Tea
Storage? I am Storage!
Slo's mention of Lord of the Rings brings this to mind. Of the nine adventurers, which one do you like the most?
POLL: who is your favourire LOTR character?
- Thread starter Tea
- Start date
Dozer
Learning Storage Performance
Sam is such a true friend, never leaving Frodo's side. You have to admire that in a man...er...Hobbit.
Prof.Wizard
Wannabe Storage Freak
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2002
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Gandalf. Wizards rule... 8)
Tea
Storage? I am Storage!
I like his level head, Dozer. No matter how brave and wise and travelled he becomes, he is still the same old Sam. You can take the boy out of the boondocks, but you can't take the boondocks out of the boy. Or something like that.
Tea
Storage? I am Storage!
Isn't it funny how the obvious can come as a complete surprise sometimes? Now why didn't I figure which way you'd vote for myself, Prof? 
Tannin
Storage? I am Storage!
Tea said:
Only if you're stupid.
Tea
Storage? I am Storage!
If I put Gollum in, no-one else would get a vote. Not even Sam or Frodo. So I left them all out, and all the other good guys too - notice that Bilbo isn't there either.
Not even Sam or Frodo. So I left them all out, and all the other good guys too - notice that Bilbo isn't there either.
CougTek
Hairy Aussie
I was about to ask why did the monkey not include Sauron among the candidates...P5-133XL said:
Cliptin
Wannabe Storage Freak
P5-133XL said:
You are correct Mark. Tea specificly limited the choices to "travellers". Thus only the nine are choices.
It is a toss-up between Samwise and Aragorn. I appreciate the humility and loyalty in them both. While Sam knows who he is and nothing is going to change him. Aragorn is self sufficient and although he knows he is heir to the throne, he is still reticent to take on the responsibility.
Dozer
Learning Storage Performance
Tea said:
Well put. Sam does stay consistent in who he is, never tries to be anybody but Sam. I admire that. Perhaps a commentary on what people we admire IRL?
slo crostic
Learning Storage Performance
I would've voted for Elrond, if he was a choice, because there is an imense power of wisdom surrounding him and everyone in the book seems to follow his lead without question. And I think Hugo Weaving played the part really well in the movie.
Instead I voted for Aragorn. I am quite impressed that someone of that order of lineage can also be Strider, the ranger who protects the villagers of Bree and the borders of the Shire from evil, and still remain anonymous to those folk.
I've also got a bit of a soft spot for Gandalf, but don't we all :wink:
Instead I voted for Aragorn. I am quite impressed that someone of that order of lineage can also be Strider, the ranger who protects the villagers of Bree and the borders of the Shire from evil, and still remain anonymous to those folk.
I've also got a bit of a soft spot for Gandalf, but don't we all :wink:
Mercutio
Fatwah on Western Digital
I saw "The Two Towers" today.
Good gods, it was as perfect a movie as anything from my imagination. Three hours long and over in an instant, with an emotional impact that left me on the verge of tears for 2/3rds of the movie.
I love the look of these movies. Sweaty, ragged and dirty, everything about Middle Earth looks lived in, its men most of all. The scenery is astonishing, to the point that there's not even a point in trying to determine whether something really exists in reality or not. New Zealand must be the most beautiful place on Earth.
Some of the high points: The detail in the preparations before the battle of Helm's Deep. Not just aged men and children taking up arms, but the reactions of wives and mothers, sending their love off to die.
Gollum. At no time did I see a CG animation. Gollum is as real as everything around him, as diseased and pitiful as could be. He could've been Jar Jar, the joke that ruined the films.
The end of elf-time, and all that entails. The two movies so far have beautiful little touches to show how magical the elves truly are. The elves are noble, wise and tragic to a one. Middle Earth will be a sadder place without them.
The Black, troll-powered Gates of Mordor.
Gimli. Gimli is mostly comic relief in the second film, and the levity plays very well agaist the dozen tragedies in center stage (compare to C3PO in "Clones", and while we're at it, compare Aragorn's love story to Anakin's.)
True fellowship. Each of the characters, grows to the part he plays. We see real affection between Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas. Samwise becomes the true friend he knows he must be. Frodo struggles under the weight of his burden and remains true. Merry and Pippen make a difference.
Speaking of "a difference": Ents. Even more than Balrog I wanted to see how the hell a tree that walks could be realized. It is. They're marvelous.
Weak Points?
Um, well, I wish the scoring was a little more distinct. For all of the faults of recent Star Wars movies, their scores have been magnificent. Lord of the Rings has a couple of very good themes in its scoring but music is absolutely an afterthought here.
That's it. That's my one complaint.
Verge of tears? Who am I kidding. I'm sure I cried. My thirty-three-year-old brother sat next to me, and there were wet trails on his cheeks as well. This movie stirred something very powerful inside me, and I believe that it was as genuine a reaction as a person could have.
Is there any higher recommendation for a film?
Good gods, it was as perfect a movie as anything from my imagination. Three hours long and over in an instant, with an emotional impact that left me on the verge of tears for 2/3rds of the movie.
I love the look of these movies. Sweaty, ragged and dirty, everything about Middle Earth looks lived in, its men most of all. The scenery is astonishing, to the point that there's not even a point in trying to determine whether something really exists in reality or not. New Zealand must be the most beautiful place on Earth.
Some of the high points: The detail in the preparations before the battle of Helm's Deep. Not just aged men and children taking up arms, but the reactions of wives and mothers, sending their love off to die.
Gollum. At no time did I see a CG animation. Gollum is as real as everything around him, as diseased and pitiful as could be. He could've been Jar Jar, the joke that ruined the films.
The end of elf-time, and all that entails. The two movies so far have beautiful little touches to show how magical the elves truly are. The elves are noble, wise and tragic to a one. Middle Earth will be a sadder place without them.
The Black, troll-powered Gates of Mordor.
Gimli. Gimli is mostly comic relief in the second film, and the levity plays very well agaist the dozen tragedies in center stage (compare to C3PO in "Clones", and while we're at it, compare Aragorn's love story to Anakin's.)
True fellowship. Each of the characters, grows to the part he plays. We see real affection between Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas. Samwise becomes the true friend he knows he must be. Frodo struggles under the weight of his burden and remains true. Merry and Pippen make a difference.
Speaking of "a difference": Ents. Even more than Balrog I wanted to see how the hell a tree that walks could be realized. It is. They're marvelous.
Weak Points?
Um, well, I wish the scoring was a little more distinct. For all of the faults of recent Star Wars movies, their scores have been magnificent. Lord of the Rings has a couple of very good themes in its scoring but music is absolutely an afterthought here.
That's it. That's my one complaint.
Verge of tears? Who am I kidding. I'm sure I cried. My thirty-three-year-old brother sat next to me, and there were wet trails on his cheeks as well. This movie stirred something very powerful inside me, and I believe that it was as genuine a reaction as a person could have.
Is there any higher recommendation for a film?
Cliptin
Wannabe Storage Freak
Mercutio said:
Nope.
I understood that Gimli was going to be the comic relief but the two times I saw it Gollum got more laughs than Gimli. Especially in the scene with Gollum's inner-struggle.
I did have some issues with Gollum's CG but I don't want to influence others to look for it so I wont meantion it outside of a PM. However, the issue only stands out because otherwise he is very, very well done.
re: The look of the movies: For the first movie, they constructed/planted the Shire 1 year before they shot the scenes. Deliberately to let the foliage grow. For the second movie, they had two months of night shoots. And the actors were wet/damp all the time. What a great directorial present for the actors.
Even if it doesn't exist, I 'd like to ride a horse across the fields of Rohan.
Dozer
Learning Storage Performance
I would have to echo both Mercutio and Cliptin's comments. This is an incredibly well-done tale, and it does evoke incredible ranges of emotions in the viewer. This is, to me, the mark of an excellent movie--the ability to make you feel the story.
I watched a documentary on the making of The Two Towers, and over the two-year period of time the actors developed incredible friendships, which is very apparent in their acting--particularly the friendships of Gimli, Legolas, and Aragorn, and of Frodo and Sam.
I can't say enough good things about both LOTR movies thus far. And Cliptin, when you ride across the fields of Rohan, let me know--I'd like to be there!
I watched a documentary on the making of The Two Towers, and over the two-year period of time the actors developed incredible friendships, which is very apparent in their acting--particularly the friendships of Gimli, Legolas, and Aragorn, and of Frodo and Sam.
I can't say enough good things about both LOTR movies thus far. And Cliptin, when you ride across the fields of Rohan, let me know--I'd like to be there!
Dozer
Learning Storage Performance
BTW--an interesting bit of information: The actor that played Gollum/did his voice shot all of the scenes with Frodo and Sam, and then did all of the scenes again in the studio for the CG animation. He was truly dedicated to his role, especially considering we never actually see his face in the movie.
Obviously, Peter Jackson has taken on an incredibly difficult task of translating the story into a motion picture. Some quick points of where I think the film(s) are doing things right and wrong:
FOTR, The bad:
Thought some things were overdone (i.e. when the hobbits encounter the first Black rider in the Shire forest; when the fellowship is surrounded by the orcs in the main hall just before the appeareance of the Balrog).
Parts of the musical score with the Jurasiac Park overtures.
Sam's acting.
CG scenes under the mountain
FOTR, The good
Good job on the Shire.
Parts of the musical score played when their enemies draw near (the heavy Brass blasts of tat-ta-taaaaaaaaa-tut-tut and the heavy Tympony); the Celtic like feel to the music (Enya factor and, IIRC, the girl from the Cocteau Twins)
Balrog, was way better then I expected
Ian Mckellen's performance
Liv Tyler's eyes when she challenges the Black riders to claim Frodo (haunting).
TTT, The bad:
Continued with the Jurasic park like musical theme too often (think A, G & L chasing after the orcs on the mountains and across the plains).
To many Liv Tyler kissy kissy flashbacks
Sam's acting (but its getting better)
Merry and Pipin were weak in this one
Halo around Gandalf before he leads the charge down the mountain side to safe helm's deep
The Ents actually attacking scene was too CG for my tastes
Aragon and Gimili sneaking out the un-noticed side door to defend the gate
Aragon picking up the hobbits escape trail by the Orc pyre
TTT, The good:
Gollum very well done (CG somewhat annoying at first, but attention from it get's swept away pretty quick). Gollum stole the show with his first split personality crisis scene (possibly what Yoda would be like if on peyote).
Humour in general was done well (Gimili's was a little annoying at times, but he had some good ones)
The landscape: mountains and Rohan...I would think that N.Z.'s tourism figures are going to be up a fair bit for this coming year
Ellijah Wood doing good job.
Nice attention to detail with weapons and armour...
Little rehashing of FOTR (they had me a little worried at first that it was going to be common occurence)
The Ents marching out of the woods to attack S (liked this but didn't like the attack, as stated above).
The battles (the company of R.Rider's nighttime ambush on the Orcs; the Orc raiding party attack on the march to HD)
The Orc host in front of S before marching on HD - the parallel to real life events would be hard to miss be even the most daft
Eowyn ...can see why A would be tempted
The Gondor scene (looked like it had been put through hell - and, once again, one can easily draw upon parallel images from WWII war torn Europe, or more recently from Lebeanon, Yugo, Jerusalem, Somalia....
When the rain starts to fall just befor the HD battle.
When Gandalf is reunited with A,G&L in the woods
Overall, TTT much better done than FOTR. Looking forward to watching it again when the DVD is released.
FOTR, The bad:
Thought some things were overdone (i.e. when the hobbits encounter the first Black rider in the Shire forest; when the fellowship is surrounded by the orcs in the main hall just before the appeareance of the Balrog).
Parts of the musical score with the Jurasiac Park overtures.
Sam's acting.
CG scenes under the mountain
FOTR, The good
Good job on the Shire.
Parts of the musical score played when their enemies draw near (the heavy Brass blasts of tat-ta-taaaaaaaaa-tut-tut and the heavy Tympony); the Celtic like feel to the music (Enya factor and, IIRC, the girl from the Cocteau Twins)
Balrog, was way better then I expected
Ian Mckellen's performance
Liv Tyler's eyes when she challenges the Black riders to claim Frodo (haunting).
TTT, The bad:
Continued with the Jurasic park like musical theme too often (think A, G & L chasing after the orcs on the mountains and across the plains).
To many Liv Tyler kissy kissy flashbacks
Sam's acting (but its getting better)
Merry and Pipin were weak in this one
Halo around Gandalf before he leads the charge down the mountain side to safe helm's deep
The Ents actually attacking scene was too CG for my tastes
Aragon and Gimili sneaking out the un-noticed side door to defend the gate
Aragon picking up the hobbits escape trail by the Orc pyre
TTT, The good:
Gollum very well done (CG somewhat annoying at first, but attention from it get's swept away pretty quick). Gollum stole the show with his first split personality crisis scene (possibly what Yoda would be like if on peyote).
Humour in general was done well (Gimili's was a little annoying at times, but he had some good ones)
The landscape: mountains and Rohan...I would think that N.Z.'s tourism figures are going to be up a fair bit for this coming year
Ellijah Wood doing good job.
Nice attention to detail with weapons and armour...
Little rehashing of FOTR (they had me a little worried at first that it was going to be common occurence)
The Ents marching out of the woods to attack S (liked this but didn't like the attack, as stated above).
The battles (the company of R.Rider's nighttime ambush on the Orcs; the Orc raiding party attack on the march to HD)
The Orc host in front of S before marching on HD - the parallel to real life events would be hard to miss be even the most daft
Eowyn ...can see why A would be tempted
The Gondor scene (looked like it had been put through hell - and, once again, one can easily draw upon parallel images from WWII war torn Europe, or more recently from Lebeanon, Yugo, Jerusalem, Somalia....
When the rain starts to fall just befor the HD battle.
When Gandalf is reunited with A,G&L in the woods
Overall, TTT much better done than FOTR. Looking forward to watching it again when the DVD is released.
Cliptin
Wannabe Storage Freak
CityK said:
I was only annoyed by one scene in this sequence and it was fixed on the extended DVD.
I'll have to try to catch that sometime (maybe next Dec, before the final episode). When I watched FOTR on disc, it was a Full Screen edition that I borrowed from a friend. I can't stand Full Screen...I fell like I'm missing so much (however, I know the converse argument is applied by those who hate letterboxing - as in why am I missing so much of my screen?). The positive thing about my friend's edition was that it also contained a second disc with some extras like Dozer mentioned.
The only discouraging thing for me about the book to movie transition is that the sense of time and suspense is going to be lost (ie. from FOTR: the flight from the Shire to Rivendale, and the journey under the mountain; from TTT: A,L&G's days of prusuit across the plains after the Orcs...). That's not a slight against the movie at all...it would be impossible to convey the odessey...especially to a typical movie goer who only appreciates McDonalds drive-thrus and a side-order of random car explosions every five minutes.
My biggest relief was that the Tom the Lumberjack character was omitted...also known as Tolkien's moments of where he didn't have a clue where he was going to go with the story....also known as Tolkein's editors failed to get him to rewrite the crappiest and most useless part of the story...
Cheers, CK
Tea
Storage? I am Storage!
Quite so, CityK. Tom Bom the Dil doesn't even come off if you use drugs. The idea was good, and quite possibly necessary for the development of the plot, but the execution wasn't up to it.
Groltz
My demeaning user rank is
Miami Herald columnist Dave Barry takes a whack at the LOTR 2 movie:
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/columnists/dave_barry/5023564.htm
:mrgrn:
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/columnists/dave_barry/5023564.htm
:mrgrn:
blakerwry
Storage? I am Storage!
agreed
blakerwry
Storage? I am Storage!
i needed that. Thx.