Tolkien in General

Merry · Post by **Merry** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 1:57 am

This kind of looks interesting:

http://www.thehuntforgollum.com

I know we're all loyal for Viggo and all, but this Aragorn is nothing to sneeze at!

librislove · Post by **librislove** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 6:02 am

He has obviously watched Viggo very closely--imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I am interested in the concept and it seems that the filmaker is serious and reverent. But--I am incapable of seeing anyone as Aragorn but Viggo--my bad, and my pleasure. I see the scenes in my mind, but not the actor--I see Viggo.....

Iolanthe · Post by **Iolanthe** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 5:20 pm

That's such a rip-off of PJ's films - the font used for the text, the scenery, the music, Araogrn's look...

But if all Aragorn's going to do it walk around a lot and stare into the camera I'm going to wait for Del Toro's

.

librislove · Post by **librislove** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 6:47 pm

Yes, Iolanthe--when we can see the REAL Aragorn ! Seriously, I think the filmaker is trying for an homage to PJ and Viggo--but....just but....

Philipa · Post by **Philipa** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 11:43 pm

Quite ambitious for a non-profit production. Actually, I don't care who plays Aragorn...if the movie is good what the hell...I'd see it once on DVD. Thanks for the link Merry, I'll keep my eye on it.

Merry · Post by **Merry** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 12:34 am

Yes, I agree. I wonder how much something like this costs. I'm still using dial-up at my apartment, so I couldn't watch the trailer. Interesting that it is derivative. I think we've talked before here about the dangers of that for other art.

I know this is heresy for some of you, but for me, Viggo didn't quite carry book Aragorn.

I know that this was his and PJ's choice and interpretation, and not that I didn't enjoy it, but some of the more heroic aspects of Aragorn's character weren't there for me, at least. So I'm sort of interested in other portrayals.

(How's that for a hornet's nest!

I know that we decided not to discuss the movies here, so we can let it drop if everybody wants to!)

Iolanthe · Post by **Iolanthe** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 4:44 pm

You do have a point - the film interpretation is very different and I don't see Viggo when I read the book. I see my old Aragorn that's been in my head since the 1970's. But when I watch the film, Viggo is totally 100% Aragorn to me. How wierd is that!!! But you're right, it's a hornet's nest

.

I think making an independent budget film is admirable but to me it didn't seem very original - as you said, librislove, it's more of a homage - plus nothing happens in the trailer. He walks a bit here, he walks a bit there....

Merry · Post by **Merry** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 10:14 pm

I was able to watch the trailer today and, of course, you're all right. Why would they do that? Even the typefont is the same. Still, it's a new story for film, so it might be interesting.

Viggo is believable as a warrior, I think. I think he chose not to be a hero, or at least a comfortable hero, as book Aragorn is, for the most part. I would like to have seen him attempt that more. I would like to have seen the Aragorn who made the stirring speech at the Black Gate be the same Aragorn who looked into the palantir and the same King Elessar at the coronation. I wanted Sam and Frodo to have looked at Aragorn as they flowed by the Argonath and to have seen the transformation.

Philipa · Post by **Philipa** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 11:51 pm

I guess I have more hope that the trailer is nothing more than a tease and the movie will have more meat to it. After all, there are images of orcs.

Also, on the appearance of Aragorn. I'd say it is easy to copy PJ if indeed you are copying Tolkien. PJ did a nice job of taking the text and making the clothing, scenery and props look like Tolkien's vision. So why say those involved with this project are copying PJ, when we truly love the world Tolkien shared and that PJ has 'copied' him himself.

Think about it.

Merry · Post by **Merry** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 2:48 am

I wish I could go to this:

http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2008/09 ... more-29755

I've sometimes thought that saying that Tolkien is an environmentalist is kind of an anachronism, but I don't think I could argue that very well. 'Practical agrarianism' sounds interesting.

Kirill Leonov · Post by **Kirill Leonov** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 2:27 pm

Merry wrote: I know this is heresy for some of you, but for me, Viggo didn't quite carry book Aragorn.

Always glad to meet someone else who thinks that way. Viggo isn't the real Aragorn and never will be.

Really sounds interesting.

Iolanthe · Post by **Iolanthe** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 4:14 pm

Is there a real Aragorn?

marbretherese · Post by **marbretherese** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 12:12 pm

Iolanthe wrote:Is there a real Aragorn?

That's a good point, Iolanthe. Because Aragorn is such an archetypal character, I think we all carry our own versions of him in our heads. Which means of course that the portrayal by any actor asked to play him is only going to "fit" with the version of a certain amount of the audience!

Iolanthe · Post by **Iolanthe** » Sat Sep 20, 2008 7:34 pm

Yup! I guess the 'real' Aragorn is something embedded deep in the psyche of fans (if you follow Jung). While he exisits there I'm still happy to look at his Lord High Substitute as long as Peter Jackson wants me too

.

Kirill Leonov · Post by **Kirill Leonov** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 10:40 am

The real Aragorn, to me, is the one described in the book, the way Tolkien saw and created him.

Now, if someone writes fanfiction about him, for example, he is bound to add a bit of his own interpretation. That fanfic Aragorn can come across as believable and "in character" even if there is quite a bit added (like some backstory, personal tastes, little habits etc), but still is a mirror of the real one and not the real one himself. Everybody forms his own interpretation, and it may be more or less close to the book, but what is real is the book alone.

Yes, on the danger of sounding like a prudish book purist

, but people who claim Viggo Mortensen is "the real one" because he "brought Aragorn to life" just annoy me, despite liking both Viggo Mortensen as an actor and the mvie adaption in general. But Viggo's Aragorn is just an interpretation based on the real one, who was brought to life by Tolkien and does not need any more bringing to life to "exist".