# I must be the only one who never read or watched any of the Lord of the Rings saga **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 14, 2006, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-be-the-only-one-who-never-read-or-watched-any-of-the-lord-of-the-rings-saga/348294 "2006-03-14T09:43:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Coil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Coil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coil)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-be-the-only-one-who-never-read-or-watched-any-of-the-lord-of-the-rings-saga/348294/21 "2006-03-14T15:56:31Z")
I don’t think it is a matter of like or dislike of a particular book or film, nor is it about a gap in cultural schooling. It’s just kind of strange when you meet someone who has managed to avoid ever seeing even one movie of a bunch of the biggest movie series during the 80s and 90s (and the 00s for LOTR). I understand seeing and not liking it but to have avoided being exposed to them at all is quite a feat. The guy I mentioned is not some kind of religious weirdo or anything either. He can drop Seinfeld references with the best for example. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-be-the-only-one-who-never-read-or-watched-any-of-the-lord-of-the-rings-saga/348294/22 "2006-03-14T16:17:20Z")
> [@Eleusis](#): > > Starring Michael Flatley? Who is no doubt turning over in his grave. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-be-the-only-one-who-never-read-or-watched-any-of-the-lord-of-the-rings-saga/348294/23 "2006-03-14T16:54:11Z")
> [@fishbicycle](#): > > As for it being a “gap in my cultural schooling” - take a long walk off a short pier. This is inappropriate for Cafe Society, **fishbicycle**. The gap suggestion was not meant to be insulting, and shouldn’t be responded to as if it were. We can discuss these ideas in here without bringing in the long walk/short pier comments. Please don’t do this again. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-be-the-only-one-who-never-read-or-watched-any-of-the-lord-of-the-rings-saga/348294/24 "2006-03-14T17:09:21Z")
> [@kellner](#): > > For example, for me a good story is primarily about creating an imaginary world. The plot is mostly an excuse for giving us a sight-seeing tour of that world. For that reason LotR is a perfect story for _me_. Sure, there are whole chapters where the plot doesn’t advance that much, but we are given huge amounts of possibly unnecessary background information. I know that many people skip exactly those parts that interest me e.g. the songs and poems. Interesting that someone mentioned “The Picture of Dorian Gray” earlier, because as a kid I read it for the story, skipping the long sections of reflections on youth, beauty, intellect, etc., that were the point of the story. Now I have gone back and tried to work through those parts instead of just the action, to understand the philosophy instead. My formative years were spent reading a lot of 19th century fiction (my father was an English major and that’s what he had collections of), seeing independent and foreign films, and not watching TV. I have definitely dumbed down since then, watching a lot of TV, seeing more mainstream movies, and reading more “accessible” fiction. I have not read or seen the LOTR series, or the Matrix series. I have seen the original three Star Wars, and the hideous middle one of the recent three. I have seen all the Alien movies. I tend to want to watch drama and romance since as far-fetched as they often are, they feature human and their interactions. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-be-the-only-one-who-never-read-or-watched-any-of-the-lord-of-the-rings-saga/348294/25 "2006-03-14T17:09:56Z")
> [@Coil](#): > > It’s just kind of strange when you meet someone who has managed to avoid ever seeing even one movie of a bunch of the biggest movie series during the 80s and 90s (and the 00s for LOTR). > > I understand seeing and not liking it but to have avoided being exposed to them at all is quite a feat. Speaking only for myself, I can say that I’ve defintely been exposed to LOTR. I know what it is, I know vaguely what it’s about, I know who wrote it, I know how Tolkein invented a language, etc. I just haven’t seen the movies nor read the books. I have never seen Star Wars, The Matrix, Indiana Jones, The Simpsons, or South Park either, but I know what they are and can discuss them to a certain extent. In short, “have never seen” doesn’t mean “have never heard of or never been exposed to.” It just means I never paid the $10 to go watch them. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-be-the-only-one-who-never-read-or-watched-any-of-the-lord-of-the-rings-saga/348294/26 "2006-03-14T17:15:54Z")
When did Michael Flatley die? I can’t read the books. I think they are terribly written and the story is terribly told. The movies are all three in my top 20. If you hated the books, you might like the movies. ---
**Author:** ![seosamh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@seosamh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seosamh)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-be-the-only-one-who-never-read-or-watched-any-of-the-lord-of-the-rings-saga/348294/27 "2006-03-14T17:21:25Z")
I vowed never, ever to read anything by JRR Tolkein after there was a sudden inexplicable fad for him among my schoolmates in around 1974, when we were 15. That vow was amended (and the amendment duly notarised) a few years ago to include the films. I have never knowingly seen a Star Wars film all the way through, and certainly have never been to see one in the cinema. I have never watched more than about 30 seconds’ worth of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Similarly, if all the members of Coldplay were to walk into my local pub, I would probably say “Who’s that bunch of eejits?”. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-be-the-only-one-who-never-read-or-watched-any-of-the-lord-of-the-rings-saga/348294/28 "2006-03-14T21:20:47Z")
I haven’t seen any of the films. I did try to read the books but I never finished. I simply found them incredibly boring. I have however sung in the choral symphony based on the film scores. ---
**Author:** ![KSO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@KSO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KSO)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-be-the-only-one-who-never-read-or-watched-any-of-the-lord-of-the-rings-saga/348294/29 "2006-03-14T21:55:25Z")
I’ve not read the LOTR books nor have I seen the movies. I tried reading The Hobbit in the 6th grade or so and was bored to tears. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-be-the-only-one-who-never-read-or-watched-any-of-the-lord-of-the-rings-saga/348294/30 "2006-03-14T22:58:24Z")
> [@FilmGeek](#): > > When did Michael Flatley die? Sorry, that was suppoed to be a family guy joke. I was waiting for someone to pick up on it. ---
**Author:** ![DxZero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DxZero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DxZero)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-be-the-only-one-who-never-read-or-watched-any-of-the-lord-of-the-rings-saga/348294/31 "2006-03-15T01:46:58Z")
> [@HPL](#): > > Sorry, that was suppoed to be a family guy joke. I was waiting for someone to pick up on it. \*\*Stewie:\*\*_Michael Flatley must be rolling over in his grave. Wait. Michael Flatley isn’t dead… yet. (Takes out list) Micheal… Flatley._ Never saw any of the Lord of the Rings movies, nor read the books. Movies that seem to be based on nothing beyond good special effects don’t really do it for me. (Note, I’m sure LOTR has a good plot and all, with the last one winning the Best Picture Oscar, but I’ll just never get over the fact that all the accolades it recieved seemed to be based on its special effects and not for it’s acting or script) ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-be-the-only-one-who-never-read-or-watched-any-of-the-lord-of-the-rings-saga/348294/32 "2006-03-15T02:03:09Z")
> [@Eleusis](#): > > I guess none of it just really ever interested me. > > Hobbits and such? Is that like an elf or a goblin, or what? Nevermind, I don’t really care. > > Am I alone? 3 things… 1. First, _The Lord of the Rings_ is not a saga. It’s a book–a romance, to be specific–and a highly enjoyable one. Do yourself a favor and read it. 2. Long before this thread is through, someone will get slapped by a mod for name-calling. 3. I don’t know what you mean by “watched.” Oh, I know there was a rumor of that guy who directed _Heavenly Creatures_ attempting an adaptation of Tolkien’s masterwork, but nothing ever came of it. The books are clearly unfilmable and I think in the end New Line respected that. –Maxie, paddling down the Denial River ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-be-the-only-one-who-never-read-or-watched-any-of-the-lord-of-the-rings-saga/348294/33 "2006-03-15T02:06:18Z")
> [@JPen](#): > > \*\*Stewie:\*\*_Michael Flatley must be rolling over in his grave. > Wait. Michael Flatley isn’t dead… yet. > (Takes out list) > Micheal… Flatley._ > > Never saw any of the Lord of the Rings movies, nor read the books. Movies that seem to be based on nothing beyond good special effects don’t really do it for me. > > (Note, I’m sure LOTR has a good plot and all, with the last one winning the Best Picture Oscar, but I’ll just never get over the fact that all the accolades it recieved seemed to be based on its special effects and not for it’s acting or script) The acting was pretty good, especially compared to other blockbusters like let say War of the Worlds, The Matrix, Titanic or Spiderman. Not so good compare to the Godfather but well above average. The Story is a masterpiece but the Director chose to mess with it. A shame but still very good movies. The Special effects were amazing, the vision of the movie was excellent and the dedication to making it was a story in itself. The Grass roots method of promoting the movie was amazing. Peter Jackson took advantage of the heavy Web presence of Tolkien fans and fed the huge number of fan sites that popped up ahead of even the casting. The Rumors were flying for years before release and the buzz built up to a Lucas or Spielberg level on a much cheaper budget. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-be-the-only-one-who-never-read-or-watched-any-of-the-lord-of-the-rings-saga/348294/34 "2006-03-15T04:40:04Z")
No offense to those who think the Tolkien books are The Best Thing Ever, but here I am, 33 years old, liberal arts major, Ivy League graduate, Ph.D. candidate, and I’ve never read any of the books, nor seen the films. I think I’m pretty literate, and I don’t feel there is a gap in my cultural knowledge. I am aware of the books, and I know a little about Tolkien (maybe even read a chapter or something in the Norton Anthology in HS or college). It just doesn’t appeal to me. I was browbeaten by a friend who thought I purposely chose not to see the films to be “trendy.” Just not my thing, seriously. If you like Tolkien and the genre, by all means indulge. I’m pretty sure the book was on one of those “read this book for the six weeks” lists senior year. I read 1984 instead. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-be-the-only-one-who-never-read-or-watched-any-of-the-lord-of-the-rings-saga/348294/35 "2006-03-15T04:56:52Z")
What is it about LOTR that makes people that don’t like it/haven’t read it to announce those facts to the world as if they’re significant? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-be-the-only-one-who-never-read-or-watched-any-of-the-lord-of-the-rings-saga/348294/36 "2006-03-15T05:09:47Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > What is it about LOTR that makes people that don’t like it/haven’t read it to announce those facts to the world as if they’re significant? I think they do it because of people like me that will if you allow me, to go on and on about how great Tolkien is. How no other story has ever had a world put together in such detail from Creation myth, to languages and maps. How unique and realistic the different races were. You know people like me. Once we start we just keep going. How a small untrained Hobbit showed true courage by volunteering to go though he knew not the way. How the march of the Ents pounding in my ears as I was reading it totally enthralled. Yep, I think people proclaim they have never read it because of people like me. 😉 What is worse is that there is so many of us. 😃 Jim ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-be-the-only-one-who-never-read-or-watched-any-of-the-lord-of-the-rings-saga/348294/37 "2006-03-15T05:27:38Z")
Let me put it this way: If you didn’t see it because everyone else liked it in school and that turned you off, try it now, because IMVHO that is a bad reason for doing so and smacks of the opposite feeling of [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=362230). If you try it and don’t like it, that’s fine, no harm done. If you didn’t see/read it because it just doesn’t interest you, that’s fine. You’re an intelligent human being with tastes diffirent than other people, and that’s totally cool. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-be-the-only-one-who-never-read-or-watched-any-of-the-lord-of-the-rings-saga/348294/38 "2006-03-15T05:32:41Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > What is it about LOTR that makes people that don’t like it/haven’t read it to announce those facts to the world as if they’re significant? Well, in this instance, because that’s the question posed by the OP. In general I’d say it’s a reaction to the somewhat “holier than thou” attitude that Tolkein fans can sometimes adopt and that is parodied nicely by **What Exit?** ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-be-the-only-one-who-never-read-or-watched-any-of-the-lord-of-the-rings-saga/348294/39 "2006-03-15T05:39:11Z")
Ha! Yep, it’s probably because of people like **What Exit?** who seem to assume everyone shares their enthusiasm. Seriously, I just wondered how rare the phenomenon was. Thanks for all the replies. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-be-the-only-one-who-never-read-or-watched-any-of-the-lord-of-the-rings-saga/348294/40 "2006-03-15T05:39:16Z")
I’ve never read the books and I’ve never seen the movies. These are the Harry Potter books of yesteryear, oversold and overhyped. For that reason I refused for years to read the books, and I will not watch the movies before I read the books, so they’re out. I might one day get around to the books, but they have HUGE expectations on them now and I’m not sure they can live up to them, so I may never see the movies because I may never get through the books. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-be-the-only-one-who-never-read-or-watched-any-of-the-lord-of-the-rings-saga/348294.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-be-the-only-one-who-never-read-or-watched-any-of-the-lord-of-the-rings-saga/348294.md?page=3)