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Huge Tolkien fan here. This looks like it could be really good...I hope!
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Huge Tolkien fan here. This looks like it could be really good...I hope!
Superbowl 50 MVP Von Miller on February 7th, 2016 -
I'm cautiously optimistic. Really interested to see what storylines show up, obviously it looks like the Corruption of Numenor will be central but there are many stories from the First Age that I hope get a bit of coverage. The Fall of Gondolin and the Battle of Unnumbered Tears would be epic to see. But it seems like the 2nd Age is going to be the focus.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy are still some of my favorite all time movies, but I was disappointed in the Hobbit for it's heavy reliance on CGI. Sometimes it's necessary and even preferable to use CGI effects. It'll be interesting to see if this series can strike a good balance.
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Stylistically, this new series is coherent with Jackson's trilogies and he had offered a few flashbacks to prior events like the Last Alliance, Battle of Nanduhirion, etc. so I think we'll see some flashbacks to relevant events of the First Age, like to Valinor and the Trees of Light —Galadriel remembers that (and it's in one of the trailers). And I agree, Gondolin would be awesome! Since Sauron is the main enemy again, there will have to be some accounting of his prior role as Morgoth's lieutenant, the "Lord of Werewolves" based at the first Minas Tirith on Tol Sirion, and how he escaped justice during or after the War of Wrath that overthrew Morgoth and ended the First Age.
I've been rewatching Jackson's movies in prep for this new series and they all make heavy use of CGI crafted by Weta Workshop based in NZ. On a huge budget, it's done well, though some of it has become dated. The Hobbit had more because it is more heavily infested with various fantasy creatures from beginning to end, and they opted to do a few more characters entirely in CGI because the technology had become sufficiently advanced to do so —notably Azog, Bolg, and the Goblin King. In terms of cinematography, sets, costumes, fx, musical score, casting and acting of principal characters, I give the Hobbit films an A. In terms of script, a D with certain elements an F. Overall a C, from awful to awe-inspiring. They are watchable, and mostly enjoyable —bringing Middle Earth to life is worth a lot to me.Last edited by L.M.; 07-24-2022, 03:53 PM.
Superbowl 50 MVP Von Miller on February 7th, 2016Comment
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I'm a big lotr fan but I'm not very optimistic about this. mainly because of who's making it as well as the forced diversity in a story where it doesn't really make sense (looking at you elves minus the fair skin). really hope I'm wrong and the story is great, I will give it a try either way.Comment
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This article
10 Burning Questions About Amazon’s The Rings of Power
states that they do not have rights to The Silmarillion, but there will be First Age flashbacks from the tiny material included in The LotR Appendices, or from songs in the books.
They are also relying on CGI less.Last edited by L.M.; 07-24-2022, 03:36 PM.
Superbowl 50 MVP Von Miller on February 7th, 2016Comment
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How does one watch it?"Stultum est timere quod vitare non potes." ~ Publilius SyrusComment
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It was created by Amazon and can only be seen with a subscription to Amazon Prime. They offer a free 30-day trial right now:
You can stream that on a computer (and then connect that to a TV with a HDMI cable if you wish) or stream it through a firestick connected to your TV. A basic firestick costs about $25-30 and can also host subscriptions to other services like Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, etc. And you need a good, reliable broadband internet connection.
Superbowl 50 MVP Von Miller on February 7th, 2016Comment
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We have a firestick. Think it connects to the back of the TV set. Will work on that with my wife. Will try not to drop the TV.
It was created by Amazon and can only be seen with a subscription to Amazon Prime. They offer a free 30-day trial right now:
You can stream that on a computer (and then connect that to a TV with a HDMI cable if you wish) or stream it through a firestick connected to your TV. A basic firestick costs about $25-30 and can also host subscriptions to other services like Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, etc. And you need a good, reliable broadband internet connection.
"Stultum est timere quod vitare non potes." ~ Publilius SyrusComment
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I watched the first two episodes. The scenery is amazing.sigpicComment
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I watched the first two episodes back to back. Production value looks great, as would be expected.
One moment I thought was just odd: High Elves clapping when heroes are announced they received passage to the Undying lands. I feel like Elves are more the bowing type when showing appreciation.
But overall, the action was good, I found myself getting invested with the characters. I thought there was a solid balance of lighthearted moments with impending dread/danger. And I thought a decent balance of practical effects with CGI. I think really a big thing to get used to was the constant jumping around between characters in different settings. I think probably just a function of it being the first few episodes and really just painting with a broad brush of who the characters are that we're going to be following.
I'd be interested on the perspective of viewers who
A: Only familiar with the movies LOTR and Hobbit and know nothing of the first and second age.
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B: Haven't seen any Tolkien inspired works.
Really just an observation of the genius of Howard Shore but I honestly thought a huge difference was the lack of an identifiable theme. I know Shore composed the title music for this series but man you really get the sense of how much difference a genius composer can make to the feel of a movie. I sometimes wonder if I would love the LOTR movies as much if the score wasn't so brilliant. Again, not a complaint at all, not saying the score is bad on the show by any stretch, just an observation. There were definitely tense moments that got their due justice.
One thing I'm curious to follow is if Theo eventually becomes the Witch King of Angmar. Just something I thought of as I was watching the end of the 2nd episode.
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Just caught up with 4th episode.
Seems like the pacing is picking up, a little bit clearer on where and when the action is going to occur. I keep having to remind myself that this is a 50 episode marathon and the pacing of the storytelling is going to be inherently different from 3-3 hour movies where the conflict and action is all set up and beginning within 40 minutes.
Some things I specifically like. The tension/secrecy between the Elves and Dwarves alongside the friendship of Elrond and Durin is going to be very intriguing to watch unfold.
Pharazon's character seems to be getting fleshed out in a good way. The Numenorean timeline seems to be abbreviated for the purpose of the show's timeline. By the time of Miriel and Pharazon Numenor would have already had settlements in Middle Earth. Miriel heading to Middle Earth doesn't seem like the great fleet that responds to Sauron's open challenge, so maybe that is still yet to come and this is to take place of the settlements that should have already happened? The show version seems to suggest Numenor has completely isolated itself for it's whole history.
Adar seems like the most likely character to be Sauron so far but I really feel like the show would introduce him in his fair form first. So maybe he is some other servant of Sauron.
Didn't see the Harfoots or the Stranger in this episdoe. I've heard the Theory that the Stranger is Gandalf. I think there's a possibility, even if it doesn't quite matchup with the known history of the Istari,(Living with Harfoots for a thousand years wouldn't quite make it to be written in the histories of men.)
Overall I find myself enjoying the ride, I anticipate it getting better as well as the pacing continues to quicken.
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Most action packed episode so far. Some of the fight scenes were really well done and enjoyable. A few pretty brutal moments included which isn't what you'd expect from a LOTR show but none of it seemed too forced.
My big theory right now is Adar is Sauron, or at least the part of Sauron that isn't in his fair form of Annatar. While Adar is Elvish for father there was a line he spoke that reasonated when Galadriel was interrogating him, he mentioned he cut Sauron in half.
About half of Annatar would be Atar, very close to Adar.
So anyway, interesting to see if anything comes of that but clearly a big part of the building action of the show is going to be towards the reveal of Sauron.
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