The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7631058/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0)
It really is a 'Marmite' show with 57% of 90,997 people loving it or hating it. I rated it a sold 8. It is the most divisive pole that I have seen on IMDB.
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img923/8725/P94uvN.png)
Yep. Kind of difficult to discern who exactly it is for.
I have not rated it beyond my score based on category in that other thread here, but I think I'm somewhere 2-ish out of 5. 4/10? Mmh... Yeah. Sure.
Mind you, 4 is not that bad - it's the lower end of mediocre, in fact. However, a billion. Fucking. Dollars. AND one of the more intricate high fantasy settings to draw from. It's just nowhere near good enough.
The audience score on Rotten Tomatoes seems to agree, though it's them tomatoes - can't really believe anything that comes from there. Still, I have seen probably fake one stars AND five, so... The question is; how do they balance against each other?
To be clear, I don't see how this is a one-out-of-something show, unless it's like... 1/3. However, I don't see how it's max-out-of-something either, so both extremes make me suspicious, although I suppose someone who doesn't give a toss and just enjoys it may give it a max, while someone, for whom, say, Galadriel being a bit of a bitch is a deal breaker may give it a one, disregarding the few redeeming features it does have.
It's not bad, it's just not particularly great. Given the following that the books and movies have, it's understandable that it wouldn't live up to the very high bar set already.
I would argue that it is indeed bad for what it is. Possibly-acceptable for just another generic high fantasy. Listen to the elves talk; it screams "talentless try-hard" of the writers. Look at hobbits (do let us nevermind them not even being supposed to be there OR the rights issue in naming) looking like a bunch of comedic-effect bums. Look at the way the show treats Elrond - a child of royal bloodlines. Look at the wise Galadriel being a Bruce Willis with boobs and a vendetta.
I do mean to do a full walkthrough, it's just... Where do I even start?!
I think that this YouTube review sums it up quite nicely
Hmm... I was watching a other YT video, where it was pointed out that IMDB is owned by Amazon. Amazon has been suppressing reviews on Prime for quite some time, so... I'm suddenly a little sceptical of their numbers. I wonder if for once in the history of ever, Rotten Tomatoes is actually good for something..? (Their 3.5+ score is around 40% - I can see that being the case)
Watched the third episode this weekend, and I can officially say that I have progressed from watching to hate-watching.
This is not only bad for something "based" on Tolkien's work - by this point, it's bad generic high fantasy. It may have been fair enough low budget fan fiction - for what it is, on the other hand? A failure.
In an attempt to be at least somewhat balanced though, I have to point out that in my opinion, it's still nowhere near as bad an atrocity as The Wheel Of Time series was, although it does manage to ass-rape its IP creator's corpse just as viciously. Do pardon the colourful turn of phrase, though I stand firmly on the hill of my linguistic choices here.
I suggest you don't watch any more then as I suspect you may explode.
Yeah, that will be posted in great detail for everyone's amusement.
I'll do a season review - which means I'll have to watch this garbage two-three times more. Who knows what gems I've missed the first time, that I shall uncover?
You are a glutton for punishment! :rofl:
The Asmo shall review. And then He shall smite. Possibly in the reverse order. Possibly at the same time.
Perhaps I just expect too much from the likes of Amazon in this, but then, it's not some no-name franchise. It's Lord of the Rings. Should I not expect excellence in storytelling under that brand? It would be like paying for a new Porsche, only to discover that underneath it's just a really old, nasty, low-budget family hatchback. Sure, it's all polished and all the rust is spray-painted over, and goes from A to B-ish, but the brand demands so much more.
I don't yet have the raging hate-boner for this show that the Tolkien (and, in part, Jackson) fandom seems to, but... I'm rapidly getting there.
I think I'll do a season review of the House of the Dragon as well. That one... I can't decide if it is mediocre, a masterpiece or a mediocre masterpiece. I'm enjoying it thus far, however the way Game of Thrones soured so quickly and viciously leaves that enjoyment with a bit of a bitter after-taste.
Quote from: jumbojak on September 05, 2022, 08:04:48 PMIt's not bad, it's just not particularly great. Given the following that the books and movies have, it's understandable that it wouldn't live up to the very high bar set already.
wgile excellent, the motion pictures couldnt live up to the books. they failed sevela times when attempting to add to or depart from the original characters
tolkien scored a triple twenty with the trilogy. he did everything right. no way to improve it
Quote from: billy rubin on September 19, 2022, 05:21:49 PMQuote from: jumbojak on September 05, 2022, 08:04:48 PMIt's not bad, it's just not particularly great. Given the following that the books and movies have, it's understandable that it wouldn't live up to the very high bar set already.
wgile excellent, the motion pictures couldnt live up to the books. they failed sevela times when attempting to add to or depart from the original characters
tolkien scored a triple twenty with the trilogy. he did everything right. no way to improve it
Agreed.
I was wrong. It's bad. Really, really bad.
Despite what I was told by a fellow fan, the last episode continues the downward trajectory for the series. Why is numenor so weak? Why aren't the elves any different from men? This all just fees wrong. Not just not good. Wrong.
Quote from: jumbojak on September 24, 2022, 06:12:29 PMDespite what I was told by a fellow fan, the last episode continues the downward trajectory for the series. Why is numenor so weak? Why aren't the elves any different from men? This all just fees wrong. Not just not good. Wrong.
Why is Sauron basically a worse Aragorn from the movies? Why is wise Galadriel an insufferable bint? Why do the Numenorians need
her to explain to them that one way of killing things with the sword is to stab with the damned thing? I have zero sword training, and that is what I would try and do. How is agility preferable to strength in a sword fight? Again, looking back at the movies, both Aragorn and Boromir, among others, did indeed brute force their ways through Ork and Uruk-Hai alike. (Using movies rather than books as reference because fights/duels are vastly different on paper than they are live-action)
Eh, well... I am caught up now, and I agree. Things are getting worse through an increase in nonsense, plot armour and the use of McGuffins. Also, don't get me started on them "wolves." Those things were not even canine! And the Hobbits... The fucking hobbits!
Definitely don't get me started on those.
Hobbits Asmo. Go after them hobbits...
The Asmo may have volumes to say about what Amazon did to the hobbits. It's not just the homeless-villain look or the homeless-villain attitudes or even that they are not supposed to be in that story or have writing/keep books... Yeah... Volumes.
I mean, if they absolutely needed hobbits for some relatability or comedic relief type bullshit, there are ways. Get the grass out of their hair for starters. Have them live in holes, all hidden-like instead of wandering around in the open and don't have them do anything important... but then again, going off-canon is what Amazon chose to do with this thing. Except of course they are far from the calibre of storyteller that Tolkien was.
Speaking of plot armour, that Pompeii moment. It was enough to turn a few people and buildings into rubble and death, start an occasional fire, cover the world in that universal spice mix, with which one douses one's beef, if one means to grill it imporperly, and it did look rather on the deadly side. Galadriel, however, not even a tiny bit singed. By the way, her "dead" husband? If I were him, I would not come back until she's Cate Blanchett and/or based on tolkien's Galadriel. Like, seriously.
In any case, the day approaches when The Asmo shall have to re-watch that atrocity for the purpose of reviewing it in such a manner that the full scope of Huis righteous disgust is on the record.
Just finished watching the last episode. Still enjoyed it all.
The last episode was not the worst, however, the show as a whole is, in my opinion, not just bad for Lord of the Rings but even for generic high fantasy.
I shall re-watch the episodes and do a proper review complete with massive spoilers.
That episode had by far the best writing up to now. Mostly from the mind battle scene. It didn't put the polish on the turd though.
Quote from: jumbojak on October 15, 2022, 11:22:23 PMThat episode had by far the best writing up to now.
Tolkien. Not among the top five of my personal favourite writers. (Though among the top ten)
I'm pretty sure the friction generated from him spinning in his grave will hold Britain warm all through the winter.
I don't disagree with you - it
was "better..." If only the bar for Amazon's "better writing" was even slightly above sewage level.
One episode to go for me.
I think it isn't so bad.
I like Galadriel
Ye ye, why the cutsey cutsey hobbits?
But they're not so bad, some of them.
And if Gandalf likes them, who are you to not?
The Wheel of Time
Moraine is excellent
Lan - underwhelming, he's not supposed to be
Nynaeve shows potential
They besmalled Loial cause of budgetary restraints :o
Perin, why did they do that to Perrin?
He is supposed to be likeable.
Siuan seems pretty cool
The show in total totally lacks cool though
The Wheel of Time has very little to do with the book series on which it was based, beyond some character names. A huge issue for me was that things that made sense in the book universe did not in the "adaptation."
Honestly, I haven't even made up an opinion on the characters because I never got over the world being so... Lacking.
But then, I am a bit of a Wheel of Time nerd, so I suspect I'd find any adaptation underwhelming in places. In places, though - not "it's all garbage."
It's good that you've enjoyed it - and I've heard that there is a season two on the way. Don't let nay-sayers like my sweet self discourage you from it. Still, I highly recommend the books in stead. (Also audiobooks, wonderfully narrated by Kramer/Reading) Also, always open for a deep lore dive on all things WoT if desired.
Quote from: Asmodean on November 10, 2022, 01:56:12 PMIt's good that you've enjoyed it - and I've heard that there is a season two on the way. Don't let nay-sayers like my sweet self discourage you from it. Still, I highly recommend the books in stead. (Also audiobooks, wonderfully narrated by Kramer/Reading) Also, always open for a deep lore dive on all things WoT if desired.
Shit, I didn't enjoy The Wheel Of Time at all, it was ghastly.
I've read all those books more than once.
I think The Rings of Power TV series is OK
It's a long time since I read The Silmarillion and The Book of Lost Tales, I'm in no hurry to do it again.
Quote from: Cugel on November 10, 2022, 02:42:40 PMShit, I didn't enjoy The Wheel Of Time at all, it was ghastly.
Hope for humanity restored...
QuoteI've read all those books more than once.
...and amplified ;-)
I just assumed that you continued the "not so bad" thought from your RoP analysis.
Overall I was happy with the RoP in the end. I think any series to do with the LoR is going to impress and upset in equal measure as it is such an emotion laden franchise. Personally I just try to enjoy what I'm presented with otherwise I just get stupidly pissed off with it.
Spoiler: In the end, Darth Vader is defeated by some Oompa Loompas. Spock also dies. (Sad face)
I've been hearing reports that Amazon is thinking about firing everyone involved in the show and starting from scratch. Wouldn't that be something?
Might help, actually.
They don't need to fire everyone - mostly the writers' room and the showrunners.