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In Reply to: Re: Lord of the Rings! (spoilers!) posted by darkstar on December 22, 2001 at 08:04:50:
>>> "Galadriel should have been drop dead gorgeous. And kind. And stern. And beautiful. And powerful. Here was one juicy female role for the movie and Jackson flubs it." <<<IMHO, Jackson didn't flub it because I found Cate Blanchet's Galadriel perfectly charming. She was "drop dead gorgeous" in a very pure and unglamorized way and effectively fightening in the transformation she resisted. Also, I thought the forest elve's kingdom was richly beautiful and imaginative as opposed to being merely a gloomy forest.
FTR, I haven't read the trilogy (i.e., I was one of the few among the group of friends going today who hadn't), but as a movie this is a fantasy which grabs hold and doesn't let go. The pacing is virtually perfect, as the three hours go by feeling only like about two and change. The tale is told in a very sophisticated manner and isn't in the least bit condescending to it's audience. I had no problem with the slightly extended romance scene between Arwen and Aragorn as it provides more audience connection (i.e., caring) with both characters and set the tone for the journey, separating them, which lay ahead.
As for the mild humor, I didn't mind Gandalf bumping his head in Hobbit holes as it did emphasize the typical Wizards size over the typical Hobbit's in a believable manner. However, I was caught off guard by the in-joke about dwarf throwing which seemed a bit out of place (i.e., too contemporary). This comment elicited a brief giggle from the audience, but the remark occured in a moment of high drama when a little comedy relief is often appreciated and easily forgiven if not overdone.
Overall, were I to rate this film purely as entertainment, I'd be compelled to give it at least 4 1/2 out of 5 stars. This well cast hansomly directed film is highly recommended for fans of Tolkein and the uninitiated alike. Everyone in our group agreed that the only downside is having to wait another year for the second movie in the trilogy. Bummer! :o(
AuPh
Follow Ups:
I was really put off by the dwarf-throwing joke, not from a civil-rights perspective (though it is reprehensible), but because it ruined the moment and was utterly unnecessary. Otherwise, I was utterly captivated by the movie. I was caught off-guard by its' emotional impact - I had wet eyes and a wrenched gut at the end.
It is interesting to read the reaction of someone who hadn't read the books.
The dwarf throwing remark was a big mistake. Still, the movie was probably better than the book on several levels.I'm now rereading the book and finding its flaws pretty obvious. Fine as a story, it's not superb as literature or fiction as we know it today.
Would have been nice to have seen Tom Bombadil and the Barrow Wight in the movie. Probably too difficult to integrate them with the story. I believe they are not all that well integrated in the book, which makes it even more difficult.
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