LOTR: Just too violent for our delicate tastes.

[mollyringle]

Okay. Found in my email today a serious comment from one of my relatives, about why she didn't entirely like the FOTR movie.

She had read the books, including The Hobbit, years ago, and finally saw the film upon my persistent prodding. Now she says she liked The Hobbit better, because "they were creative in their means of escape or venturing on," whereas in LOTR, "the solution was too often fighting." So, basically, she's saying "Why does it have to be so violent?"

To which I can only answer: Umm, hello? It's about a WAR. Yes, a war. While detaining your enemy for a chat and a riddle game may have worked with Gollum, I somehow don't think it would've stopped the Ringwraiths. I can just see the hobbits and Strider trying that one: "Aw, come on, scary Black Riders, let's just talk it out. No? Still coming at me with a sword? Well, shucks...I don't want to have to do anything violent...please just stop. Please? Okay? 'Cause I don't want to have to fight or anything."

I mean, really. Duh.
Just had to get that off my chest.

Comments

[hollinelf.livejournal.com]

I didn't think there was that much fighting in FotR movie. A fight with Ringwraiths and Orcs here and there, but a lot of the time it was just: Bugger, ruuuun!

...besides, Legolas had to do something other than look pretty, stand, and give in to random barks of "Orcs!"

Point out why it was called "War of the Ring" putting emphasis of the war bit ;)

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

...besides, Legolas had to do something other than look pretty, stand, and give in to random barks of "Orcs!"

Hehehe...true! I was discussing it with my husband, and we figured Legolas was the only one in the Fellowship who really seemed to enjoy fighting. The others only did it because they had to. And they definitely subscribed to the Brave Sir Robin "Run away, run away!" philosophy as often as possible. :)

Yeah, been trying to think of a tactful yet subtly sarcastic way to point out that part about the "War" of the Ring...oh well. Some people, you know?

[hollinelf.livejournal.com]

Heh, yeah. Ever come across those people that say peculiar stuff about movies like- "so what's that film Titanic about?" ... 0_0
And when people say after seeing LotR "What? That's the end? Huh?" You just wanna yell 'It's a trilogy. Read the book, damnit' Um, ok, i'm going to stop talking now. Ohh, after I agree with you about Legolas enjoying fighting :) Maybe it's because he knows he looks so darn good doing it.

OMG!

[http://users.livejournal.com/-persephone-/]

That's soo true. I've had to listen to countless people complain about the end. Gahhhhh!

Speaking of Legolas and his enjoyment of fighting; I love it at the end of the movie when Aragorn, speaking of going after Merry and Pippin, says "Let's go hunt some Orc!", and Legolas gets that little satisfactory smile on his face. *sigh*
Elijah's Frodo steals my heart, but the "character" of Legolas was my first love long before the idea of such a movie was possible.

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, she also said they were withholding their final verdict until they'd seen all three movies. What, it's impossible to know if you liked the first one until December of 2003? "Was gonna say I liked it, but then the third one sucked, so I guess I hated the first one too." What-ever.

Maybe it's because he knows he looks so darn good doing it.

He really, really does. Amen to that.

[bluegreen17]

yeah,that is a weird attitude. and the story just gets MORE violent,so i don't think she's gonna like two towers.
interesting point about the hobbit...never thought about it that way.
i must say that i like star trek next generation because captain picard sometimes did use diplamacy and i'm really big on the potential of diplomacy over violence in these times that we live in and this was the future...we were supposed to have EVOLVED and to me that means less violence.

as i mentioned recently,i'm a pacifist. however,i was not offended by the violence in braveheart,for instance,because that is the way the world was back then. and it didn't even cross my mind that there was too much violence in fotr.i don't like movies where violence is what it's ALL about,but lotr has so many different things going on,it's not just a shoot 'em up,in a manner of speaking.

heck,on of the bits that gets me the most is when bilbo nearly attacks frodo for the ring and then is immediately repentent as well as feeling extremely guilty for everything and he starts crying. (ian holm is great!) i can relate to that because sometimes i feel like everything wrong in the world is my fault,even though it's not true.

some people also said tolkein didn't write good characters. hello? one of the things i like best about a good movie or book is the characters. i read the books 30 years ago and i forgot tons of the plot points,but i never forgot gandalf,frodo,legolas (had a crush on him when i read the book) and sam and i loved merry and pippin!
oh,how i do go on!

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there's going to be even more of that nasty fighting in the 2nd and 3rd installments, so I guess she'll be displeased with the end result. Really, it's all about the characters. It's not like I watch FOTR over and over just to see Aragorn cut off Lurtz's head.

And it's just as Faramir said (and I apply this to life as well as to LOTR films): "War must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour all; but I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend..." A good fellow, Faramir. Looking forward to meeting him in the second film.

Mmmm

[http://users.livejournal.com/-persephone-/]

I read the books when I was 13. It was hard. I had to re-read sentences here and there. But what I got from it was not ONLY that it's about war, but also about strength and purity of soul and heart.

You have to love Frodo. Even before Elijah Wood's portrayal of him. *wink* As powerful as Gandlaf is, as noble as Aragorn and as perfect and magistical as the elves, Frodo possessed the innocence and pure love needed. Even though, in the end, it takes losing a finger to let the ring go. BUT, what a Hobbit!!!

Ok, I'm done preaching.

How are you? Haven't heard from you in awhile.

Re: Mmmm

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Exactly - to me, it's not really about war, even though the plot is a struggle between good and evil. The war part is not why I love the story. It's about friendship and courage, and yes, definitely, how can one read it or see it and not end up loving Frodo (and Sam and several others)? So, while I'm not surprised that there was fighting in the film, I am surprised that it bothered my relatives. Surely the pure emotion outshone the occasional swordfight. Oh well--at least all of you guys get it! :)

How are you? Haven't heard from you in awhile.

I'm good! Thank you for asking. Been quite busy, what with being a T.A. this term, but still surviving.
Oh, and btw, good luck with searching for a job - since you mentioned that in a previous post but I never got around to commenting...