what was you experience while reading the lord of the rings?
Answers
The first fact : J R R Tolkien's world is a piece of art. His narrative style is extremely mature and he knows how to make the impact.
Peter Jackson took Tolkien's work and created a set of movies with all dedication and hard work - but these are restrained by several limitations involved in filmmaking. They are - in their own way - another set of masterpieces. But, the parts of the books and characters that Peter Jackson highlights and shades away in his adaption - would differ significantly if I put myself in his shoes to create the acclaimed movies. But again - one should not talk like this - if one can't do anything but talk.
Few significant scenes/situations in the book, which made significant impact on me are completely ignored in the movies. I don't blame the movie guys for this - because I can't fully fathom the scenarios they had to face while creating them. I am no judge here. But "to me" - the movies have been somewhat under standard to my imagination and expectations.
In my view - the whole book is about a man's journey to destroy a greater evil and become a king. Even though other characters in the story are considerably important and significant in the cause - I see this man to be the backbone of the whole story. The movies have a different impact in this aspect....The author in the book - has got most of the dialogue based scenes around this man (Aragorn) and his similars (Faramir). Those scenes either involve him in the dialogue or he and his kingship is the point of the whole dialogue.
I can go on picking scenes and characters - which are undermined in the movies - but that won't suffice unless one actually reads and finds out what I am saying.
Ultimately :
If you read the book, you(yourself) would define the world of your imagination that Tolkien wanted to inspire. No second hand....
To your question in the context : "Having watched the movies, is it worth while reading the books ?" My answer is : "Do you want more of that world - then DEFINITELY - you will get a lot more"
Quote : “When I listen to a symphony I love, I don't get from it what the composer got. His 'Yes' was different from mine. He could have no concern for mine and no exact conception of it. That answer is too personal to each man. But in giving himself what he wanted, he gave me a great experience" - Howard Roark, The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand.)
The first fact : J R R Tolkien's world is a piece of art. His narrative style is extremely mature and he knows how to make the impact.
Peter Jackson took Tolkien's work and created a set of movies with all dedication and hard work - but these are restrained by several limitations involved in filmmaking. They are - in their own way - another set of masterpieces. But, the parts of the books and characters that Peter Jackson highlights and shades away in his adaption - would differ significantly if I put myself in his shoes to create the acclaimed movies. But again - one should not talk like this - if one can't do anything but talk.
Few significant scenes/situations in the book, which made significant impact on me are completely ignored in the movies. I don't blame the movie guys for this - because I can't fully fathom the scenarios they had to face while creating them. I am no judge here. But "to me" - the movies have been somewhat under standard to my imagination and expectations.
In my view - the whole book is about a man's journey to destroy a greater evil and become a king. Even though other characters in the story are considerably important and significant in the cause - I see this man to be the backbone of the whole story. The movies have a different impact in this aspect....The author in the book - has got most of the dialogue based scenes around this man (Aragorn) and his similars (Faramir). Those scenes either involve him in the dialogue or he and his kingship is the point of the whole dialogue.
I can go on picking scenes and characters - which are undermined in the movies - but that won't suffice unless one actually reads and finds out what I am saying.