The Rings of Power TV Series (LoTR Universe)

[Ironing Board]

I bet they regret not making more films from the Lord of the Rings books, could have done more on the War of the Last Alliance of Men and Elves actually show how Sauron was weakened enough for Isildur to beat him, which basically was after he fought and killed both Elendil and Gil-Galad. Show how the dead marshes become the dead marshes.

When Gandalf sent Aragorn to capture Gollum etc.

The Hobbit was a cash grab I can't imagine Christopher Tolkien was too happy about it.

Amazon have the rights to all 3 Lord of the Rings books, so I'm hoping they actually lead us up to the Third Age and actually show the war of the last alliance.

I dunno. Some stuff doesn't really need to be seen. The stuff you did see was ample for me as a cinematic experience. You can always read the books to fill in the blanks and get more on what Tolkien actually communicated.

[Metal Hammer]

Funnily enough, it becomes much more annoying when you do a bit of research and discover Glorfindel is one of the greatest of all elf heroes. That character actually has a really interesting back story. The whole "reluctant hero" of Aragorn was a really stupid change too, in my opinion.

Yeah, he was one of my favourite characters from the Silmarillion along with Fingolfin.

[Ironing Board]

The 70s cartoon is still best in a lot of ways.

[Metal Hammer]

The 70s cartoon is still best in a lot of ways.

I have a copy on DVD, it's a shame Ralph Bakshi never made the second part

[Ironing Board]

I have a copy on DVD, it's a shame Ralph Bakshi never made the second part

It’s a lot darker than the live action one, that’s for sure. The Black Riders were very scary. An interesting mixed media approach too.

[WCpete]

woof. reviews are brutal. much of the criticism, make that most of the criticism is fair. Some is premeditated hate. I didn't think that the 2nd episode was bad. Quite enjoyed it, but it isn't Tolkien. You probably have to be open to that to be open to this show. And the dialogue is full on cringeworthy. Anyway, based on the feedback this show's got some work to do.

[Ironing Board]

woof. reviews are brutal. much of the criticism, make that most of the criticism is fair. Some is premeditated hate. I didn't think that the 2nd episode was bad. Quite enjoyed it, but it isn't Tolkien. You probably have to be open to that to be open to this show. And the dialogue is full on cringeworthy. Anyway, based on the feedback this show's got some work to do.

That's the problem though Pete. Tolkien created this whole thing and was actually very against it getting commercialised. It's the creative equivalent of urinating on his grave to use his world as a background for some generic fantasy schlock. At least Jackson tried to stick as close as he could to the source material, though even he took some liberties.

[WCpete]

Yeah, I thought the Jackson LOTR liberties were absolutely fair enough given the fact that he had to fit it all into 9 hours and the story had to flow. He was as true to the story as he could be while still making a film. The majority of the dialogue was pulled from the books. Quotes from the books were frequently given to different characters in the films, but to the proper affect. This Rings of Power beast would have been better off saying at the beginning of the 1st episode that it's in no way canonical and that it's their version of 'fan art'. The last scene of ep:1 and that character's role in the 2nd ep is going to make die hard Tolkien fan's heads explode. Made me literally wince with cringe.

EDIT: Watched the 2nd episode again tonight because my kids wanted to see it. Bad idea.

[Ironing Board]

EDIT: Watched the 2nd episode again tonight because my kids wanted to see it. Bad idea.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Metal Hammer]

Watched the first 2 episodes last night, lets just say I was disappointed

[Cuenca 'ammer]

up and scheduled might have a go very soon, but am halfway into another series that I need to finish

guess your initial view of episode 2 Pete, was a little early ?

[WCpete]

up and scheduled might have a go very soon, but am halfway into another series that I need to finish

guess your initial view of episode 2 Pete, was a little early ?

It was dreadfully dull. Which goes to show you how dull episode 1 was. On second viewing there was 1 of the 4 story threads that was marginally compelling, and that’s not enough. I cannot fathom how they intend on drawing this out for 50 hours. How?

[Mayday]

Well I enjoyed the first two episodes.
You have to give licence to the makers and not get hung up on being a Tolkein 'nerd'.
The acting is better than a lot of that in the movies.
And I find it hard to criticise any scripting - it's a sword & sorcery fantasy film - they are ALL like that.

I am a fantasy 'nerd' btw. D&D, the lot, so I know my Tolkien. Even done it as a specialist subject in a school 'Mastermind' competition many, many moons ago.

BTW of the Jackson stuff. I really liked the first LOTR movie, less so the other two and I dont like the Hobbit movies at all.

[Cuenca 'ammer]

actually thought The Hobbit wasn't truly awful until they started chucking in things that didn't exist, didn't add anything to the story and created characters that really had no business in there other than apart from wanting to, in the Director's own words pretty much "I wanted to make it more diverse..."

[Metal Hammer]

actually thought The Hobbit wasn't truly awful until they started chucking in things that didn't exist, didn't add anything to the story and created characters that really had no business in there other than apart from wanting to, in the Director's own words pretty much "I wanted to make it more diverse..."

I'm guessing so did Amazon as so far we've had a dark skinned hobbit, elf and dwarf

[wolf359]

I'm guessing so did Amazon as so far we've had a dark skinned hobbit, elf and dwarf

I really don't get why that matters (but it obviously does to many on the internet. Book was written in different times and has been altered to reflect where we are now.

[Metal Hammer]

I really don't get why that matters (but it obviously does to many on the internet. Book was written in different times and has been altered to reflect where we are now.

I have a problem with the blatant tokenism, I'd much more readily accept a whole tribe of black dwarfs for instance rather than just one surrounded by white faces.

[Mayday]

I don't think it matters in the slightest.

It's OK to accept beings that are 1000s of years old, elves, orcs, trolls, etc but not people of the same race with different skin colour???? I'll repeat that 'people of the same race with a different skin colour'.
That's mental.
It is fantasy fiction not based on historical fact.

Fwiw I liked what I saw of Lenny Henry and the three other 'women of colour'. I think there are good things to come from them.

[wolf359]

I have a problem with the blatant tokenism, I'd much more readily accept a whole tribe of black dwarfs for instance rather than just one surrounded by white faces.

.. .seems well, rather 'odd' to me to think like that. They are there as actors playing fantasy characters, their skin colour (or any other attribute ) is irrelevant to me as long as they can act and bring something to the story. There are occasions of tokenism I agree, just as there are terrible white actors as well shoehorned into parts for (reasons) David Beckham and Ed Sheeran come to mind. Tokenism cannot be (thus far) pointed at Rings of Power.

[Metal Hammer]

Maybe I'm not making my point very well. Tolkien built his world with great care and included 'people of colour' such as the Southrons who were dark skinned humans. As such it would be logical that there may be the equivalent darker skinned members of other races and that seems entirely appropriate. I would expect to see them in busy metropolis' of the pseudo north European medieval setting that Eriador reflects but it's far less plausible to see them in isolationist societies such as the Harfoots.