RoTK
Well, I saw the Return of the King today with Holton. It was quite the spectacle. It was in fact, absolutely stunning in parts.
I wish I could say that I was able to set aside my reading of the books to enjoy the film totally unironically or "in the moment" as you would have it, but well, I wasn't able to.
Don't get me wrong, the movie was great, I just felt it so constantly differed from the books, so unecessarily differed from the books, that it just messed with the experience for me. Why have the army of the dead show up at Minis Tirith? Why give Shelob a stinger? Why not add the silent watchers vs. the Star Glass? Why not have the Voice of Mordor & Aragorn do their whole parlay thing? Why not have Denethor looking into the Palantir, it would have at least given some kinda explanation for what a complex character he was, instead of just making him out to be a wimp/jerk.
One might respond that the movie would have been too long or that the rhythym of the film would have been changed if it stayed more faithful to the books, but in many specific instances I just don't see, well, how. Like the ending, Sam should have just come home, sat down at the table, put little Elanor on his lap at said "Well, I'm back" BANG, cut to credits. End with a punch. Nope, gotta milk it a bit more.
Other things like how when the Lord of the Nazgul comes out of Minas Morgul, he's actually ON a Nazgul (which is actually the name of those weird flying things) as opposed to be at the head of the army on a horse. It makes it more dramatic if he's on the flying thing, but so what? The massive size of the army, AND the Witch-Kings pause to look over at the location of Frodo/Sam/Gollum should have been tension enough.
But right there is where I think Jackson betrays his true colors: he doesn't what subtles, nuanced, powerful tension/drama. He instead wants overwhelming punch. That's fine. His choice. But it wasn't Tolkiens. Which again is why I think that the movies are telling a different story then the books.
Gotta say though, dang, where those shots of Minas Tirith FREAKING AWESOME.
Josiah Q. Roe | By Josiah Roe | 10:09 PM
Comments
I thought that Jackson's expertise as a horror director really comes out in this film.
Posted by: linnea at December 20, 2003 11:23 PM
Minas Tirith was definately the high point of the film. It took my breath away. And you're dead right about Jackson's style: over the top. I think that's why Fellowship is still my favorite. Definitely the most subtle and nuanced of the 3.
Posted by: KornSt@r at December 20, 2003 11:52 PM
I'm not going to turn this into a book vs. movie argument because I love both but to adress a few of your problems:
1. Dead at Minas Tiriath did bother me a bit but it ended up being very cool to watch. Maybe that's just teh action loving side of me talking but itwas pretty funny to see tehm swarm that Oliphant.
2. Im almost completely certian that Shelob did have a stinger. Even if she didn't, why does that bother you? She was pretty nasty either way.
3. Voice of Mordor thing should be in extended version. Yeah I thought that and the Silent Watcher should have been in to.
4. I'm also pretty sure that the Lord of the Nazgul was on the flying steed as opposed the the horse which was killed by the elf magic outside of Rivendell in the first book/movie. I know that he definatly had it during his battle scene before he died so it makes sense for him to have it before then also.
5. Personal opinion but I think the ending was great. I thought it ended just like the book did (minus the scouring of the Shire).
Like I hinted at in my blog, I don't think it's possible to match Tolkiens nuance on film. Tolkien was an amazing writer whose power lies in his subtlety and characterization. Jackson may have been making a more action oriented film but that says more about todays audiences than about him. I know the strove to remain as faithful to tge books as possible because he's even more fanatical about them then you or I.
Oh well, we'll have differences of opinion. That's what makes life interesting.
Posted by: zach at December 21, 2003 10:57 AM
My biggest disappointment was that the Witch King's flying thing didnt perch on top of Snowmane. That has always been a striking image to me, and I really would have love to see it come to life.
Oh well. I'll bet in 20 years, either Jackson or someone else will do a remake, using all the new special effects that will allow to do it the right way. Hopefully, they wont add in a tenth member of the Fellowship, Jar Jar the Hobbit.
Posted by: Greg at December 22, 2003 08:53 AM
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