Just to make some things clear -- Adilbrand Noblesword's Hall of Warriors

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Date Posted: 09:48:08 12/21/01 Fri
Author: Omega
Subject: Just to make some things clear
In reply to: Adilbrand 's message, "Re: I have many complaints with it myself" on 14:00:51 12/20/01 Thu

Ok. First, I want to say -- the movie is good, and probably the best done fantasy movie to date. I will give it that. And I do expect the director's cut DVD will improve some of the elements I thought were lacking in the theatrical presentation. I went knowing the movie would change things from the books, and I was ok with that -- knowing that such changes would have to be made. Some of them, I just didn't think were necessary, nor helped the presentation of the story. Of course I judged the movie to the book to figure out if the movie's presentation was better than the book's for the story. Sometimes I can see what they did was fine (for example, Arwen's role, I have no problem with).

However, as I have said, though I have complaints with the film, I am not saying it is bad. I am just a harsh critic, and also technical stuff also gets to me (having had drama experience, I can detect it more).

Now let me explain some things:

1) Gollum. Yes, he was a Hobbit. Even in the second film, it is possible they will reveal he was once a Hobbit. I hope they do that, for I think, it is a necessary element of the whole story. Especially when Gollum is leading the ringbearer through the marshes, this element of Gollum/Smeagol makes most sense in relation with his Hobbit background. It also shows 1) Hobbit's resistance to the ring but also 2) it's long lasting corruption.

2) Pippin and Merry -- this part I think is still a weakness in the story. If I ran into someone being chased by a powerful monster, without any other reason to join with them, I would not continue on all the way with them to some unknown end for some unknown reason. I hope more explanations are had in the 40 minutes we will see.... showing Pippin and Merry knew a bit more of what was going on.

3) Speaking of a small gloss, but I think will be in the 40 mins -- Bill the Pony and Samwise. While Sam is shown as sad when Bill leaves, I think one of the scenes cut out is more of Sam/Bill which helps make that one scene in the movie make more sense.

4) I didn't like the way Jackson changed the sequence of when Frodo and Sam left. Again, it didn't make sense -- if the Ringwraiths were already at the Shire when Gandalf is telling Frodo to leave.. it isn't explained well enough why Gandalf isn't going with frodo to Bree, and why they would meet there and not just aim for Rivendale.

5) Saruman. I think Christopher Lee did a good job, but I think the scene where Saruman creates an avalanche was out of place and over the top. It was ok, just I think there was no need to have Saruman doing that, other than just to have less subtle use of magic...

6) Rivendale itself.. was fairly good. Some people have complained that the Council was more the Fight.. but other than that, it still is ok.

7) Moria -- I have to say, I was not impressed with the Balrog. The cave troll was fine, but the Balrog to me just looked weak. Too cartoonish looking when you see it, and then it really doesn't do anything.. just falls down the bridge (with wings, why doesn't it fly up and struggle?) and then the whip should have been seen more clearly pulling Gandalf down. Also would have been better with an element of flames engulfing Gandalf in some sort of fight before the fall, and in the fight he says "run you fools" instead of just hanging on a bridge, getting it, then just dropping..

8) Lothlorien to me really didn't give the impression that it was a good place to be. Also they missed the opportunity to have Legolas and Gimli grow into friendship because of Gimli's admiration for Galadriel. I hope some of that is in the dvd.

Some things I liked (again in no particular order.. and again there are many elements I didn't like I cant' express just yet.. maybe after I see it again Saturday)

1) Iam Holmes. Excellent as Bilbo. Superb as Bilbo. Get him and McKellan NOW to do the Hobbit while the films are still coming out.

2) Sean Beam's Boromir. I liked the presentation -- helped make Boromir very likeable. I liked him already, but many don't. I think he helped express the positive side for his motives, and his death was indeed heroric.

3) The large battle fight in the prologue. Although I am mixed with what they did with Sauron, the Elf-Orc battle before Sauron came on the scene was good.

4) Bilbo's party -- except for Pippin and Merry making a mess.

5) The Nazgul in general were fair. I am still wondering how they will do the Witch King's fight. One person has asked, now that there was no special sword for Merry to pick up, how will he be able to fight the Witch King alongside Eowyn. I think that can be fixed -- possibly given a special sword by Theodin.

6) Also, the casting and acting, except for Galadriel, was worthwhile of the work at hand. I think Pippin and Merry will be good in the next film, just like with Sam, they needed a bit more in this one to make their characters multi-dimensional

Ok. This has been a haphazard post. I am certainly not saying the movie is bad, but I think recognizing its weaknesses now might help give Jackson ideas of how to edit the rest later (so I just hope people don't knock it too hard, nor give it too great a praise that Jackson doesn't improve upon his work in the next film).

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Replies:

Re: Just to make some things clear -- Adilbrand, 19:25:13 12/21/01 Fri
- Re: Just to make some things clear -- mvd, 10:56:39 12/22/01 Sat
  - Re: Just to make some things clear -- Adilbrand, 12:54:33 12/22/01 Sat