Still forming your own images of Middle-earth, or stuck with Elijah and co.?

Hello,

I've left a private message for you.

Thanks

Larmess

[Carnimírië]

Yes, I'm still forming my own mental images, because I've never stopped. That's right, I must be the only person on this forum who has not yet seen any of the movies. My parents don't let me go to movie theaters, and we only watch videos occasionally, but this August I'll get to watch Fellowship of the Ring. I can hardly wait, but in a way I'll regret it, because when I read the books again I'll hear the actor's voices in my head and see the scenery from the movie instead of my original mental imagery. I'm almost sure that once I see the movie it will completely change the way I "see" and "hear" the things in the book, because it's happened to me before with other books and movies. I can't wait to see the movie, but at the same time I'm afraid, simply afraid of what it will do to my own imagination.

[elronds_daughter]

Most of the casting jobs PJ did fit with my image, and New Zealand exactly fit my visions of Middle Earth. however, Sean Bean was not exactly how I had pictured Boromir. (I had pictured him with darker hair...) Lothlorien fit pretty well, but Rivendell was a bit fake. All the other sets were pretty perfect (for me). But Hugo Weaving, well, he was good being Agent Smith, but not so good being Elrond. that's all I'll say. I don't want to launch into a tirade. On a more positive note, all the Hobbits fit my image pretty well.

A note to Larmess: You needn't post to notify someone of a PM that you have sent to them. They are notified automatically. (not that I'm an expert on everything, but I see that you're new here. not to assume that you don't know anything.)

[Theron Bugtussle]

Originally Posted by Carnimírië

That's right, I must be the only person on this forum who has not yet seen any of the movies. ...but this August I'll get to watch Fellowship of the Ring.

I can hardly wait, but in a way I'll regret it, because when I read the books again I'll hear the actor's voices in my head and see the scenery from the movie instead of my original mental imagery. I'm almost sure that once I see the movie it will completely change the way I "see" and "hear" the things in the book, because it's happened to me before with other books and movies....

Wow, that is impressive. I must say that if I had a vote, I would vote that you NOT go see the movies. Yes, I would keep you as a great social experiment--kind of a lab rat. You are about the only one I know of on the forums here that has not seen the movie(s). Just go ahead and take a stand against the movies. You can be everyone's "control group."

Kind of like the people in medical experiments that are given the placebo. ("Wow, man, that's some good stuff! Do you have any more of it I can take?")

[Carnimírië]

I must say that if I had a vote, I would vote that you NOT go see the movies.

"To see, or not to see, that is the question."

It's funny, I've been considering this very thing, and I have reached no conclusion. It would be neat if I were the only Tolkien fan alive who had refused to see the movie. If I can resist...resist the corupting power of the Ring...I mean the movie. Maybe I will just say no, after all from all I've heard the movie dosn't come close to the wonder and magic of the book, so why spoil the book for myself?

[Theron Bugtussle]

I really meant it in more of a selfish way, not in a way to actually try to impose my will on you.

I mean, I went to see the movies, though I knew in some way they would alter or affect my own perceptions. It was just that, if the movies were supposed to be pretty decent, then I wanted to see them, regardless of how it might affect my internal images.

So it is not that you should not go see them, it is just that it would probably be really neat to have one or more frequenters of the B-D that can comment on things from the "movie virgin" vantage point.

Alas, I, myself, am stained...and by my own choice.

[VanimaEdhel]

I've actually managed to retain my own mental images of the characters. I sort of have two images running through my mind at all times: my mental image, sitting right next to the movie image. Then I quickly make up my mind as to which is appropriate, depending on the conversation. It actually remains a rather simple task, especially for characters like Arwen, Eowyn, Legolas, Merry, Pippin, Gimli, Haldir, Saruman, and Faramir, who were played with such different dispositions from those that I imagined. The physical aspects are a touch closer, but still different enough that I keep up two completely separate images.

For this reason I have not gone to see any of the Harry Potter movies!

Aw, and miss making fun of the kids' horrible acting skills? I wouldn't pass up Radcliffe trying to produce stage tears for anything. And Cuaron is actually a bit better than Columbus was.

[PaleStar]

Probably unlike a lot of people here, my mental imagery is based alot on Alan Lee's illustrations, except when it comes to the people...there, I use my own ideas about what they look like.
The only thing that has really happened because of the movies is that, whenever the wizard's speak, I hear Sir Ian McKellan and Christopher Lee. That also happens every now and again when there is a quote from the book that i've heard in the movie.
So no, it hasn't done anything to disrupt my image of Middle Earth.