Ralph Bakshi versus Peter Jackson movies
Thanks to speedyhobbit for linking this in her journal first! These videos made my day! :D
Bakshi versus Peter Jackson's movies =)
Part I
Biggest points in my humble opinion ( Read more... )
Bakshi versus Peter Jackson's movies =)
Part I
Biggest points in my humble opinion ( Read more... )
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I, too, really liked the fact that in Bakshi Frodo actually had guts... but I still don't see why making Frodo an "utter beauty" is necessarily a positive aspect to the Jackson films, especially since they tied the "beauty" thing to the "weak" thing. But I've been on that high horse many a time, so no need to respond to it.
I do have to take you up on the "weakening Aragorn" defense, though. It seems like a good idea in theory, but:
1). He's 80 at this point. If you have a character who was running around for 60 years who still hasn't come to terms with his destiny, that doesn't speak well for his ability to eventually be a King of Kingliness. In fact I think that PJ et al. ended up realizing the full problems of this approach when they ditched the "sprequel" idea--the film that would have covered the 60-odd years in between TH and LotR. Aragorn was about the only character who would have worked well during this ( ... )
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I, too, really liked the fact that in Bakshi Frodo actually had guts... but I still don't see why making Frodo an "utter beauty" is necessarily a positive aspect to the Jackson films, especially since they tied the "beauty" thing to the "weak" thing.
I know...i wish PJ would make Frodo stronger and worth the whole "hero" image. He really made Frodo somewhat reliant on the fangirls' image of him and banking on that to make him a attractive Frodo rather on the inherent qualities that Tolkien's Frodo had that makes him such a well respected character.
BooK! Frodo was stronger, more resilient, more loyal, had better lines, wiser, and just made a lot more sense.
That's why, if PJ et al. had decided to portray Aragorn as he was in the books, they would have been able to do a good Aragorn-biopic sprequel.Isn't that what the Hobbit Prequel is for? :P ( ... )
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"Somewhat reliant" doesn't even begin to cover it. Replace Elijah Wood with a plain-looking actor, but keep the characterization of the films, and who wouldn't want to punch that character in the face?
Sometime I'm going to have to do an analysis of the physical appearance of Frolijah and compare it to Victorian-era sentimentalism--specifically, how weak vs. strong characters (especially female ones, since Frolijah really does look like a girl) are made to appear. I know there are a lot of tropes out there but I'm not sure how he fits in. I know everyone but me is able to do this, but I honestly cannot separate that look from that characterization, which is why I'm so deeply disturbed whenever otherwise excellent fan fiction feels the need to tell me that Frodo, in this fic, looks exactly like a damsel in distress! Never mind that he doesn't act like Frolijah... as soon as the picture is in there the associations are made and I can't get it out of my head. *sigh* I'd be more okay with it if 1). only ( ... )
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In fanfiction, i don't agree that he could be portrayed as "damsel in distress" so therefore i tend to read more of the stronger portrayals of him. I didn't think Frolijah looked "girly" but i guess that is your point of view.
The problem with this line of defense is that it can be used to justify almost every change made in the films--f.ex. throwing away The Choices of Master Samwise for a cheap bit of suspense (see? It's more ( ... )
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And yes, I do realize that saying Frolijah looks like a ( ... )
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I do love the BBC radio adaptation! The music alone is marvelous-- Bilbo's Last Song? Oh my!
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At the same time, Jackson was smart enough 1). to get enough money to make all three films at the start, and 2). to film all three at the same time, thus reducing the chances of having to change actors halfway through. So much of the crack that exists in Bakshi can be blamed on running out of budget... though in that case I think it would have been much better if they had never released the darn thing.
I guess it all depends on if you'd rather blame the bad stuff on deliberate "I think this change is better than the original"ness or pure and utter sloppiness (and a tendency to milk giant cows). I mean... Pippin's hair changes color for one scene!! *mind boggles*
What's really interesting is when PJ steals screenshots from Bakshi. That whole "let's hang out under the tree roots" shot was never in the books (Frodo lies down flat in a ditch by himself).
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Of course, part of it was budget; Bakshi had a running feud with the company that bankrolled it, and was disgusted with it by the end. But both he and the company knew before the film's release they would not be carrying on, but decided to keep mum about it... (that's the story as I've learned it second hand in later years). All I know is that I came out of the theater feeling royally ripped-off and ready to spit nails!
PJ *was* smart enough to get funding and the green light for the whole story! Which is what I mean by "follow through". He had no intentions of just making part of it if he couldn't make the whole!
I know that shot is not book-verse, but I do like it a lot, the four of them cowering together like that! I can't verify it, but I've heard both of them "borrowed" it from one of the Tolkien artists. I suppose if it was Lee or Howe, I'd remember for sure...Bros. Hildebrandt maybe? But not in the calendars-- I had all the Hildebrandt calendars...
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That sounds incredibly likely (indeed, the only reasonable explanation I can think of). So does your reaction! Thank God that now we have the internet to let audiences know, immediately, whenever someone tries to pull a fast one like that!
I heard that the shot went Bakshi --> Naismith --> Jackson. I did see a website about it but I honestly don't remember it. There's some other really interesting documentation of screenshots borrowed from Naismith; I'll have to see if I can find it.
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I kinda like them cowering too...shows them that they're in this together. :)
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