I got some of those chocolates, too. I've found it takes a bit of practice to eat them non-messily.
There was so much I had forgotten, and much else that had grown dim and faded.
Though I've read the book several times in the past, I've had that experience with it too. You mention Tolkein's writing style, further down, and I think that a lot of us spend so much time criticising the bad aspects that we forget to give credit for the really good bits. I've seen a few paragraphs quoted on LJ lately, and they stun me all over again.
It was an incredibly rewarding experience.
It's so interesting to see many people saying the same thing. I myself have been keeping well away from the books before seeing the corresponding film, since I discovered that rereading lessened my enjoyment of the *book*, as I was busy stressing over what would be included and how things would be done, *and* of the film, as I was too familiar with a lot of details that were changed. I'm not averse to *now* going back and minutely comparing the books to the films, but the first time I saw each film I strongly wanted to have the general gist in mind, and not all the details. That may well just be me being unusual, though, since as I said I've seen many comments from people who enjoyed reading just before viewing.
even that great spur of stone - it's just, wow.
Absolutely. I had no doubt it would be *right*, after the accuracy of the landscape in the previous films. But seeing the road piercing the spur on each successive level... I was impressed.
Faramir and Denethor's last exchange.
There were tears in *my* eyes.
Yeah, Pippin sees the Eye. Does the palantir have to explode into flame as well?
I remember thinking at the time that it was overdramatic but that I didn't really *mind*. Thinking more about it later, I find like it less. There's just a few too many moments like that during the films. They clearly *do* know that implications can be more dramatic than visual effects - they did it with Faramir's men being killed off-camera. I'd prefer a bit more of that sort of thing. At least they didn't show Sauron actually interrogating Pippin.
It's like Bilbo's face changing or Galadriel's sudden transformation.
I was very unhappy with Bilbo's face at first, though I've grown somewhat accustomed to it (and it doesn't look quite as extreme to me now as it did on first viewing). Less *would* have been better. I dislike the Galadriel effects *so* much that I hadn't even thought about the overly-dramatic aspect. I agree there too, but I mostly just think the effects look dreadful and in five years everyone will realise that. I think that's the only part of the films I think that about.
The portrayal of Denethor. He's supposed to be in full possession of his wits and cunning at the start
My first thought was that he was way too similar to Theoden. He's fallen into despair because his son's dead. Yeah, we've seen that before. I don't mind changes that improve things, but this didn't really seem improved.
Aragorn and Arwen's long, public smooch.
Good Lord yes. I mean, no. Couldn't they have cut to their wedding if they really needed to show kissing (as I'm sure they did)?
RotK Part 1
There was so much I had forgotten, and much else that had grown dim and faded.
Though I've read the book several times in the past, I've had that experience with it too. You mention Tolkein's writing style, further down, and I think that a lot of us spend so much time criticising the bad aspects that we forget to give credit for the really good bits. I've seen a few paragraphs quoted on LJ lately, and they stun me all over again.
It was an incredibly rewarding experience.
It's so interesting to see many people saying the same thing. I myself have been keeping well away from the books before seeing the corresponding film, since I discovered that rereading lessened my enjoyment of the *book*, as I was busy stressing over what would be included and how things would be done, *and* of the film, as I was too familiar with a lot of details that were changed. I'm not averse to *now* going back and minutely comparing the books to the films, but the first time I saw each film I strongly wanted to have the general gist in mind, and not all the details. That may well just be me being unusual, though, since as I said I've seen many comments from people who enjoyed reading just before viewing.
even that great spur of stone - it's just, wow.
Absolutely. I had no doubt it would be *right*, after the accuracy of the landscape in the previous films. But seeing the road piercing the spur on each successive level... I was impressed.
Faramir and Denethor's last exchange.
There were tears in *my* eyes.
Yeah, Pippin sees the Eye. Does the palantir have to explode into flame as well?
I remember thinking at the time that it was overdramatic but that I didn't really *mind*. Thinking more about it later, I find like it less. There's just a few too many moments like that during the films. They clearly *do* know that implications can be more dramatic than visual effects - they did it with Faramir's men being killed off-camera. I'd prefer a bit more of that sort of thing. At least they didn't show Sauron actually interrogating Pippin.
It's like Bilbo's face changing or Galadriel's sudden transformation.
I was very unhappy with Bilbo's face at first, though I've grown somewhat accustomed to it (and it doesn't look quite as extreme to me now as it did on first viewing). Less *would* have been better. I dislike the Galadriel effects *so* much that I hadn't even thought about the overly-dramatic aspect. I agree there too, but I mostly just think the effects look dreadful and in five years everyone will realise that. I think that's the only part of the films I think that about.
The portrayal of Denethor. He's supposed to be in full possession of his wits and cunning at the start
My first thought was that he was way too similar to Theoden. He's fallen into despair because his son's dead. Yeah, we've seen that before. I don't mind changes that improve things, but this didn't really seem improved.
Aragorn and Arwen's long, public smooch.
Good Lord yes. I mean, no. Couldn't they have cut to their wedding if they really needed to show kissing (as I'm sure they did)?