Did your View of the Characters change after seeing the films? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

mollecon · 04-20-2004, 06:06 AM

Actually, I thought (some of) the characters in PJ's movies were more interesting than the ones Tolkien himself describes! That's got nothing to do with Tolkien being a bad writer (I love the books, have read them many times!), but a lot to do with the particular style and tradition Tolkien is writing 'on'. PJ and his co-writers probably realised that if these persons were gonna live on the screen, and have an appeal to an audience that didn't know the books - they had to make them more 'modern', and less mythological, in terms of their psychology/personality. For instance, in the books it seems reasonable enough that you have a person coming out of nowhere who's totally immune to the Ring's power - that wouldn't have worked in the movies (I'm referring to Faramir, of course

). I also like the Aragorn in the movies - the one in the books is rather two-dimensional.

I guess it is true that some of the other characters in some way payed a penalty for this change. Both Gimli & Legolas are to an extend 'non-characters' - comic relief yes, but not much beyond that. But if you look in the books, they aren't really much more developed there.

Aethelwine · 04-20-2004, 08:02 AM

Very nice topic!

Oh, and please, I beg your forgiveness for the off-topic-ness of the below, but I just had to get it out!

Quote:

Elves in background were like dragqueens, mostly (with blond hair and black eyebrows)

So, I’m a drag queen, because my hair is naturally blond, but my eyebrows are dark? Why thank you…

Oh, and mollecon, you must not forget that Tolkien wrote LOTR to be a myth, so the style he wrote in was to reflect that fact.

Forgive the off-topic-ness!

Cheers mates!

Aethelwine.

**The Saucepan Man** · 04-20-2004, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Oh, and mollecon, you must not forget that Tolkien wrote LOTR to be a myth, so the style he wrote in was to reflect that fact.

Yes, and New Line/Jackson made the films to appeal to modern film-going audiences, so the style in which they made them reflects that fact.

Lalaith · 04-20-2004, 09:21 AM

Film is a very dominant medium, compared to the tentative nature of literary imagination. So I agree that the movie characters can easily trample on our own previous book-inspired imaginings.
One change I find slightly disturbing is my view of Merry. I can't put my finger on it, but I found film-Merry slightly seedy, somehow, and not noble enough. It annoyed me, but now he's in my mind as Merry. I want my book-Merry back!

Lord of Angmar · 04-20-2004, 10:38 AM

Merry? Seedy?

Lalaith · 04-20-2004, 10:52 AM

Yes I know. Like I said, I can't put my finger on what it is exactly that rankles. I didn't like the way he said "My Lady", for example.

mollecon · 04-20-2004, 11:05 AM

Quote:"Oh, and mollecon, you must not forget that Tolkien wrote LOTR to be a myth, so the style he wrote in was to reflect that fact."

Yes, that was largely what I was referring to when I mentioned the 'style and tradition' of Tolkiens writing

Vanya · 04-21-2004, 05:34 AM

[QUOTE=Aethelwine
So, I’m a drag queen, because my hair is naturally blond, but my eyebrows are dark? Why thank you…
Aethelwine.[/QUOTE]

I apologize, I ment no offense, but this just didn't look natural to me, even if it is to you. Forgive me once again.

04-20-2004, 10:38 AM	#5
Lord of Angmar Tyrannus Incorporalis Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: the North Posts: 833	Merry? Seedy? __________________ ...where the instrument of intelligence is added to brute power and evil will, mankind is powerless in its own defence.

04-20-2004, 06:06 AM	#1
mollecon Wight Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Denmark Posts: 188	Actually, I thought (some of) the characters in PJ's movies were more interesting than the ones Tolkien himself describes! That's got nothing to do with Tolkien being a bad writer (I love the books, have read them many times!), but a lot to do with the particular style and tradition Tolkien is writing 'on'. PJ and his co-writers probably realised that if these persons were gonna live on the screen, and have an appeal to an audience that didn't know the books - they had to make them more 'modern', and less mythological, in terms of their psychology/personality. For instance, in the books it seems reasonable enough that you have a person coming out of nowhere who's totally immune to the Ring's power - that wouldn't have worked in the movies (I'm referring to Faramir, of course ). I also like the Aragorn in the movies - the one in the books is rather two-dimensional. I guess it is true that some of the other characters in some way payed a penalty for this change. Both Gimli & Legolas are to an extend 'non-characters' - comic relief yes, but not much beyond that. But if you look in the books, they aren't really much more developed there.

04-20-2004, 09:21 AM	#4
Lalaith Blithe Spirit Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,779	Film is a very dominant medium, compared to the tentative nature of literary imagination. So I agree that the movie characters can easily trample on our own previous book-inspired imaginings. One change I find slightly disturbing is my view of Merry. I can't put my finger on it, but I found film-Merry slightly seedy, somehow, and not noble enough. It annoyed me, but now he's in my mind as Merry. I want my book-Merry back!

04-20-2004, 10:52 AM	#6
Lalaith Blithe Spirit Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,779	Yes I know. Like I said, I can't put my finger on what it is exactly that rankles. I didn't like the way he said "My Lady", for example.

04-20-2004, 11:05 AM	#7
mollecon Wight Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Denmark Posts: 188	Quote:"Oh, and mollecon, you must not forget that Tolkien wrote LOTR to be a myth, so the style he wrote in was to reflect that fact." Yes, that was largely what I was referring to when I mentioned the 'style and tradition' of Tolkiens writing

04-21-2004, 05:34 AM	#8
Vanya Animated Skeleton Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Belgrade Posts: 43	[QUOTE=Aethelwine So, I’m a drag queen, because my hair is naturally blond, but my eyebrows are dark? Why thank you… Aethelwine.[/QUOTE] I apologize, I ment no offense, but this just didn't look natural to me, even if it is to you. Forgive me once again.