I've been hearing a lot of talk lately, in the last year, about the Lord of the Rings Trilogy being the best trilogy of all time. Maybe if you were born after 1980... The first 3 Star Wars films were heads and shoulders ahead of the LOTR films. I was actually a little bored on many occassions during the LOTR films. Nothing about the first 3 Star Wars films was anything less than thrilling.
Have you seen the extended versions of the LOTR movies (well, at least the first two)? As weird as it may sound, if you found the regular versions boring, you may find the longer versions LESS boring... they do a better job of getting you involved in the story.
No dobut, the Ewoks were an unwelcome addition to Jedi, but they don't diminish the quality of the rest of that film. And no, I haven't seen any of the extended versions of LOTR, which I will do eventually, and I'll reserve final judgment (as most who have seen those love them....)
I grew up in the 80s (born in the mid-70s), and I must say that I lived, breathed, and dreamed SW for over two decades. They are great movies. Very fun.
But I must confess, they do not stand up to the test of time. They are great for kids and teens--even young adults--but the characters are perhaps too mythic, too stereotypical.
LOTR is an adult adventure film. Great action, but it is the characters that drive the films. These are complex, interesting characters...and there are many of them.
In many ways it is unfair to compare the two series. The directors set out to do two very different things. Lucas wanted a Mythic "space opera" where archetypes from days of old were brought into a sci-fi setting. Jackson was taking a classic epic with all of its complexity and translating it into film.
Posts: 25 | Location: Wisconsin, USA | Registered: 20 May 2004
Only Empire Strikes Back has stood up to the test of time. Certainly as I have gotten older and more knowledgable the first Star Wars has lost some of it's lustre. Knowing that he ripped off most of his ideas from Kurosawa's Hidden Fortress didn't help either. Return of the Jedi was dissappointing even when it was released. Empire Strikes Back is still the greatest sequel of all time though. The Lord of the Rings trilogy was awesome, especially the extended versions. It tops my list of all time best trilogies along with the Evil Dead trilogy.
"If it were beneficial, their father would produce children already circumcised from their mother. Rather, the true circumcision in spirit has become profitable in every respect." -Jesus, from the Gospel Of Thomas
I think as movies the LotR films are better in their characters, plot development, acting, pacing etc. But I think the Star Wars films created such a rich universe that everyone knows about and people I guess take for granted today. I mean, who doesnt know of Jedi?
Still, my vote goes to LotR.
Posts: 335 | Location: Sydney, Australia | Registered: 14 May 2004
quote:Written by Member 27 But I think the Star Wars films created such a rich universe that everyone knows about and people I guess take for granted today. I mean, who doesnt know of Jedi?
Well, who doesn't know of Hobbits?
I'm biased in this decision because LOTR is a larger part of my generation than Star Wars is, so I'm going with LOTR.
K-Dog
Posts: 196 | Location: Purgatory | Registered: 04 June 2004
My point is that LotR took a universe that has existed in books since the early 20th century and adapted it (fantastically) to film, whereas Star Wars created its own.
Posts: 335 | Location: Sydney, Australia | Registered: 14 May 2004
They will both live to be classics, but LOTR is better. It had just as much action as Star Wars. Star Wars was excellent, but I wasn't totally thrilled about all of the movies. All of LOTR's movies were amazing. Plus, Star Wars was ruined by the completely disastorous new Star Wars movies.
The original Star Wars trilogy is classic, nobody can argue that. The LOTR movies were fantastically done, and among the best in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre, but they're no Star Wars.
As for the new SW movies....blah. Lucas could've done so much more with these. I think he knew that Episode I was a major let-down, and tried to get in gear for Episode II. But it sort of felt like he was trying to compete with a lot of the big box-office smash movies (LOTR, The Matrix, etc.) by having an over-the-top battle at the end. And did you see the God-awful ad campaign behind Episode II? Let's hope Episode III rocks way harder than these other two.
Ask not what you can do for your country ... ask what your country did to you.
Posts: 4 | Location: Detroit | Registered: 14 July 2004
I really should see the original star wars films again since I have not seen them in a few years. Still, even though I respect the sw films and their greatness, I love the lotr films and overall think that they are better, maybe not more original, for they are totally based off of a book but overall I believe they are better.
Posts: 635 | Location: California | Registered: 24 August 2004
I Never Got Into The LOTR Ever I Havnt Read The Book And The Films May Have Some Of The Best Like Fight Scene's But If I Had A Few Hours Spare (Altho Id Need A Few Hours More For LOTR)Id Still Watch The Original Star Wars Triolgy Way Above LOTR The Lord Of The Rings Is Good Once... And Only Once Star Wars Is Great And Will Remain Great Forever!
quote:Originally posted by enkydu: But I must confess, they do not stand up to the test of time. They are great for kids and teens--even young adults--but the characters are perhaps too mythic, too stereotypical.
Stars Wars is the hands down better of the two. Do you realy believe that Lord of the Rings is going to stand the test of time? I can count the movies that have done so with one hand. Eventually all movies become outdated, no exeptions.
Posts: 3689 | Location: ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha | Registered: 18 October 2004
uhhh, i know some people are gonna think I'm crazy when I say this but....
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I've never seen any of the Star Wars...
I've seen all three LOTR movies and I thought they were really really good...but, i can't compare the two yet, cause I haven't seen Star Wars...I'll get on it right away though!!
o-<-</ thats me, skateboarding!
Posts: 158 | Location: under my (bed) blanket | Registered: 16 November 2004
lol, i was in Wal-Mart earlier this week and I saw the Star Wars: Trilogy..its selling for like 45 bucks...wow, maybe i'll just go rent each, one at a time...
o-<-</ thats me, skateboarding!
Posts: 158 | Location: under my (bed) blanket | Registered: 16 November 2004
There is no question Star Wars is better than LOTR.Easy question...star wars is a classic...lotr is trying so hard to be a great trilogy.Only reason it won so many awards...everything it went up against was wack.
Posts: 1103 | Location: Seattle | Registered: 25 May 2004
It seems that younger people like the lord of the rings more, this is probably due to the fact that they werent around when the original star wars came out or maybe they just like it more because the LoTR is better. .
You have to admit at least that the lotr are easily better than the new most recent star wars. You guys are only arguing about the originals, right?
Posts: 635 | Location: California | Registered: 24 August 2004
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