Quote:
Originally Posted by Morthoron
Not really, Zig. Peter Jackson is "the chief evil of our time" (and if we consider the malign nature of Warner Brothers he is "in league with the Devil"). He has a Ring and with it meant to do good, but through him the Ring wielded a sophomoric and asinine power that completely corrupted Middle-earth with far more precision than either Morgoth and Sauron combined. Jackson enfeebled Elrond (having him mope about opining that "Arwen is dying"), stripped Denethor of any nobility, almost made Faramir a carbon copy of failed Boromir, stoned Radagast on mushrooms, made dwarves pretty, caused Sam to abandon Frodo, made Thranduil a constipated and dyspeptic moose-rider, and he even caused Aragorn to french his horse! Sauron could not do that.
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I cannot tell you how happy it makes me to hear those words spoken about Peter Jackson regarding what he did to Middle-earth (even if you are joking, which would make me a little sad).
But to my mind, Jackson did no less than Rape the works of Tolkien.
He debased them, and defiled them, as Morgoth did to Ard-Galen and the Springs and Pool of Ivrin in Beleriand, or as Sauron, through the Nazgűl did to Minas Ithil. Or as the Orcs did to Celebrían or Finduilas.
I realize that is giving him too much in the way of Intentionality, as Jackson's goal wasn't to rape the works. But that was the result, regardless of his intent.
Did you know that there is Thranduil/Moose fan-fiction? That is something that the world could do without, and it exists because of that insipid man from New Zealand, his wife, and that faery-F***er Boyens, who cannot tell the difference between Celtic, British, and English, much less between Nordic, Swede, Dane, or Fin.
Jacksons! We HATES it forever!!!
To be fair... I don't "hate" Peter Jackson, precisely. He is one of those people whom I admire personally (for many things he stands for). Yet I
DETEST their "Art."
At least I can sit through a Bruce Springsteen or Jon Von Jovi song.
But I cannot stand to see anything of that man's movies. He has a
LOT to atone for.
And what he, New Line, and Warner Bros. did to the Tolkien's was deplorable.
I am not very religious, but I hope they burn in hell for that alone.
Oh! And you missed something in your critique that many people overlook:
Elves with
Crooked Swords.
There is a reason (several reasons) that Tolkien used words like "crooked" and "bent" for the Swords of the various Evil Men or creatures (Orcs), instead of the more obvious word: "curved".
For one, it was an English word (words: Both "crooked" and "bent" have Saxon and Goth roots, whereas Curved is from the Latin).
But the
biggest reason is that Tolkien's works contain a sizable influence of what is called "
Physiognomy" (from the roots "Physio" - the Body - and "Gnomon" - To Know).
Physiognomy is the Philosophy that "The Appearance" (body) reveals the "Mind/Spirit/Quality."
Thus something that is Beautiful will be "Good" and something that is Ugly will be "Evil."
Obviously there are exceptions to this, but in a world where forms of Property Dualism are True, then the inverted aspects of Physiognomy (such as Gil-Gilad, Círdan, Elrond, and Galadriel seeing through Sauron's guise as Annatar). Those who possess a keen sense of "
Spiritual Insight" and "
Spiritual Beauty" will "know" those whose Body does not match their Soul.
But back to "Crooked Swords."
Here is an example of Physiognomy: The Sword reflects the Soul of the bearer. It is "Bent" and "Crooked" or "Corrupted" from the Straight, Honest, and True Sword.
Remember Tolkien rarely did not deeply consider the words he was using to describe things.
And Jackson giving the Elves "Crooked Swords" is akin to having Catholic Priests pray using a Rosary with a Pentagram rather than a Crucifix.
Chivalric Romances also use this depiction of a Sword to show the Nature of a Wielder.
Those who bear a Straight, Unblemished, Double-edged, Cruciform sword will be Faithful, Righteous, and Good.... Incorruptible.
Yet those whose swords are Tarnished, Bent, or Curved will be Unfaithful, Wicked, and Evil.
Jackson could be forgiven for missing something so subtle if he did not screw-up so much else.
And... It is likely that if he hadn't screwed-up so much else, he would have noticed some of the more subtle things.
MB
Sorry I run on at the mouth so much.... I don't get out much (have a hard time walking).