# 15th anniversary of Peter Jackson LOTR Fellowship of the Ring **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 14, 2016, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15th-anniversary-of-peter-jackson-lotr-fellowship-of-the-ring/774686 "2016-12-14T15:53:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15th-anniversary-of-peter-jackson-lotr-fellowship-of-the-ring/774686/21 "2016-12-15T01:31:26Z")
[They have.](https://tolkieneditor.wordpress.com/) ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15th-anniversary-of-peter-jackson-lotr-fellowship-of-the-ring/774686/22 "2016-12-15T01:35:08Z")
I utterly abhor the look of The Hobbit-the subtle organic look of the LOTR films is almost completely absent. PJ decided to go with mostly CGI settings-and it shows, badly. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15th-anniversary-of-peter-jackson-lotr-fellowship-of-the-ring/774686/23 "2016-12-15T01:40:57Z")
They hold up well. And they are just as I remember: _Fellowship_ is a good, solid movie with little deviation from the book of any important note (no one expected Jackson to keep Bombadil in). _Two Towers_ is probably a good movie, but for me it’s complete blasphemy for reasons I have previously (back then) elucidated and will not repeat, and _Return_ is a very good movie to watch, with some of the most spectacular battle scenes ever, and the deviations are mild enough I didn’t get all upset and storm out of the movie (as I felt like doing with TT). And no, it can’t have been 15 years ago. Just cannot have been. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15th-anniversary-of-peter-jackson-lotr-fellowship-of-the-ring/774686/24 "2016-12-15T01:48:04Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > And no, it can’t have been 15 years ago. Just cannot have been. [Thanks](http://xkcd.com/1624/), [timeghost](http://xkcd.com/1393/). ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15th-anniversary-of-peter-jackson-lotr-fellowship-of-the-ring/774686/25 "2016-12-15T18:16:59Z")
I’ve read the books countless times. Literally. I saw all the movies in the theater and when I saw all three, I said with perfect seriousness, ‘I do believe that now I can die happy.’ I love to do stuff around the house when these are shown on weekends on cable tv, I can put them on for background noise and always stop and look at my favorite parts. Really, my life has been all the better for having such a passion, for the books and the movies. (I saw the Hobbit movie and was horrified, though Martin Freeman playing Frodo did a wonderful job.) ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15th-anniversary-of-peter-jackson-lotr-fellowship-of-the-ring/774686/26 "2016-12-15T18:27:01Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I’ve read the books countless times. Literally. I saw all the movies in the theater and when I saw all three, I said with perfect seriousness, ‘I do believe that now I can die happy.’ I love to do stuff around the house when these are shown on weekends on cable tv, I can put them on for background noise and always stop and look at my favorite parts. > > Really, my life has been all the better for having such a passion, for the books and the movies. (I saw the Hobbit movie and was horrified, though Martin Freeman playing Frodo did a wonderful job.) Freeman played Bilbo. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15th-anniversary-of-peter-jackson-lotr-fellowship-of-the-ring/774686/27 "2016-12-15T18:59:42Z")
I still think Liv Tyler “owned” the Arwen role. 15 years be damned, I’d still take her to lunch… even if it was at “Hotdog Johnnies” in NJ. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15th-anniversary-of-peter-jackson-lotr-fellowship-of-the-ring/774686/28 "2016-12-15T19:03:12Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > though Martin Freeman playing Frodo did a wonderful job.) Elijah Wood played Frodo. He’s currently in Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, which is quite good. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15th-anniversary-of-peter-jackson-lotr-fellowship-of-the-ring/774686/29 "2016-12-15T19:21:30Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Looking back, how do you think the trilogy holds up? Has your opinion changed since you first saw the movies? The Full Directors cut is possible the greatest long film of all time. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15th-anniversary-of-peter-jackson-lotr-fellowship-of-the-ring/774686/30 "2016-12-15T19:27:37Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > [They have.](https://tolkieneditor.wordpress.com/) “The investigation of Dol Guldor has been completely excised,”, which means they went at it completely wrong. Dol Guldur is _why_ the Hobbit happened. The guys here know so little about the Hobbit or the history of Middle Earth they didnt even spell Dol Guldur right. This is actually the best part. Finally showing the Wizards, etc of Middle Earth using blatant and powerful magic, which was rare. " Tauriel-Legolas-Kili love triangle has also been removed. "= Sure, but it was harmless. But what needed to be done is cut back the crazy battle scenes, with warboars and trolls and worms and all that stuff. Get ride of the barrel ride battle too. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15th-anniversary-of-peter-jackson-lotr-fellowship-of-the-ring/774686/31 "2016-12-15T20:44:28Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > The Full Directors cut is possible the greatest long film of all time. It’s an extended cut, as Jackson considers the theatrical cuts his Director’s Cut. I’m being nit-picky, though. And I agree. The Lord of the Rings extended cut is probably my pick for the greatest movie of all time. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15th-anniversary-of-peter-jackson-lotr-fellowship-of-the-ring/774686/32 "2016-12-15T21:37:56Z")
Yeah, Freeman did a good job in the Hobbit movies, but it wasn’t enough. The first one didn’t live up to expectations, but it at least seemed like it might have promise. The second one just stank, though, and like many others, I never even bothered seeing the third. Still doesn’t change that the LotR movies were great, especially _Fellowship_ and _Return_. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15th-anniversary-of-peter-jackson-lotr-fellowship-of-the-ring/774686/33 "2016-12-15T22:21:57Z")
I’ve never watched the Extended Editions. I’m waiting for my kids to be old enough to watch them all with me. I’m amazed the Tolkien edit of The Hobbit hasn’t been shut down by the studio lawyers. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15th-anniversary-of-peter-jackson-lotr-fellowship-of-the-ring/774686/34 "2016-12-16T00:38:54Z")
> [@lisiate](#): > > I’m amazed the Tolkien edit of The Hobbit hasn’t been shut down by the studio lawyers. ‘Tolkien edit’? Do tell. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15th-anniversary-of-peter-jackson-lotr-fellowship-of-the-ring/774686/35 "2016-12-16T01:07:48Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > ‘Tolkien edit’? Do tell. See post #21. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15th-anniversary-of-peter-jackson-lotr-fellowship-of-the-ring/774686/36 "2016-12-16T01:32:56Z")
> [@lisiate](#): > > I’m amazed the Tolkien edit of The Hobbit hasn’t been shut down by the studio lawyers. It’s just amateur editing, isn’t it? I mean, they haven’t released the movie or charged for it, have they? It’s like the Despecialized Star Wars movies. They restored them in Blu-ray quality to the theatrical versions, including color-tinting, effects, sound, etc. Bootleg only, though. No legal way to obtain them. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15th-anniversary-of-peter-jackson-lotr-fellowship-of-the-ring/774686/37 "2016-12-16T04:39:27Z")
I thought “The Fellowship of the Ring” a vastly better movie than its sequels. “The Return of the King” is arguably the worst movie to ever win a lot of Oscars. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15th-anniversary-of-peter-jackson-lotr-fellowship-of-the-ring/774686/38 "2016-12-16T04:55:27Z")
I hated the trilogy. I’ve read the books numerous times since I was about 10 years old. Was always fearful the movie wouldn’t do justice to the books. I put off watching the movies until I flew to China and watched all three movies in one sitting. Gawd, it was tough to sit through. All the exaggerations like the Oliphants, or the Urak-hai, Minas Tirth. Peter Jackson spoke at a Microsoft corporate event I attended in Melbourne. I liked the concept, liked him, liked how they filmed all three movies, etc etc. The trilogy was shit. The only redeeming thing is that I didn’t waste a day of my life watching it because I was on a plane the whole time. ---
**Author:** ![Mavic\_Chen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mavic\_Chen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mavic_Chen)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15th-anniversary-of-peter-jackson-lotr-fellowship-of-the-ring/774686/39 "2016-12-16T15:03:30Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I thought “The Fellowship of the Ring” a vastly better movie than its sequels. > > “The Return of the King” is arguably the worst movie to ever win a lot of Oscars. Yeah, I feel like that about them too. I also found the Two Towers relentlessly talky. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15th-anniversary-of-peter-jackson-lotr-fellowship-of-the-ring/774686/40 "2016-12-16T15:12:39Z")
Well, _The Return of the King_ is undoubtedly the worst film to have ever won _that many_ Oscars. It’s also the best film to have done so, the average film to have done so, and the median film to have done so. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15th-anniversary-of-peter-jackson-lotr-fellowship-of-the-ring/774686.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15th-anniversary-of-peter-jackson-lotr-fellowship-of-the-ring/774686.md?page=3)