RotK Thoughts (Long - as in Freaking Long)

Had the guys over to watch Maryland dismantle UNC-Greensboro. Did some more thinking about the Peter Jackson films.

I've liked each of them. My estimation for the Two Towers went up with the Extended Edition, which helped me make some sense of Faramir's odd characterization.

By and large, I think Jackson did a good job with what I consider a very difficult story to translate to the big screen. There are really so many stories to tell, and not enough time to tell them in. In the book, many of those tales were relegated to the appendices and even more were left unfinished in the professor's notes.

More than anything else, I think Jackson excelled in capturing the flavor and feel of Tolkien's Middle Earth - from the arms and armor of the warriors, to the Ents, Orcs, and Nazgul - the stunning scenery and wonderful set design. And the realization of Shelob and Gollum as cgi-characters.

( Critiques and RotK Spoilers )

( Frodo and the Ring )

( Rohan )

( The White City )

( The War of the Ring and the final Battles )

( Aragorn, Arwen, and Elrond )

Again. I very much enjoyed the film. Most of the flaws, I felt stemmed from what was already problematic with Tolkien's story. And the constraints of the medium. I can deal. Much of what I love about Tolkien, is not in the story itself, but in the world he creates. Always lurking beyond the trilogies is the weight of his history - the knowledge that there is far more story than Tolkien is able to tell.

And indeed, if one wishes there are appendicies to peruse, the Silmarillion, and all manner of letters and writing fragments Christopher Tolkien has produced. The wacky first drafts, in which Aragorn is a Hobbit named "Trotter". Tolkien's clever conceit that it is not his tale, but rather a slate of mythology that he discovered and was translating.

Jackson gives me that feel as well, and I'm happy with the films I saw. In my heart, they don't replace the books, but they do add to their legacy quite admirably. In the end, they do for me, what George Lucas wishes he could do with the "Star Wars" saga. And Shelob can eat Jar-Jar for lunch any day.

RotK Thoughts (Long - as in Freaking Long)

Had the guys over to watch Maryland dismantle UNC-Greensboro. Did some more thinking about the Peter Jackson films.

I've liked each of them. My estimation for the Two Towers went up with the Extended Edition, which helped me make some sense of Faramir's odd characterization.

By and large, I think Jackson did a good job with what I consider a very difficult story to translate to the big screen. There are really so many stories to tell, and not enough time to tell them in. In the book, many of those tales were relegated to the appendices and even more were left unfinished in the professor's notes.

More than anything else, I think Jackson excelled in capturing the flavor and feel of Tolkien's Middle Earth - from the arms and armor of the warriors, to the Ents, Orcs, and Nazgul - the stunning scenery and wonderful set design. And the realization of Shelob and Gollum as cgi-characters.

( Critiques and RotK Spoilers )

( Frodo and the Ring )

( Rohan )

( The White City )

( The War of the Ring and the final Battles )

( Aragorn, Arwen, and Elrond )

Again. I very much enjoyed the film. Most of the flaws, I felt stemmed from what was already problematic with Tolkien's story. And the constraints of the medium. I can deal. Much of what I love about Tolkien, is not in the story itself, but in the world he creates. Always lurking beyond the trilogies is the weight of his history - the knowledge that there is far more story than Tolkien is able to tell.

And indeed, if one wishes there are appendicies to peruse, the Silmarillion, and all manner of letters and writing fragments Christopher Tolkien has produced. The wacky first drafts, in which Aragorn is a Hobbit named "Trotter". Tolkien's clever conceit that it is not his tale, but rather a slate of mythology that he discovered and was translating.

Jackson gives me that feel as well, and I'm happy with the films I saw. In my heart, they don't replace the books, but they do add to their legacy quite admirably. In the end, they do for me, what George Lucas wishes he could do with the "Star Wars" saga. And Shelob can eat Jar-Jar for lunch any day.