The Lord of the Rings

lbt/cty_lover · **Reply #40 on:** February 12, 2008, 10:33:39 PM

There were two things I liked in the movie: The ghost army kicking butt and the Ents doing likewise.

I am on The Two Towers, and it is my kind of book. I can't wait until I finish it and begin reading Return of the King.

Kor · **Reply #41 on:** February 13, 2008, 02:23:03 AM

I've read some of the middle earth books quite often when I was younger, though I've not read them for years, I did enjoy reading them then, and listening to the lord of the rings once on audio cassette I checked out once, as well as reading the books many times.

I like the first 2 movies, I've not seen the third one yet, I"ll eventually get it on dvd.

Kor · **Reply #42 on:** April 07, 2008, 03:15:00 PM

I found some links on youtube of Tolkien reciting various things from his middle earth books. I remember listening to most of those a cassette way back. There are 3 of Christopher Tolkien reading from a bit of a story from the first age also. Hope the folks don't mind. One of the things has Tolkien speaking elvish.

Troll sat alone on his seat of stone (2.40 minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9WmxwgW2J0

J.R.R. Tolkien recites the Ring Verse ( .56 minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s59oDfDoI8&feature=related

J.R.R. Tolkien reciting "Nam·ri”" (in actual elven) ( .51 minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6de_SbVUVfA&feature=related

J.R.R. Tolkien reads from 'The Hobbit: Riddles in the Dark' (9.51 minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VOdv2RE4jg&feature=related

Tolkien Interview from 1971 with the bbc 4 radio (9.53 minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-G_v6-u3hg

JRR Tolkien Reads LOTR - An Entish Chant (1.07 minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPV63iW6gFM

"Of Beren and Luthien" read by Christopher Tolkien part 1 (1.32 minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqRDDDW2leY

"Of Beren and Luthien" read by Christopher Tolkien part 2/1 (6.02 minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmhRs-RfNr4

"Of Beren and Luthien" read by Christopher Tolkien part 2/2 (4.32 minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7qoZgcdrgI

"Of Beren and Luthien" read by Christopher Tolkien part 3 (8.07 minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31ac6kAcCQE

Nick22 · **Reply #43 on:** April 07, 2008, 10:11:56 PM

Christopher lee was the only one among the cast ogf the film trilogy to hsve meet Tolkein. He's a LOTR fanatic, and was the resident expert on minuate.

Kor · **Reply #44 on:** April 07, 2008, 10:52:46 PM

That is interesting. I never heard that or knew that about him.

Malte279 · **Reply #45 on:** April 08, 2008, 01:45:54 AM

Yes, I also heard that to Christopher Lee participating in this movie meant really something like the fulfillment of a dream. One of us participating as an acting character in a land before time movie; something like that

Therefore Christopher Lee was quite angry when all scenes including him were cut from the cinema version of the lord of the rings (something I can well understand as the special extended edition DvD version was certainly improved by including those scenes). Anyway I don't mean to get of topic by talking about the movie rather than the book.

Nick22 · **Reply #46 on:** April 08, 2008, 03:05:05 AM

They did eventually compromise, although in the books the denounement comes in the middle of the third book, and SAruman and Grimsa eventually end up taking over the Shire. the scenes were cut from the third film, he appeared in the first two..

Kor · **Reply #47 on:** April 08, 2008, 03:23:40 AM

I guess he waits till Gandalf and Elrond leave middle earth then he takes over the shire in the movie version.

Nick22 · **Reply #48 on:** April 08, 2008, 03:31:49 AM

No, that part was never filmed. in the falm Saruman is stabbed in the back by Grima and he falls to his death at orthanc.

Kor · **Reply #49 on:** April 08, 2008, 04:11:03 AM

So what happens at the shire in the books happens at Orthanc? I guess the cut out the shire stuff for time since that could be a fourth film all by itself.

Malte279 · **Reply #50 on:** April 08, 2008, 04:40:10 AM

The only reference to the scouring of the Shire in the movies is an image which Frodo sees in Galadriel's mirror. The movies have Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin return to an unspoiled Shire whereas in the book Saruman had taken over.
For the movie they decided to move a similar scene (with Grima killing Saruman and Grima getting killed by Legolas instead of some halflings) from the end of the return of the king to the beginning of it. This probably was a wise move as many not so enthusiastic fans of LOTR complained that the movie was going on for too long after the destruction of the ring.
It may be hard for not so enthusiastic fans to appreciate the message of the scenes after the destruction of the ring; the fact, that is, that there is not simply a "happy end" but that some scars of the war will never heal, that the elves are leaving middle earth, that a new age begins.

Kor · **Reply #51 on:** April 08, 2008, 05:11:34 AM

True, they likely want a simple action movie with a simple ending, not anything complicated.

Malte279 · **Reply #52 on:** April 08, 2008, 06:42:48 AM

This judgement seems a bit too harsh on the movie in my opinion. There were of course scenes clearly made for the sake of action (Tolkien would probably rotate in his grave if he had seen the Helm's Deep scene where Legolas is "surfing" down a stair on a shield), but the was more to the movie than mere action. Had they really made it a pure action movie there would not have been so many scenes after the destruction of the ring and they would not have bothered to include many other aspects either.
There are a few things which perhaps could have been improved, but altogether I think they did really well considering the tremendous task of turning that book into a movie. In spite of the relocation of Saruman's death I think the ending was far from being "simple".