lord of the rings

[helghast]

this isn't really just to do with literature but who agrees with me that the lord of the rings is far superior to any other book or film?

[Bohne]

Far superior?

I wouldn't go that far! It's OK, if you like that type of story...

[Octavius]

Are we talking the books - I mean they are great, but HOW long??  The films are excellent.

[woofgang]

Book is up among the great ones, films are a poor interpretation of the story (Elfstone the wrong colour, no Tom Bombadil, Elrond and Arwen's parts more or less re written) but good films in their own right and AMAZING specila effects

[archbishop]

GAB woofy. Certainly the book ranks among the best.

The films which are also excellent do lose a bit in translation.

[ll_billym]

The books are great. 

 

The films, although very entertaining, do not do the books justice, they miss out a lot and unfortunately had to be tamed so that it would make more money at the box office.  If I had my way, the films would be 20 hours long and an 18 certificate.

 

I think that part of the magic of the books were that they hadn't been made into a film so you had to read the books to find out what all the fuss was about, now people will watch the films rather than read the books and miss out on the real deal.

[BenDToy]

*GAB* woofy and archbishop. I feel like I am about to go against the tide here. I am normally an avid reader, and "devour" books, however I really did not enjoy the LOTR. I found The Hobbit OK, and I started LOTR with an open mind, but I just got so bored with all the almost identical incidents, and interminable characters with no real depth to them. The plot is good, but the writing style is so unimaginative, with ponderous language and unispiring descriptions. The song bits are just plain stupid, and I eventually just gave up about half way through. Sorry but I did give it a go, but I just lost the will to live. Note that I have never, ever not finished a book before! I am not really opening up a debate here because I know a large number of people think they are great (as seen here) but I just had to voice my opinion. I guess it is evidence that we like different things, and that's the way it is. BTW I loved the films (at least the first two - haven't seen the third one yet).

[thewillow]

You mustn't be very well read or have seen many films to hold this opinion.

[PunkyD20391]

I never actually read the books, but they do seem good. I don't know if I'd go as far as saying their the best books, like in the world, but they seem good. And the movies are good, but books are always better than books. Example: Harry Potter series, the books are way better than the movies, even though I really like Daniel Radcliffe, and Rupert Grint:).

[uber_panda]

The books are very good, but everything is based on opinion, but if you want to get technical the books could be considered some of the best becuase of praises and sales.

[j2buttonsw]

I read the book when I was 14 or so and hated it. I watched half of the first LotR film and hated that. Dungeons and Dragons just doesn't do it for me. Sorry. BTW, I also hated The Matrix. Perhaps there is something wrong with me.

[LeMarchand]

I agree that the films are among the best ever made in certain terms such as the amazing effort and team work put into the trilogy, the music, SFX and so on. They're certainly the best fantasy movies ever made. I'm not sure that I'd go so far as to say that they're the best films ever made, though. (Not that I'd like to say what is).

 

On the other hand, I've never been able to get past the first book in the trilogy. I can recognise their importance, but just get bored with the plot stopping every few pages for yet ANOTHER flipping song or poem.

 

And I have read a lot of books and seen a lot of movies!

[woofgang]

you can skip the songs and poems although they add to the atmosphere IMHO. Yes the books are a slow read, sometimes I enjoy that.

I have never been able to "get" Charles Dickens, Tolstoy, or any of  the Aga Saga genre, and yes I too have read loads of books and seen loads of films.

I think I would have enjoyed the LOTR films more if I had been able to stop comparing them to the books and incidentally driving Mr Woofgang (also a book LOTR fan) completely crazy

I guess it comes down to different strokes...

[woofgang]

thewillow, are you having a bad day??

[thewillow]

Nope, woofgang.  It just seemed like a very bald statement to say that "it is far superior to any other book or film".  Come on now ... 

[natalie_1982]

I think if you like that sort of thing it's great, but personally I tried reading the books years ago and couldn;t get into them at all and the films bored me rigid. However biased I am though, I can see that they are good books just not my cup of tea, although to say that they are "far superior to any other book or film" is nonsense.

[woofgang]

Sorry thewillow, I read your response as replying to bendDToy.

[thewillow]

Whoops - I should have been more careful.

[Aki]

I think that Lord of the Rings films are the best of all.I love them!!!!But the books are not that good,they are OK but a little boring.

[Gav1122]

I read the book. hated that. then foolishly seen the first film, thinking it might be better than the book. fell asleep during it. i just really dont understand why everyone gets so excited about them.

[siriusblack]

I agree that the Lord of The Rings books are the best ever written. Tolkien created a world, not just a story. The films are good, but they left a lot out. But in the end I would pick LOTR above all and Harry Potter is right behind them.