“Rings of Power” - "Lord of the Rings" television adaptation

[kabbes]

I think it's going to be shit.

I also suspect this.

I think the truth is that Lord of the Rings ended up good because it was a story about some (literal and metaphorical) little people swept up in big events. It was a tale through their eyes — people who didn’t want to be heroes but did what they had to for their own survival as well as for others. The epic events happened around them, they weren’t the point. Consequently, the world they were based in was never really the thing that made it good.

By contrast, you have things like the stories of the Silmarillion, which end up really dull. These do the opposite to LotR — they make it all about epic tales of epic people in an epic world. But there’s nothing to hold onto and it all just slips past.

It looks to me like this series follows the Silmarillion route, not the LotR route.

 

[Artaxerxes]

I also suspect this.

I think the truth is that Lord of the Rings ended up good because it was a story about some (literal and metaphorical) little people swept up in big events. It was a tale through their eyes — people who didn’t want to be heroes but did what they had to for their own survival as well as for others. The epic events happened around them, they weren’t the point. Consequently, the world they were based in was never really the thing that made it good.

By contrast, you have things like the stories of the Silmarillion, which end up really dull. These do the opposite to LotR — they make it all about epic tales of epic people in an epic world. But there’s nothing to hold onto and it all just slips past.

It looks to me like this series follows the Silmarillion route, not the LotR route.

It is based on the Silmarillion.

Also it’s exactly what happened with the fantasy genre post Tolkien anyway. Masses of generic chosen one stories in a medieval ish setting. The Hobbit especially was great because Bilbo was a hero in incredible circumstances but only barely able to wield a sword (though he was a dab hand with a sling and stones)

 

[Reno]

No Dwarf- and Hobbit-fucking, I'm out.

Why Amazon Prime's Lord of the Rings Series Will Not Have Sex Scenes - E! Online

Amazon Prime revealed even more information about Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power, including which characters will be featured and how they are diversifying the cast.

www.eonline.com

 

[krtek a houby]

The more negativity, the more it appeals.

But then, have been a fantasy enthusiast since childhood. Comics, sci-fi, horror and all the rest.

 

[kabbes]

The more negativity, the more it appeals.

You must absolutely love the film Batman vs Superman

 

[JimW]

Consequently, the world they were based in was never really the thing that made it good.

I'd modify this to say the world-building did set it apart from the usual and give it greater moment, perhaps because Tolkien did it so thoroughly and with a wide knowledge of the European myths he was adapting, though agree it worked better as the rich backdrop than the the actual focus of the story.

 

[krtek a houby]

You must absolutely love the film Batman vs Superman

Nah, that would be contrarian for the sake of it.

Do have a mate who won't hear a word said against it, though.

But personally, would not have a problem with updates/remakes/reboots etc... if they are executed well. Quite intrigued by the new Batman out this year...

 

[kabbes]

Nah, that would be contrarian for the sake of it.

I thought, “the more negativity, the more it appeals”? Plus it’s comics, which you also identified. Sounds like a slam-dunk.

Or is it that the more negativity the more it appeals, so long as it is actually good? With the emphasis on the “good” more than the “negativity” part.

 

[krtek a houby]

I thought, “the more negativity, the more it appeals”? Plus it’s comics, which you also identified. Sounds like a slam-dunk.

Or is it that the more negativity the more it appeals, so long as it is actually good? With the emphasis on the “good” more than the “negativity” part.

Just used to people/peers/parents dismissing beloved genres over the last 5 decades... and eventually, such genres went mainstream, some acclaimed and on a purely material level - could have made a few thousand on the old comic collection.

It was/is gratifying, in a way, to see geekdom be taken seriously, as opposed to sneeringly. Catered for, if you follow.

That's a few reasons for why am happy to embrace the negative vibes

But sure, Batman V Supervisor was mostly disappointing.

 

[T & P]

Happy to give any show the benefit of the doubt, but on paper, any prequels or sequels of acclaimed shows or films are far more appealing if the timeline is reasonably close to the original story than if it’s a bloody thousand years ago. Be LOTR, Game of Thrones, or even Star Wars.

 

[krtek a houby]

Happy to give any show the benefit of the doubt, but on paper, any prequels or sequels of acclaimed shows or films are far more appealing if the timeline is reasonably close to the original story than if it’s a bloody thousand years ago. Be LOTR, Game of Thrones, or even Star Wars.

Would be quite happy to see a Star Wars set thousands of years before/after, tbh. Much as love it, feel that the 40 year time period they're set in has been a bit of a narrow focus...

 

[T & P]

Would be quite happy to see a Star Wars set thousands of years before/after, tbh. Much as love it, feel that the 40 year time period they're set in has been a bit of a narrow focus...

I might on principle, but only if there are no references or fan service whatsoever linking anything to the legacy films or stories. It’s bad enough when Lucas thought writing C-3PO and R2 into the very first prequel film was in any way necessary. Imagine how cringeworthy it would be even with a thousand year gap, the writers of such prequel shows decide to plant Easter eggs all over the place as fan service, or even worse make the protagonist a direct ancestor of the main character of legacy item. ‘Meet Cormic Skywalker, the great great great great great great grandfather of Anakin, and discover the origin story of the most pivotal family in history’. Fuck that for a laugh.

 

[krtek a houby]

I might on principle, but only if there are no references or fan service whatsoever linking anything to the legacy films or stories. It’s bad enough when Lucas thought writing C-3PO and R2 into the very first prequel film was in any way necessary. Imagine how cringeworthy it would be even with a thousand year gap, the writers of such prequel shows decide to plant Easter eggs all over the place as fan service, or even worse make the protagonist a direct ancestor of the main character of legacy item. ‘Meet Cormic Skywalker, the great great great great great great grandfather of Anakin, and discover the origin story of the most pivotal family in history’. Fuck that for a laugh.

Oh no, that's precisely why would be in favour of thousands of years distance - so there'd be no family ties and C3P0's great grand mech or whatever.

Don't mind a bit of fan service, when handled well like Mandalorian. Over egged it in the last film, though still a fun popcorn ride. Best recent fan service was, imho, the Spiderman flick.

The new LotR series will have a few versions of a few characters we know, but don't want an exact repetition of the films. Don't want to be too precious about it, long as it's entertaining and takes us on a great journey.

 

[platinumsage]

Check the comments

 

[skyscraper101]

Check the comments

Most of them seem to be in Russian for me

 

[killer b]

irk the purists.

Dunno if it's a purists issue - the purists surely gave up on Lord of the Rings decades ago. If people are rolling their eyes at this I'd imagine their main concern is the increasingly large parts of the film & TV industry that are given over to mining already successful franchises rather than taking risks with new and untested ideas. Soon all there'll be left of Hollywood will be Lord of the Rings, Star Wars and the Marvel stuff.

 

[krtek a houby]

Most of them seem to be in Russian for me

Seems like an organised campaign.

It's the same message, The franchise, it's been destroyed by evil which cannot create anything new...

Have noticed elsewhere that there's been backlashes against the diversity of casting.

Fucking hell, the culture wars targeting family entertainment

 

[krtek a houby]

Dunno if it's a purists issue - the purists surely gave up on Lord of the Rings decades ago. If people are rolling their eyes at this I'd imagine their main concern is the increasingly large parts of the film & TV industry that are given over to mining already successful franchises rather than taking risks with new and untested ideas. Soon all there'll be left of Hollywood will be Lord of the Rings, Star Wars and the Marvel stuff.

Hollywood has always capitalised on popular genres, your westerns, gangsters, monster movies and so on.

Pretty sure it will survive. If audiences don't like it, they'll switch off.

The troll armies, on the other hand, well... probably a movie or two in Itself on how and why they mobilise. They've certainly got fuck all interest in the shows/films?

 

[killer b]

If audiences don't like it, they'll switch off.

just leave it to the market, got it.

 

[krtek a houby]

just leave it to the market, got it.

Or leave it to the trolls...

The audiences have always dictated what they like. At least it was honest, and down to tickets sales.

Now it's online armies, spewing hate and false outrage.

Preferred audience reaction to be fair.

 

[killer b]

I don't think anyone on this thread is spewing hate or false outrage are they? Do you think I'm just parroting russian trolls or something?

 

[krtek a houby]

I don't think anyone on this thread is spewing hate or false outrage are they? Do you think I'm just parroting russian trolls or something?

Of course not!

On the one hand, its amusing to see corporate Amazon get a hammering.

But ( on the YouTube) it's coming from bad faith actors.

Perhaps something is amiss for the elders who feel their youth is being burgled... which is fair enough. Am of that generation... just don't buy into the mantra that all remakes/reboots are evil.

Again, not saying you do.

Isn't it weird, though, the comments on social media?

 

[Pickman's model]

 

[killer b]

we're having a discussion on here though, in which literally zero people are saying that all remakes/reboots are evil. I'm just that the domination of the market by a few huge franchises is a bad thing. which it unambiguously is. Fairly sure you'd agree with me too if it didn't happen to be something you liked they were making.

 

[krtek a houby]

View attachment 310015

See, would much rather be exposed to this kind of representation than YouTube cunts getting fired up about "negro elves" and other deliberate commentaries

 

[krtek a houby]

we're having a discussion on here though, in which literally zero people are saying that all remakes/reboots are evil. I'm just that the domination of the market by a few huge franchises is a bad thing. which it unambiguously is. Fairly sure you'd agree with me too if it didn't happen to be something you liked they were making.

Mostly, yes.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

As far as the market goes I think the point of the endless remakes and sequels isn't that people prefer them over quality new stuff, it's about risk. A quality (or even trashy but entertaining, whatever) new film might make big money but it's hard to guarantee. Whereas you can bang out another reliable franchise film and turn a safe profit. And given the cost and limits on resources it's obvious which a studio is going to go for. So it's not that they're evil in themselves but they do crowd out newer, potentially much better (and potentially more popular too) stuff.

 

[krtek a houby]

As far as the market goes I think the point of the endless remakes and sequels isn't that people prefer them over quality new stuff, it's about risk. A quality (or even trashy but entertaining, whatever) new film might make big money but it's hard to guarantee. Whereas you can bang out another reliable franchise film and turn a safe profit. And given the cost and limits on resources it's obvious which a studio is going to go for. So it's not that they're evil in themselves but they do crowd out newer, potentially much better (and potentially more popular too) stuff.

Good point.

As a fillum fan, would like to say that prefer the newer, original, boundary pushing stuff... but, tbh, the oldies are often comforting. Talking about anything from the silent era up to thirty years ago... so, when a reboot/sequel/spinoff/reimagining etc comes along, you're going to be intrigued.

And, of course, on occasion... disappointed.

On the whole, though, respect for the new.

Be it movies, music etc.

 

[Aladdin]

Happy to give any show the benefit of the doubt, but on paper, any prequels or sequels of acclaimed shows or films are far more appealing if the timeline is reasonably close to the original story than if it’s a bloody thousand years ago. Be LOTR, Game of Thrones, or even Star Wars.

It will get a whole new generation integrated in the stories...maybe..

 

[Pickman's model]

It is based on the Silmarillion.

Also it’s exactly what happened with the fantasy genre post Tolkien anyway. Masses of generic chosen one stories in a medieval ish setting. The Hobbit especially was great because Bilbo was a hero in incredible circumstances but only barely able to wield a sword (though he was a dab hand with a sling and stones)

the fantasy genre emerged out of the medievalism of the victorians, people like lord dunsany and william morris. and the influence of the medieval horror story beowulf can't be overstated. so i don't think that jrrt can be blamed for everything. in addition, the silmarillion was never actually published by tolkein, it was one of his son's earlier efforts are reaping the rewards from the stuff his dad hadn't issued. i read the silmarillion years back, in the 80s, and i don't know if i could manage it again.

but tbh medievalism isn't really the problem - the jirel of joiry stories, or the averoigne stories of clark ashton smith, are avowedly medieval. the problem to my mind arises with the volume of 'quest' stories more than the issue of 'chosen ones'. things like the belgariad and the sword of shannara. it's perfectly possible to write an excellent 'quest' and / or 'chosen one' story - you need look no further than michael moorcock's eternal champion series, and quite a few of those books are set in medievalish environments.