Thursday, April 20, 2006
Another LOTR thing
OK, so it’s been quite a long time since the movies came out, and the craze obviously is not anymore there. And, I did write about the books and the movies already. But I think that there can’t be enough said about these books ever - I don't think I can ever be done talking about them. I don’t need to get into all the reasons why JRR Tolkein is a genius, and why LOTR is by far the best work of fantasy ever written. There are those who believe that Harry Potter is up there at the top of the fantasy pile, but believe me, HP comes nowhere even close to the amazing series that is LOTR. But let me get to the point of this post.
I was watching the LOTR movies on cable last weekend – hence the post. There are undoubtedly many fabulous characters in the series, and it would just be impossible for anyone who read the series to pick out just one whom they liked the most. Does one pick the King, Aragorn? The powerful and wise wizard, Gandalf? The fleet-footed, keen-eyed Legolas? The serious, stocky Gimli? The Elder Elf, Elrond? The Dark Lord himself, Sauron? The fair, intelligent Faramir? Frodo, who proved stronger than anyone expected him to be? Galadriel, the fairest of them all? How can one choose? And yet, in most lists that people (atleast those I know) seldom seem to mention Samwise Gamgee! And that, to me, is simply sad.
How could such a beautifully crafted character simply fall out of people’s attention? Of course, he was always second fiddle to Frodo, in a way. But, as Frodo himself says, “’Tell me about Master Samwise Gamgee’, and people would say, ‘Yes, Samwise Gamgee – Frodo couldn’t have gone as far as he did without Samwise, the brave’” or something quite close to that. Here is a hobbit who is true to himself and to his friends. One who goes willingly into peril for his master, his friend. One who provides Frodo the strength to go ahead with his rather burdensome task. One who retains his wonder at everything the world has to offer, inspite of all he has seen. A hobbit full of wisdom and commonsense, a true friend! And the list goes on… but what more does one need to say?
I admit that I can’t choose one character as my favorite among the many great ones in the series, and then not change my mind immediately. But I am sure that Samwise Gamgee is there right on top along with all the others I like, maybe more than most of the others.
Comments:
krithiga, long time... and i shud hv expected the comment as well... anyway, my reply would take up a whole new post, and i think i will put it up here in some time. but i do agree with u that it is not possible, and probably not fair to compare the two. and if i were being objective, i wudnt hv done it either. but i feel that appreciation of a book or series is very subjective, and this is my view of it... as i said, more will come later. :)
hmmm.. i have tried making friends to read LOTR.. but ppl have been fazed by the size of the books... so i know what k means!!!
but HP has plots flicked shamelessly from LOTR.. and thats what irks me most!!
objective...subjective.. being someone who has read both and seen both movie versions..LOTR rocks..by a long long long way :)
anurag, "plots flicked shamelessly"... not really flicked... i'll get to that in my next post.
That post reminds me,
'There is still some good(blog) left in this world which is worth fighting(blog-hopping) for'.And thats my fav one from Samwise, who ofcourse is a very likeable character.Apparently he is only one of my fav.
LOTR or HP - I will reserve my comments for your next blog :-).
hi srivat, thanks for dropping by. the next post is due soon, pretty soon. and as for LOTR or HP, not wanting to rake up the issue here in this post once again, i will still say that for me, it's LOTR anytime....
what do u mean not really flicked u dopehead!!!! characters are shamelessy copied... so are plots and subplots... anytime u want to discuss this feel free to call me and i shall give u gyaan.!!!
Anurag
dats alright krithiga. about the characters being copied, plots and subplots as well... well, take voldemort, for example. the Dark Lord. being destroyed at the beginning of the tale to but an image of his former self - waiting, rejuvenating and returning to the malice of his old days. him being not completely destroyed till his horcruxes are! that is the most obvious.
dumbledore - powerful beyond any there is, though one who wouldnt use his power "directly" against the dark lord. his being of the opinion that even those who turned really over to the dark side need be shown pity, for who knows what part they may yet play? belief in the redemption of men and more. do i read the grey pilgrim in there?
HP hiself - thrown into a situation far more than his strength can handle really. pitted against a foe too great for him to handle, and yet finding the heart and surprisingly the strength to go on. doubt at all times as to his own quest, and yet finally the wisdom to see that it was ordained so, for good or for bad. frodo, anyone? voldemort "marking" harry, just like the ring comes to frodo of its own. there's too much similarities there. and of course, so can it be said of many of the plots and subplots are pretty similar.
and yet, i wouldn't say "flicked" or "copied"... and the explanation, is coming up shortly, tonight infact.
and anurag, i am sure the day hasnt come when u wud need to gimme gyaan abt books.
yes krithiga, they r different stories. and anurag will again say "no they're shamelessly flicked". lets stop here on this
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At April 21, 2006 4:13 am, 
Sai K thought
Sai K thoughtkrithiga, long time... and i shud hv expected the comment as well... anyway, my reply would take up a whole new post, and i think i will put it up here in some time. but i do agree with u that it is not possible, and probably not fair to compare the two. and if i were being objective, i wudnt hv done it either. but i feel that appreciation of a book or series is very subjective, and this is my view of it... as i said, more will come later. :)
At April 22, 2006 6:17 pm, Hitchcock thought
Hitchcock thoughthmmm.. i have tried making friends to read LOTR.. but ppl have been fazed by the size of the books... so i know what k means!!!
but HP has plots flicked shamelessly from LOTR.. and thats what irks me most!!
objective...subjective.. being someone who has read both and seen both movie versions..LOTR rocks..by a long long long way :)
At April 22, 2006 8:33 pm, Sai K thought
Sai K thoughtanurag, "plots flicked shamelessly"... not really flicked... i'll get to that in my next post.
At April 25, 2006 1:30 pm, srivat thought
srivat thoughtThat post reminds me,
'There is still some good(blog) left in this world which is worth fighting(blog-hopping) for'.And thats my fav one from Samwise, who ofcourse is a very likeable character.Apparently he is only one of my fav.
LOTR or HP - I will reserve my comments for your next blog :-).
At April 25, 2006 6:59 pm, 
thought
thoughthi srivat, thanks for dropping by. the next post is due soon, pretty soon. and as for LOTR or HP, not wanting to rake up the issue here in this post once again, i will still say that for me, it's LOTR anytime....
At April 26, 2006 10:41 pm, thought
thoughtwhat do u mean not really flicked u dopehead!!!! characters are shamelessy copied... so are plots and subplots... anytime u want to discuss this feel free to call me and i shall give u gyaan.!!!
Anurag
At April 27, 2006 6:36 am, Sai K thought
Sai K thoughtdats alright krithiga. about the characters being copied, plots and subplots as well... well, take voldemort, for example. the Dark Lord. being destroyed at the beginning of the tale to but an image of his former self - waiting, rejuvenating and returning to the malice of his old days. him being not completely destroyed till his horcruxes are! that is the most obvious.
dumbledore - powerful beyond any there is, though one who wouldnt use his power "directly" against the dark lord. his being of the opinion that even those who turned really over to the dark side need be shown pity, for who knows what part they may yet play? belief in the redemption of men and more. do i read the grey pilgrim in there?
HP hiself - thrown into a situation far more than his strength can handle really. pitted against a foe too great for him to handle, and yet finding the heart and surprisingly the strength to go on. doubt at all times as to his own quest, and yet finally the wisdom to see that it was ordained so, for good or for bad. frodo, anyone? voldemort "marking" harry, just like the ring comes to frodo of its own. there's too much similarities there. and of course, so can it be said of many of the plots and subplots are pretty similar.
and yet, i wouldn't say "flicked" or "copied"... and the explanation, is coming up shortly, tonight infact.
At April 27, 2006 6:38 am, Sai K thought
Sai K thoughtand anurag, i am sure the day hasnt come when u wud need to gimme gyaan abt books.
At April 28, 2006 2:54 am, Sai K thought
Sai K thoughtyes krithiga, they r different stories. and anurag will again say "no they're shamelessly flicked". lets stop here on this
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