli hardly had any of those silly crowd-pleaser lines that grated on me so much in The Two Towers.
4) This one is kinda silly but it had me smiling throughout the Battle of Pelennor Fields. That main orc general (Gamling) looks almost exactly like that one villian in The Goonies. Hilarious!
5) I know I'm not the only one completely in love with Miranda Otto, who played Eowyn. Good Lord, she's beautiful!
6) The transformation of Smeagol to Gollum was a nice addition, especially for those unfamiliar with the books.
Again, there are others, but this post is getting too long. So I'll shut up now.
Originally posted by PyrrhoI agree. It was very reminiscent of the Wizard of Oz.
The only scene I thought was badly done was the one towards the end where Frodo wakes up to find himself re-united with his companions. I think that was just plain corny - so much so that it looked almost like some sort of a "happy ending parody" to me.
Again, this is not how it is done in the book. There, Frodo is taken to the Houses of Healing to recuperate from his wounds. Gandalf and the others visit him there individually (except for Merry, who is also recuperating from his battle with the Witch King) and it is all quite somber.
Damn Hollywood.
Originally posted by Poison GodmachineForget lotr. What happened to your avatar? Please don't tell it got edited.
I agree. It was very reminiscent of the Wizard of Oz.
Again, this is not how it is done in the book. There, Frodo is taken to the Houses of Healing to recuperate from his wounds. Gandalf and the others visit him there individually (except for Merry, who is also recuperating from his battle with the Witch King) and it is all quite somber.
Damn Hollywood.