This is exciting to say the least. The movies provided much visual representations to the books. As a movie adaptation, even with an extra part to fill in as many blanks as possible, things will need to be edited to some extent in order for it to work as a cinematic experience. What went in the book might not work with a movie.
For example, I think they did a much better job at portraying Fangorn and the Ents in the Two Towers' film adaptation than the book, explaining alot more in just a few scenes what took the book over a chapter to get to! The scene where Treebeard witnesses what Saruman has really become is a humorous, yet very touching one. Adds alot more tension and reinforcement for the whole event compared to the book.
It wasn't until the third movie that I got a bit disappointed. Using the ghosts to clear more than just the fleet, and the very climax between Frodo, Sam and Smeagol being edited. I'm fine with everything else, but they could at least have gotten the very -key ending moment- true to the books!
I've heard alot of complaint about Sauron being over-the-top in the movies rather than being a schemer in the background. In the first movie they pulled this off perfectly if you ask me, for the most part you only heard hushed, terrified whispers of the Dark Lord. When a glimpse of him is spotted however, with Frodo going outside the physical realm, you surely get a sense of dread over what lies over the horizon. In The Two Towers there's nothing to comment, as the focus was on Saruman. In the third movie however they did shopw a bit too much perhaps.
The prolouge is critizised aswell for "degrading" Sauron to a "Rawr! Smash!" kind of villain instead of a more cunning sort. I would agree on that he shouldn't have any need to use that club, really. I mean... he has -the One Ring-, show us what it's capable of! He could probably incinerate a fourth of that army within a split-second, or something. For his appearnace in that scene however, it goes well with the books from what I can tell. As by that point Sauron's original physical form had been destroyed with the fall of Numénor, forcing him to take on a more decreipt, sinister one.
Anyway, back on topic! I'm glad Christopher was able to be cast as Saruman in the trilogy, not only does he fit the role but he's also a Lord of the Rings fan. Quite a reward to do an ending note of one's career with your favourite story. A shame they didn't plan the Hobbit a bit earlier, as now it is unlikely of him to be able to do any more acting.
For example, I think they did a much better job at portraying Fangorn and the Ents in the Two Towers' film adaptation than the book, explaining alot more in just a few scenes what took the book over a chapter to get to! The scene where Treebeard witnesses what Saruman has really become is a humorous, yet very touching one. Adds alot more tension and reinforcement for the whole event compared to the book.
It wasn't until the third movie that I got a bit disappointed. Using the ghosts to clear more than just the fleet, and the very climax between Frodo, Sam and Smeagol being edited. I'm fine with everything else, but they could at least have gotten the very -key ending moment- true to the books!
I've heard alot of complaint about Sauron being over-the-top in the movies rather than being a schemer in the background. In the first movie they pulled this off perfectly if you ask me, for the most part you only heard hushed, terrified whispers of the Dark Lord. When a glimpse of him is spotted however, with Frodo going outside the physical realm, you surely get a sense of dread over what lies over the horizon. In The Two Towers there's nothing to comment, as the focus was on Saruman. In the third movie however they did shopw a bit too much perhaps.
The prolouge is critizised aswell for "degrading" Sauron to a "Rawr! Smash!" kind of villain instead of a more cunning sort. I would agree on that he shouldn't have any need to use that club, really. I mean... he has -the One Ring-, show us what it's capable of! He could probably incinerate a fourth of that army within a split-second, or something. For his appearnace in that scene however, it goes well with the books from what I can tell. As by that point Sauron's original physical form had been destroyed with the fall of Numénor, forcing him to take on a more decreipt, sinister one.
Anyway, back on topic! I'm glad Christopher was able to be cast as Saruman in the trilogy, not only does he fit the role but he's also a Lord of the Rings fan. Quite a reward to do an ending note of one's career with your favourite story. A shame they didn't plan the Hobbit a bit earlier, as now it is unlikely of him to be able to do any more acting.
