Quote:
Originally Posted by Low-tech
but lets not kid ourselves, theres little to no grey area between good and evil, every character is way too archetypical, character development is predictible<kinda melodramatic and cheesy at times> and we never really doubt most of the characters intentions. the plot, the climax is spoon-fed the same way star wars is.
its too simple of a formula......i like grey area, i like knowing that experiences change the characters dramatically to where you may not consider them evil or good anymore, that characters have vulnerabilities that are deeper than the obvious fear of death or failure, they have self-doubt, they make mistakes, thier judgement is in error, they cant cope or deal with situations and they do very real, human things.
im not saying his books are totally deviod of these things, its just there isnt enough emotional depth that satisfies me, i still like the LOTR books but, in terms of the nuts and bolts literature its not the end all be all.
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So you knew that Frodo would fail and claim the Ring and that Gollum would prevail and get it back? That's funny because even the old Prof. himself wasn't 100% how that would work out while he was writing it.
But seriously, I disagree completely with most of your points re characters. First, and my own personal distaste for angsty "grey" characters aside, there is no "grey" regarding Good and Evil - acts are either one or the other. JRRT's characters are not all one way or the other although some certainly are. Boromir fails, Faramir prevails, but both are tested and know it. Likewise Galadriel and Gandalf both pass by refusing the Ring but they KNOW that if they claim it they will use it to do great Evil no matter that their intentions would be Good.
Regarding character growth, Gimli and Legolas overcome their ancient animosities and grow to be fast friends. Gandalf passes and is "reborn" into a starker, greater version of himself. Saruman falls, mainly by his own design. Denethor falls as well, another casualty of "mere" human frailty and clouded good sense. Grima is given a chance at his own redemption but fails that in the end. The Hobbits have grown immensely as we see at the end of their story and the Scouring of the Shire.
I could go on.
Of course, if you DO like pussyboy indecisive self-doubters in your fiction then I agree that LOTR is not for you.
-dale