[ Lord Of The ] Rings writer reveals Two Towers secrets

New Zealand's National Business Review ^ | 29-Nov-2002 | Nick Smith

[JameRetief]

Rings writer reveals Two Towers secrets
Nick Smith

"Even the smallest person can change the course of the future."

Readers could be forgiven for mistaking the above words as J R R Tolkien's, direct from the pen of The Lord of the Rings' author.

The wrong attribution has happened often enough, several times by reporters who should know better.

In fact, the words were penned by scriptwriters Philippa Boyens, Fran Walsh and Peter Jackson for their film adaptation of Tolkien's masterpiece.

Ms Boyens said the line is one of many that people assume is lifted straight from the book, the mistake a compliment to her and her co-authors' skill in matching Tolkien's words.

"So much of this isn't Tolkien's but nobody noticed, which is great because it means we got our ear right," she said.

Of course, some of the dialogue is lifted directly ­ memorably elf queen Galadriel's speech renouncing the ring or the line from the hobbit Bilbo: "like butter scraped over too much toast."

But much is new, presenting its own difficulties as Tolkien favoured a stilted, formal style of dialogue.

Ms Boyens laughs when asked if rendering Tolkien's words into plain English is akin to being presented with a script by George Lucas, infamous for writing incredibly stilted dialogue for his Star Wars series. She is a fan of Tolkien, has been since age 13, preferring "heightened" to stilted to describe his style, and made a conscious decision to retain the language.

"I think his language is a gift," Ms Boyens said. "We tried to do a more modern, upbeat, funky version ... it fell flat on its face.

"One of the great achievements is to create a world that feels real," she said. "That language belongs to that world; it's an epic, it's a saga. A lot of people love it ... and this is the weird thing, especially young people, they really love it."

So much so, the computer game creators specifically requested the "heightened" language for the game.

Whether this helps young people to, like, speak in grammatically correct sentences remains to be seen.

Where the challenge in Fellowship of the Ring was to carefully edit for a manageable film length but still coherent story, the comparatively slim The Two Towers presents a different challenge.

Multiple storylines, 18 major characters, the "intense psychological interior journey of Frodo and Sam and introducing the extraordinary character of Gollum," she said.

It is no secret the wizard Gandalf returns from apparent death in the first film after his battle with the Balrog, a demon from the ancient world. But Ms Boyens said there is an extensive sequence depicting the final battle with the Balrog in Moria: "It's very cinematic, slightly surreal ­ no, extremely surreal."

"One of the great things about film is you don't have to do it as reportage," she said. "[Gandalf's] encounter has got some incredibly heightened language."

Other revelations include committing the cinematic sin of using poetry for dramatic effect. Tolkien's book is littered with song and verse and when viewers meet the Viking-like Riders of Rohan in The Two Towers, they will hear Aragorn reciting: "Where now the horse and rider? Where is the horn that was blowing ..."

There is also the digitally created character Treebeard, essentially a gigantic Dryad, and fans will be delighted the scriptwriters retained the scene where Treebeard tries to place Hobbits in his list of creatures. The Two Towers opens in cinemas on December 18.

29-Nov-2002

[JameRetief]

Two Towers info, ping.

[2Jedismom]

Are they saying that the Two Towers will have a good bit of the more formal type speech that Tolkien used? From what I've seen (Aragorn speaking with Theoden) it would seem true. Very well done. I love that speech.

[maquiladora]

Just read this elsewhere.
Counting the days etc.

[maquiladora]

That clip was edited, when Aragorn bursts in the doors it casues a bit of shock because Theoden thought Aragorn had been killed in the Warg attack, but that bit was edited and it skipped straight to the part after Aragorn tells him he saw a great host marching to Helm's Deep as he rode back.

[PMCarey]

Other revelations include committing the cinematic sin of using poetry for dramatic effect. Tolkien's book is littered with song and verse and when viewers meet the Viking-like Riders of Rohan in The Two Towers, they will hear Aragorn reciting: "Where now the horse and rider? Where is the horn that was blowing ..."

I thought that was King Theoden.

[ecurbh]

Ring Ping!!

[SuziQ]

"I think his language is a gift," Ms Boyens said. "We tried to do a more modern, upbeat, funky version ... it fell flat on its face.

I believe this comment explains why FoTR did so well, and TTT and RoTK will do even better. Boyens, Jackson and Walsh truly RESPECT Tolkien's story and the language in which it is told. It is lyrical; different from what most movies are today. That is why it captures the imagination and holds it firm!!

[billbears]

Whether this helps young people to, like, speak in grammatically correct sentences remains to be seen.

Doubtful, but I think the two major movies have their groups in place. The Potters will be in their movie and from most I've spoke with that liked the first HP, there won't be much crossover. Most parents I spoke with considered the Fellowship too dark, too hard to understand. Oh, well. The Fellowship has its group and while adding some, this will probably be the one that adds the least number of fans considering the darkness. So might as well make the movie for those that loved the books the most. That includes the language

[GretchenEE]

bump

[maquiladora]

Feel like infiltrating this little event tomorrow?

Dear Academy Member,

New Line Cinema is proud to present some of our 2002 releases for your consideration. You and a guest are invited to the following screening:
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - Los Angeles
Sunday Dec 1st 4:00pm
Director's Guild #2 7920 Sunset Blvd.

RSVP: 310.967.6950
You must rsvp no later than 4pm on the day prior to the screening you wish to attend.

[HairOfTheDog]

Heh. Let's FReep it Maq!

[JameRetief]

I would love to go, but alas, I'm afraid an airline ticket to get there would be a bit outside of my budget for seeing a movie. Even The Two Towers (but it was a close call. LOL)