by
Aratlithiel
So, every time I express my opinion on the films in a public forum (which I don’t visit anymore, but I do have an lj), at least one person takes note and decides I need to be argued with. I made a post on my lj directly after viewing the EE of TTT and someone I never even heard of before started sending ‘let’s discuss’ emails. (OK, she only sent two and at least had the decency to email privately and not call me an idiot book-snob on my own lj, but I was kinda ticked that she didn't take 'no' for an answer.) I’m usually pretty open to discussion, but I’ve had this argument at least several dozen times and honestly have no interest in debating it further. In other words, I donwanna. This is my opinion – can you just let me have it?
Now, bear in mind that I have never, ever said that I’m right and anyone who disagrees with me is wrong. All I have ever done is express an opinion, back it up with whatever facts I could lay hands on, explain the evolution of that opinion, respectfully acknowledge the opposing view and move on. This is what I think, this is how I feel – don’t email me and try to explain to me why I’m wrong because I’m not interested. If I’m wrong then I am happy to be so. Let it go already.
And why is it that any time I express my opinion, I am accused of whining? I have never accused anyone who likes the films of being blasphemers or any other such nonsense. I have never implied that I'm somehow more of a Tolkien fan than anyone else. I have never done anything but listen to and respect the opinions of others; conceding points where they are deserved and arguing points where they are not. I have opposing opinions right here on the Essays page of my site, ferchrisake! If I was that narrow-minded, I wouldn't have gone to the bother. I've never attempted to get anyone to convert to my way of thinking and I've never said that my way of thinking is the correct or only way - only that it's mine. So, why is it that my opinion is a whine and those who approve of the movies and all they encompass are somehow more entitled to their opinion than I am? If you would like to see this as a whine, have at it. After all, that is your opinion and I, at least, can respect it.
All of that being said, I have decided to express my opinion in essay form once and for all so that the next time someone waves the ‘let’s have a healthy discussion in which I will prove that I am right and you are wrong’ banner, I can just send them a link to this page and have done. Don’t pretend that I’m insulting you personally simply because my opinion does not match yours. If you end up getting angry while reading this essay, it’s probably because I have forced you to concede at least one or two points. That’s not such a terrible thing. Chill. I’m not trying to convince you – I’m only trying to tell anyone who’s interested why I feel the way I feel.
*Pause for those of you who feel the need to hit your back button*
OK. Ready?
I am horribly disappointed in the movies and have a sinking feeling that RotK will only make matters worse.
There. I’ve said it. And I've said it loud. I’ll wait for the grumbling to subside.
OK? Done? Good.
Now, make no mistake – I will watch these movies, I will squee over certain parts of them and there is even one part in FotR that I thought better than in the book. I’ve got tickets to Trilogy Tuesday and I can’t wait to use them. I have a friend who is going to a sneak-peek on 12/04 and I have made her promise to call me right after with spoilers. Hypocritical? Probably. Definitely contradictory. But you know what? Too damn bad.
I am so very tired of Sam coming off looking smarter and stronger than Frodo. I am so very tired of waiting for Frodo’s character to be treated with the respect it deserves. I’m upset with Peter Jackson for pretending these movies are what Tolkien intended, I’m upset with Elijah Wood for not reading the book and I’m upset with Sean Astin for perpetuating the fantasy that Sam is the real hero of LotR and for making me resent Sam in the bargain. I have absolutely no confidence that RotK will prove any better for Frodo, character-wise and several reasons to fear that it will be worse…
Sam is the one who says they need to keep fighting? Sam says there’s no point in worrying about food because they’re not going to make it back anyway? Sam is the voice of wisdom and reason? Please.
Now, Sam is a noble character, no question about that. He loves his master, helps him every way he can and protects him with his own life. No one could ask for a better friend. He carries Frodo up a mountain because he loves his master and his master says this must be done. He needs no other reason. He’s pretty sure it’s going to be the end of them both, but Frodo says it must be so, so Sam sees to it. Yet, although it was Sam’s back and Sam’s legs that got them up the mountain in the final sprint, it was Frodo’s determination, Frodo’s will that drove them. Peter Jackson’s Frodo has no will – all he has is a belief in someone else’s wisdom and even that isn’t demonstrated very well.
Think about this honestly and try to be objective: why is Movie Frodo schlepping to Mordor? And I don’t mean, ‘Well, I’ve read the book and so…’ No. Based on what the movie has told you, why is Frodo taking the Ring to Mordor? Because the Council degenerated into bickering? Because Gandalf said he should? Because he got stabbed by a Ringwraith and wants revenge? OK, I’m being facetious, but seriously – Book Frodo hears the tale of the Ring, acknowledges Its evil and the danger he poses to his home while he holds It, decides to leave (and is not pushed out the door by Gandalf) then takes on the Quest with full knowledge of what it means and how it is likely to end up for him. Book Frodo knows and accepts his likely fate while Movie Frodo is simply swept up in the tide and carried along, all the while with that pained look on his face. OK, it’s cute and all, but can I maybe get a growl at someone other than Sam once in a while?
And speaking of Sam, since when did he get so intelligent? I’m not talking about the simple wisdom that Tolkien endows him with, I’m talking about these insights and analyses he’s able to come up with in the heat of an argument and doesn’t anyone besides me think that’s a little odd? So Sam can see that Frodo’s getting a little too much like Gollum for comfort, but, ‘I have to believe he can come back,’ doesn’t tell him that Frodo realizes this and is asking for help? Either Sam is intelligent or he’s not – pick one and stick with it. Don’t make him both in the space of two sentences.
*Another back button pause - continue at your own risk*
And what ever gave anyone the idea that Sam has more wisdom or intelligence than Frodo in the first place? If he was meant to be the smart one of the pair, he would have been given the more intelligent things to say and wouldn’t have needed Peter Jackson to steal all of Frodo’s lines and stuff them into Sam’s mouth. And if Sam was so damn smart in the first place, what in the hell do we even need Frodo for? There are paragraphs upon paragraphs of Tolkien’s own writings – both canon and peripheral materials - that clearly illustrate that Sam was not a worthy Ring-bearer, that he did not have the wisdom, intellect or purity of spirit that allowed Frodo to carry It for so long without corruption. (Folks, we’re talking about a fellow who, when the master that he loves is attacked by a giant octopus-type thing and he has to decide whether to help his master or run after his pony, has to stop and think it over!) Why would anyone who claims to love the source material have the arrogance to think they know better than the creator and why would anyone who claims to be a Tolkien fan cheer them on? For that matter, why would anyone who loves the source material want to change it so drastically in the first place?
OK, maybe you liked the book but thought some parts could have been done better. Arrogant again, but OK, we all do that now and again. Maybe some parts didn’t ring true and you wished they could have been fleshed out or done more believably. Maybe you even felt that you, yourself could have done better. Well, guess what? That’s a pretty fair definition of a fanfic author. But the moment you start thinking that your personal vision is the one that matters, that your opinion is more valuable than Tolkien’s, that you’re doing a much better job with his world than he ever did, that’s when you cross the line. That’s when claims of respect turn into transparent arrogance and disdain. Peter Jackson is no different from any fanfic author you find on even the cheesiest of websites except that he got someone to front $350 million to get his fanfic produced. And guess what? Like it or not, it’s a Sam-coulda-dunnit fanfic.
Now, I don’t claim to be above the ‘this is my interpretation and I think I’m right’ type of thinking. I’m also not above thinking that Tolkien misunderstood some of the characters he created. But I do not profess that the things I write reflect Tolkien’s intent. And I did not promise millions of book fans that I was going to be true to canon and then romp off in directions that have nothing whatsoever to do with Tolkien and everything to do with Peter Jackson. I know that what I write is not Tolkien and I’m honest about it.
OK, so there are money constraints, time constraints, reasons why certain scenes that work in the book would not work on film. But I have not seen one single diversion from canon that made more sense than the original material. And most of it seems pointless and frivolous to me. Why is Eowyn being a bad cook a more important scene than the Frodo and Faramir debate? Why is Theodred’s funeral more important than…well, any of the Frodo scenes left out? Didn’t PJ tell us that this story is about Frodo? So why are all of the scenes involving Frodo dominated by Sam? Why are these movies elevating Sam to hero status and dragging Frodo down to Victim?
In the more concise and intelligent defenses of the films, one of the more common complaints about canon is that it’s unrealistic. Frodo couldn’t have stood up to the Ringwraiths at the Ford with that Morgul shard stuck in his shoulder; he couldn’t possibly run with the orcs after his ordeal in the Tower and besides the orcs would spot him anyway; wanting to fork over the Ring to Aragorn and then a Nazgul is human and demonstrates his pain so well.
OK. Those are certainly valid opinions and anyone who shares them is entitled to them. I get no happiness out of seeing those changes, but would certainly not begrudge anyone theirs. But, you see, I wasn’t looking for reality. This is a fantasy novel we’re talking about and I had no interest whatsoever in seeing it made more realistic. If I want realistic, I watch the news. I don’t want my hobbits humanized; I want them to be hobbits. Yes, Frodo could have stood up to the Ringwraiths, because Frodo did. Frodo could have drawn his sword and taken a swing at the Witch King because he did. He also survived longer with the shard in his shoulder than any living being before him, nearly got impaled in Moria and survived, stood up to and even challenged Galadriel, outwitted and outmaneuvered the heir to the Stewardship of Gondor, debated a Captain of Gondor and won, tamed a creature who had been filled with hate and spite for 500 years and put him on the road to redemption only to have his work and kindnesses undone by Sam, carried the Ring at Its height of power without succumbing to it until he stood at Its center of power, survived a sting by Shelob, captivity by orcs, thirst, starvation and the slow, steady erosion of his mind, body and spirit.
And what’s Peter Jackson’s interpretation of this character? “I can’t do this, Sam”…?!
W… T... F…? Are you seriously trying to tell me that that’s Frodo? That may well be Peter Jackson’s Frodo, but it certainly isn’t Tolkien’s. And I’m sorry, but Tolkien’s is the one I’ve admired, Tolkien’s is the one I wanted to see come to life, Tolkien’s is the one who could have made it to Mordor. Wait, I take that back - I'm not sorry. Jackson’s Frodo – although Sam will, indeed drag him to Mordor – is not emotionally, spiritually or intellectually equipped to do so and the fact that he will go to Mordor and (from the spoiler pics we’ve seen) will crawl up Mt. Doom…that, my friends, in terms of this movie and its characterization of Frodo, is unrealistic. Now, if Sam is behind him the whole way, saying, ‘You can do it Mr. Frodo! You have to go on!’ then I suppose I can see the determined climb in the context of this movie. And that just makes me sad.
Not realistic. Bah.
Sam running ahead of Frodo at the ferry and leaving him behind is not realistic. The Witch King having Frodo and the Ring splayed out and helpless at his feet and only stabbing him in the shoulder instead of the heart is not realistic. Two hobbits becoming a boulder not two feet away from an enemy that’s looking right at them is not realistic. (I mean, come on – you know that was stupid.) A Steward’s son watching a hobbit offer up the greatest weapon on the face of Middle earth to a Nazgul then saying, ‘Oh! I get it now! *smacks head* Well, by all means hike on into Mordor and if you can’t find a handy Nazgul to give that pesky Ring to, I’m sure the Dark Lord will take it off your hands for you. Have fun storming the castle!’ None of those things are realistic, but it seems that those who are willing to overlook and even defend these changes are also the champions of the ‘more realistic’ and thus less intelligent/strong/admirable Frodo.
‘Frodo shouldn’t be as wise as he is in canon. He should be more naïve, more representative of the Shire, more symbolic in his innocence.’
Bah again. The Shire is not naïve, the Shire is not innocent. Bucolic?…yes. Beautiful?…pleasant?…peaceful?…yes. But the inhabitants knew very well what was going on outside their borders, they just chose to look away. They heard what Frodo went through and chose not to believe it, choosing instead to whisper behind his back and regard their heroic son with disdain. And there is the difference - that’s why Frodo and Frodo alone was suited to the task of carrying the Ring – he refused to look away and chose to believe. Tolkien’s Frodo is intelligent, wise, knowledgeable about the world and its inhabitants, unbiased and pure of heart and spirit. He recognizes the ignorance of the hobbits, sees their flaws, knows that some of their attitudes are prejudiced and just plain wrong and is often annoyed by them – he sees them for exactly what they are and loves them anyway. He understands the danger inherent to the Quest, knows he will probably die in its undertaking and he goes anyway and guess what? He goes for all those hobbits who have been sneering at him and gossiping about him and his beloved Bilbo for years.
Frodo of the films has none of this insight. Gandalf shoves him out the door in the middle of the night, he is forced to trust Strider (no need to debate with and prove his worth to Movie Frodo… Movie Aragorn just needs to knock him around for a bit and it’s a done deal), left spineless and helpless on Weathertop then schlepped to Rivendell where he sits in on a council in which he seems to be the only one not affected by the whispers of the Ring. Frodo makes none of these decisions – all of them are thrust upon him. In fact, there are so few elements of Book Frodo in Movie Frodo that I’m sometimes tempted to say that the only thing they share is a name.
Movie Frodo has been stripped bare of his ‘Frodo-ness.’ He hasn’t been allowed to keep his wisdom, his courage, his wit or humor - hell, he hasn’t even been allowed to keep his own dialogue. Gandalf and Sam say more of Frodo’s lines than Frodo does. Even Gollum gets some of Frodo’s lines! I mean, come on! That’s just wrong and I defy anyone to tell me different.
*Last chance for that back button*
And let me ask you to be honest with yourself once more: would you be so forgiving of this characterization of Frodo if he were played by someone else? Say, Steve Buscemi or even Brad Dourif? Picture that for a moment and then try to answer honestly. Isn't the pretty face and big, blue eyes at least a little bit of the reason why staunch Frodo fans are not screaming for PJ's head? Maybe that's part of my problem. I've not been enamored with Elijah Wood as many are. There are many people for whom his look is exactly what they had pictured for Frodo when they read the book and were thrilled beyond measure when he was chosen for the role. My first impression upon seeing him in the role was, 'Hobbits don't have blue eyes and he doesn't look anywhere near 33.' Yeah, I'm just a little over the top and freely admit it.
So, do I think that those who like all of the changes and have no complaints about the movies are lesser Tolkien lovers that I am? No. Do I think they’re maybe missing the point? No. They’re missing my point, but I’m not the goddess of all things Tolkien so why should that matter? Am I upset with them for enjoying these films as they were meant to be enjoyed? Of course not. But I will admit to being jealous that they are getting everything out of these films that they’d hoped for and I’m just not. I wish I could put aside my biases and just immerse myself in Peter Jackson’s Middle earth. But I’m too stuck in Tolkien’s so most of what others are getting out of the movies is passing me by.
So, I will continue to watch my ext. DVD’s and gripe. I will go to Trilogy Tuesday all aflutter and most likely gripe some more to my carmate on the way home. I will beg my husband to download RotK as soon as it shows up on a newsgroup somewhere, watch it repeatedly and continue my griping. In short, I am pathetic. I acknowledge that I am pathetic. What’s more, I am enjoying being pathetic. I love these movies despite myself and even though they aggravate the crap out of me. I can’t help myself!
So don’t write me and tell me how wrong I am. Don’t send me nasty-grams thinking you’re going to change my mind. Better people than you have tried. Don't try to placate me with, 'It's just a movie and you always have your book.' Bah, one more time. Why do I deserve to see what I wanted to see any less than someone else? And why am I less deserving of an opinion when I don't get what I want? Doesn't having been a Tolkien fan for...OK, not going to tell you how long - doesn't that entitle me to want to see what I want to see? I could argue that it entitles me to more than those who sing PJ's praises, but I don't. Instead, I express my opinion and, more often than not, get hammered for it. But if you try to hammer me on this, I will ignore you. No, I will gleefully ignore you. I’m not interested in changing my opinion and I will resent you if you try. If you don’t like what I’ve said, you should have hit your back button a long time ago - I gave you plenty of chances. Besides, no one says you have to agree.
~*~
*A/N - I posted this on November 24th. Today is November 28th and I have just been given this link (WARNING: Massive RotK spoilers). Read at your own risk. I don't know if these can be trusted. They were posted in The White Council on TORc by someone named Marty and are unverified. I hope at least a few of you will join me in practicing the Jedi Mind-Trick and willing them to be a hoax.
*Another A/N - It is now December 23rd. I have seen RotK and, unfortunately, feel the very same way - if not even more disappointed. I have a list of grievances that I choose not to share but am sincerely pleased that so many of you receive so much joy from these movies. I'm going to go read my book now.