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Comparisons and similarities in books, TV shows or movies?

Would anyone like to contribute to this thread about similarities to Tolkien stories in books they've read and movies or TV shows they've seen? -Morwen.

There are quite a few similarities in the science fiction show "Babylon 5" - I posted about them on a separate thread (to which I can't link right now, since I'm online from someone else's computer).

Morwen, would you please repost your thoughts on the Luthien/Bewitched similarities? I deleted the original threads at your request.

Thanks. This is meant as a general comparison thread. The parallels are very thin. The basic idea- beautiful, immortal woman marries an ordinary man and the heroine's parents are opposed- is the same, although the series was inspired by movies with a similar plotline and there is no "quest for the daughter's hand".

Quote:

Originally Posted by morwen edhelwen (Post 633872)

There's dozens of points of comparison between Babylon 5 and The Lord of the Rings/Silmarillion. Not least a character rather like Eärendil who also has a name meaning "Morning Star" - Entil'zha. And the Silmarils are paralleled in the "triluminaries". The planet "Z'Ha'dum" harbours an ancient evil that has been buried for centuries - just like the almost identical sounding Khazad-dûm which harbours a Balrog buried in its lowest depths. I'm not really a Babylon 5 fan, but there's loads of these comparison.

The Lord of the Elfstones

I can think of nothing that imitates LotR's more than The Sword of Shannara. The characters are almost identical, some are an amalgam of two in one, where others are parts of one. The Quest as such follows closely, getting caught in a misty wood meeting a Mist Wraith (Barrow-wight), getting to a sanctuary called Culhaven (Rivendell) escaping the Skull Bearers (Ringwraiths). They go through an underground area called The Hall of the Kings, then have to fight a monster at the end (a mix of The Watcher in the Deep and The Balrog). The ultimate aim of the quest is to destroy The Warlock Lord (The Dark Lord).

The Sword of Shannara...

I read that. In my opinion it was okay...
-Morwen.

Quote:

Originally Posted by morwen edhelwen (Post 636948)

I read that. In my opinion it was okay...
-Morwen.

Yes I enjoyed it also, in fact I have read all the subsequent Shanarra novels, and will continue to do so. The point I was making was, that it was , and is still is considered to be the closest thing to a copy of The Lord of the Rings. Brooks improved a great deal from this first book, and openly admits to borrowing from Tolkien.

Yeah... but at least he didn't make the sword into an evil device. It was used to kill the "Dark Lord" character and meant to be "good" not evil like the Ruling Ring. That's one difference. And the history of his world is different- post-apocalyptic instead of a fictional past... :) -Morwen.

I noticed a few names that sounded suspiciously similar to Tolkien's work when I read A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin. For example, Tyrion, Valar morghulis, Daeron etc. I read a lot more, but right now I'm running out :p But Martin happened to let slip that Tolkien had a huge influence on his work.
However, I must admit, Martin clearly made his own, very original plot line and characters. In truth, and it pains me to say this, his characters are much more developed than Tolkien's, who made it a general rule (with a few exceptions) that beautiful=good and ugly=bad. Martin works the other way round. Most of the ugly characters are good ones, and many, many of the beautiful ones are evil to the core. Plus, the story is based on the medieval era, and I wouldn't exactly qualify it as 'fantasy'. Low fantasy perhaps, but nothing more. Anybody read it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by narfforc (Post 635136)

I can think of nothing that imitates LotR's more than The Sword of Shannara.

I fell asleep when I tried to read that. But I've heard it's almost a copy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Galadriel

I noticed a few names that sounded suspiciously similar to Tolkien's work when I read A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin. For example, Tyrion, Valar morghulis, Daeron etc. I read a lot more, but right now I'm running out But Martin happened to let slip that Tolkien had a huge influence on his work.
However, I must admit, Martin clearly made his own, very original plot line and characters. In truth, and it pains me to say this, his characters are much more developed than Tolkien's, who made it a general rule (with a few exceptions) that beautiful=good and ugly=bad. Martin works the other way round. Most of the ugly characters are good ones, and many, many of the beautiful ones are evil to the core. Plus, the story is based on the medieval era, and I wouldn't exactly qualify it as 'fantasy'. Low fantasy perhaps, but nothing more. Anybody read it?

Yep. Personally, I enjoyed it, but Martin is not among my favouritest fantasy authors. Could do with a bit more simplicity, not so archetypal female characters and less bloodshed. (When every second character dies, at some point you stop empathising with them because you don't want to get attached to a character who is very likely to die anyway...)

Although, if you or someone else simply wants to recommend or briefly discuss fantasy books otherwise than just in relation with Tolkien, there is this thread: What other fantasy books do YOU read?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thinlómien (Post 640757)

Although, if you or someone else simply wants to recommend or briefly discuss fantasy books otherwise than just in relation with Tolkien, there is this thread: What other fantasy books do YOU read?

Thanks :)