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12-20-2012, 08:14 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: COLORADO | | | When I was in the 5th. grade (that would have been 1971), as a class we read all 4 books.
The Hobbit and the Trilogy.
We wrote a letter to J.R.R. Tolkien telling him how much the class enjoyed his writings and he actually replied to us!
That was pretty cool, but we really had no idea how big of a deal it was. I can only assume the our teacher kept the note that he sent us. |
12-20-2012, 09:43 PM
| | | | I enjoyed the LOTR movies quite a bit, while missing some of my favorite parts as mentioned. I always loved Tom Bombadil, but also missed the Barrow Mounds and The Scouring of the Shire. But, as others have mentioned, the most annoying thing, after seeing all of the movies several times now, is the acting. Elijah Wood has three expressions, no more, and really wears them out by the end of RotK. The other hobbits are better, but yeah I think a slightly more earthy demeanor from these farmers would have gone down better. And the Hobbit-hugging at the end of RotK was just way too much. That movie ended three times before it finally, mercifully petered out.
There were some standouts though. Ian McKellen carried the whole thing on his back, and Christopher Lee was also excellent, as was the actor who played Faramir. Vigo was ok, and Jonathan Rhys Davies was a good sport about being the comic relief for the trilogy. Legolas was pretty good, just slightly over-earnest, but in the sea of excessive earnestness that were the Hobbit actors it was tolerable. Just fairly wooden and one-dimensional.
Then there were the moments of somewhat inappropriate slapstick humor in the height of both of the most epic, dire battle scenes. That struck me as slightly tone-deaf on Jackson's part. So I think they are excellent films, but not quite high art; not even as good as Star Wars or Empire Strikes Back. (And don't start that "New Hope" crap with me!) I suggest watching Lawrence of Arabia to see an epic film of broad scope that attains what I consider artistry, and has some really top-notch acting.
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12-21-2012, 06:51 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Mechanicsburg, PA | | | make sure you watch the extended editions. much closer to the books.
I have not read The Return of the King or the Simillarion yet. RotK is next up for me. |
12-21-2012, 07:44 AM
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Originally Posted by HolmeBass  Elijah Wood has three expressions, no more, and really wears them out by the end of RotK. The other hobbits are better | I find myself continually impressed by the actor who plays Merry [edit: oops, no, I meant Pippin]. He seems to conjure up a convincing variety of believable and emotionally engaging expressions and line readings throughout the trilogy.
Last edited by Roscoe East : 12-24-2012 at 06:47 AM.
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12-21-2012, 09:59 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Tempe, Arizona, USA | | | Meanwhile, "The Hobbit" will be a film triology, with much of the fleshing out of the story coming from the LOTR appendices, as well as some of the narrative from "The Council of Elrond," a chapter in "Fellowship" that explains how the istari connected the dots, and determined the true identity of the Necromancer.
I would give the first Hobbit film 4.5 out of 5 stars; it does leave you wanting more. The soundtrack has some of the same leitmotif usage from LOTR; the themes of evil/orcs/goblins, the ring, hobbits/Shire, etcetera, are recognizable, to those with the ear for it.
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12-21-2012, 10:19 AM
|  | The older I get, the better I was. | | Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Pasadena, CA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by nortonrider When I was in the 5th. grade (that would have been 1971), as a class we read all 4 books.
The Hobbit and the Trilogy.
We wrote a letter to J.R.R. Tolkien telling him how much the class enjoyed his writings and he actually replied to us!
That was pretty cool, but we really had no idea how big of a deal it was. I can only assume the our teacher kept the note that he sent us. | Very cool.  Quote:
Originally Posted by DwaynieAD make sure you watch the extended editions. much closer to the books. | There's extended versions?? Damn. Why didn't I know that?? Quote:
Originally Posted by Roscoe East I find myself continually impressed by the actor who plays Merry (no idea what the actor's name is). He seems to conjure up a convincing variety of believable and emotionally engaging expressions and line readings throughout the trilogy. | Dominic Monaghan
He also played Charlie on the TV series "Lost". |
12-21-2012, 10:48 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Mechanicsburg, PA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by EricF
There's extended versions?? Damn. Why didn't I know that??
| they're so long they're on 2 blu-rays each. alot of little nuances from the book that the theatrical release dropped are there. still no tom bombadil but the reasons why he is absent are discussed in the bonus features. over 2 hours of additional material that was cut is put back in to them. basically you get a 4th movie worth of additional middle earth. http://www.amazon.com/The-Lord-Rings...dition+blu+ray |
12-21-2012, 10:55 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Chester, Pa.,USA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by DwaynieAD they're so long they're on 2 blu-rays each. alot of little nuances from the book that the theatrical release dropped are there. still no tom bombadil but the reasons why he is absent are discussed in the bonus features. over 2 hours of additional material that was cut is put back in to them. basically you get a 4th movie worth of additional middle earth. http://www.amazon.com/The-Lord-Rings...dition+blu+ray | Correct. As best as I can figure the total running time, if you watch all three movies in a row, is around 11 1/2 hours.
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12-21-2012, 11:01 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Mechanicsburg, PA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by C.Linton Correct. As best as I can figure the total running time, if you watch all three movies in a row, is around 11 1/2 hours. | yep. I wish my kid hadn't fried my blu-ray player because now I'm currently stuck watching the theatrical releases on DVD |
12-21-2012, 01:07 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Ennui, IN USA | | Just to continue my BuzzKillington status, I haven't been impressed by what( The Hobbit) I'm seeing on the YouTube previews. Just kinda reminds me of a few biker-bars I've played at. I'm just sayin'... 
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12-21-2012, 01:10 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Canada | | | It's been a while since I watched them, I'm due. I also need to go see The Hobbit. |
12-21-2012, 01:40 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: West Covina (LA), SoCal | | Quote:
Originally Posted by lbanks Just to continue my BuzzKillington status, I haven't been impressed by what( The Hobbit) I'm seeing on the YouTube previews. Just kinda reminds me of a few biker-bars I've played at. I'm just sayin'... | I never did get into LOTR, and I won't be starting now.
I think I'll be seeing "On The Road" this weekend, maybe "This Is 40", and after Christmas, "Django Unchained".
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12-21-2012, 02:18 PM
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Originally Posted by EricF | No, I'm thinking of the other guy. Billy Boyd, apparently. That's Pippin? I can never tell which is which!
[edit: Just saw Return Of the King on TV over the weekend. It is Pippin/Billy Boyd I was thinking of. Edited my original post accordingly.]
Last edited by Roscoe East : 12-24-2012 at 06:49 AM.
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