You raise some interesting points, but many of them (the designing of the “creatures” and the costumes, the music of the trilogy, the software used in the battle scenes, and creation of the sets) are not relevant to the assigned topic of your paper.
Please read the general comments about the rough drafts that I posted on the “(Almost) Daily Bulletin from the Professor” page yesterday. Lydia Fish September 23, 2008, at 09:51 AM
If you have time, you should check out the commentary on the DVD. It’s full of things that can fortify your paper. I’m also of the opinion that music isn’t that relevant, considering its an aspect of the trilogy as a whole. Brian Nacov September 18, 2008, at 05:00 PM
I like the ideas that you bring up, but I don’t know if it is appropriate or not to dicsuss music in this paper. Sarah Chudyk?
You have some good ideas, just make sure you develop them a little more for you final paper. I am glad to see that you have included the problems encountered by Jackson that Shippy predicted. Good job. Steven Wilser? September 17, 2008, at 09:36 PM
You mention the vivid detail brought on by Tolkien, though it might be interesting to address the areas that Jackson had to deal with that weren’t outlines for him in the text, like character descriptions. My only other suggestion is to make sure your focus stays on ROTK, and not the trilogy as a whole. Devon Cozad? September 17, 2008, at 12:25 PM
Great job staying tied in with the Shippey article! Your perspective on the difference between LOTR and other epic movies, in Hollywood like it, is very unique. Looks like you off to a great start. Sarah McNutt? September 17, 2008, at 12:42 PM
I think the battle scenes are very important as well. You could maybe mention why Jackson needed to have such large battle scenes. In one of the extras he mentions the need for a big climax, especially since the members of the fellowship don’t die. Good ideas! Annika Lauglin? September 16, 2008, at 09:49 PM
Focusing on the end of the film is a good topic for your paper. You’ve made some really stong points just make sure you are focusing more on the Return of the King than the trilogy. I look forward to reading your perspective on the music and how you develop this part of your paper. Carly Lopez?
What you have so far is a good start. While there are multiple endings, do you think that the Arwen/Aragorn marriage scene is the biggest climax of the endings? Or do you think that one of the other endings should have been emphasized more? Since you mentioned your love for costumes and designers, what difficulties arose while writing the script? Jackson wanted to have battles and similar scenes stand out from one another. What particular designs and directing occurred to shake things up a bit? Lauren Brych? September 16, 2008, at 12:50 PM
Still in the editing stages, as well as more details being developed. More about the music will arrive once I have more time to watch the bonus features all on the music. If anyone has some good links to the music of the Lord of the Rings, that would be wonderful!!
The ending to any story is important, particularly for a trilogy of such awesome proportion as the Lord of the Rings. I will focus on what the two endings leave the viewer and reader feeling. There is a slight sadness invokes with the movies ending more so than the books. Shippey predicted that Peter Jackson Will Take the Route of George Lucas and end the film at the Fields of Cormallen. This would be an appropriate place to do so, however, Jackson wanted to stay as true to Tolkien’s masterpieces as possible.
One slight change that will Shippey predicted would continue into the third film, is the role of Arwen. Shippey thought, perhaps the romance between her and Aragorn would be used for a possible ending. In the film, the reuniting of the two lovers certainly felt like an ending. For there are many spots in the last part of the movie which can easily be called the movies end. This is very similar to the novel, Tolkien had many an opportunity to end the last of the trilogy, however, he kept going on. It ended in a simple, understated lines of Sam, “Well I’m back.”
Jackson ends the third film similar to Tolkien. It was a huge risk, for Hollywood is full of large, dramatic endings. Such a subdued ending for a epic, action filled trilogy may have been disappointing to many, however, Hollywood stereotype is disregarded and the integrity of the literature kept.
I also plan to include the infamous burning of the shire. This is one scene that many agree or disagree on. The brief hint at it in Lothlorian can easily be translated into a prediction of what WILL happen if the ring is not destroyed instead of what DID happen.
I will also focus on the challenges that Peter Jackson had trying to fit a 1000 page book into a movie viewers will be able and willing to watch. He had to be very selective with what scenes to include and what to leave out. There is also the challenge of formatting Tolkien’s writing style. In the book chapters constantly switch from one group of characters to another. This format is easier to follow in film form, however, the flow of the movie would be very rocky.
Still the complexity of the novel is challenging, not to mention the vivid detail provided by Tolkien. Jackson, being quite a fan, had the difficult task of creating these fantastical places that Tolkien dreamed up. He had to assemble a team who would be able to turn a precise detailed description into a plausible reality.
I would also like to include the challenge of the battle scenes. Tolkien describes thousands and thousands of orcs and men and various other beasts in such epic battle such at the one at Gondor. Many are essential to the story and the movie would not have been successful without them. Computer graphics and countless men, horses and costumes were needed and intensive planning a must. Also, size comparisons; man, orcs, trolls, hobbits, they are all different sizes and this was one of the difficult problems needing a solution.
The score is absolutely beautiful but challenging. It is amazing how is adds to the movie and how each place has its own distinct sound. In the books Tolkien includes many poems and songs, however, the melodies are not created though sometimes described. One challenge faced by Howard Shore was describing the atmosphere of so many different places and cultures. In the Return of the King, there are large battle scenes that do not necessarily need to be a particular genre. However, Howard Shore is able to great a theme for each race and species involved in a battle, such as the battle at Minus Tirith. There are multiple races involved in what is easily the biggest battle of the entire series.
I would like to discuss some of the main themes and explore how they music seems to reflect the place as described by Tolkien. I would also like to discuss the subject of costumes since it is a topic I have extreme interest and love for. The flowing clocks and the horribleness of the orcs was a huge challenge for costumers and concept artists. I would like to discuss the toughest challenges that they faced.
