Microphones in Middle-earth...the BBC Lord of the Rings - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Mithalwen · 02-07-2012, 02:57 PM

Sorry yes of course she is at the havens.. I was going to type she wasn't at the coronation and then (not having listened for a while) wondered if she just not spoke and rephrased and made it more wrong!!!

I think in the book Legolas just says something like "We will come when our own lords allow". You are right that the speech here is transposed from "The field of Cormallen, when he expresses his intent to spend time in Ithilien though the lure of the Sea will be even closer.

Earlier in the discussion Brian Sibley said some scenes were rearranged - I had wrongly assumed that side ends were the original half hour episode ends - they tend to have cliffhangers. But that was in the divided thread phase.

davem · 02-07-2012, 03:19 PM

I intended to get around to the final episode a long time back on this thread, but so many things interupted me and it never happened :-( . It was one of the best things I've been involved in here-thanks particularly to Brian Sibley's contributions.

Mithalwen · 02-07-2012, 03:33 PM

Brian Sibley is going to be a main speaker at The Return of the Ring according to Amon Hen. It was a great privilege to be able to ask him questions here and hopefully let him know how much the serialisation meant to us.

Looking back I realise it got me into both classical music and Radio 4 at an early age providing sources of joy beyond the serial itself.

Pervinca Took · 02-07-2012, 04:21 PM

Davem, I've very much enjoyed reading all your summaries, comments and thoughts on this thread. I hope I haven't trodden on your toes by summarising the final chapter.

davem · 02-07-2012, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pervinca Took

Davem, I've very much enjoyed reading all your summaries, comments and thoughts on this thread. I hope I haven't trodden on your toes by summarising the final chapter.

Not at all- in fact I'm grateful that its been done. My plans for the thread fell apart due to having a toddler running around the place.

Draugohtar · 08-10-2012, 10:54 PM

As my first post, I wanted to comment on the BBC Radio Adaptation.

My Grandmother bought me the boxed set of audio cassettes back in the late 80s (I had already read the hobbit and the 3 books of the trilogy.)

I instantly found that the characterisations and voices were absolutely as I have imagined them prior, it was (and remains) uncanny.

The music is splendid, obviously Bill Nighy's lay of Gil-Galad is remarkable, however for me the musical interpretation of the battle for the Pelennor fields and Theoden's last ride to battle was, and is an utter highlight for me.

You always feel that everyone involved with the production 'gets' Tolkien and his masterwork. It's so thrilling to be part of as the listener.

Whilst it's all too easy to berate PJ, the way this audio adaptation embraced the poetic and implied musical content of the Lord of the Rings books truly demonstrates the blandness and mundanity of the movie work.

I wish to say that I actually enjoy the PJ Lord of the Rings films, but on their own terms, not as adaptations.

--

I read earlier in the thread, from years past, comments regarding the 'realism' that PJ had gone for in comparison to what is possible in an audio adaptation.

I actually feel that Tolkien created a totally coherent, 'real' world in which characters such as Tom Bombadil and an ancient but happy, friendly Elrond can exist. (I enjoyed the Tales from the Perilous realms adaptation of the stay with Tom Bombadil.)

I think the BBC Audio adaptation truly expresses this.

Rather than being limited by an acted realisation of the books, this adaptation shows that it can compliment and add without redaction.

No adaptation with any ambition to show rather than tell the story can convey every word of Tolkien's genius, but then neither can the book sing to us.

The BBC Radio adaptation only loses what it must and gives everything it can. If only PJ could have done the same in 'celluloid.'

I await Hobbit Hyenas with fear, but always have this splendid work to reassure me and fall back upon when in need!

P.S. Robert Stephens is Aragorn to me, and always shall be. I actually think Viggo Mortensen could have been a great Aragorn and is still very good in spite of the strange, and entirely optional changes made to him in that adaptation.

'All that is gold does not glitter ...' rings totally true of Robert Stephens and is wonderful interpretation.

Apologies if I rambled or went off topic at all in my first post!

Mithalwen · 08-11-2012, 03:23 AM

Welcome and don't apologise. I agree with you save with the caveat that while Stephens does Aragorn well, I am not to sure about Strider!! But that is a minor quibble. I also thought Vigo did a good job despite not being physically the obvious choice A lot of the film casting was good, the costumes and sets were gorgeous.. it was what they did with them that caused the problems for me. I feel your post deserves a better reply butit will have to be later alas!

02-07-2012, 02:57 PM	#1
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,463	Sorry yes of course she is at the havens.. I was going to type she wasn't at the coronation and then (not having listened for a while) wondered if she just not spoke and rephrased and made it more wrong!!! I think in the book Legolas just says something like "We will come when our own lords allow". You are right that the speech here is transposed from "The field of Cormallen, when he expresses his intent to spend time in Ithilien though the lure of the Sea will be even closer. Earlier in the discussion Brian Sibley said some scenes were rearranged - I had wrongly assumed that side ends were the original half hour episode ends - they tend to have cliffhangers. But that was in the divided thread phase. __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

02-07-2012, 03:19 PM	#2
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	I intended to get around to the final episode a long time back on this thread, but so many things interupted me and it never happened :-( . It was one of the best things I've been involved in here-thanks particularly to Brian Sibley's contributions. __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."

02-07-2012, 03:33 PM	#3
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,463	Brian Sibley is going to be a main speaker at The Return of the Ring according to Amon Hen. It was a great privilege to be able to ask him questions here and hopefully let him know how much the serialisation meant to us. Looking back I realise it got me into both classical music and Radio 4 at an early age providing sources of joy beyond the serial itself. __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

02-07-2012, 04:21 PM	#4
Pervinca Took Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: The Treetops, C/O Great Smials Posts: 5,035	Davem, I've very much enjoyed reading all your summaries, comments and thoughts on this thread. I hope I haven't trodden on your toes by summarising the final chapter. __________________ "Sit by the firelight's glow; tell us an old tale we know. Tell of adventures strange and rare; never to change, ever to share! Stories we tell will cast their spell, now and for always."

08-11-2012, 03:23 AM	#7
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,463	Welcome and don't apologise. I agree with you save with the caveat that while Stephens does Aragorn well, I am not to sure about Strider!! But that is a minor quibble. I also thought Vigo did a good job despite not being physically the obvious choice A lot of the film casting was good, the costumes and sets were gorgeous.. it was what they did with them that caused the problems for me. I feel your post deserves a better reply butit will have to be later alas! __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

08-10-2012, 10:54 PM	#6
Draugohtar Pile O'Bones Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 23	As my first post, I wanted to comment on the BBC Radio Adaptation. My Grandmother bought me the boxed set of audio cassettes back in the late 80s (I had already read the hobbit and the 3 books of the trilogy.) I instantly found that the characterisations and voices were absolutely as I have imagined them prior, it was (and remains) uncanny. The music is splendid, obviously Bill Nighy's lay of Gil-Galad is remarkable, however for me the musical interpretation of the battle for the Pelennor fields and Theoden's last ride to battle was, and is an utter highlight for me. You always feel that everyone involved with the production 'gets' Tolkien and his masterwork. It's so thrilling to be part of as the listener. Whilst it's all too easy to berate PJ, the way this audio adaptation embraced the poetic and implied musical content of the Lord of the Rings books truly demonstrates the blandness and mundanity of the movie work. I wish to say that I actually enjoy the PJ Lord of the Rings films, but on their own terms, not as adaptations. -- I read earlier in the thread, from years past, comments regarding the 'realism' that PJ had gone for in comparison to what is possible in an audio adaptation. I actually feel that Tolkien created a totally coherent, 'real' world in which characters such as Tom Bombadil and an ancient but happy, friendly Elrond can exist. (I enjoyed the Tales from the Perilous realms adaptation of the stay with Tom Bombadil.) I think the BBC Audio adaptation truly expresses this. Rather than being limited by an acted realisation of the books, this adaptation shows that it can compliment and add without redaction. No adaptation with any ambition to show rather than tell the story can convey every word of Tolkien's genius, but then neither can the book sing to us. The BBC Radio adaptation only loses what it must and gives everything it can. If only PJ could have done the same in 'celluloid.' I await Hobbit Hyenas with fear, but always have this splendid work to reassure me and fall back upon when in need! P.S. Robert Stephens is Aragorn to me, and always shall be. I actually think Viggo Mortensen could have been a great Aragorn and is still very good in spite of the strange, and entirely optional changes made to him in that adaptation. 'All that is gold does not glitter ...' rings totally true of Robert Stephens and is wonderful interpretation. Apologies if I rambled or went off topic at all in my first post!

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