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FarFromHome
Valinor
Nov 15 2012, 9:39am
Views: 1506
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What's subtlety got to do with it?
[In reply to]
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Can't Post
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The music foreshadows the events too obviously, IMO. I feel that in many cases, the LOTR soundtrack piled onto the drama too forcefully, thus exacerbating PJ's lack of subtlety even further.
When you're telling a larger-than-life epic story, you're not going for subtlety, instead you need villains that project a powerful sense of evil and danger. This is not a mystery story, where you are supposed to figure out for yourself who's the villain here. Let's face it, Tolkien wasn't so subtle himself, introducing this character as "Wormtongue" before we even meet him!
Actually, I think starlesswinter's point about the time signature of the music is a very good one, and one that's borne out by Tolkien's treatment of this episode in the book. I don't think the muscial "clue" is overly obvious, although of course if you pay attention you understand what it means. In fact that's a very good approximation to the storytelling style used by Tolkien here - he's also has made it clear to those who were paying attention that Saruman is at the bottom of the trouble in Rohan, with Gandalf's words at the Council of Elrond: "In Rohan I found evil already at work: the lies of Saruman..." And Gandalf's reaction to the first mention of Wormtongue is far from subtle too - when the guards obstruct the travellers saying they are under orders from Wormtongue:
"‘Wormtongue?’ said Gandalf, looking sharply at the guard. ‘Say no more!"
Not so subtle - but I don't see Tolkien attempting subtlety here, any more than Jackson does. There's a time and a place for subtlety, and this ain't it!
They went in, and Sam shut the door.
But even as he did so, he heard suddenly,
deep and unstilled,
the sigh and murmur of the Sea upon the shores of Middle-earth.
From the unpublished Epilogue to the Lord of the Rings
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User
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Time
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SCOD - The words of a snake
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FlyingSerkis
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Nov 14 2012, 5:56pm
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Brad Dourif is amazing in this scene. I love his delivery of "I told you to take the Wizard's staff!"
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thomasofrohan
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Nov 14 2012, 6:00pm
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Music
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starlesswinter
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Nov 14 2012, 6:15pm
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IMO, that's the problem with it
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Shelob'sAppetite
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Nov 14 2012, 8:20pm
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"More subtle" is not necessarily "better"
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thomasofrohan
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Nov 14 2012, 10:18pm
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Its a matter of taste
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Shelob'sAppetite
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Nov 14 2012, 11:19pm
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But how many people actually notice something like that?
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starlesswinter
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Nov 14 2012, 11:53pm
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Most people I have spoken with
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Shelob'sAppetite
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Nov 15 2012, 4:43am
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That's not the point I was trying to make
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starlesswinter
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Nov 15 2012, 6:32am
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Got it
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Shelob'sAppetite
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Nov 15 2012, 6:46am
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But was Tolkien really subtle himself? //
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macfalk
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Nov 15 2012, 2:02pm
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Depends on what you mean by subtle
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Shelob'sAppetite
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Nov 15 2012, 6:51pm
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I love a good bad guy design!
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starlesswinter
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Nov 15 2012, 7:59pm
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What do I expect from PJ?
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Shelob'sAppetite
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Nov 15 2012, 8:22pm
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Well hope that the dim witted audience members
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ForestPark
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Nov 22 2012, 2:22am
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As you see,
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GoodGuyA
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Nov 15 2012, 5:05pm
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What's subtlety got to do with it?
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FarFromHome
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Nov 15 2012, 9:39am
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The bit of music I'm talking about, which plays over this, is not in 5/4
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FlyingSerkis
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Nov 15 2012, 1:06pm
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Great choice, thanks!
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Radagast-Aiwendil
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Nov 14 2012, 6:15pm
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Do I dare to put in my two cents? :P
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zarabia
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Nov 16 2012, 7:00am
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Movie Demographics like LOTR need to appeal to a
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Bombadil
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Nov 16 2012, 2:16pm
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Meant to say this earlier,
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One Ringer
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Nov 21 2012, 1:14pm
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