The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Did I just see 'Gandalf' throw 'Denethor' into the pyre?

**lindil** · 12-21-2003, 08:32 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>The majority of the audience burst into cheers, which I attribute to the general perversion of the Hollywood movie diet. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Sad but true SSM.The more I ponder 'RotK' the more it rates as a dismal failure for me. Everything of course reminds one of the book, but is in reality, almost always a perviosn or a pale shadow. Too bad, it had so many elements in it's favor. <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> PJ and his writers have changed many of the characters personality traits. Until RotK I thought they had been doing a good job portraying Gandalf. Of course, they couldn't leave well enough alone so we have scenes such as:Gandalf wacking Denethor with his staff. Gandalf pushing Denethor back onto the pyre. Gandalf yelling at Pippin and again using the staff instead of affording him respect when he offers his services to Denethor. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Indeed, the fall of 'Gandalf' in this movie was in many ways the final straw for me, as had been maintained with a degree of dignity. Of course the fact that McKellan was willing to argue w/ PJ to keep as much of the real dialogue in surely helped, but 'RotK' was almost some kind of bizarre parody in so many scenes.

12-21-2003, 08:32 AM	#27
lindil Seeker of the Straight Path Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: a hidden fastness in Big Valley nor cal Posts: 1,680	<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>The majority of the audience burst into cheers, which I attribute to the general perversion of the Hollywood movie diet. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Sad but true SSM.<P>The more I ponder 'RotK' the more it rates as a dismal failure for me. Everything of course reminds one of the book, but is in reality, almost always a perviosn or a pale shadow. <P>Too bad, it had so many elements in it's favor.<P> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> PJ and his writers have changed many of the characters personality traits. Until RotK I thought they had been doing a good job portraying Gandalf. Of course, they couldn't leave well enough alone so we have scenes such as:<P>Gandalf wacking Denethor with his staff.<BR>Gandalf pushing Denethor back onto the pyre.<BR>Gandalf yelling at Pippin and again using the staff instead of affording him respect when he offers his services to Denethor. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Indeed, the fall of 'Gandalf' in this movie was in many ways the final straw for me, as had been maintained with a degree of dignity. Of course the fact that McKellan was willing to argue w/ PJ to keep as much of the real dialogue in surely helped, but 'RotK' was almost some kind of bizarre parody in so many scenes. __________________ The dwindling Men of the West would often sit up late into the night exchanging lore & wisdom such as they still possessed that they should not fall back into the mean estate of those who never knew or indeed rebelled against the Light.