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Star Wars vs. Lord of the Rings?

prberk

prberk

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I recently read a feature article in USA Today that was comparing Star Wars to Lord of the Rings and was suggesting that Lord of the Rings was eclipsing Star Wars in the minds and hearts of Star Wars fans and especially among the young. It also implied that the sci-fi genre as a whole was seeming dated compared to the fantasy genre.

I do not necessarily see a competition. I see both movies and genres as great playgrounds for the imagination. I see them as different ways to reach epic themes that have been with us since The Bible days.... everyday good fighting and winning over evil; the temptations of desire and as distractions; etc., etc.

Anyway, I thought that this would be great discussion for the people who frequent this board. Many Walt Disney World fans also like both of these movies for obvious reasons, and many of you have stated that! So, I am posting the link here: http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2003-01-15-rings-stars_x.htm

I am interested as to what you all have to say.... (especially you, Steve)....
 
Dizknee_Phreek

Dizknee_Phreek

Well-Known Member
really, i didn't even bother reading the article....i already agree with you...both movies are completely seperate and really shouldn't be compared in any way...same goes for Harry Potter and LotR....all great movies in their own right! and i'm not sure about the sci-fi thing being eclipsed by fantasy...after all, isn't sci-fi really fantasy with a twist? :confused:
bottom line, for me, Star Wars vs. Lord of the Rings...no comparison! they may have the same basic outlines; good vs. evil; rebels vs. a dark alliance. now i'll be the first to say that i'd take LotR over Ep. 1 and 2 anyday (though 2 was better than 1, imo) but both epics have great sentimental value to me, so i love them both.
 
no2apprentice

no2apprentice

Well-Known Member
Actually, what I find fascinating about Star Wars and LotR, is that both original stories were inspired by other stories. LotR is basically an expanded and more detailed re-telling of "Beowulf", and the basic storyline for Star Wars: A New Hope was from a Japanese samari movie, "The Hidden Fortress".

I know several people who don't care for Star Wars, but enjoy LotR. But I know far less people who enjoy Star Wars, but not LotR.

As far as LotR replacing the interest of Star Wars, this could be for two reasons: 1) I don't think many younger people have had the opportunity to read LotR, and are completely being caught up with the excellent work in the films, and 2) I really believe Lucas made a mistake with going BACK in the storyline, instead of FORWARD. Yeah, it's kind of interesting to see the whole "beginning of Vadar" thing, but let's face it: we KNOW what's going to happen. Anakin becomes Vadar! No big surprise! And then Lucas says he's not going to bother with episodes 7, 8, and 9? It seems to me Lucas missed a really creative opportunity.
 
darthdarrel

darthdarrel

New Member
I love both! And you can`t even compare the two cause they are two differant genres in my mind atleast Sci fi is future/technology and fantasy is the past/mythology.:D
 
dreamer

dreamer

New Member
Star Wars is more like Barney.

That became clear when we saw Middle Earth on the screen. LotR is more like ... in a class by itself.
 
prberk

prberk

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Originally posted by Dizknee_Phreek
and i'm not sure about the sci-fi thing being eclipsed by fantasy...after all, isn't sci-fi really fantasy with a twist?
Click to expand...

I agree with you.

Originally posted by darthdarrel
I love both! And you can`t even compare the two cause they are two differant genres in my mind atleast Sci fi is future/technology and fantasy is the past/mythology.:D
Click to expand...

I think that science FICTION is more than futurism and technology, hence fiction. It implies a story that may or may not have anything to do with the real future. I see most (but not all) science fiction as actually using the same mythological building blocks for story (epic tales of good/evil, etc.) as the "fantasy" genre. And don't forget, anyway, that Star Wars was set in the past, not the future.

So, I guess I see those genres as two sides of the same coin, basically drawn as the artist/author desires.


Originally posted by dreamer
Star Wars is more like Barney.

That became clear when we saw Middle Earth on the screen. LotR is more like ... in a class by itself.
Click to expand...

Do you mean the story or the execution?

If you mean the story, then I only see SW as slightly simpler than the basic story elements of LotR. I do see LotR as a little more complex but only by degrees. They are both epic stories with timeless characteristics. And sometimes, simpler is better. Complexity for its own sake is not a virtue.

If you mean the execution (film-making), then I hardly think this is fair: (1) SW had it start on film over 25 years ago, with the best technology of the day. Current films have had to build on characters first drawn then. (2) SW and the ILM industry giant that it created opened the doors for the broad array of special effects we have today. I don't think SFX would be as well-developed as they are in LotR without the doors that George Lucas and his friends at ILM developed solely on the propulsion of Star Wars' popularity.

Now, does that make SW a better movie or story? No. But it does make it interesting to think that LotR as it was made today may not have been possible without SW in the first place...
 
monorail256

monorail256

Member
Barney? I never saw a purple dinosaur in Episode II... did you Darth? :lookaroun ... haha ... the new love theme for Episode III "I love you, You love me...." lol.. please do not put Barney and Star Wars in the same sentance.. it makes me sad. :(
 
historymystery

historymystery

Account Suspended
Kill Barney!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway I have not watched Lord of the Rings. It looks to gory. But I do like mystical tales. I like movies which blend medieval, greecian, and futuristic mythology. looks cool. I love all Star Wars. And I can't stand it when they put it down. So please keep those kind of comments to yourself. But Lord of the Rings looks okay but I am not sure. I do like X-men and Spiderman. X-men 2 is coming out soon!:sohappy:
 
darthdarrel

darthdarrel

New Member
Originally posted by prberk
I agree with you.



I think that science FICTION is more than futurism and technology, hence fiction. It implies a story that may or may not have anything to do with the real future. I see most (but not all) science fiction as actually using the same mythological building blocks for story (epic tales of good/evil, etc.) as the "fantasy" genre. And don't forget, anyway, that Star Wars was set in the past, not the future.

So, I guess I see those genres as two sides of the same coin, basically drawn as the artist/author desires.




Do you mean the story or the execution?

If you mean the story, then I only see SW as slightly simpler than the basic story elements of LotR. I do see LotR as a little more complex but only by degrees. They are both epic stories with timeless characteristics. And sometimes, simpler is better. Complexity for its own sake is not a virtue.

If you mean the execution (film-making), then I hardly think this is fair: (1) SW had it start on film over 25 years ago, with the best technology of the day. Current films have had to build on characters first drawn then. (2) SW and the ILM industry giant that it created opened the doors for the broad array of special effects we have today. I don't think SFX would be as well-developed as they are in LotR without the doors that George Lucas and his friends at ILM developed solely on the propulsion of Star Wars' popularity.

Now, does that make SW a better movie or story? No. But it does make it interesting to think that LotR as it was made today may not have been possible without SW in the first place...
Click to expand...
Yes but who`s past?:D What I meant by future is a futuristic society.and yes it is fiction,but if you see the technology of today,yesterday`s science FICTION is today`s science fact!:) Anyways Historymystery I would highly advise seeing lord of the rings,rent the fellowship of the rings first if you haven`t seen it yet,then go to the theatre and see the two towers,they are awesome and they are not that gory!:sohappy:
 
Dizknee_Phreek

Dizknee_Phreek

Well-Known Member
Originally posted by historymystery
Kill Barney!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway I have not watched Lord of the Rings. It looks to gory. But I do like mystical tales. I like movies which blend medieval, greecian, and futuristic mythology. looks cool. I love all Star Wars. And I can't stand it when they put it down. So please keep those kind of comments to yourself. But Lord of the Rings looks okay but I am not sure. I do like X-men and Spiderman. X-men 2 is coming out soon!:sohappy:
Click to expand...

LotR is no worse than, say, Obi-Wan cutting off that one alien's arm in A New Hope...i promise, it's nothing that'll give you nightmares or anything like that. Remember, it's only a PG rating and not an R. i HIGHLY recommend LotR...i really do. initially i went to the theater to see Fellowship because i had seen Elijah Wood on Jon Stewart's show a few days prior, and thought he was rather attractive...never in a million years did i think i would be such a huge fan of the movie...but you know what, i came out of that theater with the best feeling i had had in years! i don't know why, and this may sound insane, but i felt like a better person for having seen that movie. i ended up being the one persuading my dad (who's the original LotR fan of the family) to make us 3 year charter members of the fan club! needless to say, it's definately a movie you don't want to miss out on! i know several people who hate it and say it's boring...but if you like sci fi/fantasy films, you'll love this...just rent it and watch it with an open mind! allow yourself to get sucked into Middle Earth...i'm telling you, it makes you feel like you're part of the Fellowship's journey! it's just incredible!
 
space*mt*ranger

space*mt*ranger

New Member
Im going to give my 2 cents for the LOTR Vs SW.

I think that the original Star Wars triolgy is something that LOTR can never touch even though LOTR is supurb.I do think that LOTR is much better then the SW prequels but that may change after Episode III.


EDIT:Im talking about the LOTR movies that is.I have yet to read the books.
 
Pumbas Nakasak

Pumbas Nakasak

Heading for the great escape.
LoR 97 hour long herbal ______ induced hippy tripe full of gooks n goblins Vs full on stormtroopers with light sabbers and whizz bang.Mmmmmmmmmmmlet me think.
 

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