April 24, 2002

Discussions and Responses
Diana

Brett, we just can't trust technology. I don't think anyone is holding against you for it since it's not important. The Balrogs in a video game had wings, but I'm not sure about Tolkien's Balrogs. I don't really care since they are fictional creatures that can be created any way.

All your suggestions about not going to Mordor on Eagles are reasonable. At least they're better than mine. Renee, you mentioned about the scouts during the two months at Rivendell. Maybe they were afraid to go near Mordor, or the thought of the Eagles just didn't occur. There could also be another force, such as evil magic, in the air. As you mentioned, it doesn't really matter as long as we enjoy the books.

Richard and Marie, I agree with you. I usually have trouble making out words in songs, but I agree that they need to follow up with names and stay in context. The movie was good, but the book is better. In the movie they didn't do a good job on introducing characters and showing elapsed time. I think they left out some important points. That's why I was dazed and confused the first time I saw it (before reading the book). For example, I agree that Bilbo played an important part in the Council of Elrond. Another website said that they were trying to simplify the filming by leaving him out, but I don't think this change was right. I was also wondering who all the other Elves and Dwarves were.

The Lothlorien part bothered me as well. It seemed dark and evil, with no golden trees, and the Lady Galadriel looked a little evil and intimidating. Then she tells Frodo that the Fellowship is breaking, the Ring will claim them one by one, and that he must go alone. They didn't quite follow up with that: the quest couldn't be achieved alone, and Sam was required to go with Frodo. The Ring didn't even claim Sam.

Overall, I think the movie magnified negative aspects and diminished positive ones. For example, the characters in the book seemed to have more manners and ettiquette. The movie also made Gimli and the hobbits seem somewhat weaker and useless, but made Boromir appeared evil.

Richard, what you said and did was right. Discussions and arguments are different. We can disagree and discuss without getting hostile. All we have to do is express our opinions without attacking others.

That's it for now. I have said and bored you too much, and I apologize for it.