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Post by berkley on Aug 30, 2022 17:12:47 GMT -5
For me, yes, it matters, but no, it shouldn't necessarily decide what any individual reader/viewer thinks of the tv show or Jackson's films, or other adaptations. Everyone has to go with their own personal reaction - and it can happen that sometimes a reader won't like or agree with something the author him or herself does in later instalments of a series. Northrop Frye once said something like, "The Dante who comments on the Divine Comedy is just another critic of Dante." Fair point, and one that explains why I, as a viewer, do care about what Tolkien might have thought of this new series or of any other. It's because as far as fantasy goes, I really enjoy Tolkien's work while I usually dislike other LotR-inspired stories (especially the ones that simply transpose modern-day America to some kind of pseudo-medieval world). The main reason to consider what a critic might say of a film or TV show that we haven't seen yet is probably to decide if we're willing to invest some time watching it. I would trust Tolkien as a critic more than I would someone who liked The Witcher, for example, so his likely opinion is not without interest. Same here. "Does it matter what Tolkien would have thought about the rings of power"? Well no, not really... but then nothing matters ultimately, right? It's just a TV show. However, given the vast number of TV shows available, I reserve the right not to devote time to a specific one simply because a multinational tries to cash in on the reputation of an author. Hence the (relative) importance of how the new work relates to the original material, and what the author might have thought of it. That being said, Tolkien might very well have enjoyed the Rings of Power; we'll have to see how the show turns out. The matter is however not as trivial as this opinion piece makes it out to be, and a little surprising from someone associated with a Tolkien Society.
And even if Tolkien came back to earth and gave it his seal of approval, I'd still reserve the right to my own opinion - but his assessment would certainly make me think twice and probably give it another look. Maybe it's a generational thing as well - younger commentators are as likely to have come to LotR through Jackson's movies as through Tolkien's books and their sensibilities have been influenced by that experience. There seems to be a certain contempt for anyone that isn't 100% behind the show, and a kind of self-congratulatory attitude towards themselves. Oh well, we'll see ... or not, as the case may be.
Right now, I think I'd rather I read LotR again than watch this series. And since I don't plan to re-read Tolkien for at least a couple of years, I'll most likely put the show on hold for now.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2022 23:37:18 GMT -5
Watched the first two episodes of Rings of Power tonight. Definite thumbs up from me. Not perfect, but entertaining, well executed and definitely worth watching.
-M
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Post by thwhtguardian on Sept 2, 2022 8:01:46 GMT -5
Watched the first two episodes of Rings of Power tonight. Definite thumbs up from me. Not perfect, but entertaining, well executed and definitely worth watching. -M Definitely had some great moments. I loved the reveal of that orc in the second episode, that was the first time they really felt threatening to me. I'm sure it's similar to the inverse law of ninjas, in that I think this is the first time we've seen just one attacking and not an army of cannon fodder for our heroes but I thought the way it was shot was well done none the less. For me though the most intriguing part was the Hobbit's discovery of the big man. {Spoiler: Click to show}
I loved the way he fell from the stars. Personally I think he might be Gandalf, but Sauramon, Radagast or one of the Blue Wizards are also possibilities. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2022 11:23:45 GMT -5
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Post by berkley on Sept 2, 2022 11:43:32 GMT -5
Sounds like a good idea for a book, but I'd have to see the interior before deciding if I wanted a copy for myself. Why does the blurb writer say "including Tolkien's own views", if the entire book is "a huge collection of writings by #Tolkien". Maybe he just misspoke. And if it's Tolkien's own views on the subject, why not have a piece of Tolkien's Middle-Earth artwork on the cover instead of whatever that is?
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Post by thwhtguardian on Sept 2, 2022 11:58:15 GMT -5
Sounds like a good idea for a book, but I'd have to see the interior before deciding if I wanted a copy for myself. Why does the blurb writer say "including Tolkien's own views", if the entire book is "a huge collection of writings by #Tolkien". Maybe he just misspoke. And if it's Tolkien's own views on the subject, why not have a piece of Tolkien's Middle-Earth artwork on the cover instead of whatever that is? Sounds like a badly written blurb, I took it to mean Tolkien's own views on the metaphysical nature of our world as well as Middle Earth's but I could be wrong. |
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Post by berkley on Sept 2, 2022 12:13:32 GMT -5
Sounds like a good idea for a book, but I'd have to see the interior before deciding if I wanted a copy for myself. Why does the blurb writer say "including Tolkien's own views", if the entire book is "a huge collection of writings by #Tolkien". Maybe he just misspoke. And if it's Tolkien's own views on the subject, why not have a piece of Tolkien's Middle-Earth artwork on the cover instead of whatever that is? Sounds like a badly written blurb, I took it to mean Tolkien's own views on the metaphysical nature of our world as well as Middle Earth's but I could be wrong.
Maybe it's Tolkien's views on everything, including Middle-Earth and the metaphysical: politics! football! the best place to buy socks!
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Post by thwhtguardian on Sept 2, 2022 12:56:22 GMT -5
Sounds like a badly written blurb, I took it to mean Tolkien's own views on the metaphysical nature of our world as well as Middle Earth's but I could be wrong.
Maybe it's Tolkien's views on everything, including Middle-Earth and the metaphysical: politics! football! the best place to buy socks!
I'd dearly like to know the best place to buy socks in Gondor. |
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Sept 2, 2022 14:44:30 GMT -5
Maybe it's Tolkien's views on everything, including Middle-Earth and the metaphysical: politics! football! the best place to buy socks!
I'd dearly like to know the best place to buy socks in Gondor. Anywhere would be better than in the Shire. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2022 14:44:34 GMT -5
Maybe it's Tolkien's views on everything, including Middle-Earth and the metaphysical: politics! football! the best place to buy socks!
I'd dearly like to know the best place to buy socks in Gondor. There's probably a supplement from the Middle Earth Role Playing line from ICE in the 80s and 90s that tells you that... -M |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Sept 2, 2022 15:21:34 GMT -5
I'd dearly like to know the best place to buy socks in Gondor. There's probably a supplement from the Middle Earth Role Playing line from ICE in the 80s and 90s that tells you that... -M The thing is, I know you're only half joking those books were super detailed. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2022 15:26:26 GMT -5
There's probably a supplement from the Middle Earth Role Playing line from ICE in the 80s and 90s that tells you that... -M The thing is, I know you're only half joking those books were super detailed. If you had said something other than socks, I wouldn't have been joking at all... -M |
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Post by berkley on Sept 5, 2022 3:25:08 GMT -5
I'd dearly like to know the best place to buy socks in Gondor. Anywhere would be better than in the Shire.
There should be a saying, "like trying to sell socks to Hobbits" for misguided commercial enterprises.
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Post by berkley on Sept 5, 2022 3:27:31 GMT -5
Maybe it's Tolkien's views on everything, including Middle-Earth and the metaphysical: politics! football! the best place to buy socks!
I'd dearly like to know the best place to buy socks in Gondor.
The Gondorians probably get their socks made by cheap labour in Mordor. |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Sept 5, 2022 5:00:42 GMT -5
Anywhere would be better than in the Shire.
There should be a saying, "like trying to sell socks to Hobbits" for misguided commercial enterprises.
Or the opposite for describing a silver tongued salesmen. |
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