Mooters' RotK reviews

[Arathorn]

Originally posted by Eärniel
Hihi, I was thinking that too. With the way Sam only removed the webbings on Frodo's face and those staring blue eyes, I couldn't help being constantly reminded of Egyptian mummies. That gave odd mental pictures.

In both times I watched ROTK, I heard someone mention that when Frodo was wrapped in Shelob's silk, he looked like Winona Ryder .

[bropous]

My review of Return of the King?

One word: PATHETIC!!!!!!

It was such a pale shadow of the book, and unnecessarily so. The changes to the characters and story line, again, were not needed, and the changes detracted from the story which the film was trying to tell.

Denethor? Puh-LEAZE!! Guess Jackson is too facile to be able to portray such a complex character, so he opts for turning this grand lord into a belching, cowardly, base pig. Interesting how Faramir and Boromir in the film sprang from THIS loon's drawers!

No Gandalf v. Witch King at the gates of Minas Tirith? NEEDLESS editing of the story! Can you honestly tell me that what ended up on the screen at that point was in ANY way more exciting than the original story?

And why no Houses of Healing? The Black Breath? Can you honestly say that this would not have added to character depth, even to the by-then misshapenly morphed Aragorn?

And oh crud could you ever write such a ho-hum appearance of the Black Ships at Pelennor? And the handy mechanics of wrapping up the siege by a bunch of ghosts meleeing pell-mell throughout the Citadel?

And why, oh why, the abandonment of the story arc with Frodo's mithril shirt and Sting ending up in the hands of the Mouth of Sauron?

Why in the hades have Samwise even AGREE to turn back and abandon Frodo to the wiles of Stinker/Slinker?

All this adds up to is that Peter Jackson, in his pumped-up hubris, fantasized about being a better storyteller than the greatest storyteller of the twentieth century, and then went out and gathered the funds to support his dream. He took these masterfully crafted books and tore out whole sections, threw in freshly-written retellings and filmed the whole thing.

The result? A pathetic, glossy, hollow, beautiful, choppy let-down, a tawdry, farcical sham perpetrated upon not only the millions of true Tolkien fans, but upon an unsuspecting public which now walks away from the theaters with only a slight-but-still-distorted impression of the true beauty of this most detailed universe created by a master of the works of English literature.

I've said it before: I still hold out hope that some day, someone comes along and makes the REAL film of The Lord of the Rings. Only then will the rest of the public realize what we mooters already know to our everlasting dismay: Peter Jackson is a buffoon and his films are a joke.

Mr. Bakshi, you have company......

[Elvengirl]

Well, we already knew you wouldn't like the movie before you saw it, but I'm curous to know if there is anything at all which you did like in the films?

[bropous]

Yes.

For the most part, the locations were expertly chosen, and I really liked the visualization of many of the Middle Earth locations, especially Minas Tirith and Cirith Ungol/Minas Morgul.

The Battle of the Pelennor fields was, with the above-noted exceptions, phenomenal.

The visualization of the Witch-King of Angmar was top-notch.

Gee, now do you have to point out things you hated about the movie since I've answered your challenge? That would be only fair, n'est-ce pas?

[Earniel]

Originally posted by Arathorn
In both times I watched ROTK, I heard someone mention that when Frodo was wrapped in Shelob's silk, he looked like Winona Ryder .

Really? They must have an even more warped mind then me. And in case you're wondering: Yes, that is possible.

[thranduil]

Originally posted by Elvengirl
I
I think the most aggravating scenes for me were Frodo turning Sam away and Denethor's ridiculous death scene. There are a few other small complaints. I would have like to see more on Faramir and Eowyn, the House of Healing (but I have seen pictures for it so it should be in the extended) and Legolas and Gimli.

theres her dislikes bropous

[Christiana]

I missed Gandalf's confrontation with the Witch-King, and Mouth of Sauron. But I hear that Gandalf vs Witch-king will be in EE, and a rumor that Mouth will be too. Guess I will just have to wait till next November.

[azalea]

I saw it again the other day, and I have to say I enjoyed it more the second time. Aside from the fact that I wasn't sick any more, I guess I was prepared for the changes/ omissions (not that they were as bad as those in TTT anyway). I came away from the theater feeling satisfied, and that it was a well done movie version of RotK. My criticisms remain, but my enjoyment of it deepened.
Regarding Shelob, one thing that bothered me there was Sam's posture when he sticks her. That chapter is my favorite episode of the trilogy, and my image will always be Sam planting his feet firmly apart and sticking Sting straight up above his head as Shelob plops herself downwards. It played out differently in the movie, but I'll admit it's not a make or break kind of change.

I do want to see it again before it leaves theaters, because both times I had to sit right up front because the theater was so crowded, and I'd like to have a big screen viewing of it where the angle is a little better.

[Nerdanel]

Originally posted by azalea
Regarding Shelob, one thing that bothered me there was Sam's posture when he sticks her. That chapter is my favorite episode of the trilogy, and my image will always be Sam planting his feet firmly apart and sticking Sting straight up above his head as Shelob plops herself downwards. It played out differently in the movie, but I'll admit it's not a make or break kind of change.

I imagined just like you described it! Hope I'll keep my own picture of it and don't change it to the movie-version..

Right now I'm watching a socumentary on how they made the film. There has been so many of those on TV the last few days! It's kind of interesting, but the documentaries focus more on the cast than the movie.

Now I can't wait until the EE comes!! But I'm going to die if I'll have to wait for 11 months..

[Elvengirl]

Originally posted by bropous


Gee, now do you have to point out things you hated about the movie since I've answered your challenge? That would be only fair, n'est-ce pas?

I belive I have already posted my major dislikes. Yes, Thranduil posted them.

One other thing I noticed on the second viewing:

As Gollum tosses the lembas off the cliff, it is dispersed as it falls to the ground. When Sam reaches the bottom of the stair, the lebas seems to be piled right in front of him. It would not have landed there. I just thought it was kind of ridiculous.

But seeing it for the second time was almost better. I was able to catch more little details and this time I could just relax without worrying about horrible changes being made. I do love this movie.

[Artanis]

I saw it again last night, and the impact was not lesser this time. It is an impressing movie. Never before have I experienced grown men crying in a theatre.

Some people here have said the battle scenes were too blurry. I do not agree. I think it was a good way to depict the chaos of the battlefield.

But, I'm still buggered by Gandalf's way of handling Denethor, and the way in which he took command over the men of Gondor. Hubby called it a coup d'Etat, and I have to agree with him.

[samwiselvr2008]

You could see that there was Bag End's door, and then a red door that Sam and his kids and (this is hard to admit) yes, that evil Rosie used also. It looked as if the red door conected into Bag End, and was just another way to get in. The question then would be: why didn't PJ just let them use the door that Frodo and Bilbo used? I don't know if the red door even connected into Bag End, that's just a guess, but after seeing it four times, you sorda think that it may connect into it, don't you? Well, if you can find it in a trailer, or pictures, or next time you go to the theater, look for it, and tell me what you think!

[Artanis]

I actually thought it wasn't supposed to be Bag End - since there's no mention of Rosie and Sam moving in with Frodo in the movie.

[azalea]

No, that wasn't Bag End. If they had intended for it to be Bag End they would have made it obvious, by filming it from the front just like it had been before. I guess it would have added too much for them to include the fact that they all lived there.

One thing I forgot to add in my last post was that upon my second viewing, I noticed that the main problem I had was in the first hour (approx.). I think it was all the time spent on the Gollum tricks Frodo/ Frodo sends Sam away thing that was the difficulty. I think they should have gone into Shelob much more quickly, then they could have included more that happened later on (in Cirith Ungol and the episode with the orc battalion, or more of them crossing Mordor), that way they still have plenty of scenes with Sam and Frodo, but it would have been "tighter," IMO (and of course closer to the book ).

[Rían]

Did anyone else almost bust out laughing at Aragorn's first line when he addresses the troops about to storm the Black Gate? His voice is very strong and nice further into the speech (and he has a nice voice) but the first line sounds like he just inhaled from a helium balloon ... His voice did this at several other points in the 3 movies - it gets kinda high-pitched and like his throat is constricted. It was unfortunate it happened at this speech, too - it made it sound comical!

Yes, I missed the Mouth of Sauron part too - and they really missed out on a suspenseful part, IMO - when Gandalf & co. see the mithril shirt and they think Frodo is prob. dead...

I've seen it twice now, and the Charge of the Rohirrim is incredible! And Sam, when he carries Frodo.

[Dúnedain]

Originally posted by RÃ*an
Did anyone else almost bust out laughing at Aragorn's first line when he addresses the troops about to storm the Black Gate? His voice is very strong and nice further into the speech (and he has a nice voice) but the first line sounds like he just inhaled from a helium balloon ... His voice did this at several other points in the 3 movies - it gets kinda high-pitched and like his throat is constricted. It was unfortunate it happened at this speech, too - it made it sound comical!

Yes, I missed the Mouth of Sauron part too - and they really missed out on a suspenseful part, IMO - when Gandalf & co. see the mithril shirt and they think Frodo is prob. dead...

I've seen it twice now, and the Charge of the Rohirrim is incredible! And Sam, when he carries Frodo.

Yeah I noticed his voice, especially in the council of Elrong when he says "You cannot wield it, none of us can. The Ring belongs to Sauron alone". lol he sounded like a keebler elf

Charge of the Rohirrim is probably one of the best scenes I've ever seen in a movie...

[Rían]

Originally posted by Dúnedain
Yeah I noticed his voice, especially in the council of Elrong when he says "You cannot wield it, none of us can. The Ring belongs to Sauron alone". lol he sounded like a keebler elf

Yes, yes, that's exactly it! It happened at the council, too! It made me bust up!

[samwiselvr2008]

I saw the movie again today, and so I have to disagree with myself, the part with Sam, Rose, Frodo II, and Elanor at the end didn't look like it was a part of Bag End this time. So where did they live, and who got the house? Stupid PJ!

[thranduil]

Originally posted by RÃ*an
Did anyone else almost bust out laughing at Aragorn's first line when he addresses the troops about to storm the Black Gate? His voice is very strong and nice further into the speech (and he has a nice voice) but the first line sounds like he just inhaled from a helium balloon ... His voice did this at several other points in the 3 movies - it gets kinda high-pitched and like his throat is constricted. It was unfortunate it happened at this speech, too - it made it sound comical!

I thought I was the only one who noticed.

[Gerbil]

YAY!
I´ve finally seen it (twice!).

And what can I say, but it´s the end (nearly, RotK EE AKA the last-gasp money maker) of nearly 3 years of going ´nice film, shame about the adaptation´.

I honestly think this is the worst of the 3 films. The story bore so little in relation to the original material it´s truly astounding.

OK, so I liked:

- The scenery and cities
- The battle (I R sucker for CG) - in particular when the Rohirrim charged I were rather moved
- The few lines kept in from the book
- No farting or burping jokes

Disliked:
- Pretty much everything else, but to be more specific...
- Legolas as chimpanzee and ultra-gay twat
- The rather extended role of the green weirdos.
- Denethor, nuff said.
- Sauron doubling as a lighthouse.
- Shelob. Just a big spider.
- The ending(s). too long for not enough impact. If I hear anyone else say they´ll give PJ the luxury of the endings I´ll scream.
- Saruman - palantir utter crap.
- Ugly orc chief

I dunno...
As a film, I enjoyed it. Some bits in particular stirred me more than I thought possible. Gandalf´s ascension of Minas Tirith was as close as I could possibly have hoped to my imagination. As was the charge of the Rohirrim (even if the negative ´death´aspect was actually part of their second charge in the book IIRC). Both these scenes moved me enough to be wiping tears from my eyes (which amused my GF no end!).
As an adaptation I was cringing.

So many missed oportunities from such a marvellous book, and we get this :/ PJ´s ego must only be matched by his bank balance and stomach fat.

Did anyone else think that PJ had more than a slight homage in his ghosts to the frighteners by the way? He's a bit of a one-trick pony when it comes to stuff he´s already done before.

But really, what´s the pont in going through it bit by bit destroying the film? Anyone who has read the books knows that the only person in history to match PJ´s butchery was Attila the Hun.

It actually makes me wonder if he´s read the books from cover to cover, or (in the words of Alan Partridge) ´read a bit a researcher highlighted in yellow´.

Full marks to Viggo who acted his little heart out and saved Aragorn from being a badly re-written coward with no sense of nobility, and raised him to the lofty heights of a badly re-written but passionately portrayed would-be King. Theoden is still my main man, I loved all his scenes and he acted wonderfully.

As for Gandalf, don´t EVER annoy that man when he has his staff around. How Pippin avoided repeated beatings) especially in FotR) I do not know.

OK, now to wait another 10 years or so for the PROPER version of LotR.

Oh oh! Final gripe! Extremely annoyed to watch the film and so obviously be able to point out where important scenes were cut specificially for the EE (their last chance to milk the cash-cow for now). I mean, PJ didn´t even bother to tie up the film properly around the scenes. This really made me feel like part of a huge marketing machine. Of course, this is kind of inherent, but for FotR and TTT I was at least able to forget it while I watched the films. Not so this one. Crude manipulation at it´s most obvious...