Did you actually watch them? Sure, there are big battles and sword fights, etc.. but the true heroes of the movies are the Hobbits, and Sam is clearly the most important character. Especially in ROTK. Not sure how you missed that.
One of the things that I think people who watch the movies but haven't read the books probably get a bit thrown off by is the degree to which Sam becomes the hero... yes, he's clearly one of the heroes, but the movies by their nature don't make Frodo out to be as heroic as he should be made out to be. They do a bit of the "here's Frodo having a hard time with carrying this ring thing, sure seems to be a burden", but I don't think they sell it hard enough. As much as Sam has to go through, Frodo has the toughest job.
As far as this goes though...
Quote:
Originally Posted by afc wimbledon
Really, then how come the whole point of the books was how the fate of the world really turned not on hero's and wizards but on the simple love of an ordinary hobbit and his plain common sense
Trying to boil down LOTR to one "point" or focal character is nonsense. It defies that sort of basic structure. Even as between Frodo and Sam, you could just as easily say that the whole point of the books was that Bilbo's, and later Frodo's, feeling of pity and mercy for Gollum saved the world, because if they'd killed him, Sauron wins. There's a lot of ways to look at it, both in terms of whose story it is and what the "point" is, and they're all valid. If you want to read the whole thing as Aragorn's story, you can do that, and it works just fine.
This is why I think the "Two Towers" thing was a happy accident - there is no consensus (outside of the movie where they forced a meaning on it for no reason) about what Two Towers the title refers to. There are a half dozen different ways to look at it, and they all make sense and there's no clear right answer. There doesn't have to be. It's a nice little parallel.
EDIT: incidentally, you're wrong. The ring has no power over Bombadil, but it does over Sam. Hence he ends up catching a boat later on and following Frodo west.
__________________ "The great promise of the Internet was that more information would automatically yield better decisions. The great disappointment is that more information actually yields more possibilities to confirm what you already believed anyway." - Brian Eno
Last edited by CorsiHockeyLeague; 08-30-2021 at 09:21 AM.
Watched Vacation Friends on Hulu over a couple of nights. It was good enough for some light entertainment, Cena is a legit movie star and his charisma can carry a film.
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Strange Brew For This Useful Post:
One of the things that I think people who watch the movies but haven't read the books probably get a bit thrown off by is the degree to which Sam becomes the hero... yes, he's clearly one of the heroes, but the movies by their nature don't make Frodo out to be as heroic as he should be made out to be. They do a bit of the "here's Frodo having a hard time with carrying this ring thing, sure seems to be a burden", but I don't think they sell it hard enough. As much as Sam has to go through, Frodo has the toughest job.
As far as this goes though...
Trying to boil down LOTR to one "point" or focal character is nonsense. It defies that sort of basic structure. Even as between Frodo and Sam, you could just as easily say that the whole point of the books was that Bilbo's, and later Frodo's, feeling of pity and mercy for Gollum saved the world, because if they'd killed him, Sauron wins. There's a lot of ways to look at it, both in terms of whose story it is and what the "point" is, and they're all valid. If you want to read the whole thing as Aragorn's story, you can do that, and it works just fine.
This is why I think the "Two Towers" thing was a happy accident - there is no consensus (outside of the movie where they forced a meaning on it for no reason) about what Two Towers the title refers to. There are a half dozen different ways to look at it, and they all make sense and there's no clear right answer. There doesn't have to be. It's a nice little parallel.
EDIT: incidentally, you're wrong. The ring has no power over Bombadil, but it does over Sam. Hence he ends up catching a boat later on and following Frodo west.
Everyone knows the Two Towers is a Sept 11 reference.
Quote:
Those of us who have seen The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring know what an amazing director Peter Jackson is. When I learned that there apparently was to be a sequel, I was overjoyed. However, Peter Jackson has decided to tastelessly name the sequel "The Two Towers". The title is clearly meant to refer to the attacks on the World Trade Center. In this post-September 11 world, it is unforgiveable that this should be allowed to happen. The idea is both offensive and morally repugnant. Hopefully, when Peter Jackson and, more importantly, New Line Cinema see the number of signatures on this petition, the title will be changed to something a little more sensitive.
Oh it was real. They started a petition and it made a few news sources. But all I could find is message board posts about it from various places on the web.
The Following User Says Thank You to Cecil Terwilliger For This Useful Post:
__________________ "The great promise of the Internet was that more information would automatically yield better decisions. The great disappointment is that more information actually yields more possibilities to confirm what you already believed anyway." - Brian Eno
Oh it was real. They started a petition and it made a few news sources. But all I could find is message board posts about it from various places on the web.
I hope whoever is in charge of Tolkien's Estate flew to that person's house and bitch-slapped them so hard across the face with a copy of the book that the publishing date was imprinted on their cheek.
__________________ The Beatings Shall Continue Until Morale Improves!
This Post Has Been Distilled for the Eradication of Seemingly Incurable Sadness.
The World Ends when you're dead. Until then, you've got more punishment in store. - Flames Fans
If you thought this season would have a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention.
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Locke For This Useful Post:
One of the things that I think people who watch the movies but haven't read the books probably get a bit thrown off by is the degree to which Sam becomes the hero... yes, he's clearly one of the heroes, but the movies by their nature don't make Frodo out to be as heroic as he should be made out to be. They do a bit of the "here's Frodo having a hard time with carrying this ring thing, sure seems to be a burden", but I don't think they sell it hard enough. As much as Sam has to go through, Frodo has the toughest job.
As far as this goes though...
Trying to boil down LOTR to one "point" or focal character is nonsense. It defies that sort of basic structure. Even as between Frodo and Sam, you could just as easily say that the whole point of the books was that Bilbo's, and later Frodo's, feeling of pity and mercy for Gollum saved the world, because if they'd killed him, Sauron wins. There's a lot of ways to look at it, both in terms of whose story it is and what the "point" is, and they're all valid. If you want to read the whole thing as Aragorn's story, you can do that, and it works just fine.
This is why I think the "Two Towers" thing was a happy accident - there is no consensus (outside of the movie where they forced a meaning on it for no reason) about what Two Towers the title refers to. There are a half dozen different ways to look at it, and they all make sense and there's no clear right answer. There doesn't have to be. It's a nice little parallel.
EDIT: incidentally, you're wrong. The ring has no power over Bombadil, but it does over Sam. Hence he ends up catching a boat later on and following Frodo west.
Well by no power I mean the Ring is unable to effect Sam's love for Frodo, even after he puts it on, despite fleeting dreams of being Samwise the hero he realises that's foolish and gives the ring back to Frodo, this is of course contrasted with how little love Frodo shows for Sam when he realises Sam has the ring and demands it back
Well by no power I mean the Ring is unable to effect Sam's love for Frodo, even after he puts it on, despite fleeting dreams of being Samwise the hero he realises that's foolish and gives the ring back to Frodo, this is of course contrasted with how little love Frodo shows for Sam when he realises Sam has the ring and demands it back
Well, sure, but he's had it for barely any time by that point. I mean, Frodo's able to offer to give it up multiple times even after having it in his possession for years - first to Gandalf at Bag End, and later Galadriel. By this point in the story he's been carrying the thing so long he's actually hallucinating:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Book VI Ch 1
‘All right, Mr. Frodo,’ said Sam, rather startled. ‘Here it is!’ Slowly he drew the Ring out and passed the chain over his head. `But you’re in the land of Mordor now, sir; and when you get out, you’ll see the Fiery Mountain and all. You’ll find the Ring very dangerous now, and very hard to bear. If it’s too hard a job, I could share it with you, maybe?’
`No, no!’ cried Frodo, snatching the Ring and chain from Sam’s hands. `No you won’t, you thief!’ He panted, staring at Sam with eyes wide with fear and enmity. Then suddenly, clasping the Ring in one clenched fist, he stood aghast. A mist seemed to clear from his eyes, and he passed a hand over his aching brow. The hideous vision had seemed so real to him, half bemused as he was still with wound and fear. Sam had changed before his very eyes into an orc again, leering and pawing at his treasure, a foul little creature with greedy eyes and slobbering mouth. But now the vision had passed. There was Sam kneeling before him, his face wrung with pain, as if he had been stabbed in the heart; tears welled from his eyes.
‘O Sam!’ cried Frodo. `What have I said? What have I done? Forgive me! After all you have done. It is the horrible power of the Ring. I wish it had never, never, been found. But don’t mind me, Sam. I must carry the burden to the end. It can’t be altered. You can’t come between me and this doom.’
I don't think it's unreasonable to say that once he comes to his senses, he's actually taking the thing back in part so it won't do to Sam what it's doing to him.
__________________ "The great promise of the Internet was that more information would automatically yield better decisions. The great disappointment is that more information actually yields more possibilities to confirm what you already believed anyway." - Brian Eno
... In which case Bilbo is stronger-willed than any of them.
__________________ "The great promise of the Internet was that more information would automatically yield better decisions. The great disappointment is that more information actually yields more possibilities to confirm what you already believed anyway." - Brian Eno
Watched Vacation Friends on Hulu over a couple of nights. It was good enough for some light entertainment, Cena is a legit movie star and his charisma can carry a film.
Great movie if you're expectations are low and just want to have a few laughs. Enjoyed it.
__________________ "In brightest day, in blackest night / No evil shall escape my sight / Let those who worship evil's might / Beware my power, Green Lantern's light!"
The Following User Says Thank You to GreenLantern For This Useful Post:
Till Death was a decent enough thriller. With a better leading actor it could have been really good as Megan Fox just can't act or maybe her face is so plastic now that she can't show expressions or emotions. Otherwise there were some interesting scenes and some good suspense scenes.
Watched Gunpowder Milkshake last night, that was a waste of time. Poor man's woman's John Wick with none of the attention to detail and trying to gloss it over with "style". 4/10
