Which order do you prefer? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Morsul the Dark · 07-26-2004, 07:25 PM

I myself saw fotr first then read the trilogy then saw the other two movies this was perfect for me because it's hard for me picture charactors and the movie gave me a basis which i could manipulate if i wanted I also read the books because of the movie

Lady Gamgee · 07-27-2004, 09:07 AM

I saw the movies first, then bought the book ... and I'd rather have it that way. Too many people say that some movies are disappointing because of leaving out so much stuff from the books. (I bought & read The Hobbit before LOTR ... I highly recommend doing that...). Personally, I wanted to watch all 3 movies first to see if I'd like them. I LOVED them, so I had to go buy the books. And although there are some differences between the movies & the books, I still find the movies better. With the books, your imagination kicks into overdrive, trying to see in your mind what's happening, what the characters look like, etc.... which is great, gotta have a good imagination. But with the movies, you physically see what your imagination thought of all along. The pictures in your mind become reality.

Encaitare · 07-27-2004, 01:57 PM

I wish I had read the whole trilogy before seeing the movie, but what's done is done.

I tried to read FotR when I was about 12 and the pacing was just too slow-- I got bored and didn't pick it up. Then I saw the movies of FotR and TTT, and thought they were amazing. I didn't have the strength of will to wait another year to find out what happened, so I went and read the whole trilogy.

And thus an obsession and a sudden pasty quality to my skin from sitting around doing dorky LotR-related things (ie: learning Quenya) were born.

Not that there's anything wrong with that sort of thing

But, yeah, book before movie is always better.

One of the Nine · 07-27-2004, 02:04 PM

In my case, I had no choice, except for RotK, to read the books first. My parents wouldn't let me see the movie until I read the book. And with RotK, I had read all of it except for the Scouring of the Shire to the end. And I already had my ticket for the movie theater. And, I'm very glad that I read the books first, because they left out a LOT in the movie. It probably wouldn't have made much sense if I watched the movie first. I'm very glad I read the books first, though. As some of you have said, it would have spoiled the best parts in the book.

Arwen Imladris · 07-30-2004, 01:18 PM

I agree, reading the books first is best. You understand so much more when you read th books first, even if they are hard to read. PJ had to cut out so much from the movies, but without the information the movie wouldn't make much sense. You would still be able to follow the basic story line, yes. But would you fully understand the threat of the ring? I don't think so. Can you keep track of the many characters? I don't think so. With the books you can take your time, go backwards and read a passage again, skip ahead etc. You don't do this in a movie nearly as much, even with a DVD. You also have the opertunity to look at the carefully drawn maps at the back of the book to check where you are in Middle Earth. The movies only provide an interpretation of the books.

Lhunardawen · 07-30-2004, 09:36 PM

Good thing I had the "privilege" of experiencing both.

I saw FotR before reading the book, and I would have to admit that I couldn't follow the story much. I just understood when I have read the book. But I have read TTT and RotK before seeing the movie, and I was able to understand (even criticize) the movies.

Reading the books first is better for me because I can leave room for my limited imagination to roam freely around, which would have been subdued had I watched the movies first. But I had to be prepared for seeing mistakes in the films--which actually gave me a shock.

Elven Hunter · 07-31-2004, 07:12 AM

I watched the movies first before trying the books. It was because of the movie why I started to like LotR and I don't regret what happened. Although there would be advantages if you read the books first, it might destroy the "image" of the movie for me and I might not appreciate the movie that much. Watching the movies first tempted me to read the books and find out what flaws it had.

07-26-2004, 07:25 PM	#1
Morsul the Dark Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 3,448	I myself saw fotr first then read the trilogy then saw the other two movies this was perfect for me because it's hard for me picture charactors and the movie gave me a basis which i could manipulate if i wanted I also read the books because of the movie __________________ Morsul the Resurrected

07-27-2004, 09:07 AM	#2
Lady Gamgee Animated Skeleton Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The Shire Posts: 30	I saw the movies first, then bought the book ... and I'd rather have it that way. Too many people say that some movies are disappointing because of leaving out so much stuff from the books. (I bought & read The Hobbit before LOTR ... I highly recommend doing that...). Personally, I wanted to watch all 3 movies first to see if I'd like them. I LOVED them, so I had to go buy the books. And although there are some differences between the movies & the books, I still find the movies better. With the books, your imagination kicks into overdrive, trying to see in your mind what's happening, what the characters look like, etc.... which is great, gotta have a good imagination. But with the movies, you physically see what your imagination thought of all along. The pictures in your mind become reality. __________________ "....though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater." ~~ Haldir

07-27-2004, 02:04 PM	#4
One of the Nine Haunting Spirit Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: In my mind. What? Why are you looking at me like that? Posts: 84	In my case, I had no choice, except for RotK, to read the books first. My parents wouldn't let me see the movie until I read the book. And with RotK, I had read all of it except for the Scouring of the Shire to the end. And I already had my ticket for the movie theater. And, I'm very glad that I read the books first, because they left out a LOT in the movie. It probably wouldn't have made much sense if I watched the movie first. I'm very glad I read the books first, though. As some of you have said, it would have spoiled the best parts in the book. __________________ I have a very short attention span, and it sometimes affects me when I'm, ooo a squirrel....

07-30-2004, 01:18 PM	#5
Arwen Imladris Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: In a box with a fox Posts: 1,347	I agree, reading the books first is best. You understand so much more when you read th books first, even if they are hard to read. PJ had to cut out so much from the movies, but without the information the movie wouldn't make much sense. You would still be able to follow the basic story line, yes. But would you fully understand the threat of the ring? I don't think so. Can you keep track of the many characters? I don't think so. With the books you can take your time, go backwards and read a passage again, skip ahead etc. You don't do this in a movie nearly as much, even with a DVD. You also have the opertunity to look at the carefully drawn maps at the back of the book to check where you are in Middle Earth. The movies only provide an interpretation of the books. __________________ "Wake up! Wake up! Wake up, sleepies, we must go, yes, we must go at once."

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

07-27-2004, 01:57 PM	#3
Encaitare Bittersweet Symphony Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: On the jolly starship Enterprise Posts: 1,814	I wish I had read the whole trilogy before seeing the movie, but what's done is done. I tried to read FotR when I was about 12 and the pacing was just too slow-- I got bored and didn't pick it up. Then I saw the movies of FotR and TTT, and thought they were amazing. I didn't have the strength of will to wait another year to find out what happened, so I went and read the whole trilogy. And thus an obsession and a sudden pasty quality to my skin from sitting around doing dorky LotR-related things (ie: learning Quenya) were born. Not that there's anything wrong with that sort of thing But, yeah, book before movie is always better.

07-30-2004, 09:36 PM	#6
Lhunardawen Hauntress of the Havens Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: IN it, but not OF it Posts: 2,538	Good thing I had the "privilege" of experiencing both. I saw FotR before reading the book, and I would have to admit that I couldn't follow the story much. I just understood when I have read the book. But I have read TTT and RotK before seeing the movie, and I was able to understand (even criticize) the movies. Reading the books first is better for me because I can leave room for my limited imagination to roam freely around, which would have been subdued had I watched the movies first. But I had to be prepared for seeing mistakes in the films--which actually gave me a shock.

07-31-2004, 07:12 AM	#7
Elven Hunter Animated Skeleton Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 28	I watched the movies first before trying the books. It was because of the movie why I started to like LotR and I don't regret what happened. Although there would be advantages if you read the books first, it might destroy the "image" of the movie for me and I might not appreciate the movie that much. Watching the movies first tempted me to read the books and find out what flaws it had.