Carrying Frodo on Your Back... and The Incomprehension of Fantasy Filmmaking

[norilana]

In the Name of the King is on TV right now... a C-grade faux historical "fantasy" war-action flick that aims for the look and feel of Tolkien's LOTR, what with dark lord and orc-like invading army and brave band of warriors, etc....

Yet another abysmal failure in the real story department.

And yet, why is it so difficult to understand? What is it that makes a story that burrows into the hearts of generations?

Why-oh-why can't these movie-makers realize that what made LOTR a huge generational classic was not all the so-called magical SFX stuff, or the outer vestments of the fantastic, and the kick-ass orc gore and invading army multitudes, but the quiet character moments -- the intensity of human honor and the utmost struggle, the uplifting of hope in the deepest darkness, the fulfillment of duty?

• It's Sam carrying Frodo on his back up the last steps of Mount Doom.
  
  
• It's the Beacons lit across the mountain ranges and Gondor answering.
  
  
• It's the silhouette of Aragorn and Arwen as they stand in beauty facing each other in Rivendell.
  
  
• It's the purity of the single elven-clear voice raised in song as the eagles come in the end among the apocalyptic lava flow.
  
  
• It's Frodo's bright and last heartrending smile with which he gifts the friends he leaves behind as he steps aboard the last ship.
  
  
• It's the impossible glorious golden white sunset into which the elven ship sails....
  
  
• It's the look in the eyes of the four hobbits as they share the silence with each other in wordless camaraderie back in the Shire, after their quest is done.
  

Those are the things that we remember, always, things that will live with us, deep and primeval and soul-wrenching.

WHY CAN'T THE FILMMAKERS GET IT?