I know this isn’t the point of your post, but I love the Alamo Drafthouse so much. We learned about it the first year we moved to Denver and now have a season pass.
It’s been awhile since I’ve read the books, but one difference between the books and movies that has stood out to me is Elrond. In the movies he’s this dour, serious, angry brooding type. But in the books he’s this genuinely kind, easy to laugh, and as “happy” as an elf can be in a dying world. I remember being disappointed when I saw how the movies portrayed him.
A confessional here, because I know youll love me anyway…. But I too three naps in the first lord of the rings movie and took that as a sign not to see the rest.
One of my favorite gifts was when my partner rented out this incredible local theater for my 30th birthday because it was April 2020 and everything had shut down. We watched The Empire Strikes Back because it was the one I loved the most as a kid and I hadn’t seen it on the big screen. Movie theaters are the best!
"Tolkien wrote about a long, hard, wandering walk. Jackson filmed an action movie."
I felt the same way about The Hobbit! After reading the book I watched the first two movies but never even bothered with the third because I knew it was just going to be a bunch of war scenes. All three movies are full of battles (some Jackson invented) even though they take up maybe five pages of the entire book.
I have refused to watch a single hobbit movie because it is one book and should never have been three movies and I will die on that hill. a lady has to have some principles. this is mine.
I’m embarrassed to say I haven’t read the books or watched the movies.😬 Nathan loves them. He would sneak and watch them with the kids when they were (I thought) too little. I thought they would be too scary.
When my now 18 YO college freshman (Talmage) was 8 in his bishop interview before being baptized, the bishop asked him if there was anything he’d like to talk about. Talmage then confessed to watching Lord of the Rings with his dad. 🥹😂 Poor sweet kid. It’s a favorite memory and they still watch the movies together at least once a year.💛
Don't be embarrassed! Do you know how many books and movies I haven't seen?! Also, TALMAGE!!! This is the funniest, sweetest thing. I love that he and your husband have the year watch tradition. So good.
Thank you so much for reading, Julia! I keep trying to give my kids Tolkien but they are supremely uninterested. I don't even know what to do with that, honestly.
The feelings I have while reading your posts are the feelings evoked by the description of cradling a coffee mug with a thumbprint indentation, gathering courage for the day.
(I don’t even consider myself a LOTR fan but now I’m wondering if I could become one!)
Jan 13, 2023·edited Jan 13, 2023Liked by Meg Conley
Whoooo.. this was ... intense. But thank you. I’m gonna carry this with me as it summarizes my own struggle with the movies vs book (for the record, I much prefer the books, for a lot of reasons mostly having to do with an endless expansion instead of being bound by film length and butt fortitude ;) )
This;
“Jackson wants to get the viewer on and into the adventure. Tolkien wants the reader to remember that this journey started at home.”
When I was at the newspaper, the kindest, smartest most gentle and patient man I’ve yet known in my life became a dear friend. He was a LOTR fan and his wife was the director at the local planetarium. For his birthday 2004, she invited all his dear friends to view each film over the course of three weekends. It was supposed to be an annual thing, but he ended up dying of a heart attack up in a press scaffold covering John Kerry on Labor Day weekend 2004.
The second showing of the LOTR turned into a memorial service for those of us closest to him. Anyway, I have not watched the films since. Maybe I will one last time. Maybe.
I know this isn’t the point of your post, but I love the Alamo Drafthouse so much. We learned about it the first year we moved to Denver and now have a season pass.
It's so great!
I make my husband go ridiculously early so we can watch the curated videos before the show.
My husband and I left NYC for a more rural area north of the city, and the Alamo Drafthouse is somewhere we make a point to visit on trips in!
It really is such a great experience, and I love the old films they show. Taking my two oldest to a brunch showing of Singing in the Rain next month!
Delightful!
What a generous thing that legitimately feels like care. ❤️
every heart eye emoji
Beautiful!
It’s been awhile since I’ve read the books, but one difference between the books and movies that has stood out to me is Elrond. In the movies he’s this dour, serious, angry brooding type. But in the books he’s this genuinely kind, easy to laugh, and as “happy” as an elf can be in a dying world. I remember being disappointed when I saw how the movies portrayed him.
Yes!!!!
A confessional here, because I know youll love me anyway…. But I too three naps in the first lord of the rings movie and took that as a sign not to see the rest.
I think it shows great taste!
One of my favorite gifts was when my partner rented out this incredible local theater for my 30th birthday because it was April 2020 and everything had shut down. We watched The Empire Strikes Back because it was the one I loved the most as a kid and I hadn’t seen it on the big screen. Movie theaters are the best!
Ah this is the best!
What a beautiful post. I love your writing. It always makes me think.
Ah! Thank you so much!!
"Tolkien wrote about a long, hard, wandering walk. Jackson filmed an action movie."
I felt the same way about The Hobbit! After reading the book I watched the first two movies but never even bothered with the third because I knew it was just going to be a bunch of war scenes. All three movies are full of battles (some Jackson invented) even though they take up maybe five pages of the entire book.
Omg, yes. The Hobbit felt especially egregious!
I have refused to watch a single hobbit movie because it is one book and should never have been three movies and I will die on that hill. a lady has to have some principles. this is mine.
I’m embarrassed to say I haven’t read the books or watched the movies.😬 Nathan loves them. He would sneak and watch them with the kids when they were (I thought) too little. I thought they would be too scary.
When my now 18 YO college freshman (Talmage) was 8 in his bishop interview before being baptized, the bishop asked him if there was anything he’d like to talk about. Talmage then confessed to watching Lord of the Rings with his dad. 🥹😂 Poor sweet kid. It’s a favorite memory and they still watch the movies together at least once a year.💛
Don't be embarrassed! Do you know how many books and movies I haven't seen?! Also, TALMAGE!!! This is the funniest, sweetest thing. I love that he and your husband have the year watch tradition. So good.
Justice for Tom Bombadil!!
He and Goldberry were just too perfect for Jackson to approach!
A particularly beautiful post! And moving, for me, perhaps because Tolkien was such a presence in my childhood home.
Thanks as always for your insight and honestly!
Thank you so much for reading, Julia! I keep trying to give my kids Tolkien but they are supremely uninterested. I don't even know what to do with that, honestly.
The feelings I have while reading your posts are the feelings evoked by the description of cradling a coffee mug with a thumbprint indentation, gathering courage for the day.
(I don’t even consider myself a LOTR fan but now I’m wondering if I could become one!)
Oh, Christine! What a lovely thing to say! Thank you.
Whoooo.. this was ... intense. But thank you. I’m gonna carry this with me as it summarizes my own struggle with the movies vs book (for the record, I much prefer the books, for a lot of reasons mostly having to do with an endless expansion instead of being bound by film length and butt fortitude ;) )
This;
“Jackson wants to get the viewer on and into the adventure. Tolkien wants the reader to remember that this journey started at home.”
When I was at the newspaper, the kindest, smartest most gentle and patient man I’ve yet known in my life became a dear friend. He was a LOTR fan and his wife was the director at the local planetarium. For his birthday 2004, she invited all his dear friends to view each film over the course of three weekends. It was supposed to be an annual thing, but he ended up dying of a heart attack up in a press scaffold covering John Kerry on Labor Day weekend 2004.
The second showing of the LOTR turned into a memorial service for those of us closest to him. Anyway, I have not watched the films since. Maybe I will one last time. Maybe.
Gerard, what a truly tender story. It brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing it here.
And yes, the ENDLESS EXPANSION inherent in the the books versus the binding movies is a huge for me too.