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June 09, 2004
Highlights & Lowlifes
The Return of the King Bottom line: Cut about an hour out of it and it'd be a pretty good movie. Waaay too much mushy stuff. There's no kissing and mooning about in Tolkeinland. Sheesh. Fighting 'n killing, defeating evil: that's what it's all about, innit?
And what's with the hobbits not fighting? What are they, French? Sure, they're always running about, getting into scrapes but they always depend on someone else to get them out. And when one of them finally gets the nerve to get into the battle and kill a bad guy, what does he do? Promptly drops his sword and runs away. Thanks for all your help, twerp. It's just a battle for the existence of civilization as you know it. Hope you didn't strain yourself.
Then there's the endless climatic drop-the-ring-into-the-fire scene. Enough with the tormented angst already. Before this scene was half finished, we were cheering for Sam to push them both in.
Finally there's the interminable final long goodbye, replete with countless longing looks between Frodo and Sam. You know, you could get the same message across in a short 3 minute act:
Frodo slaps Sam on the back and cautions: "Remember Sam. What happened in Mordor stays in Mordor."
"Right you are, Mr. Frodo!" winks Sam.
[Frodo turns and gingerly walks with a slight bowlegged gait towards the fairy ship. Fade to black]
Posted by Rita at June 9, 2004 09:16 AM
Comments
"There's no kissing and mooning about in Tolkeinland."
Yes there is. Faramir and Eowyn spend what seems like twenty chapters making goo-goo eyes at each other in the Houses of Healing. Not to mention Sam and the flirtatious Rosie Cotton. Or Aragorn getting all dreamy-looking while holding some Elanor blossoms in Lorien, pining for his half-elven squeeze.
As for the Frodo/Sam unrequited love thing, that's pretty faithful to the book. Today's culture imbues it with homosexual overtones, but that doesn't seem to be the intent of kindly old Professor Tolkien's writing. He wrote it as Love, not LUUUUVE.
Personally, I'm looking forward to the extended version come November.
Posted by: Keith at June 9, 2004 12:52 PM
Their relationship in the book was that of a master/devoted servant....the faithfulness of Sam. The movie turned it into something completely different.
The movies are entertaining to a point, but the books are much better. As usual.
Posted by: rita at June 9, 2004 01:32 PM