Top 5...

[doug*platypus]

5) The ways in which Tolkien's masterpiece was at times lowered to the level of generic, trashy fantasy flicks, for example the line "give up the halfling, she-elf" in place of some really powerful stuff from the book.
4) Theoden not being a kind and noble old man, and refusing at first to help Gondor.
3) Unnecessary changes which caused internal inconsistencies e.g. Eomer riding north to nowheres in particular, or the Elves at Helm's Deep.
2) Aragorn's reluctance to confidently embrace his destiny.
1) The weakening of Frodo, examples being the absence of the barrow and his defiance of the Black Riders at the Ford of Bruinen.

[Renzolicious]

1. The ruining of all the characters, yes all.
2. The addition of unnecessary scenes and the removal of great scenes.
3. Removal of great language/lines/dialogue.
4. General dumbing down, lowest common denominator pandering.
5. Major plot changes such as Frodo in Osgiliath and the undead army going to Minas Tirith etc etc etc.

I think its more of not 5 problems with the movies, are there 5 good points about the movies?

Lord of the Rings needs RedLetterMedia style reviews explaining why it is so bad.

#Edit
Also, after watching the entire extended edition yesterday, the music is incredibly dull.

[Galadriel]

Originally Posted by Renzolicious

4. General dumbing down, lowest common denominator pandering.
5. Major plot changes such as Frodo in Osgiliath and the undead army going to Minas Tirith etc etc etc.

#Edit
Also, after watching the entire extended edition yesterday, the music is incredibly dull.

4. I blame the audience for not reading the books first
5. Let's not go there.

I must say though, I adored the music.

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Originally Posted by Renzolicious

Also, after watching the entire extended edition yesterday, the music is incredibly dull.

This is maybe the first time I've heard a Tolkien fan say this! Can I ask, do you generally enjoy classical music?

[Galadriel55]

Music is #1 on my short list of the good things in the movie. It's amazing.

[Andsigil]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

Music is #1 on my short list of the good things in the movie. It's amazing.

Any idea if Howard Shore is composing the score for "The Hobbit"?

[oddkins]

1. Frodo going to Osgiliath & the (mis) treatment of Faramir's character in the movie
2. Bringing Army of the Dead to Minas Tirith
3. Absence of palantir to explain Denethor's behaviour & his ridiculous death scene
4. Whole Aragorn is dead - oh no he isn't, unnecessary scenario
5. "Go home, Sam" travesty....

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Originally Posted by Andsigil

Any idea if Howard Shore is composing the score for "The Hobbit"?

Yes, he is.

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by Eomer of the Rohirrim

This is maybe the first time I've heard a Tolkien fan say this! Can I ask, do you generally enjoy classical music?

I generally enjoy classical music and I'm not rapt with the music. Especially hated the lothlorien elves wailing. I think it is ok in the cinema but in a smaller scale setting it lacks
subtlety.

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

I generally enjoy classical music and I'm not rapt with the music. Especially hated the lothlorien elves wailing. I think it is ok in the cinema but in a smaller scale setting it lacks subtlety.

I have to agree with you here. The Elves' theme wasn't done very well. But most other themes were. They repeat throughout, so when I watch the movies I start associating them with certain things. My favourite is what I mentally call the "history theme" that is played in the very beginning of FOTR.

Overall, though, I think the music is great. One of the few things that is. Also It's better than the music of many other movies that I've seen. It's solid, and some themes (not the Lorien one) are done very well.

[Mithalwen]

I don't know..I do like a lot of film music.. it is just whenever I catch bits of the films on tv... it is as if - like with the script - they have assumed an audience iq just slightly above that of a house plant and that they have to sledge hammer everything in. I know music should enhance the visual but it is more like having audio description on, I know the Shire is a rural idyll without a twee little theme and I don't need a fanfare to understand that the mountain scenery is majestic.

I did think the visuals - costumes, props, sets were very good with minor exceptions (why did the Rohirrim have such tatty cloaks?)

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

I don't know..I do like a lot of film music.. it is just whenever I catch bits of the films on tv... it is as if - like with the script - they have assumed an audience iq just slightly above that of a house plant and that they have to sledge hammer everything in. I know music should enhance the visual but it is more like having audio description on, I know the Shire is a rural idyll without a twee little theme and I don't need a fanfare to understand that the mountain scenery is majestic.

I get what you're saying, but for me it's more than that. I guess we just have to leave it at that and agree to disagree.

Originally Posted by Folwren

I did think the visuals - costumes, props, sets were very good with minor exceptions (why did the Rohirrim have such tatty cloaks?)

The scenery was beautiful, that's for sure. I like the costumes too. Since I'm nitpicky, I always point out that the hair colour is wrong for some characters. But that's really just me being prejudiced against PJ. And it's noting compared to the more major stuff that he put in the movie.