Book to Movie Monday (7)
For this weeks Book to Movie Monday I have decided to cover the movie Lord of The Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. I love this Book series and I equally love the Movie Series, but I have never really sat down and compared how the two matched up, this one should be a lot of fun.
First Let's Discuss The Book. Below Is The Cover:
Now for a little back story in case some of you aren't familiar with the Novel. The Fellowship of The Ring is written by the Author J.R.R. Tolkien and was released for publication July 24,1954. Tolkien began writing The Lord Of The Rings in 1937 after the success of The Hobbit but didn't fully finish writing and revising it until 1949 when it was submitted to the publisher. It then took almost another 5 years to be put into print. The Fellowship of The Ring has been reprinted numerous times and translated into at least 38 different languages,and has over 256 covers, becoming one of the most popular and beloved works in twentieth-century literature.
Let's look at some of the characters now shall we.
Main Protagonists
Frodo Baggins- Frodo is the adoptive heir of Bilbo Baggins. When Bilbo decides to leave the shire on his one hundred eleventh birthday, Frodo becomes the owner of Bag End and also owner of the ring Bilbo found in the Book the Hobbit. Gandalf who was an old friend of Bilbo's asks Frodo to keep the ring secret and safe while he tries to find information about it. Frodo kept the Ring hidden for 17 years, until Gandalf returned to tell him that it was in fact The One Ring of the Dark Lord Sauron, who desired to use it to conquer Middle-earth. Frodo realizing that keeping the ring in the shire wasn't safe, sets off to Rivendell where the elves live, hoping they can hide it or destroy it. Frodo escapes the shire, just in time and is accompanied by Samwise Gamgee his gardener and and his cousins Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took.
Gandalf the Grey- After the events in The Hobbit, Gandalf spends time traveling middle earth seeking answers about Sauron's resurgence and of course Bilbo's ring. He also spends a great deal of time with his friend Bilbo and in turn Frodo, Bilbo's heir. Gandalf returns to The Shire for Bilbo's One Hundred Eleventh Birthday bringing with him a great many fireworks for the party. After Bilbo plays a prank on his guests using the ring to make himself invisible, Gandalf convinces Bilbo to leave the ring with Frodo before heading to the elves in Rivendell. Bilbo reluctantly complies and leaves Frodo the ring and Bag End before departing. Gandalf then spends the next 17 years seeking out answers about the ring. Gandalf meets Aragorn and they seek out Gollum, the creature who gave Bilbo the ring back in The Hobbit. Gandalf finally learns the true origins of the ring and sets off back to The Shire to confirm his suspicions.
Samwise Gamgee- Sam is Frodo Baggins' gardener, having inherited the position as Baggins' gardener from his father. As "punishment" for eavesdropping on Gandalf's conversation with Frodo regarding the One Ring, Sam was made Frodo's first companion on his journey to Rivendell. They were later joined by Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took, Frodo's cousins. Sam is loyal to Frodo and is his companion for the majority of the series.
Aragorn- Aragorn joined Frodo,Sam,Merry and Pippin at the Inn of the Prancing Pony in Bree, after the four hobbits had set out from the Shire to bring the One Ring to Rivendell. Aragorn, going by the nickname "Strider", saved the Hobbits from the pursuing Nazgûl and reached Rivendell. After Frodo was charged with destroying the Ring in the fires of Mount Doom, Aragorn was chosen as a member of the Fellowship of the Ring to accompany him.
Main Supporting Characters
Peregrin Took- Usually referred to as Pippin, he was the youngest of The Fellowship members. He is also a cousin to Frodo.
Meriadoc Brandybuck- Usually referred to as Merry, he was often considered, the most perceptive and intelligent of the Hobbits. He became one of The Fellowship members charged with accompanying Frodo into Mordor to destroy the ring.
Legolas Greenleaf- He is A woodland elf, who becomes part of The Fellowship to destroy The One ring. He serves as their archer.
Gimli- Son Of Gloin(member of Bilbo's party in The Hobbit), he was chosen as one of the members of The Fellowship by Elrond Half-Elven.
Boromir- One of the members of The Fellowship. He is son to the steward of Gondor. He wishes to use the ring for himself, but is instead ordered to help Frodo destroy it.
Major differences between the Book and the Movie.
In the Book when the fellowship attempts to cross Redhorn Pass they are beaten back by the Mountain itself (weather,terrain, etc).
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In the Movie Saruman causes their troubles.
In the Book Uruks were full Orcs of a particularly powerful and deadly kind, and originated in Mordor about five hundred years before the story begins.
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In the Movie Saruman is their creator, when in fact Saruman only created Half-orcs by breeding men with orcs.
In the Book their are Five Wizards,only three are named and they are Gandalf, Saruman, and Radagast the Brown.
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In the Movie the only wizards who exist are Saruman and Gandalf.
Speaking of The Missing Wizards.....
In the Book Radgast sends the Eagles to rescue Gandalf from Orthanc.
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In the Movie Gandalf captures a Moth and sends a message to the Eagles through him.
In the Book after Gandalf asks Frodo to keep the ring secret and safe, he spends roughly 17 years looking for clues on its origin.
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In the Movie Gandalf sprints off to Minas Tirith, reads a scroll, and then heads right back to The Shire.
In the Book Saruman's Orcs wear a helmet with an S rune on the front.
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In the Movie they are imprinted with a white hand print on their forehead.
In the Book Frodo and Bilbo are celebrating Birthdays (Bilbo 111 and Frodo 33)
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In the Movie only Bilbo's Birthday is mentioned.
In the Book when Bilbo slips the ring on his finger at his Birthday Party, Gandalf adds a flash of smoke.
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In the Movie no smoke is seen, and his disappearance seems to be a surprise to Gandalf.
In the Book Gandalf handles the ring without fear.
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In the Movie Gandalf won't even touch it.
In the Book Sam, Pippin and Frodo leave the Shire together. Merry is met later.
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In the Movie Sam and Frodo leave together and later run into Merry and Pippin.
In the Book the character Tom Bombadil suggest the Hobbits go to Bree.
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In the Movie it is Gandalf who suggest they go to Bree.
Speaking of Tom Bombadil.....
In the Book Tom is a pretty noteworthy character. He also helps the Hobbits out of several situations.
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In the Movie he is not present.
I cannot possibly list all the differences, to do so would take a website dedicated to them. I did happen to come across one noteworthy site while researching this and so if you want to learn more go Here. I even stumbled across a few I didn't realize.
I enjoy both The Movie and The Book equally. I own the extended editions of The Dvd's and for those of you who haven't watched the movies yet, I highly suggest buying these. You should also read the Book, even if it is just once. You will be glad you did I promise. Overall great movie, great book you should definitely check out both if you haven't already.
Well that about wraps up this weeks Book to Movie Monday. I'll post the movie trailer down below in case your curious. Leave a Comment down below telling me which you liked better and why. Have a recommend for an upcoming Book to Movie let me know that as well.
This is so cool! Love that you compared the two mediums. I've read the books NUMEROUS times and the Tom Bombadil omission has ALWAYS bugged me but I understand why it was cut. It has a different, overly whimsical, feel, more L. Frank Baum, than the rest of the book. Btw, did you know Sam Raimi is making a Wizard of Oz movie? Called Oz: The Great & Powerful for 2013. Cheers, @peppapots
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that but I can't wait to see his interpretation of the movie.
DeletePeter Jackson stayed pretty faithful to the books but if he wanted to fit everything in the movie it would be 8+ hours runtime so I understand why things were cut. At least with the extended editions you get some wonderful book scenes in the movie. I'm really looking forward to The Hobbit as well.