[Review of] The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring

Home Theater Forum ^ | 28 Nov 2001 | "Ron & Chris"

[Darth Sidious]

Got the soundtrack last Tuesday, two copies of it actually: one with Frodo on the cover and another with Gandalf. And a few minutes ago I discovered that it accesses a secret LOTR website!

BTW, the soundtrack figured into my marriage proposal :-)

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

Please re-read the Hollin gate part again. It states that Gandalf uses every opening spell known to elves, men, and orcs. No Gandalf, the rest of the Istari or Sauron are not men, but the Ringwraiths were. They were Kings and Queens who were also powerful sorcerors. The Lord of the Nazgul is called "The Witch King" and the Mouth of Sauron was a man who was a powerful sorceror. So yes, men did wield magic.

[freedomvent.net]

I'm very excited about this moving coming out. For those wondering how true to the novels it will be, I do know of one major difference (don't read on if you don't want to know):











Tom Bombadil doesn't make the cut. I don't know why, though it probably has to do with cutting the length of the film. It will be interesting to see how they work around him, and I think it will be an awesome movie with or without old Tom Bombadil.

[ArGee]

It states that Gandalf uses every opening spell known to elves, men, and orcs.

Known to, but not used by. You could be right that there were men who used magic, but none in this story.

No Gandalf, the rest of the Istari or Sauron are not men, but the Ringwraiths were. They were Kings and Queens who were also powerful sorcerors.

I don't remember the reference to the Nazgul being sorcerers. Were they sorcerers before or after they ceased being men? I'll comment a little more about them later.

The Lord of the Nazgul is called "The Witch King" and the Mouth of Sauron was a man who was a powerful sorceror. So yes, men did wield magic.

And now to my other point about the Nazgul. Does Middle Earth contain stories of any men who use magic who remain its master? Or does the magic always overpower the man? That's a real question for you, since you seem to have read some of the other things written by Tolkein. I've only read The Hobbit and LOTR.

Shalom.

[Reborn]

Wait until you get to Shelob...

This could've been Hillary's best chance at the big screen! She would have been a perfect fit for the part.

[Snuffington]

Sauron may be a man, that part wasn't clear, but I think he was of the same race as Gandalf.

Your thought is correct. Sauron is not a man, but rather "Maiar." Same as Gandalf in a general sense. If I recall, this is not made explicit in the Lord of the Rings. It comes from the Silmarilion.

[SauronOfMordor]

This work of fiction is truly a man's fantasy. I am a woman and I have been reading the 1000 page book for the last few days, and I am finding it quite dull.

The Lord of the Rings is very-much oriented towards males, particularly boys.

It is a tale revolving around small males (hobbits) coming from conventional lives who suddenly find themselves having to become more than they were, overcome impossible odds and god-like foes, and stick close to their buddies. It is a male-bonding tale which has women being very-much secondary. You could realisticly remove all the female characters and retain the guts of the book

My 13-year-old daughter also had difficulty retaining interest in it when she first tried it a couple of years ago, but she's giving it another shot. I think this will not be a successful "date" movie for the most part

[Samwise]

This could've been Hillary's best chance at the big screen! She would have been a perfect fit for the part.

Oh good! A Hillary slam. I just can't quite start the day without one. Now, I can go do something constructive. :^)

[HarryDunne]

When I first heard about this movie, I told my wife that there's no way Tom Bombadil will be in it. He adds such an interesting dimension to the story, but he's here, then he's gone. He saved the hobbits from the trees and the barrow wights (if memory serves), but other than that, he has very little to do with the War of the Ring. Still, it's a shame he's not in it.

[Texas2step]

Good points, BUT, none of those are MEN. They are wizards, elves, etc. Even Frodo and Bilbo when they use the "magic" of the one ring, they aren't men either. They are hobbits. Tolkien makes this very clear throughout the series.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

You might want to read the Appendices at the End of The Return of the King, I think they deal with the Nazgul a bit. The Silmarillion is a great source of background, and the Histories of Middle Earth contain alot of stories and background. Off the top of my head, I can't recall a man who mastered magic and didn't come to a bad end, but I'm pretty sure there were a few with tales about them. The Numenorians were decended from Elros after all and they were very adept at magic.

But you are correct in that one of Tolkien's great themes is the corruption of power. Not just magic, but any power can corrupt in Middle-Earth and the wise know not to take for granted their power and not to use it too readily.

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

I think people use magic in this movie. I'm scared for my children's sanity.

ROFL...so hard!!! Good one!! :o)

I can't wait to see these movies. I heard they had already made number two and three. That they will be released "one" a year.

Can't wait to see them. We LOVE Fiction!!! This outta be good!!!

The author of this article said it was "dark" at times. I hope it scares me!!! I remember watching "The Twilight Zone" as a kid and the "Outer Limits". They were dark to. But you didn't see bodies getting all hacked to pieces. I do remember "jumping" and being startled..and then laughing that I had been scared. It was exciting and it was good clean fun.

Anyway.. your quote was too funny :o) (I hope you were joking.. I have been known to be naive about a thing or two in my life!!) :o)

[ArGee]

It comes from the Silmarilion.

Thanks for the info.

Shalom.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

The Nazgul were men, the Mouth of Sauron is a man, Gandalf tries every spell known to elves, men, and orcs to get the door at Hollin open, and Denethor and Aragorn use the Palantir. Those are just examples of men using magic, or knowing how to use magic, found in LOTR. There are many more examples in The Silmarillion and other writings. Yes, in Middle-Earth magic is rare, yes, it is dangerous, but no, it is not an inherent trait of elves and Maiar that men cannot know.

[ArGee]

But you are correct in that one of Tolkien's great themes is the corruption of power.

Well, Aragorn had power and used it without being corrupt. Ditto Theoden. Denethor had a problem, but he lacked humility and attempted to challenge Sauron with one of Sauron's favorite tools. I don't think Tolkein's theme was power corrupting but the necessary humility for handling power. And one element of humility is that magic isn't for human beings. At least, that's what I got out of it without reading the appendices or The Silmirilion.

Shalom.

[sneakers]

Re#35: As a woman, all I can say is "Well said!" I loved these books because of the sense of brotherhood and the adventure. My greatest fear about this movie was that Jackson would try to turn it into a love story! (Thank goodness, it sounds like he didn't). I, too, avoid the Lifetime channel like the plague. If I want a fine romance, I can watch Pride and Predjudice - one of my favorite movies. Meanwhile, I'm waiting for LOTR with great anticipation!

[My Favorite Headache]

Time to break out all the old Rush albums.Songs like BY-TOR and The Snowdog,Rivendell,all of Caress Of Steel,A Farewell To Kings...yup...maybe that classic Rush resurgance is right around the corner.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

Well, Aragorn was in his 70's and had not pushed for status or honor, so he had learned restraint and humility. Theoden had become weak and had started listening to Grima. It was only with Gandalf's interference that Theoden showed the strength and power he did in his youth. Denethor was wise and restrained, but Sauron held the master Palantir and was able to slowly corrupt him (as he did Saruman).

Aragorn, revealing himself as the rightful heir, took a large risk at Helm's Deep by using the Palantir, but it was to force Sauron's hand to strike before he was completely ready. His first action as a proclaimed heir was to go to the Stone of Erech and claim the fealty that the dead owed Elendil. After the defeat of the Corsairs, he again hid himself until his coronation. Aragorn was one of the wisest characters in the story, and as such corruption was held in check. He even told Boromir that he wouldn't hold the ring under any circumstance because he feared the corrupting nature of it.

[Reborn]

Oh good! A Hillary slam. I just can't quite start the day without one. Now, I can go do something constructive. :^)

LOL! There can Never be enough Hillary slams. She is just sooooooooo deserving of them. ;^)