Don't hate me! :p

[Noobie2k7]

I actually enjoyed every part of the Lord of the rings books, including the scouring of the shire. I was annoyed with most of what was cut out and even more annoyed about what Jackson added in. Things like Elves at helms deep, removal of the grey company and elronds sons, no Dol Amroth knights, especially seeing as Prince Imrahil was really one of the main characters in return of the king.

The fact Jackson showed more of the pellenor fields battle than was needed, seeing as Tolkien really payed not as much attention to these battles only telling what needed to be told.

Prime example of that and something that really irked me was the army of the dead. Why Jackson felt the need to include them in the battle of pellenor fields is any ones guess. It was a terrible idea and just portrayed that pretty much anything anyone else was doing at that battle was pointless.

But yes, films bad, books good. Should have made 6 films instead of 3 and had 1 film to each book and actually told the story that was written and not just changed it as he saw fit. Little changes are fine but not to the sort of scale Jackson did.

[ForgottenLore]

Prime example of that and something that really irked me was the army of the dead. Why Jackson felt the need to include them in the battle of pellenor fields is any ones guess.

Because there was no way to explain the battle of the Pelargir to an audience, it would have been too confusing trying to explain yet another location and why it was important. They had to add scenes explaining the differences and relative locations of Isengard and Mordor to Rohan and Gondor because test audiences were getting too confused. Trying to add yet another battle, and explain why it was important and where it was happening was simply not possible.

[GodlessM]

But yes, films bad, books good. Should have made 6 films instead of 3 and had 1 film to each book and actually told the story that was written and not just changed it as he saw fit. Little changes are fine but not to the sort of scale Jackson did.

Shows how much you know about film making (which is perfectly fine), but don't judge what you don't understand.

[Noobie2k7]

Shows how much you know about film making (which is perfectly fine), but don't judge what you don't understand.

I know a bit about film making. But was i was trying to say was it didn't seem like Jackson was making films based on the books. But both were enjoyable and can see why, just didn't really like it.

But maybe i did get a bit carried away with my rant XD

But sort of on topic. Congrats on picking up the books so cheap i've had my copies of the trilogy, the hobbit and silmarillion since i was little. my Lotr trilogy is the 1976-78 editions and my Hobbit is the 1966 3rd edition XD So i'm pretty lucky to have older copies of the books i suppose.

[Peregrin]

I basically agree with N2K7, though I don't think I'd have wanted 6 movies. Tom and the scouring being dropped makes some sense, but adding in extra stuff that changes the story or characters irritated me as well.

Regarding the army of the dead, Jackson probably liked them because he has a history of making horror movies. He didn't previously introduce an army of Rangers to accompanie Aragorn, and having Aragorn jump off the ships with just Gimli and Legolas wouldn't have turned the battle, so they had to use what they already had.

I would have prefered that they introduce Elrond's sons in Rivendell, even if only in passing. I personally feel like they could have been a lot more compelling to an audience than Haldir was. If they felt they needed more soldiers at Helm's Deep they could have had the twins lead in a group of Rangers. I'm sure it wouldn't have cost any more to design than the new elf armour. Then you'd have the twins and Rangers pouring out of the ships and actually being part of the battle, rather than the dead deus ex machina that we got.

I did enjoy the movies, but there were irritants like this as well.

[Getifa Ubazza]

I just finished The Hobbit and loved it even more than LotR. Maybe that says something about my maturity level, But I don't care.

One thing that was worrying me was all the talk of talking animals and that no one understood how Peter Jackson would mature it up, But I honestly didn't think it was very childish. Not in the way Narnia was. It seemed that only certain people could understand the animals, so wasn't such a big thing for me.

The only exception maybe being the raven that could actually talk and be understood by everyone, But even that was seen as unusual. In the real world though, some birds can mimic human speech, so perhaps even that is not that big a stretch.

The only issue I have with The Hobbit is that I don't see how the story is going to stretch over 2 films. I just didn't think the book was that long. I assume the stuff about the Necromancer and what have you, that was only hinted at in the book will fill out quite abit of the films.

I can't wait to see Beorn. Both the man and the bear. Especially the bear at the Battle of Five Armies. Oh! And GW's model of him. I want that model so badly.

[Greendragon]

Yeah the researchers have trolled through the apendixes at the back of the third book (in my version anyway) and pulled out the detailed account of exactly what Gandalf was up to during the Hobbit, so we have a complete story. What interests me is Legolas and Gimli's part in the second film, a cameo of some sort?

[ForgottenLore]

What interests me is Legolas and Gimli's part in the second film, a cameo of some sort?

????

Gimli's not going to be in it, is he? First I've heard of that and he isn't listed in the credits on IMDB.

[Peregrin]

He could make an appearance as Gloin's son, but it's much harder to crowbar him in than Legolas.

[Greendragon]

I believe my information may be out-dated from a very old empire article I read, possibly when they decided to have the second film as the bridge film. On further investigation, Legolas is casted and I've no doubt he'll appear alongside the Greenwood Elves in the second film (or first depending on where the cut off is but I would think that the spiders would be about it). Can't wait to see the bear-man ... oh and Smaug! =D

[Noobie2k7]

I think Smaug is going to be awesome. I'm mainly looking forward to the Dul Guldor bits in the films as that's always interested me and i cannot wait to see it all played out

Hopefully Peter Jackson will want to do more films and move onto the Fall of Arnor next XD Love to see The battles between Arnor and Angmar in a film.