OK, I know I'm going to get laughed at here, but I am just now (with my wife) watching Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy for the first time. We just finished the first installment (Fellowship) and tonight we will start the Two Towers.

I read the books many moons ago and quite enjoyed them, and I must say the movie is really doing a wonderful job. (I suppose it should for $600 million!)

ALTHOUGH I READ THE BOOK, THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS I CAN'T REMEMBER HOW THEY TURNED OUT, SO NO SPOILERS PLEASE. (though comments on the first is aok or the whole thing IN GENERAL...).

I guess the first thing I was wondering is: does New Zealand really look like that? I guess it may be the best place to film something like this because most of the rest of the english speaking world is unfamiliar with the landscape, so it carries a certain fantasy feel to it (though I notice that Jackson was definitely choosing the most odd looking formations as possible)

Also, I really like the characters. They aren't the typical "pumped-up" western heros that holywood has been inundating us with for the past 20 years. Rather they are simple and believable. The one guy who was part of the fellowship who gets blipped at the end of the first book (man I can't remember his name), he was tempted and even tried getting the ring from frodo, but he was really a passionate, courageous human being after all. And the prince aragon, he's kind of lame, but also a great warrior and has a kind of quiet virtue which you might expect from someone who didn't choose his high calling. And then I really like what Gandalf said in response to Frodo's wish that he never got the ring. He said something like, it is not for us to choose these kinds of things (I know I'm terrible at quoting) but we must decide how we are going to use the time that has been given us. I thought that was good.

    Boy you are a little behind, the LOTR was a great trilogy. And I agree, what makes this stand out his the hero is the most least likely person with no magical powers or physical strength. And the ending is a great finish.

    If you are not already, you should go straight to the extended versions.

      My wife and I have happily been in la-la land for the last 5 years. We are just now "getting out" again.

      Oh, you mean Frodo, yeah that's what I thought too. And I'm glad to hear about the finish. (One thing I do remember is that Gandalf didn't actually get killed by the Balrog, but my wife doesn't know that, maybe she'll find out tonight on the second episode (?))

        Actually, what I consider the end is 20-30 minutes before it technically ends. You'll understand after you watch it.

          Boromir, Eldest son of Denethor II, Last Steward of Gondor was the human pin cushion.

            I really liked the Lord of the Rings movies. There were brilliantly done and had spectacular visuals. I was surprised how true to the books they were as well. The only blatant difference is at the meeting at Rivendell (that was way off from the books, but putting in three or four different characters stories would put a movie's audience to sleep, so the change they made was understandable).

            All in all, a great trilogy. Good thing you decided to watch the movies, davidjam.

              Tonight we watch the second part! I can't wait to go home.

              One thing I thought is that when Arwen (?) conjured the river to rise up and then the waves turned into horses, I seem to recall that (according to the book) the horse bit was made by Gandalf who happened to be around at the time, whereas it isn't even mentioned in the movie. Maybe I'm mistaken. Also, for such a cool effect I thought they could have prolonged it a few more seconds...

                I seem to recall that it wasn't Arwen at the river in the book, but Glorfindel (another elf). It was changed to Arwen in the movie because it still makes sense and they didn't want to add an extra character who doesn't do anything else really but talk a bit at the meeting at Rivendell.

                  It was actually the power of Elrond that controlled the river. Gandalf just threw in a few special effects.

                    I am from new zealand and yes my island does look like this, I have a bach in the middle of my island and this is where middle earth was filmed, the other island (the bigger one) was for more of the "snow" type shots.

                    now you know why I live here.....I am a orc

                    BBK

                      ahundiak wrote:

                      It was actually the power of Elrond that controlled the river. Gandalf just threw in a few special effects.

                      I guess my point was that they didn't mention it. Oh well. I think what merve said applies as far as keeping the character/events simple, which is good.

                      I watched the first half of the second part last night. Really enjoyed the Gollum/Schmeagle character. You can't help but like him. (At this point we don't know what the heck happened to Aragon when he fell off the cliff fighting one of those devil-hyenas. -- Don't tell me! I'll find out tonight!)

                      BigBadKev wrote:

                      I am from new zealand and yes my island does look like this, I have a bach in the middle of my island and this is where middle earth was filmed, the other island (the bigger one) was for more of the "snow" type shots.

                      now you know why I live here.....I am a orc

                      Wow, it really looks beautiful. BTW what's a "bach"?

                        davidjam wrote:

                        ...those devil-hyenas.

                        I believe that is PJ's interpretation of a Warg. I pictured them more wolf-like, but they weren't bad.

                        From Merriam Webster Online dictionary:
                        Main Entry: bach
                        Function: noun
                        Etymology: bach
                        New Zealand : a small house or weekend cottage

                          It seems like the foe is just getting bigger and more terrible everytime. The heros are beginning to look like james bond. I mean in real combat if anything like that Warg (ok, Jackson's interpretation of a Warg) actually existed nobody would have a chance! Oh, and the last shot is the wizard-turned-rotten (Sarron?) displaying his newly created army of a gazillion orcs and other mutants. The odds are just too much against the good guys! Man, I'm stressed! And now with aragon out of the picture and some "drain" which looks like a weak point in the fortress, I'm getting rather worried!

                            <spoiler alert>I've read the books. You've read the books. Personally, they missed several things in the movies that were in the books, but it doesn't make the movies bad, per se. Anyway, you shouldn't be too nervous ... good wins over evil, y'know?</sa>

                              "gandalf"..."frodo" - if you ask me, it's all a bunch of names invented by some crackpot drunk late into the wee hours of the morning. Read: I don't like LOTR. Go HP!

                              Let the flames commence!

                                A bach is a holiday home BUT its only called this in my island, on the other island its called a crib....which means a bach which means a holiday home....

                                If you are ever thinking of coming here do, NZ is a very relaxed and friendly place and has nuclear free marijuana, we play a game called rugby here which is popular.

                                BBK

                                  LoganK wrote:

                                  "gandalf"..."frodo" - if you ask me, it's all a bunch of names invented by some crackpot drunk late into the wee hours of the morning.

                                  It does have to be admitted that winter evenings in Scandinavia could be very long before someone invented cavity insulation (where do you think he got the names?)

                                  davidjam wrote:

                                  displaying his newly created army of a gazillion orcs and other mutants. The odds are just too much against the good guys!

                                  Ah, Saruman's just a wannabe. So's his tower, so's the whole city, so's his army.

                                    davidjam wrote:

                                    displaying his newly created army of a gazillion orcs and other mutants. The odds are just too much against the good guys!

                                    Ah, Saruman's just a wannabe. So's his tower, so's the whole city, so's his army. Tune in next time for the real thing.

                                      Just finished The Two Towers. Whew! What a relief. Now that was a battle scene. I'm so glad their ok.

                                      So my wife gets up before me this morning (she's an artiste), and starts talking about the movie. She went to a lecture once with Tolkien. Though she didn't remember much about it (not really interested at the time), she said a lot of the questions had to do with the political, racial, psychological (etc) side of the story and the implications. Some people said it was anti-semetic, which after she explained, I could see their point. Then we talked about the major themes of hope, despaire, courage, valour, temptation, greed, weekness, etc. She said that it was a mean story, a story without mercy, one where there are these great heros and everyone else is pretty much losers (she said the women and children were like blobs), and that aging people are full of all kinds of hangups, temptations, doubts, weekness and generally lame, but that certain gifted youngish males were really the only role models. Well, I think what she said was better and more profound actually, and I feel a little guilty quoting my wife, so I'll stop now. But anyways, I thought that it unfortunately gave many young men the excuse to escape into fantasy worlds because the reall world was just too ugly compared to middle earth, and so they escaped into more fantasy, late nights, sloth, junk food, computer addiction, role playing games, etc. But in fact the real world, the daily life that I must live, is really one that is faced with courage, where good and evil are real, and we decide what we are going to do. A life of action and strength and simplicity. Wheras these stories are too much of an escape for some people. The real world (and by proxy, their own lives free of fantasy) are a disappointment.

                                      But alas, I am so looking forward to the last episode! :rolleyes: