Lord of the Rings

[veritasamat]

Greetings everyone,

I just saw "The Return of the King" this week. I have watched all 3 movies and very much enjoyed the story. However, I noticed something in the last installment that was a little disappointing. Did anyone else notice that at the last battle, all the good characters are white, and all the bad guys are dark-skinned? The ones riding the elephants especially are dressed to look like arabs or some other muslims from the east.

If I remember right, this imagery was true to the book. Why do you think Tolkien would do that?

Peace,
veritasamat

[Susma Rio Sep]

Allow me to commend you for noticing.

One explanation why Tolkien used that imagery: that's the way he thinks and feels, even without conscious bigotry.

If you have a statement to be signed, include me. Time for further education for Tolkien.

Susma Rio Sep

Originally Posted by veritasamat

Greetings everyone,

I just saw "The Return of the King" this week. I have watched all 3 movies and very much enjoyed the story. However, I noticed something in the last installment that was a little disappointing. Did anyone else notice that at the last battle, all the good characters are white, and all the bad guys are dark-skinned? The ones riding the elephants especially are dressed to look like arabs or some other muslims from the east.

If I remember right, this imagery was true to the book. Why do you think Tolkien would do that?

Peace,
veritasamat

[I, Brian]

I guess one reason for the whiteness is that Tolkien was effectively inventing the races according to Anglo-Saxon identity - that was one of his main inspirations for Middle Earth. But it is a good observation that you make.

[Vajradhara]

did anyone read the book "Bored of the Rings"?

very funny paradoy.. though a bit ribald, if i recall correctly

[Anzac]

"Bored of the Rings" is a must read as it's like the original, but without Tolkein's over-flowery and long use of the English Language!

As for the film, I wasn't too impressed by it all. The first two were really good and went a long way to working the whole situation. The last one (though the longest) not only rushed through it all - but the happy ending - I will be turning over in my grave when I'm in it for that last hour of happy-endings and love! It was appauling and really toned down the film in some well choreographed battle scenes, but slightly overplayed.

As for the parody with the east - anyone catch the line "let the armies of the west unite" - and he didn't honestly say it was an allegory for Nazi Germany did he...