There and Back Again Anticipation thread [SPOILERS]

Thu Apr 17, 2014 1:40 pm

Yes, the Balrog scene in FOTR is fairly well done, and the opening of TTT, despite a certain silliness in the fighting, is one of those sublime moments that PtB and yov bond over.

Post by **Smaug's voice** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 5:30 pm

OOC: PtB - your inbox is probably full.

Post by **Passdagas the Brown** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 7:47 pm

Elen,

Totally understand, and agree. It's subjective, as are all opinions about art.

And just to clarify, I don't pull apart LOTR as a means of promoting TH. Comparing the two is simply a logical means of more clearly expressing why I generally dislike PJ's adaptations, while appreciating certain elements. For me, LOTR still has some of the best scenes and visual moments across the 5-film set. But DOS was more consistently successful, IMO.

In short, like Tolkien, I really dislike the forceful manipulation of an audience by a director or author, and PJ skews heavily toward that style. I much prefer directors who act more as observers of a story than as over active storytellers. History over polemics, basically.

And in that context, I find DOS a little less ham-handed than LOTR. Just a little.

Thu Apr 17, 2014 8:32 pm

You called her "Elen".

Post by **Elentári** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 9:26 pm

Voronwë the Faithful wrote:You called her "Elen".

I knew we'd get there eventually!

PtB wrote:In short, like Tolkien, I really dislike the forceful manipulation of an audience by a director or author, and PJ skews heavily toward that style.

I don't disagree but that only bothers a viewer if they are aware they're being manipulated... Most of us react instinctively to art in whatever form, and don't need to dissect it to know whether it is supposedly "good" or "bad" art technically... and if we are using that criteria then I would say that PJ has actively manipulated the audience far more with TH, particularly in terms of reinventing characterizations to tell the story HE wants to tell in preference to Tolkien's.

ETA: Hmm... maybe it's time for this Everything wrong with Desolation of Smaug ...in nearly 15 minutes!

Thu Apr 17, 2014 11:32 pm

I watched the first few minutes of that video, but I had to stop because I found it so annoying and unfunny.

Post by **Elentári** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 11:36 pm

That's a shame....you missed the best bit right at the end with Sm-erlock!

Thu Apr 17, 2014 11:41 pm

Thanks, that was worth watching.

Post by **Smaug's voice** » Fri Apr 18, 2014 1:49 am

Sm-erlock.

Voronwë the Faithful wrote:You called her "Elen".

Why, what's with that? Hasn't he called her that before?

Fri Apr 18, 2014 2:32 am

No, he has.

Post by **Passdagas the Brown** » Fri Apr 18, 2014 4:33 am

I've made the criminal mistake of calling Elen "El" before. Hell hath no fury...

Post by **Smaug's voice** » Fri Apr 18, 2014 5:28 am

What's wrong with "El"? You don't like that one Elen?

Post by **Elentári** » Fri Apr 18, 2014 7:30 am

Elen is a perfectly respectable name in its own right....it also happens to be my R/L name in Sindarin. I just don't think it needs shortening further.

Post by **Smaug's voice** » Fri Apr 18, 2014 10:39 am

I see.

I look forward to the day when someone starts calling me S.

Post by **Elentári** » Fri Apr 18, 2014 11:12 am

It's probably also something to do with the fact I was given my name because my mother thought there wasn't a conventional shortening of it....but of course people still try!

Sun Apr 20, 2014 2:29 am

I thought this was a little interesting:

There is an interview on the homepage with Peter Hambleton:

http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2014/04 ... ering-net/

The only spoiler contained is the following:

"GD: Without giving away anything you’re not allowed to tell us, is there a moment in particular in the third film which you’re really looking forward to everybody seeing?
PH: There are so many! There’s a moment – without spoiling it – which is towards the end of the story… selfishly, for me, Gloin gets a moment with Bilbo, which is really heartwarming. I won’t go any further than that; but it’s been so much a part of our lives, you really want to feel that your little story with your little dwarf gets rounded off nicely!"

Post by **Elentári** » Sun Apr 20, 2014 8:22 am

Sounds nice, but I just hope it's not more gratuitous foreshadowing/tying-in to LotR...

That sounds harsher than it's meant - I just wish sometimes that TH could be treated "independently" so that those who see it before LotR discover the connections gradually like first-time readers do...

Post by **Smaug's voice** » Sun Apr 20, 2014 2:58 pm

I'd love it if it is something similar to the Gimli-Legolas-Gloin throwback from DoS. I'd hate it if it something like Bilbo looking at the picture of the Last Alliance in Rivendell.
'Nuff said!

Elentári wrote:That sounds harsher than it's meant - I just wish sometimes that TH could be treated "independently" so that those who see it before LotR discover the connections gradually like first-time readers do...

That and the 3-film split are the only big complaints I have for the TH films.

Post by **Dave_LF** » Sun Apr 20, 2014 9:59 pm

"I've had such a good time with you Bilbo. Maybe someday our heirs can get together and do something similar!"

Post by **Frelga** » Sun Apr 20, 2014 11:16 pm

Dave_LF wrote:"I've had such a good time with you Bilbo. Maybe someday our heirs can get together and do something similar!"