The Lord of the Rings

[pmmg]

Shield riding Legolas did not bother me. I kind of like the way he used the arrows as weapons to stab with if the enemy was too close. There is a Legolas scene where he somehow magically swoops up on top of a horse from its front, that always looks off to me, but....not enough to hate on it.

The one line that gets me is Gimli saying, 'Fangorn forest, what madness drove them in their' while he is literally standing on a battlefield with 100's of slain orcs....like, how about the orcs drove them in there

Still...none of it took me out of the movie or the world.

 

[Aldarion]

Jackson wasn't perfect, but he was damned good. It all makes me wonder once again how The Hobbit went so wrong, heh heh. Aside from the obvious of trying to stretch it into 3 movies.

More obviously, The Hobbit was not a Jackson production. Peter Jackson was only called in at the last possible moment to try and salvage what he could from the absolute garbage dump created by whatshisname that made the Pacific Rim... and even then, the executive meddling meant that he had to create a trilogy where he originally had only wanted to make a single movie from the footage he had.

 

[Incanus]

More obviously, The Hobbit was not a Jackson production. Peter Jackson was only called in at the last possible moment to try and salvage what he could from the absolute garbage dump created by whatshisname that made the Pacific Rim... and even then, the executive meddling meant that he had to create a trilogy where he originally had only wanted to make a single movie from the footage he had.

I'm not so sure. Jackson is credited as Producer, writer, and director. Sounds like a Jackson Production to me.

In my view, he is a talented director, but with questionable taste, who's made many 'blah' movies (The Frighteners, King Kong, The Hobbit, etc.), and lucked out with LotR.

 

[Aldarion]

I'm not so sure. Jackson is credited as Producer, writer, and director. Sounds like a Jackson Production to me.

As I said, he is credited because he got called in to fix del Toro's mess. Yes, final product is his. But he was working with raw materials provided by del Toro. He was working with del Toro's script, screenplay and storyboard - and yes, he did make changes to them, but time constraints limited just how much he was able to change. He simply didn't have the time to fix all the mess.

Watch these videos for a detailed breakdown; she talks about del Toro's and Jackson's involvement in the second video:

Although to be fair, I was too harsh to del Toro. He certainly wasn't a good choice for the Hobbit director, but the ultimate blame lies with the studios that produced the Hobbit. Too many chefs spoil the soup and all that.

 

[Demesnedenoir]

Yeah, The Hobbit was much more a typical H'Wood production hell. Movies can go sideways fast.

 

[Demesnedenoir]

Both of those caught my eye/ear as well. Someday, I want to watch that swing into the saddle in slow-mo and see what the hell is going on. His shoulder had to dislocate like a gymnast at the least, heh heh. And I took it as more humorous and a dwarf fear of forests than anything else, but yeah, the line feels off. To me, these are all nitpicks, but in general, they all played well in the theater... like people cheering Legolas' victorious ride down the oliphaunt's trunk and Gimli's "that still only counts as one" bringing a laugh.

Shield riding Legolas did not bother me. I kind of like the way he used the arrows as weapons to stab with if the enemy was too close. There is a Legolas scene where he somehow magically swoops up on top of a horse from its front, that always looks off to me, but....not enough to hate on it.

The one line that gets me is Gimli saying, 'Fangorn forest, what madness drove them in their' while he is literally standing on a battlefield with 100's of slain orcs....like, how about the orcs drove them in there

Still...none of it took me out of the movie or the world.

 

[Jackarandajam]

oh and controversially Rings of Power.

I (controversially) agree. I was spitting, pace-and-monologue mad after the first two episodes, but something changed in episode 3 and the rest of the season was pretty good. Season 2 looks like it's going to be better.
Imho it was clever of them to go with the tolkein era that allowed for the most creativity.

I'm also less offended by creative license unless it's blatantly subverting the authors intent (looking at you, mtg cards). Multiple versions of a work can exist. I would have despised the show if it had done the Wheel of Time thing and shoehorned in a bunch of adult content.
It might not be perfect, but It's nice to sit down to a show that
1. Is fantasy.
2. Is high budget
3. Doesn't include in every show a brothels-worth of nudity, a construction-sites worth of profanity, and the often egregious, disgusting, shock-value violence of GoT
(Don't get me wrong, I like a good bloody fight, but there are several scenes in GoT that I would actually unsee if I could).

 

[Demesnedenoir]

I swear HBO calls in porn writers for some of the dumb shit. Fortunately, that toned down some in later seasons. I seem to recall that in previous series as well, though I haven't watched that many.

I am a Rings of Power agnostic. I neither hate nor love it. Wheel of Time: I technically watched season one, but I wasn't really paying that much attention. And I made it less than an episode into season two. Not a single character interests me, and neither does the storyline. Then again, I also stopped reading the books after the third or fourth or fifth... it's been too long to recall where exactly I was at, LOL.

I (controversially) agree. I was spitting, pace-and-monologue mad after the first two episodes, but something changed in episode 3 and the rest of the season was pretty good. Season 2 looks like it's going to be better.
Imho it was clever of them to go with the tolkein era that allowed for the most creativity.

I'm also less offended by creative license unless it's blatantly subverting the authors intent (looking at you, mtg cards). Multiple versions of a work can exist. I would have despised the show if it had done the Wheel of Time thing and shoehorned in a bunch of adult content.
It might not be perfect, but It's nice to sit down to a show that
1. Is fantasy.
2. Is high budget
3. Doesn't include in every show a brothels-worth of nudity, a construction-sites worth of profanity, and the often egregious, disgusting, shock-value violence of GoT
(Don't get me wrong, I like a good bloody fight, but there are several scenes in GoT that I would actually unsee if I could).

 

[Nighty_Knight]

I'm not so sure. Jackson is credited as Producer, writer, and director. Sounds like a Jackson Production to me.

In my view, he is a talented director, but with questionable taste, who's made many 'blah' movies (The Frighteners, King Kong, The Hobbit, etc.), and lucked out with LotR.

Hey, the Frighteners was awesome

 

[Demesnedenoir]

Another impressive point about Jackson and LoTR was brought up by Rhys-Davies, where he mentioned that Jackson had no track record with major projects like one LoTR movie, let alone three. That had to be a bunch of awesome pitch sessions to take the funding leap on a massive project like this. When I started following LoTR after hearing about the shoot, I know I read some articles about this but it's long forgotten now.

 

[Emrick Norr]

I enjoyed the 1st LOTR movie, loved part 2.
Not a big fan of the 3rd one, especially the oliphaunts in battle.

I thought I would see more of the relationship between Faramir and Eowyn.
I love those two. I hope I got the names right, it's been a while.

The only one I watch again from time to time is actually the Bakshi animated film, even if he stopped half-way into the story. Many cool shots from the Jackson version are copied directly from it.

I tried Rings of Power, never finished the first episode. Should I try again?
Yes, I will try and see where I get bored and try to find exactly why.

 

[Jackarandajam]

I tried Rings of Power, never finished the first episode. Should I try again?
Yes, I will try and see where I get bored and try to find exactly why.

Yeah, I think it gets better.
I ALMOST didn't sit down for episode three but my significant(ly more patient) other talked me into it. And, if nothing else, season two may be worth powering through season one for.

 

[Emrick Norr]

Thanks for the information Jack. I'll try to force myself through it for while.

Be advised, this post contains SPOILERS about the series Rings of Power, episode 1.
I've decided to write down my thoughts while watching the first 23 minutes of it and post them here.
Apologies in advance to the fans of the series and to the people who are more indulgent than I am.

First few scenes: it relies too much on music to convey emotions.
Feels like the music is trying to suck tears out of my eyes.
Let me feel by myself a little, please.

The beginning is actually just background information. An amateur's mistake too common in Fantasy and Sci-Fi.
I don't care about what's going on and feel like stopping, but I bugger on like a good little trooper.

Now a bunch of special effects, explosions, fires, battles scenes.
I don't know these people and I don't care about them.

6m42. Feels like a drag. I'm forcing myself not to Fast-F
Galadriel as narrator says about the villain: "a cold and cunning sorcerer". Don't tell me, show me.
That's followed by more telling and background information (I'm bored).

Now a mountain climbing scene and conflict between Gal and her 2nd in command once on top.
After centuries of chase, he's tired and wants to quit. What a baby (I'm being ironic; I wouldn't have lasted a week).

They are now overstretching a scene as they make their way to and inside a cave.
They're trying to make me feel suspense; it's not working.
An empty artificial scene where Galadriel fights a snow troll. Easy peasy.
I wonder why the scene is there at all, other than to show she's such badass warrior.

17 min: they show the title. I guess we're done with setting up the background.

We are now introduced to a people living in a little village and the music is telling me that I should feel a sense of wonder.
I do not. I did in similar scenes in LOTR part 1, in Willow, in Excalibur, in Back to the Future, but not here.

I'm feeling the target audience for that show might be YA. I don't know.

23 min: a guy is trying to write a poem I think. I'm taking a break here.
I will try to watch the whole first episode, but if I don't feel the desire to watch the 2nd one, I'm done.

 

[Demesnedenoir]

Bakshi's film was awesome, caught in a doubleheader on a Saturday with Wizards as a kid. I've got a signed animation cell of Boromir's death scene with the Hobbits charging.

I enjoyed the 1st LOTR movie, loved part 2.
Not a big fan of the 3rd one, especially the oliphaunts in battle.

I thought I would see more of the relationship between Faramir and Eowyn.
I love those two. I hope I got the names right, it's been a while.

The only one I watch again from time to time is actually the Bakshi animated film, even if he stopped half-way into the story. Many cool shots from the Jackson version are copied directly from it.

I tried Rings of Power, never finished the first episode. Should I try again?
Yes, I will try and see where I get bored and try to find exactly why.

 

[Jackarandajam]

Thanks for the information Jack. I'll try to force myself through it for while.

Be advised, this post contains SPOILERS about the series Rings of Power, episode 1.
I've decided to write down my thoughts while watching the first 23 minutes of it and post them here.
Apologies in advance to the fans of the series and to the people who are more indulgent than I am.

First few scenes: it relies too much on music to convey emotions.
Feels like the music is trying to suck tears out of my eyes.
Let me feel by myself a little, please.

The beginning is actually just background information. An amateur's mistake too common in Fantasy and Sci-Fi.
I don't care about what's going on and feel like stopping, but I bugger on like a good little trooper.

Now a bunch of special effects, explosions, fires, battles scenes.
I don't know these people and I don't care about them.

6m42. Feels like a drag. I'm forcing myself not to Fast-F
Galadriel as narrator says about the villain: "a cold and cunning sorcerer". Don't tell me, show me.
That's followed by more telling and background information (I'm bored).

Now a mountain climbing scene and conflict between Gal and her 2nd in command once on top.
After centuries of chase, he's tired and wants to quit. What a baby (I'm being ironic; I wouldn't have lasted a week).

They are now overstretching a scene as they make their way to and inside a cave.
They're trying to make me feel suspense; it's not working.
An empty artificial scene where Galadriel fights a snow troll. Easy peasy.
I wonder why the scene is there at all, other than to show she's such badass warrior.

17 min: they show the title. I guess we're done with setting up the background.

We are now introduced to a people living in a little village and the music is telling me that I should feel a sense of wonder.
I do not. I did in similar scenes in LOTR part 1, in Willow, in Excalibur, in Back to the Future, but not here.

I'm feeling the target audience for that show might be YA. I don't know.

23 min: a guy is trying to write a poem I think. I'm taking a break here.
I will try to watch the whole first episode, but if I don't feel the desire to watch the 2nd one, I'm done.

What's your favorite TV show?

 

[Emrick Norr]

Bakshi's film was awesome, caught in a doubleheader on a Saturday with Wizards as a kid. I've got a signed animation cell of Boromir's death scene with the Hobbits charging.

That is so cool. What a great scene that is. Now I feel like watching the movie again.

 

[Emrick Norr]

What's your favorite TV show?

To keep up with the theme of fantasy, I will start with my best fantasy show. It's Game of Thrones. Despite all the complaining I did during the last season, overall, in that category, it's one of the few where I really got lost in the world and was often left amazed and bewildered. They messed up a few things, couldn't tie every loose ends to my satisfaction, but what a roller coaster ride that was.

In the same category, despite a low production value and often with a light comedic tone, I have to mention Legend of the Seeker. The presence of the red queen archetype (the Mord Sith, ruling through fear) and white queen (the Mother Confessor, ruling through love) was fascinating.

Lewis Carroll included them in his story, but they are very old archetypes, going as far back as the red king and the white queen of alchemy, in this case, as sulfure and mercury.

But you asked for my best TV show, and it's not fantasy. These days, It's a toss up between Outer Range (Prime Video) and The Recruit (Netflix). The first season of The Recruit totally blew my mind. I watched it twice.

Sorry, I'm way of track from the theme of the thread, which, we should not forget, started with LOTR.

I want to ask about your best show as well Jack, but pm me if you think it would be too much of a stretch for the subject of the post.

 

[pmmg]

Samurai Jack is high on my list.

Fellowship remains very high on my list as well. Somehow, though I think they are excellent, I dont feel the same need to watch Two Towers and Return of the King. I think its partly because I was so enthralled at my first showing in the theaters that I have a type of nostalgia for it the other two dont have.

If only Fellowship was just nine hours long....