Comparisons and similarities in books, TV shows or movies? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

morwen edhelwen · 07-14-2010, 05:18 AM

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.

Estelyn Telcontar · 07-14-2010, 11:52 AM

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.

morwen edhelwen · 07-14-2010, 08:35 PM

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".

PrinceOfTheHalflings · 07-16-2010, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morwen edhelwen

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".

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.

narfforc · 07-27-2010, 07:52 AM

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).

morwen edhelwen · 08-16-2010, 12:04 AM

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

Galadriel · 10-11-2010, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by narfforc

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.

Galadriel · 10-11-2010, 12:59 AM

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?

07-14-2010, 05:18 AM	#1
morwen edhelwen Haunting Spirit Join Date: May 2010 Location: Australia Posts: 91	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.

07-14-2010, 11:52 AM	#2
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	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. __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...' Last edited by Estelyn Telcontar; 07-14-2010 at 11:56 AM.

07-14-2010, 08:35 PM	#3
morwen edhelwen Haunting Spirit Join Date: May 2010 Location: Australia Posts: 91	Well Estelyn 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".

07-27-2010, 07:52 AM	#5
narfforc Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Muddy-earth Posts: 1,297	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). __________________ [B]THE LORD OF THE GRINS:THE ONE PARODY....A PARODY BETTER THAN THE RINGS OF POWER.

08-16-2010, 12:04 AM	#6
morwen edhelwen Haunting Spirit Join Date: May 2010 Location: Australia Posts: 91	The Sword of Shannara... I read that. In my opinion it was okay... -Morwen.

10-11-2010, 12:59 AM	#8
Galadriel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: In Eldamar beside the walls of Elven Tirion Posts: 551	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? __________________ "Hey! Come derry dol! Can you hear me singing?" – Tom Bombadil Last edited by Galadriel; 10-11-2010 at 01:08 AM.