The Capturing of Myth

[Lalwendë]

Imladris, this is a great idea for a thread - there's not enough serious 'movie' (I prefer the word 'film', being an old so and so) discussion.

I've quite a few thoughts on this one so bear with me if they seem random.

Firstly, I was interested that you chose this definition penned by CS Lewis, as some of the things said by him I would not necessarily agree with.

5. It is grave. There may be joy, but ultimately it is grave. There is no such thing (according to Lewis's definition) as a comic myth.

Yet there are comic elements in myth. This afternoon I have been reading about Loki in Norse myth, who was a shamanic/shape shifting trickster sort of character, often engaging in darkly comic acts. The jester is a figure who does appear in myth - I am sure there are other examples.

I wholly agree that in the films there were moments where the grosser elements of comedy did intrude too much - why did Gimli have to belch at King Theoden? But the books are full of comic moments, and characters. Not all of the comedy in the films was gross by a long way - I found that the few misplaced jokes were outweighed by a fair number of sensitively done gently comic moments. And as a final comment on comedy and myth - there are what we might call 'gross' comic elements in established myth and folklore, it's not all serious stuff.

1. It is extra-literary. In other words, someone can tell you the story line or synopsis of the plot and it affects you even though you have not read it. IE, the way it was written is not what moves you, it is the story in and of itself.

Surely most readers would agree that one of the most startling aspects about Tolkien's work is the description of Middle Earth, how it comes alive in your imagination? If what CS Lewis says above is held to be true, then Tolkien's work goes beyond myth. The basic story itself is excellent - and I can see why a director would want to use it for a film, but the books go much further than the definition used by CS Lewis.

About detail, I'm sure there are many other book fans out there who also enjoy the films, and while we all criticise aspects of those films, there are also things which only a bookworm would spot - such as the white tree carvings on Boromir's gauntlets. Although I have to admit these are most likely the work of Alan Lee and the designers.

Finally, davem says:

They are not a successful translation of book into film, because that's impossible.

I have to say, I have never yet seen a perfect film/TV version of any of my favourite books. I have wondered in the past if this is something to do with the nature of reading and of how we as individuals respond to a work - our vision is quite obviously going to be different to that of the director. Now, who is going to give me and everyone else on the 'Downs millions of £££s so we can each translate our own visions of Middle Earth into celluloid?