LOTR vs. Star Wars, Part II..



NOTE: This was written for my site "Anakin And His Angel", and was written long ago. The Writer is Nicole, not me!

Hello again folks.
I hope you guys aren't sick of hearing my praises about Lord of the Rings yet because it's only going to get worse :) As many of you may well know by now, LOTR was nominated for an astounding 13 Academy Awards, just 1 short of the record set by 1997s Titanic and 1959s Ber-Hur. However, LOTR is still in the running to win the most Academy Awards ever for a film which would be 11. Now Star Wars isn't without its praise in many aspects as well and I'm going to try my best to elaborate on those points in a little while, but the thing that sets LOTR apart from Star Wars, especially The Phantom Menace, is that The Fellowship of the Ring actually lived up to all the hype that was generated about its release. How many movies do we know of that can actually pull that off? We expected so much from The Phantom Menace but so many of us left the theater disappointed, and then, of course, there was the Ewok issue with Return of the Jedi that I mentioned in the last installment, but I will say that The Empire Strikes Back did not disappoint on ANY level and is still regarded as one of the best sequels ever made. There was also a lot of hype generated around Pearl Harbor but that didn't really live up to anyone's expectations either. As always, each episode of Star Wars creates a great deal of expectation from us fans, but I will admit that it looks like Attack of the Clones may actually pull if off. Granted, it will be no Empire, but I think that comparison is best kept for Episode III, as we all know it will be the most emotional and tragic of the series. Let's just hope that George doesn't leave us all with a bitter taste in our mouths in 2005.

Now I must admit that the latest trailer for Episode II entitled "Clone War" had even me screaming like a little girl. Now even though some of the dialouge is a little weak (I mean who else would make Ewan McGregor intone the line "Your clones are very impressive"? Or force Hayden Christensen to make frequent use of the honorific "m'lady"?), those battle sequences are absolutely astounding, especially when seen on the big screen. Now what I realized whilst viewing this trailer and what we all have to remember is that what we have seen in Star Wars movies before were skirmishes...incidents. Remember, The Battle of Hoth was small, a minor hiccup. In ATTACK OF THE CLONES, we have the first REAL Star War. It isn't a space battle, but we understand the scale of things. The size and scope of a MAJOR OFFENSIVE.
It is our first chance to actually see and experience a FULL-SCALE WAR in a Star Wars film and believe you me, that's nothing to sneeze at. Now if this battle is even HALF as good as it appears in the trailer, I think us die-hard Star Wars fans will finally lay our doubts about Lucas's story-telling abilities to rest. I mean romance, greed, and political intrigue just aren't enough to satisfy us...we need some heavy-duty action sequences, and Episode II aims to please on that level...how the rest will pan out (especially the Anakin/Padme romance) only time will tell.

Moving on. Now that everyone has a pretty good idea of what The Fellowship of the Rings is about, I think it is appropriate to analyze a few more aspects of the story in a little more detail. So now that we have gotten the main battle sequences out of the way, let's move on to character development. If any of you guys haven't seen or read The Fellowship of the Ring then the following are major spoilers, and if you don't really care to read/see it then no big deal right? So here we go again:

Immediately after the first main battle sequence in FOTR, we are taken to The Shire and introduced to the main character in The Lord of the Rings saga, Frodo Baggins. Frodo is a hobbit and the nephew of Bilbo Baggins, the finder of the Ring of Power. However, no one is aware that for 60 years, the ring lay quiet in Bilbo's keeping, unnaturally prolonging his life. That day was Bilbo's 111th birthday and the whole shire was invited to a huge party on his behalf, including his long-time friend, Gandalf the Grey. From the very beginning of this scene we sense an immediate bond between Gandalf and Frodo, an almost father-son-type relationship that is both emotionally resolute and comical at the same time:

"You're late"

"A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins...nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to."

Frodo and Gandalf try to be serious with each other but they end up sharing a good laugh as Frodo jumps into Gandalf's wagon and says:

"It's wonderful to see you, Gandalf!"

"You didn't think I'd miss your uncle Bilbo's birthday?"

"What news of the outside world? Tell me everything."

"Everything? A bit curious and eager for a hobbit. Most unnatural...well, what can I tell you...life in the wide world goes on much as it has this past age,
filled with its own comings and goings, scarcely aware of the existance of hobbits...for which I am very thankful..."

At this point, Gandalf and Frodo ride into town and Gandalf is greeted by the whole town with smiles and gestures of welcome.
It is clear that he is a loved and admired member of the community of hobbits, even though he is not a hobbit himself.
We can see how much he means to these people and how big a role he plays in their lives.

"So how is the old rascal? I hear it's going to be a party of special magnificance."

"Well, you know Bilbo, he has the whole place in an uproar."

"Ah, well that should please him."

"Half the shire has been invited. I don't know, I think he's up to something."

"Oh really?"

"Fine then. Keep your secrets. Before you came along we Baggins' were very well thought of; never had any adventures or did anything unexpected."

"If you're referring to the incident with the dragon, I was barely involved...all I did was give your uncle a little nudge out of the door..."

"Well, whatever you did, you've been officially labled a disturber of the peace..."

>From there we see a few of the adult hobbits give Gandalf dirty looks, whilst the children chase after him yelling "Gandalf! Fireworks, Gandalf!" Frodo looks at Gandalf expectantly but he rides on, not wanting to disturb the older hobbits. The children come to a stop a few feet behind his wagon and sigh in disappointment, but just as they think all hope is lost, a barrage of fireworks is set loose from the back of Gandalf's wagon and the children jump up and down with excitement. Frodo and Gandalf exchange knowing looks and laugh together as they make their way to Bilbo's home.
Just before they reach Hobbiton, Frodo jumps off the wagon to go off and spend more time in the woods. He turns to Gandalf and says:

"Gandalf, I'm glad you're back."

"So am I, dear boy...so am I..."

So from this scene we have one of the most critical relationships in the saga, that of Frodo and Gandalf. Of course, there are many more relationships that will play an extremely important role in both the rest of this film and in the next two films, the biggest of which will be the friendship between Frodo and Samwise Gamgee, Frodo's best and most loyal friend who, in the end, is the only member of the remaining fellowship that actually goes with Frodo into Mordor to destroy the ring. The importance of this relationship will become evident in the next two films and especially in the last installment of the saga, as Sam is the one who pushes Frodo along on his journey and gives him the strength to complete his quest. As for the part Sam plays in FOTR, we all know (well, those of us who have seen the movie and/or read the books) that Sam is the only one who accompanies Frodo to Mordor, even though Frodo has total intentions of going alone because he fears that the power of the ring will destroy the rest of the fellowship:

"No, Sam! I'm going to Mordor alone!"
"Of course you are...and I'm going with you! I made a promise, Mr. Frodo...a promise!
'Don't you leave him, Samwise Gamgee'...and I don't mean to...I don't mean to..."

The importance of this relationship cannot be underestimated. If not for Sam, Frodo would never have had the strength to destroy the ring as we will see in the next two installments of the series. After the loss of Gandalf in the mines of Moria, Frodo comes to depend on Sam for the strength that was previously provided by Gandalf, but the memory of him will always remain with Frodo:

"I wish the ring had never come to me...I wish none of this had happened."

"So do all who live to see such times but that is not for them to decide. All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you. There are other forces at work here besides the will of evil. Bilbo was MEANT to find the ring, just as you were MEANT to have it...and that is an encouraging thought. OH! It's THAT way."

"He's remembered." - Merry

"No...but the air doesn't smell so foul down here. When in doubt, Merriadoc, always follow your nose."

Now of course, there are 6 more members of the fellowship that I haven't even mentioned yet: Merry, Pippin, Gimli, Boromir, Legolas and Strider (Aragorn). Merry and Pippin are also hobbits who provide most of the comic relief in the film, but we can tell as an audience that they also have a close attachment with Frodo and Sam, but they just can't help being funny every now and then,
which is a big relief from all the drama that goes on with the rest of the characters:

"Excuse me, gentlemen...we do not stop until nightfall." - Strider

"But what about breakfast?" - Pippin

"You've already had it."

"We've had one, yes...but what about second breakfast?"

Strider just rolls his eyes at Pippin and continues on as Merry strolls up to join Pippin:

"I don't think he knows about second breakfast, Pip."

"Well then what about Elevensies? Luncheon?
Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? He knows about them, doesn't he?"

"I wouldn't count on it."

It's just plain fun to watch them interact throughout the film and apart from the comedic side that comes out in them most of the time, they are also loyal friends to Frodo and Sam.

Gimli and Legolas pretty much just plain kick some butt in the film, but the characters of Boromir and Strider contribute greatly to the overall tone of the film. Boromir is the son of the Steward of Gondor and protector of the realm of Middle Earth, as his people continually fight to keep the forces of Mordor at bay, thereby keeping all other lands safe from the rage of Sauron. We can tell right away that Boromir is bitter at heart because he feels that his people are the only ones who have suffered from the continual assualt of Sauron's forces:

"It is a gift...why not use this ring? Long have I and my father, the Steward of Gondor, kept the forces of Mordor at bay by the blood of OUR people!
All YOUR lands kept safe!
Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy, let us use it against him!" - Boromir

"You cannot wield it! None of us can! The ring answers to Sauron alone...it has no other master." - Aragorn

"And what would a ranger know of this matter?" - Boromir

"This is no mere ranger! He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn...you owe him your alligience." - Legolas

"Aragorn? THIS is Isildur's heir?" - Boromir

"And heir to the throne of Gondor." - Legolas

"Gondor has no king...Gondor needs no king." - Boromir

Now throughout the rest of the film, as tragedy strikes them all and Gandalf falls into darkness in the mines of Moria, Aragorn suddenly becomes the leader of the fellowship and his relationship with Boromir begins to take a new path, and when Boromir is mortally wounded trying to save Merry and Pippin (with whom he has become very close friends), Boromir finally realizes that he is not as strong as he thought he was and that Aragorn indeed has the strength and will of a king:

"They've taken the little ones."

"Don't talk...stay still now."

"Frodo...where is Frodo?"

"I let Frodo go."

"Then you did what I could not...I tried to take the ring from him...I'm sorry...I did not see...I have failed you all..."

"No Boromir, you fought bravely...you have kept your honor."

"The world of men will fall and all will come to darkness...and my city to ruin..."

"I do not know what strength is in my blood...but I swear to you...I will not let the white city fall...nor our people fail..."

"OUR people?...our people..."

Boromir then calls for his sword.
Aragorn finds the sword and lays it in Boromir's hand and he brings it to his chest in a salute (or pledge of alligience if you will) to Aragorn:

"I would have followed you, my brother...my captain...my king..."

And Boromir dies in Aragorn's arms. Quite a scene let me tell you and one of the most emotional in the film. But we can see just by the dialouge the bond that these characters have with each other.

Now we come to Aragorn/Strider, and whilst we are talking about him, that leads into the love story aspect of the film (about time right?). Aragorn was born a prince of Gondor, heir to the throne of Gondor and descendent of Isildur, the one who cut off Sauron's hand and inherited the Ring of Power. When Aragorn was old enough and began to understand both his heritage and his destiny, he abandoned them for fear that he would one day be faced with the same challenge as Isyldor and fail just as Isildur did, as he believes that he shares the same weakness and does not want to assume that responsibility. He went to live with the elves and while there, he met an Elvish princess named Arwen. They immdiately fell in love but as we all know, elves are immortal and in order for Arwen and Aragorn to truly be together, she would have to give up her immortality. This scene in the film takes place after Aragorn and Arwen rescue the four hobbits and travel to Rivendell, home of the elves, to decide the fate of the ring:

* = lines are spoken in Elvish

"Why do you fear the past? You are Isyldor's heir...not Isildur himself. You are not bound to his fate."

"The same blood flows through my veins...the same weakness..."

"Your time will come. You will face the same evil...and YOU will defeat it. *The Shadow does not hold sway yet. Not over you...not over me. Do you remember when we first met?"*

*"I thought I had strayed into a dream."*

*"Long years have passed. You did not have the cares you carry now. Do you remember what I told you?"*

"You said you'd bind yourself to me...forsaking the immortal life of your people."

"And to that I hold...I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone...'

She gives him the symbol of her people that hangs around her neck, a token of her promise to him...'I choose a mortal life."

"You cannot give me this."

"It is mine to give to whom I will...like my heart..."

Awwww...isn't that sweet? Now come on, in all actuality, there is only one more scene in the film that these two are together, and that takes place before this part, but we can tell even from these few lines how much in love they are. I mean, one is willing to give up eternity for the other? Now THAT is true love right there folks. Does Anakin's love for Padme even come CLOSE to this? Yeah, I'm sure it does, but let's hope that a barrage of cheesy lines doesn't ruin the moment. Now, from what I know so far about the script, the exchanges between these two don't seem all that bad. It is clear from the beginning that Anakin wants Padme and he wants her BAD, but throughout the film Padme is CONSTANTLY aware of the reasons why they shouldn't be together: of the scandal, of their careers and duties...she wants nothing to do with Anakin and therefore she resists any attempt for Anakin to get close to her. She can see all the reasons, but when they go through what they go through...when an emotional binding takes place between these characters through a brief adventure: the loss of a loved one, a decent into hell...when faced with certain doom, they realize that life is too short to worry about the ifs and buts. It is the sort of romance where one desperately loves the other, but it is only at the point of an emotional precipice that the other finally realizes that they share the same feeling and embrace it. I like this.

Now, of course, will Anakin and Padme ever outdo Han and Leia...my answer: no way. Han and Leia's relationship is classic. They are both stubborn and arrogant whilst their relationship is both comedic as well as dramatic. Now granted, it is no where near the caliber of love that Anakin and Padme feel for each other, it is not written in the stars nor it is a tragic tale of two hearts destined to beat as one, but it is true enough to get by as a well-thought-out and entertaining love story whilst not ruining the adventuresome and desperate feel of the overall film for the die-hard fans who go there to see a dazzling-special-effects-packed fantasy story. I mean, who can compare the exchanges between Anakin and Padme to that of Han and Leia:

"You're making fun of me."

"No, no, I'd be much to frightened to tease a Sentor."

*****

"What's the matter? Afraid I was going to leave without giving you a goodbye kiss?"

"I'd just as soon kiss a Wookie."

"I can arrange that! You could use a good kiss!"

*****

"It must be difficult having sworn your life to the Jedi...not being able to do the things you like..."

"Or be with the people that I love?"

"Are you allowed to love? I thought that was forbidden for a Jedi."

*****

"Well, Your Worship, it looks like you managed to keep me around a little while longer."

"I had nothing to do with it. General Rikien thinks it's dangerous for any ships to leave the system until we've activated the energy field."

"That's a good excuse...I think you just can't bear to let a gorgeous guy like me out of your sight."

"I don't know where you get your delusions, laser brain."

"Laugh it up, fuzzball. You didn't see us alone in the south passage...she expressed her true feelings for me."

"True feelings?!?! Why you stuck-up, half-wit, scruffy-looking nerfherder!"

"Who's scruffy-lookin'? I must've hit pretty close to the mark to get her all worked-up like that, huh kid?"

"Well, I guess you don't know everything about women yet."

*****

"I used to think that if you looked into glass for too long you'd lose yourself."

"I think it's true."

*****

"Stop that."

"Stop what?"

"Stop that...my hands are dirty."

"So what? My hands are dirty too. What are you afraid of?"

"Afraid?"

"You're trembling."

"I'm not trembling."

"You like me because I'm a scoundrel...there aren't enough scoundrels in your life."

"I happen to like nice men."

"I'm a nice man."

*****

"My love for you is a puzzle, Annie, for which I have no answers.
I truly, deeply love you, and before we die I want you to know."

"Long or short, I vow to spend the rest of my life with you."

*****

"I love you."

"I know."

Come on, no contest. And although I completely understand that Anakin and Padme's relationship is SUPPOSED to be more serious in nature, hence making the following film even MORE tragic, Han and Leia will always be the best couple in the Star Wars universe and one of the main reasons for the overall success of Empire and the saga as a whole. See? I have something good to say about Star Wars once and a while, don't I? Sure I do. Now if George can find the time in his busy schedule to actually fit in some character development in this film, I think it's going to exceed all of our expectations. FOTR is a VERY long movie, just under 3 hours, but the extra time spent on developing the individual personalities of the characters is what makes it such a strong film. We as the audience immediately bond with the characters and we can feel for ourselves what it is that they go through. Episode II, by nature, is SUPPOSED to be a darker film and focus on the emotional turmoil that both the characters and the Republic are faced with, especially Anakin as he actually starts down the path to the dark side.
If it's anywhere near as good as I think it will be, Episode II is going to blow us all away. Anyhoo, I think I've taken up enough of your time now so I will end this installment at this point. Let's see...what can I talk about next time?
Ah...I don't know...I'll think of something. Until then, MTFBWY.

-Wizard (Nicole)