The Two Towers (was Re: argh...so SICK of it.....)

[Scott <insanus_scottus@yahoo.co.uk>]

--I saw TTT last night and absolutely loved it. (Helm's deep is 
simply amazing...and as "nail-bitingly" exciting as the book) Then 
again, I'm merely a fan of LoTR and not a fanatic. If I was I the 
Arwen bits might've bothered me more (as it stands I thought they 
worked well even if it did seem a bit "desperate for romantic sub-
plot"). However...

Rachel: 
"I'm surrounded by Lord of the Ring fanatics.  Which is fine 
because I'm a huge fan myself.  BUT...I'm getting SO SICK 
of them coming up and telling me how much BETTER the movies 
are to Harry!!!  I DON'T CARE!"

--Cinematically, I think, it *is* a better movie. (hmm...don't send 
a howler yet!) The special effects are better in TTT (and FoTR) than 
in HP, but this has a lot to do with the stories themselves. A 
complete fantastical world is a bit different than a Scottish 
boarding school (albeit a special one). I guess it doesn't help that 
some side by side comparisions are enevitable...(ie. Dobby/Gollum). 
But you really can't find two characters more unlike each other. 
(well in *character*, obviously they are both CGI). Buth then if 
someone can only look at these movies in *that* light...I think 
they've missed the point.

It's kind of like "Gone with the Wind" and "The Wizard of Oz". they 
are both incredibly amazing movies for the year in which they were 
produced, but they are 100% different, and have permeated our 
culture in accordingly different ways (don't you think?). They 
really can't be compared any more than HP and LoTR. Comparing either 
movie to the other only does a disservice to both. 

Does that analogy make any sense?
 
Rachel wrote:
 "Lord of the Rings owns my imagination.  Harry owns my heart.  GO 
AWAY."

--Yes, yes, yes! As much as I am fascinated by Middle Earth I don't 
want to go there. I don't find myself dreaming about it (well I have 
had nightmares involving the Nazgul, possibly the scariest things in 
literature, but I digress). When I'm in public I don't think..."ooh, 
that person looks like Frodo!" but I (often) say "oh my god there 
goes a Weasley!" Middle Earth is a great place to visit, but I 
wouldn't want to live there. It is as fantastical as fantasy can 
be...but Harry potter? For all I know I may've passed the leaky 
cauldron whilst walking down Charing Cross road. Harry Potter stirs 
that bit of me that still *really* believes in magic.

I...well you get the point (I think), although I'm afraid this post 
is a bit of a muddle.


Hmmm
Scott