There’s so much that’s good here! Had some serious issues with aspects of it, but there’s a lot that is very good. Will be interested to hear from others their reactions, in particular Tolkien fans.
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Love your review, as always, Sheila. I am a Tolkein fan and have been wary of the film for many of the reasons you present here. I have always resisted the tendency to reduce Tolkein’s work to linear equativity (if that were a word).
The Shire = England
Sauron = Germany
Gondor = America
The fellowship = the 12 Apostles
Mordor = Hell
Etc. = etc, etc, etc
To do so is so limiting to the nearly boundless imagination and creativity that is Tolkein. His work is about politics and war, religion, language and history, anthropology, the rise and fall of civilizations and societies, magic and fantasy, and about the bonds of friendship.
I also read the linked article about the family and I am glad that they are proactively protecting his legacy. After reading your review I believe I do want to see the movie, perhaps with several grains of salt… on my popcorn.
Melanie – hey – thanks! I would be really interested to hear your take on it, once you see it. For me, the nadir was the Nazgul showing up at the Battle of the Somme – first of all, the Somme was such a catastrophic horror show of a battle your mind does pinwheels when you look at the casualty numbers … I just don’t think it’s right to turn it into a sound-and-light show for Middle Earth. I get the attempt – but I just don’t think it was the right choice.
// His work is about politics and war, religion, language and history, anthropology, the rise and fall of civilizations and societies, magic and fantasy, and about the bonds of friendship. //
Yes! and he himself didnt like allegory – or at least didn’t like the books to viewed as allegorical.
What I DID like was that these young actors – the two sets of them, the kids and the college age guys – do create a believeable enough bond that you truly fear for them when war breaks out. This type of male friendship – intellectual, artistic – isn’t often portrayed – at least not with this kind of exuberance, and I appreciated that aspect of it – although having Tolkien whisper to himself, “It’s a fellowship” was a bit … much??
Anyway, yes, please report back once you’ve seen it – I’d be really curious to hear a Tolkien fan’s responses.
I couldn’t help but relate this quote to Supernatural, especially in relation with the last episode of season 14: “Now it is a strange thing, but things that are good to have and days that are good to spend are soon told about, and not much to listen to: while things that are uncomfortable, palpitating, and even gruesome, make a good tale, and take a good deal of telling anyway.” – Tolkien
Like Tolkien, Chuck is a writer. Chuck liked Sam and Dean because their lives made an interesting story — the bloody, tragic, grief-filled, painful events they suffered just seemed to give him enjoyable entertainment, and he interjected himself into the story merely to give them an impossible situation: kill Jack whom they viewed as family and die doing it. He came across as a heartless and cruel creator, unlike Tolkien. You mentioned “his creation was running amok” which reminded me of Chuck’s reaction to our world. Also, you wrote that Tolkien answered fans’ questions about, among other things, free will which has been a primary theme of Supernatural.
Side note: Your discussion of the dragons interposed over the brutal reality of the Somme battle made me think of the movie version of Bridge to Terebithia. I myself didn’t like that the movie showed their imagination come to life. As amazing as imagination can be, it’s still not reality. For me, it was a distraction.
Interesting in re: Terebithia. I see what you are saying. Sometimes these things live best in the mind.
and love your connection with Chuck!
//This type of male friendship – intellectual, artistic – isn’t often portrayed//
This was one of my main problems with the Peter Jackson movies. In the book several chapters are devoted to Frodo’s friends and their choice and determination to go with Frodo regardless of the danger and even his friend, Fatty, whose roll is to hold down the fort covering for their escape. The movie makes their inclusion seem complete happenstance. It destroys the most basic premise of the book and ultimately the fellowship. This bond of friendship is even more important than the “fellowship” which includes reluctant allies each with his own purpose and motive. I am glad to hear the movie portrays their friendship, but I am she rolling at the “fellowship” comment.
// The movie makes their inclusion seem complete happenstance. It destroys the most basic premise of the book and ultimately the fellowship //
Interesting!
Please see the movie – ha – I so want to hear your take. You really know this material.
I wish every movie had a scene as wonderful as the “cellar door” scene, with Edith’s marvelous push back, and JRR’s responses. To see the act of creation brought onto the screen… that was one of the joys of A Star Is Born. The thrill of watching someone who is exceptional at what he does, that was part of the magic of the scene. I also really enjoyed their “hey, let’s put on a show” version of Wagner.
The images of fantasy on the battlefield… let us sigh and move on. They embody Melanie’s criticisms of the Peter Jackson movies.
I don’t know if the director has given any interviews, but considering how much Tolkien was influenced by the Finnish Epic Kalevala, I would be curious to hear his thoughts on JRR. And curious about how he could be so restrained (no tragic swell of violins when Mabel dies) in some cases and so on-the-nose in other cases.
I really like Nicholas Hoult, he has such a great openness to him. And those blue eyes. As you said in your review, all of the actors in the TCBS were good. From the previews, it appeared that the movie was going to be Dead Poets Society without Robin Williams, but it was very much it’s own thing. Lily Collins was excellent also.
“Let us sigh and move on.”
That works for some people but not for me.
Lily Collins is getting a lot of great jobs now (she was also in the Ted Bundy movie) and I think she’s fairly limited, actually, but cast well here, for the most part. And I love that they put in how they would toss sugar cubes into ladies’ hats!!
I do think the best thing is the two groups of actors for the TCBS. I believed the older boys were the younger boys a couple years down the line, and I believed in the friendship. I loved the scene with Geoffrey’s mother.
and the scene where Robert stands up to his father. So corny. But it worked because it was treated seriously, and it felt like a real event going down.