Gathering of the Figments

pommie42 · Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 2:43 am Post subject: Lord of the Rings

Why was this not here before?
This is surely the greatest novel written... ever.
Tolkein was a genius, creating Middle Earth to such supreme detail, and still finding the time to write such a fantastic story.
The characters were unique and lively, and they were likeable (those that were meant to be), and those you were meant to hate you can really sense their pure evil-ness...
Once you grasp the language (which can be a bit confusing at times), you learn to love this book in all it's glory.

Now, enough from me, what do you think of this epic tale?
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wightblack · Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 9:13 pm Post subject:

I loved this trilogy, I can remember being twelve or something and crying when Gandalf "dies". Of course I didn't really get the whole story when I was twelve but I re-read it a couple of years ago and yeah, one of the best stories ever, and I only wish Peter Jackson hadn't made movies on it because as much as I liked them, I think you really, really, really have to read the books. People watch the movies and think they know the story in all its brilliance and dammit, they just don't! Very Happy

The Hobbit, on the other hand...
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marianas · The Scarlet Pimpernel Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Posts: 435

Naturally. The world-building is PHENOMENAL. I didn't mind the language thing at all. The thing that bugged me is there weren't any strong female characters.

The movies are utter brilliance, but I do agree with wightblack that they make people less likely to read the book.

And I still have the Silmarillion sitting on my shelf after who-knows-how-long that I haven't gotten around to reading yet. *adds to list*
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pommie42 · Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 12:15 am Post subject:

Arwen isn't strong in the books I will admit, but surely Eowyn, she is still depicted as a valiant warrior in the book is she not?
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DarkWaltz · Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 4:05 am Post subject:

OK, so I'm completely LOTR obsessed. (DancingEponaTINUVIEL...)Tolkien is an amazing writer. He did so much research for these books. He was trying to create a great mythology for England, and I think he did a great job. His writings are so detailed and elegant. He's brilliant. Smile

It doesn't seem that original now, but for his time it was also very original. I don't really like the exclusion of women thing, but if we relate Middle Earth to our world, it is time appropriate. Eowyn is the best. I love her!!! The only woman who doesn't care about all the women vs. men things and goes off to fight anyways, dressed as a man. Yay Dernhelm! Very Happy

Women warriors are the best! I love them all really. Tolkien is just so amazing, I can't explain... Wink

I really liked reading the Silmarillion too actually. Seeing all the effort he put into the history... And I thought the movies were pretty well done and well casted, though of course, they aren't as good as the books. And I do know many unfortunate people who haven't read the books but have seen the movies and see no reason to read them. *sigh* Stupid, stupid, stupid...

~J
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Hawkins · Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 4:30 am Post subject:

Once when I went to Holland to stay with a friend of mine for a week, I brought along a copy of 'Return of the King'. So, we're watching it, and then her little brother comes in and starts rewinding this part where Legolas slides down the big elephant things trunk and cocks his head. And then he set it so it would repeat itself again and again without him touching it, and then he took the batteries out of the remote and threw them out the window. So while she took care of her brother, I went outside to find the batteries. I couldn't find them, mostly 'cause it was really dark. But I guess you could just wait until the battery juices leak out and make radioactive plants that eat your hand off.
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marianas · The Scarlet Pimpernel Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Posts: 435

My issue with Eowyn is that she strong and a warrior and everything and then Tolkein says that the only reason that she wanted to be a warrior was because she was unhappy. So when she meets Faramir, she can stop being unhappy and she won't need to be a warrior anymore and can leave that to the men. That pissed me off.

But she definitely had her moment before Tolkein came and killed it.
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Hawkins · Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 2:46 pm Post subject:

Yeah. There's no good women heros anymore. I mean...when Catwoman came around, everyone was like, "finally, a good woman superhero." then they saw it, and said, "WTF?!" I was really hoping to see her kill a few orcs. That would have been awesome. I never read the books, I know...I just rent the movie.
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Aurora Asha Ila · Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 4:11 pm Post subject:

Female heros are not realistic enough, when we see a heroine who kicks but twe tend to get bored, because its been overdone.

We look now (i think) for phsycological strengths.

Feminism, although good, is really only needed for rights of women, which most women in privliged countries have now. we should be using feminism to gain rights for women in third world countries. Not as a way of life. Feminism just becomes sexism to us now if we arent carefull.

The way tolkein wrote the female characters in the book i think was intentionally making them strong pshycologically. I dont think he intended to make them come off as weak, but the book was written primarily for him, and also as a recollection of his gang of mates, who were all guys. I think he was not intentionally setting out to offend anyone.
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Extract from Clancy and the Overflow, by A.B. Patterson.
Ironically he never actually went outside of a city his entire life, let alone Droving. phht. Henry Lawson was much more acurate, he didnt romanticise the Aussie bush.

DarkWaltz · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 2:13 pm Post subject:

pommie42 · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 2:15 pm Post subject:

No, the Children of Hurin has so far elduded me... Sad

And I though at first you meant Stan Lee, I was getting a bit confused, but you mean whosit, the directer, Sam Raimi or something of the like?
*is too lazy to check it up*
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DarkWaltz · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 2:18 pm Post subject:

Yes!! Sam Raimi! I don't know that I like that...
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pommie42 · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 2:22 pm Post subject:

No, nor do I.
Peter Jackson all the way.

But then again, that means it will be longer until he directs Temeraire!!!

Arrrggghhh!!!

Can we clone Peter Jackson?
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DarkWaltz · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 2:27 pm Post subject:

hahaha! I really wish we could...

What's Temeraire?
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pommie42 · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 2:30 pm Post subject:

One of the best fantasy novels of the past decade. Visit my forum (in signature) for a bit of info. (Not much, as the forum is young, but there is still something there).

And I hope Ian McKellen stays as Gandalf...
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It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.

Temeraire Forums
The Dragon's Lair!!