The DVD versions of the (first two) movies are more satisfying because they fill in some of the gaps that are troubling you. That's no excuse for the movies as shown in the theater being confusing to those who haven't read the books of course.
I read and enjoyed Tolkien when I was a young teenager before I got into the more modern fantasies. I've since tried to reread, most recently when Fellowship came out, but his style is just too meandering, dry and academic to hold my attention. Modern fantasies are a lot more lively of course, but Tolkien's work has to be appreciated in the context of the time it was written and for the incredible amount of historical, cultural, geographical and linguistic back story the Professor created.
I found the second and third movies boring for long stretches because they had far less character interaction than the first. The epic battles and stunning settings, mind-blowingly detailed costumes and weaponry, were masterful of course. The like of which we will probably never see in film again. But I read and watch stories for the characters, not for the battles and buildings, etc. Again the DVDs help because they point out the true level of obsessive detail that was put into these things, and you can't completely appreciate from just watching the movies.
The wonderful thing in all of this is that even though I was often bored, Jackson poured his heart and soul into precisely the same things that Tolkien did: the scenery, the details, the battles, the big picture. It's not what floats my boat, but I think it is what Tolkien would have wanted, so it is a proper tribute.
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Date: 2004-03-02 12:45 pm (UTC)The DVD versions of the (first two) movies are more satisfying because they fill in some of the gaps that are troubling you. That's no excuse for the movies as shown in the theater being confusing to those who haven't read the books of course.
I read and enjoyed Tolkien when I was a young teenager before I got into the more modern fantasies. I've since tried to reread, most recently when Fellowship came out, but his style is just too meandering, dry and academic to hold my attention. Modern fantasies are a lot more lively of course, but Tolkien's work has to be appreciated in the context of the time it was written and for the incredible amount of historical, cultural, geographical and linguistic back story the Professor created.
I found the second and third movies boring for long stretches because they had far less character interaction than the first. The epic battles and stunning settings, mind-blowingly detailed costumes and weaponry, were masterful of course. The like of which we will probably never see in film again. But I read and watch stories for the characters, not for the battles and buildings, etc. Again the DVDs help because they point out the true level of obsessive detail that was put into these things, and you can't completely appreciate from just watching the movies.
The wonderful thing in all of this is that even though I was often bored, Jackson poured his heart and soul into precisely the same things that Tolkien did: the scenery, the details, the battles, the big picture. It's not what floats my boat, but I think it is what Tolkien would have wanted, so it is a proper tribute.