January 17, 2003

Pj = Cliche
Quirk

Jackson's adaptation of LOTR (in both FOTR and TTT), in my opinion, is horrible. I say this for two primary reasons. (As I've said at the beginning that this is just my opinion, I do not intend to repeat this for each comment below):

1. When PJ adds to the movie, he doesn't just add, he adds cliche.

2. Tolkien understood subtilty, Jackson does not.

As to #1:

Every scene involving Aragorn and Arwen is played liked Hollywood drivel.

Aragorn falling off of the cliff, seeming to be dead, the laughing Orc, etc.

Two children having to leave Mom and home, only to be reunited.

Legolas skating down the stairs.

The Dwarf-tossing jokes are utterly foolish.

Gandalf bumping his head, twice.

Theoden's proud actions/words/decisions after he is freed from Sauruman's spell.

Merry and Pippin

As to #2:

Theoden's transformation.

Galadriel's ring temptation.

Bilbo's bugging-out-eyes (should have been more like Gandalf's "growing").

The OrcsOrc breeding.

The eye of Sauran.

Sauran's physical appearance.

These examples could be multiplied.

The problem is, I don't think Peter can get good performances out of his actors--notice Frodo's periodic "gas pains" in TTT, and Aragorn's "cry" upon thinking Merry and Pippin were dead, it made me laugh. In fact, the whole scene of tracing Merry and Pippin's steps was horrible.

In both movies, the *only* character who is done right is Gollum, and he is dead on. (However, my rule of thumb with CGI--if you can tell it's CGI, it sucks. So no matter how good Gollum is, and he's about as good as I've seen, it still sucks.)

Other than the wonderful scenery, and Gollum, I don't think PJ even approaches the intensity or mood of the books. I do not think he has done a good job of conveying what Frodo is going through, nor his transformation from innocent Hobbit to overwhelmed/reluctant/tragic hero. When he does hit on such themes, I think it often comes off worse than a high school play. Ditto for Aragorn's struggle.

I am not an overly obsessive fan. I read the books once when I was about 19, and then again before the first movie was released. PJ has done an average job of making a movie, and a horrible job of communicating Tolkien.

quirk