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attercop1 · 09-17-2003, 12:50 PM

I read the books a long time ago; was still in high school I think. No story before, or since, for that matter grabbed me like that one. I remember reading in a closet with a flashlight to all hours of the night I was so engrossed. So for years I both hoped for and dreaded the making of films telling that story. How could it be done? It's a huge, complex tale and to me every little detail was important, part of what made it so appealing. From the languages, songs, myriad of characters...it all just fit together in the perfect story of good versus evil. Who is qualified to pick and choose what or whom should be in or out? Or, God forbid, to CHANGE things...characters, scenes...BLASPHEMY!!! So as soon as I saw in The Fellowship of the Ring the "expanded" character of Arwen it all went downhill for me. If you know the story it's not too much of a stretch to figure out that the HUGE event that will take place in the beginning of the Return of the King...did not happen that way!!! And that happens to be one of my favorite scenes, along with The Flight to the Ford...also quite different than in the book; well, not what happened but whom it involved...anyone remember Glorfindel??? Not Arwen, the "Warrior Princess"! I'm hoping and praying that I'm wrong...but it seems to be headed that way. ARRRGGGHHH!!! Aragorn is too young and soft-spoken, I remember Gandalf as being more a crotchety old wizard than a kindly one. I think the best cast character was Orlando Bloom as Legolas, the 1 character that was a perfect fit I think. So I find myself practically taking notes...wrong...wrong...never happened...who the heck is that...? when I see the movies and I can't just sit back, relax and enjoy them. I so much wanted them to be perfect, just like the books. My kids talked me into reading the Harry Potter books and I think they did a remarkable job in re-creating that story; not so with The Lord of the Rings. So, I guess I'll go see The Return of the King, but I'm not waiting anxiously for it...tho i SO wish that I was. Think I'll go read The Hobbitt...

09-17-2003, 12:50 PM	#47 (permalink)
attercop1 Upright	I read the books a long time ago; was still in high school I think. No story before, or since, for that matter grabbed me like that one. I remember reading in a closet with a flashlight to all hours of the night I was so engrossed. So for years I both hoped for and dreaded the making of films telling that story. How could it be done? It's a huge, complex tale and to me every little detail was important, part of what made it so appealing. From the languages, songs, myriad of characters...it all just fit together in the perfect story of good versus evil. Who is qualified to pick and choose what or whom should be in or out? Or, God forbid, to CHANGE things...characters, scenes...BLASPHEMY!!! So as soon as I saw in The Fellowship of the Ring the "expanded" character of Arwen it all went downhill for me. If you know the story it's not too much of a stretch to figure out that the HUGE event that will take place in the beginning of the Return of the King...did not happen that way!!! And that happens to be one of my favorite scenes, along with The Flight to the Ford...also quite different than in the book; well, not what happened but whom it involved...anyone remember Glorfindel??? Not Arwen, the "Warrior Princess"! I'm hoping and praying that I'm wrong...but it seems to be headed that way. ARRRGGGHHH!!! Aragorn is too young and soft-spoken, I remember Gandalf as being more a crotchety old wizard than a kindly one. I think the best cast character was Orlando Bloom as Legolas, the 1 character that was a perfect fit I think. So I find myself practically taking notes...wrong...wrong...never happened...who the heck is that...? when I see the movies and I can't just sit back, relax and enjoy them. I so much wanted them to be perfect, just like the books. My kids talked me into reading the Harry Potter books and I think they did a remarkable job in re-creating that story; not so with The Lord of the Rings. So, I guess I'll go see The Return of the King, but I'm not waiting anxiously for it...tho i SO wish that I was. Think I'll go read The Hobbitt...