What change in the movies ticks you off the most?

[Gloer]

Now I am afraid...

I found a site which claims to list ALL changes.
Here it is.

Who click's here may throw away all hope...the gates of Hell?

http://www3.tolkienonline.com/movies/changes_index.cfm

Well: I haven't checked it yet. I am gathering my strength.
AWonder if Frodo was this scared...

 

[Thorin]

Already checked it out and promoted it to other forum members....It's not a pretty site.

When you check it out you will see why so many of us are very turned off by Peter Jackson's rendition of LoTR.

Good luck! You're not going to like it!

 

[Gloer]

I did not like it. End.

I am very angry.

I like the elves and like Silmarillion more because of more elves.
They say PJ loves elves and seems he really can't resist avoiding the sad fading of his favourites!

And what is this thing with elves having magical abilities? Middle-Earth elves are like humans only immortal unless slain. Plus of course good looking and intelligent and skillful, but not in different way than men. For example numenorean men appeared almost like elves to ordinary folk I guess.
DWPJ!

Speculation:
Why more elves -> because PJ likes them too much to resist -> why not wait for a success and keep elves in the back ground fading -> AND then film Silmarillion or part of it -> Because Christoffer Tolkien + family owns allthe film rights toanything else than TLOTR-book. Or so I believe.-> so more elves have to be in TLOTR! *?@¤%&
DWPJ!!!!

IsC.Tolkien going to make the Silmarillion - movies with proper control? Hope so, he will make a windfall if he does...
Will PJ and New Line be involved? I think there would be Synergy what comes to appearance, looks etc. But the agreement could be hard to negotiate.

 

[Grond]

Gloer.... This doesn't appear to be Ms. Tyler's fault. You can lay all the blame directly on the screenwriters. If you'll read last week's issue of People.... in the back there is a short article where Liv explains that she had been waiting for a script with meat and she got it when the LOTR script was presented to her.

What is truly sad.. is that PJ appears to feel his changes are insignificant and shouldn't trouble anyone. Sheesh... what an idiot!

 

[Gloer]

Grond, you are right and that is what I mean:

Liv Tyler - it is not her fault!

It is the 'meaty' script that fooled her to act a great role, she thinks. That can not be acted well since the script is hollow, flat, bad. I feel a bit sorry for her. Others ruined her chance to get any mature fans (= people who can read and have love affairs of teir own to relate to = people over 12 or so).

The original Arwen role had more meat in it but then it would have required an actress that has the beautiful presence. Look at that girl in Planet of the Apes! She was some really cute model, she had no lines, but gee everyone fell for the ugly ape woman! You can't just make Claudia Schiffer smile in the back ground at Elronds house and Aragorns dreams...or can you?

 

[Scooter]

I know I'm going to get boo'd again but after reading the changes (and I only read FotR) there's only a few that really bother me:

Arwen at the Ford
The Wizard's Dual (?!? What's up with that?)
Orc Pods
Counsel of Elrond

Many of the other changes (who's wearing armor, scene compression, etc.) might deviate from the facts but I don't think stray from the spirit.

The deal with Aragorn's sword baffles me though -- it would seem a good symbol of a king with no throne and why they didn't use it is odd BUT since we don't see much of it in FotR it won't disturb things too much, I think. Perhaps they started filming thinking that they would not deal with the reforging at all but later changed their minds with many scenes already in the can. What ever . . .

Now: Let the Flaming Begin!

 

[Elendil]

Originally posted by Grond
Frodo displaying the ring at The Council of Elrond.... didn't happen

Um... didn't Gandalf ask Frodo to show the ring at the Council...or am I confusing a developmental scene from "Return of the Shadow"?

 

[Grond]

Scooter, I'll give you a pass until I see the movie. We really won't know the final edit and the "real" final changes until then.

As for me, enough "that effects the material outcome" has changed as to totally disappoint me. Arwen's increased role, Lurtz's appearance from PJ's imagination, Boromir's encounter with Frodo on the hill, Wizard's dueling, Saruman dead before he reaches The Shire... yada yada yada....... but I said I'd give you a pass, didn't I???

And, oops, Elendil, you are right that Frodo showed the ring at the Council.... but Gimli didn't try to stike it to prove it couldn't be destroyed. Sorry about that.... drat! and I had just finished reading that chapter on Saturday. Trust me kids when I tell you that at 47 your memory goes straight to Hell!!

 

[ReadWryt]

I think what you see in the cast list are people who

A) Never read the books

B) Read the books but think that being in the "Most epic film of the decade" would be good for their career...

or

C) Read the book, don't really have a career anymore but are willing to ignore the fact that they are prosituting themselves and Tolkien's writings so long as they get paid...(This is the ONLY thing I can use to describe Christopher Lee, who claims to re-read the books every year)

 

[Thorin]

When I forced myself to look at the "Visual Companion" to the movie, they talked about each actor and his/her character. The only people I counted that have read the book numerous times well before the idea of making this movie came out (at least mentioned) were:

Sean Astin - Sam
Christopher Lee - Saruman
Ian Holm - Bilbo

That's it! Though I'm sure Ian McKellen (Gandalf) has read it as well.
Viggo (Aragorn), Elijah (Frodo), and many others hadn't even read the book before this whole movie deal...

That is the most pathetic thing. You would think that some actors who truly read and loved the books would have been considered for the parts

 

[sharkeysmate]

At last, somewhere to vent my spleen. I read with horror that Arwen rescues Frodo at the Ford of Bruinen. NO SHE DOESN'T! Why do directors/financial backers/heretics feel the need to tweak what for most is a perfect story. While I am on the subject, who the f*!* is Lurtz. Honestly, am I alone in wanting to maim the person responsible for altering the plot? If they wanted an evil Orc character, what about Gorbag, Shagrat, Grishnak etc., I have waited years for this film to be made and I can't shake off the feeling of anger and disappointment at the fact that the makers have strayed from the script. IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT! I know I would be alone in my desire to boycott the film, but I feel like I have to express my feelings somehow!

 

[Greymantle]

No worries. We're pretty much all with you 100%-- you're not alone!

 

[sharkeysmate]

Hey, Grey!

I've just spent the last 1/2 hour scanning through the earlier posts about this issue. It's nice to know people like yourself and Thorin feel the same way. Yes, I'm looking forward to seeing the film, but I have always got pissed off at Hollywood's changes. Remember Manhunter, the 'prequel' to Silence of The Lambs? I don't mind omissions as much as I mind changes. If Frodo is being 'saved' by Arwen at Bruinen, we will be deprived of his struggle against the will of the 9. "Go back to the land of Mordor & follow me no more" etc. Sureley that embodies the spirit and resolve of Frodo and Hobbits in general. If he only manages it with the help of Superwoman then I feel that the strength of his character is diminished. In my humble opinion that is unforgivable, as Frodo's resolve to complete his task is one of the central themes of the book!

 

[Grond]

Welcome, Sharkeysmate. Yes... most of the members of this forum are with you. Lurtz is some SuperOrc that PJ has come up to be the anti-hero to Aragorn in movie #1. Yes, it sucks and you will see from my prior posts that the change most disturbing to me in movie #1 is the whole Arwen at the Fords of Bruinen. How can Frodo possibly show the character that he is to become without standing up at that time to resist and claim The Ring for his own???

Drat, like you, I was so looking forward to this movie.
***Hangs head down and goes into the corner sulking.***

 

[Scooter]

Welcome Sharkeysmate!
I'm also disturbed by some of the changes -- this one above all, I think:

Originally posted by sharkeysmate
"Go back to the land of Mordor & follow me no more" etc. Sureley that embodies the spirit and resolve of Frodo and Hobbits in general. If he only manages it with the help of Superwoman then I feel that the strength of his character is diminished. In my humble opinion that is unforgivable, as Frodo's resolve to complete his task is one of the central themes of the book!(my emphasis)

but if you check my post back on pg15 I discuss why its unrealistic to expect a book to translate to a movie without changes being made.
Your comment

Originally posted by sharkeysmate
I can't shake off the feeling of anger and disappointment at the fact that the makers have strayed from the script.

exemplifies the misunderstandings that I talk about there -- and don't feel bad, I have to remind myself of the difference too: Tolkien didn't write a script.

even if you had said "text", while more correct, it would have been just as unrealistic to expect a visual movie to be EXACTLY like the book (a written medium).

I don't mean to harp but I think it's an important point to keep in mind. The length of deviations listed at the web site referenced by Gloer (http://www3.tolkienonline.com/movies/changes_index.cfm) seems to be an overwhelming condemnation of PJ & Co. but most of the changes listed are perfectly acceptable (if filmed with the book's SPIRIT!) and should be seen as necessary to keep the film from getting bogged down in narration.

Anyway -- my 2 cents . . .

 

[ReadWryt]

Aaaaah, yeah. All that Naration that fills pages and pages with descriptions of Glorfindel sending the lone Frodo off to the Ford...the reams of boring text that describes how he stands up to them and yells defiantly at them before Elrond causes the flood...I can see where that would bore the audience to tears.

I hope everyone here who can will be watching the Fox Television special tonight. See how many of the changes not seen in the Trailer are shown to the broad audience, and what is said about changes to the characters and stories. It should be interesting to see how they, being dragged into the sunlight, try to spin this simultaneously for the Tolkien Fans as well as the folks who have not read the books so as not to confuse either.

The fact is that Jackson has removed thing he claimed were in the interest of time, and invented things that more then fill the time he saved by doing the cutting. He doesn't know what he is doing and he is doing it all the while claiming he is being true to Tolkien's intent for the Characters and Plot. Lies wrapped in Spin wrapped in Glitz wrapped in Propaganda and Promotions...

 

[Grond]

Okay, it's 7:38PM CST and the Special on Fox is over. It was marvelously done. Did anyone notice that not one change from the book was mentioned. The only minor discrepancy noted was that they did show Arwen give up her immortality for Aragorn. (This was not in the main part of the book, but in the Appendix.) That didn't bother me though, because it did happen and so, you've got no changes shown on the special. What gives???? The special looked great!!

Like The Church Lady says, "Could it be Satan?" It's very, very bad to show this thirty minute teaser (I call it what it is) and, from the teaser it is very easy to think.... Man!! This is just like the book!! Isn't that just a tad misleading??

Oh Well!! Tonight, I vowed to give PJ a pass until I actually see the movie. I won't post again on any movie threads until 12/19/01. See y'all then.

 

[Valinorean]

Originally posted by ReadWryt
Lies wrapped in Spin wrapped in Glitz wrapped in Propaganda and Promotions...

Is anyone interested in a suicide pact???????????

I also watched the show just now. I think my husband may try to commit me, and I may have broken the chair I was sitting in. If just 30 minutes bothered me this much, maybe I had better not see this at the cinema . . .

There were soooooooooo many things wrong . . .

1 - Arwen in general, who like you know gave up like two whole years of her life for this movie.
2 - Pointed ears are the reason Kate Blanchett wanted to be in the movie????????
3 - Boromir holding the ring by the chain
4 - Frodo placing the ring on a pillar at the Council
5 - J.R.R. Tolkeeeeeeeeeeeeen
6 - "absolute power corrupts absolutely" - such an original line from Christopher Lee

Am I insane? Should I really give this movie a chance? I have waited for it for over two years! But can I enjoy it?

 

[Grond]

Alright Val, you've already got me breaking my promise. I said I wouldn't be back until the movie!! Oh well.....

Val, go to the movie. Forget for 3 hours that you've ever read JRRT and just enjoy it. It is going to be an absolutely gang buster movie. I'm especially impressed with Elijah Wood and Sean Astin and with Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn. (I really liked him and Demi Moore in G I Jane).

If you go into the theatre with no expectations.. then you should have a blast. Afterwards...... we'll have plenty of time to "pick it apart". But, I still hope for the best..... but, then, I don't have my expectations very high.

 

[Talierin]

Actually Val, Tolkien is supposed to be pronounced Toll-Keen. Tolkien said so himself.

Okay, who thought the Cave Troll was really, really stupid looking?