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Jackson was the anti-Tolkien. The book and movie stories had the same character names, many of the same events, but otherwise were completely opposite. A few th
by wolverine876 3y ago
Jackson was the anti-Tolkien. The book and movie stories had the same character names, many of the same events, but otherwise were completely opposite. A few things off the top of my head, great and small:
Tolkien's books were primarily about the corruption of power, and showed that the Good and Wise avoided it. There's the Ring, of course, but also Gandalf traveled around motivating people, rarely showing any magical ability at all. Aragorn's sword was broken until the great test required it. Jackson glorified power.
Tolkien's magic and world were places of beauty, darkness, and art beyond human experience; Tolkien never visualized Sauron, who was left to our imaginations. Jackson's world was of commonplace, manipulative horror film techniques and action hero tropes.
Heck, Tolkien's Gandalf had supreme confidence (for good reason); Jackson's was an anxious old person. Tolkien's Aragorn was the epitome of duty and commitment, always putting life and limb on the line for it; Jackson's didn't want the job!
- vkou 3y ago> Tolkien's Aragorn was the epitome of duty and commitment, always putting life and limb on the line for it; Jackson's didn't want the job! There's a reason for it. A movie requires the protagonist to undergo a character arc, where their perspective on the world changes. ... Except that in this story, Aragorn already dealt with all those issues, and by the time of the Fellowship is just doing what he's spent his whole life working up to.
- hotnfresh 3y agoLike Beowulf, which Tolkien was famously pretty engaged with. Beowulf’s already a brave badass at the beginning, and that doesn’t change, nor does he waver or second-guess his course or duty.
- throw310822 3y ago> Jackson's world was of commonplace, manipulative horror film techniques and action hero tropes. Totally agree. The movies failed to evoke for me any sense of magic and mystery. I guess the what-you-can't-really-see and what-defies-your-expectations are not most people's cup of tea. I like to compare Jackson's LOTR intro to that of the (often mediocre but brilliant in some parts) Ralph Baskshi's. The projected shadows, the choice of colours, are much more evocative than Jackson's literal storytelling. https://youtu.be/AT18OJEPU9Q?si=3-TwFyybz_493nVD https://youtu.be/AT18OJEPU9Q?si=3-TwFyybz_493nVD
- getwiththeprog 3y agoGo Wolverine876! It sounds like you have actually read the books! You have my appreciation and support.