Second-guessing Peter Jackson

[Marileangorifurnimaluim]

I'll start by saying I loved the movie and have seen it four times. Peter Jackson did something very, very difficult: he made the LotR accessible to non-Tolkienites while still staying to true to Tolkien's vision. And the film is beautiful.<P>That said, if you and I had the training and international standing to be entrusted with $300M budget, and only 3 hours to do the LotR justice, what would you change?<P><UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Use more than glowing light and architecture to set apart the elves. The movie shows why we should care about the Shire, but not the artistry and lore of the elves. A brief glimpse, of say an artisan carving a musical instrument, as part of the scene of the Hobbits' reunion for example. You could have had the close up of the curling wood shavings, and Pippin watching, and then Frodo joining them and all interest in the artist forgotten. But the point made.<BR><LI>The scene with Elrond and Gandalf could begin in the great library of Rivendell and continue in his private study. You need to see what the elves are about - besides fighting.<BR><LI>Amp down certain of the action scenes. The trouble with 'Sinbad' type movies is that one action scene competes with another, until they wash out. <BR><LI>The Watcher in the Water needed to be a mere forewarning, to build dread, you should not have seen the monster, and no crashing ceilings. Just a narrow escape with escape from Moria cut off. <BR><LI>The Black Riders could build in glimpses, more like what he did with the scene with the Hobbit "No Bagginses here, they're up in Hobbiton." I think a scene with happy Hobbits, then another half-glimpse of the riders, then back again.. no idea how close the riders are to catching them. <BR><LI>He did need to amp up the scene at the Bucklebury Ferry, but the leap onto the boat.. c'mon. Have you ever lept onto a slippery boat? You end up in the drink. Not to mention badly bruised.<BR><LI>Merry & Pippin's chance meeting at Farmer Maggot's is implausible. Better to have the two guess Frodo was leaving (Sam let it slip) "we figured you'd come this way" - though not why. Then find out they 'reprovisioned' from Farmer Maggot's field. Just a few changes in the lines, and the scene remains just as goofy, more realistic, and show two sides of the twain at once. <BR><LI>After the encounter with the 'sniffing' Black Rider, M&P understand more, and can tell Frodo what they tell him in Crickhollow in the books - that friends don't let friends face trouble alone 'don't think you're going to give us the slip.' An ironic hint to later, when Frodo attempts to go to Mordor alone.<BR><LI>You need to see Frodo has brains, right off, show Gandalf's trust in him is well-placed (not just in Bilbo's high opinion). The scene where Gandalf tells Frodo the DL knows the ring is in the shire, Frodo needs to make the decision to leave, not ask Gandalf "What do I do?"<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Frodo pauses, thinking.. 'I must leave then.' <BR>Gandalf blinks.. 'Yes. Yes, you are quite right.'<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Then Gandalf's next comment "hobbits can still surprise you" makes sense.<BR><LI>These minor changes in dialogue would shift the focus back the hobbits and add depth to their portrayal.. address what Robert Ebert pointed out, correctly, that the focus is shifted from the Hobbits, to the men & elves. </UL><P>These are subtle changes. I'd love to hear your ideas.<p>[ January 29, 2002: Message edited by: Marileangorifurnimaluim ]