Return of the King!

[Darth Bootay]

Well, we're all entitled to our opinions. Tarryk, I don't look down on you for being a populist. What can I say? I come from the hardline school that it's uncool to lower the bar for the mediocre. Dumbing things down just irritates the hell out of me. Comes from my loathing of stupid people.

A lot of my anger about it stems from the fact that Tolkien is the first high fantasy I ever read. It became a milestone in my young life. The Rings trilogy approaches Holy Grail status in my memory. So to have it dumbed down and corrupted for the unwashed masses is tantamount to heresy.

And yes, Frodo was a whiney little biotch. He wasn't half the hobbit Bilbo was. *snigger* At least Heroic Frodo is less annoying than Comic Relief Gimli. I still want to deliver Jackson a kick to the wobbly bits. So sue me.

[Gridfan]

THe movies that stay true to the books are usually those movies that where written at the same time by the book author himself.
Thus the movie visualize sections of the story,
while the book explore depths and situations that may not be applicable in movie form.

Not many movies/books are made this way, which is a shame.

[Tacz]

I just prefer books =/ I like excercising my imagination.

[Nexeus]

Preperation for just one movie...

- Week in advance notice...
- Week of canned food and supplies bought
- Two changes of clothing
- Leaving at 3 am to go over to your buddies house to get ready for the movie at 8 pm
- Making sure the weather is fine before leaving the house or you may be delayed.
- Watching 1 hr worth of previews
- Watching a 4 hr movie
- Watching 30 min worth of credits

[Tarryk]

Well, we're all entitled to our opinions. Tarryk, I don't look down on you for being a populist. What can I say? I come from the hardline school that it's uncool to lower the bar for the mediocre. Dumbing things down just irritates the hell out of me. Comes from my loathing of stupid people.

I'm right there with you, but I think I hit the stage of my life where the acceptance of stupid people has started to take hold.

Example: Matrix - Reloaded (M2) contained a scene wherein Neo speaks with the Architect of the Matrix. Within that single conversation was the brilliance that I was hoping for that turned Matrix 2 into just as much of a shocker as Matrix 1 was. And *thumps desk with each word* no-one...else...got it. It subsequently got crap reviews in relation to it's originality of storyline. Stupid people. Had that particular scene been written originally into a book that was adapted to screen, the whole thing would have been rewritten or omitted completely. That's just the way it goes.

A lot of my anger about it stems from the fact that Tolkien is the first high fantasy I ever read. It became a milestone in my young life. The Rings trilogy approaches Holy Grail status in my memory. So to have it dumbed down and corrupted for the unwashed masses is tantamount to heresy.

Neal Stephenson's book Snow Crash was the first and so far only book that ever tore apart and rebuilt my entire outlook on life. If they ever turned it into a movie, I know full well that it would be nothing like the book. Characters would change, situations would invert themselves, and the entire storyline would likely be different. But the mere fact that it would be a high-budget movie that's based on my personal Bible of fiction novels would make me an instant fan of that movie.

But that's just the difference between us, I guess. As you said, to each their own.

[Tacz]

The book(s) that changed my outlook were Enders Game and the series (all 7).

[Ichyro]

I suppose the reason I'd like the movies more than the books was the first book of fantasy I was turned onto was Lord of the Rings, but it was read to me by my mother when I was very very young, hense, I was unable to comprehend much of it. I've read the two tower and fellowship, but it was still sort of unknown to me, and I am willing to adapt, it seems (I am not as hard nosed around dubbing and subbing as other people, and in this case, I enjoy the book and movie).


Though I am really taking a change on my outbook, just reading into the wonderful work done by RA Salvatore. Now drizzt has been overdone, but hes done other works that seem quite good.

Basically put?

It was dumbed down, that is totally true..but perhaps it was dumbed down so that more people would get into it, and read the book?

I wasnt totally nuts about LOTR, and after the movies as well as reading into it in curiousity (Now I can recall elements from the Silmarillion without even reading it. ), I'm now deeply into it.

[Oddysee]

What get's me about all this, is probably the dumbing...
There is nothing more annoying, than some halfwit, who's seen the movie 5 times, start talkin about the storyline and how it's written together very well, cus it symbolises this and that...
On the other hand, he never read the books, cus they were too boring...
You don't have to like the books, but if you don't read them, don't try to be an expert on what they mean!

I think the movies are awesomme, great, and really do leave you breathless... But it's not the LOTR it tries to say it is...
And that's where the problem is!
They follow the plot pretty well, and take some liberties in setting up the story... This is all well, but they somehow seem to think screwin over the people who praised this book, the people who even gave it a basis to be built on, in order to get the mainstream masses, was ok..., This I cannot accept!

But alas, I guess it is the way of things... I like bootay started my love for fantasy with these books, and I read them many times before there was even talk of a movie...
So anyone messin and altering with this bible, are of course unwelcome!
It'd be like walkin in to a church, and giving the Jesus statue a pair of rayban sunglasses... The masses might think it cool, but to the people who this actually means som'n... That's just not ok!




Tm

[Ichyro]

Nice analogy at the end of that, Oddy.

The one thing thats been said before, is you cannot please everyone.


The movies were wonderful, interesting, and funny, but they were pretty much a travesty to the books, and Tolkien would be going nuts to see it.

Some humor was well placed, the count between Legolas and Gimli, as well as Gandalfs talk with Pippin in Minas Tirith, but making gimli into the total comic relief, when I'd think merry and pippin would be that, if there was any, was stupid. -_-

Even then, it is funny to have legolas slay a gigantic mumakill, and then be greeted by Gimli who replies "That stil counts as one."

[Tacz]

I hate people who act all smartass in general about any topic

The setting... The shopkeeper (Gord) is on hold on the phone while three kids walk in. They see an open PlayStation on the counter, so they walk over to see it.

Then, the obvious intellectual of the group starts in...

"You see, being that I've taken apart and fixed a couple PlayStations, I can tell you what's wrong with this unit. First up, the power switch is missing... and blah blah blah blah."

"Actually, the only thing wrong with that PlayStation is that I haven't put the lid back on it. It's all fixed and ready to go." spoke the Gord.

"Uhm..."

[Ichyro]

I'm not a smartass Tacz. -_-

[Tacz]

Bah! I wasnt calling you a smartass! I was talking about Oddys example =D

[Ichyro]

Yes well I doubt Oddys a smart ass either. All I know is you messed up somewhere in that wording.

[Oddysee]

Uhm... I think you might have misunderstood our little air-soft loon there for a sec Ichy... But no harm done...
And yes, smartarses suck... Unless it's me!





Tm

[Mummu]

better smart shat then dumb talked.
narf, that looses so totally in the translation.