Okay, so what do you think NOW?

[Morsul the Dark]

As Nerwen said many people who read books before watching movies are unsatisfied by the film.

That being said I Love the movies!

The trick? remember they are different things. Many scenes in the book wouldn't translate to film well, (Theoden, coming out of his stupor for example.)

And certain scenes come across stronger in film than the book (Helm's Deep for example)

Just my opinion

[Pitchwife]

Originally Posted by Morsul the Dark

Many scenes in the book wouldn't translate to film well, (Theoden, coming out of his stupor for example.)

Oh, they could, they would, and they should; all it takes is a good actor being allowed to do his job, instead of the director relying on special effects!
Sorry, Morsul, but you've chosen an extremely bad example here. Théoden's transition from depressed old man to vigorous leader is just the kind of showpiece any aspiring character actor would sell his soul for. Imagine what a great actor from the Golden Age, someone like Alec Guinness or Laurence Olivier, could have done with that scene! Heck, I'm sure Bernard Hill could have pulled it off just fine all by himself if PJ had only let him. Movies and theatre have done that kind of thing very successfully for ages without any cheap tricks.
Instead, we get a weak rehash of The Exorcist which only lacks Théoden starting to spew green pea soup.
And just so you know where I'm standing, things like this wouldn't irk me half so much if the movies hadn't handled lots of other things so very well. They got so close to getting it right, it's all the more of a pity they screwed up so badly when they did.

[Galadriel55]

I see Morsul's point, but that was indeed a bad example. Some scenes are done very well in the movie - like the one in Sammath Naur, where Frodo says "the Ring is mine", or like Gandalf's and Balrog's fight. However, the ratio of good scenes to VERY bad ones is about 1:25, in my opinion. I understand that its hard to film exactly what the book says, and I wouldn't complain if there were subtle changes to the story. However, when some of the wisest characters are made dunces, brave people made foolish and pathetic, and...well, I could go on for hours critisizing the movies. It just isn't right. If PJ decided to make his own story of LOTR, he should call it "PJ's version of LOTR". Otherwise, many people who haven't read the books call JRRT an idiot for PJ's overcreativeness.
In almost every other scene there is some fault. For example, since when does Legolas enjoy being drunk in the book? In the movie, he has a drinking game (or something of the sort) with Gimli. What utter nonesense!!!

The trick? remember they are different things

Sorry, Morsul, but I just can't read the books and then just switch a few (sarcasm intended) roles around to be able to enjoy the movies. It is either one version or the other. Either Faramir is noble, or he's a jerk. Elrond is either wise, or off his rocker. It just can't be both.

[Tuor in Gondolin]

An example of a book translated generally successfully to
the screen is the Day of the Jackal (director: Fred Zinnemann
starring Edward Fox- not the yet again weak remake). On
details the book generally is better but both work well-with
the movie using cinematography and music to good effect.

PJ did adequately in FotR, but, rather like a runaway horse
pulling away the reins from a rider, direction later
seems to have lost control and let the movie aspects just
take over.

[Pitchwife]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

However, the ratio of good scenes to VERY bad ones is about 1:25, in my opinion.

I wouldn't be quite that severe with PJ; it doesn't take more than a handful of pickles to spoil a chocolate cake...

[alatar]

As I've stated many times, adding to your nausea...um, that I could have accepted PJ's version, warts and all, if only he had made Gandalf - when the wizard was powned by the Witch King - grin.

That said, I find it interesting to be on the 'other side' in regards to "The Walking Dead." Here, the graphic novel preceded the AMC TV series. I've not read the comic but have watched the first season.

Online, the fans of the graphic novel are posting angrily regarding the 'changes' made to the source material. I've enjoyed the show so far, and so have no idea why they are complaining.

Also, in this example, the author is available, and he's explained that he has wanted to stay faithful to the book fans while also expanding/modifying the material for the new media. Originally the author wanted to pack as much as possible into the limited space; with the TV series he feels freer to drag out the plot lines longer.

Interesting.

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Pitchwife

I wouldn't be quite that severe with PJ; it doesn't take more than a handful of pickles to spoil a chocolate cake...

Yes, but while adding the pickles to the dough, PJ accidentally poured in half a bucket of brine...

[Galadriel]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

In almost every other scene there is some fault. For example, since when does Legolas enjoy being drunk in the book? In the movie, he has a drinking game (or something of the sort) with Gimli. What utter nonesense!

If I recall correctly, he doesn't get drunk in the game And Wood-elves do seem to enjoy their wine, now, don't they?

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Galadriel

If I recall correctly, he doesn't get drunk in the game And Wood-elves do seem to enjoy their wine, now, don't they?

Legolas says that he feels some weird tingling on the tips of his fingers. I think we can safely assign that to the category "drunk" - especially since the only time such a reaction is mentioned is after he'd gone through a dozen pots of beer together with Gimli (who falls off his chair).

As for the wine, it's not the same category than beer. 'Beer' is usually associated with taverns. 'Wine' - with palaces, nobility. If in the movie Legolas got drunk drinking wine, I wouldn't mind that much.

[Galadriel]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

As for the wine, it's not the same category than beer. 'Beer' is usually associated with taverns. 'Wine' - with palaces, nobility. If in the movie Legolas got drunk drinking wine, I wouldn't mind that much.

Haha. True that. But beer is lighter than wine, and he had a lot, so I'm not surprised about the 'tingling' in his fingers But yes, I wish PJ had put in a scene where we get to see elves drinking their wine.

Oh God, he had better not cut out the scene with Galion and the guard in The Hobbit! That was my favourite in the whole book!

[Cirdan]

I'm rereading the LotR and I just rewatched extended editions of the films.

I'm not sure that I can watch them ever again though. Some things were done so incredibly well, certains sets, costumes, score, some of the casting choices, etc. but other things now irritate me beyond all tolerance!

Fortunately, there are other options such as:

http://www.fanedit.org/wp/?s=Lord+of+the+Rings

The problem I'm having in reading the books again is that somehow, some of the film actors have overwritten my imagination! I can't remember how I imagined Legolas. Now I see friggin' Orlando Bloom! AAAARGH! So I've been going through my collection of Howe, Nasmith, Lee, Sweet, etc. artwork frantically trying to find some resemblances to my lost visions.