Tolkien Bio-pic - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Inziladun · 03-07-2019, 11:47 AM

All right, I know I'm not the only one who's heard about the upcoming Tolkien biography film, and seen the trailer. So, how does it look? More importantly, how does it feel?

On first glance, I'm put in mind of a cross between Dead Poets Society and Pearl Harbor.

Thoughts?

William Cloud Hicklin · 03-07-2019, 12:48 PM

Guarantee: they will de-emphasize his intense religious belief to the vanishing point.

Good odds that they'll have the TCBS all serving in the same unit on the Somme, and one will die in Tolkien's arms.

Inziladun · 03-09-2019, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hicklin

Guarantee: they will de-emphasize his intense religious belief to the vanishing point.

I agree, unless it's to point to the "forcible" conversion of Edith.

Quote:

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hicklin

Good odds that they'll have the TCBS all serving in the same unit on the Somme, and one will die in Tolkien's arms.

I'd like to think they wouldn't shoehorn Hollywood tropism into an ostensible biography, but you never know...

William Cloud Hicklin · 03-09-2019, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inziladun

I agree, unless it's to point to the "forcible" conversion of Edith.

Or to portray Father Francis as a bigoted, tyrannical ogre. And probably a pedophile.

William Cloud Hicklin · 03-13-2019, 12:36 PM

Couple of points re: the second trailer

Why cast an actor who looks nothing whatsoever like Tolkien? Christ, they could at least have dyed his hair blonde.

Why cast an American as Edith? And even if she can successfully pull off RP (which she speaks in the trailer)- Edith spoke Brum her entire life

Although they do put Wiseman in naval uniform, the idea of the 4 TCBS in uniform together doesn't work (Tolkien delayed signing up until after graduation).

Why would Tolkien have a vision of a Black Rider in this timeframe? His imagination was entirely in the First Age.

One also gets what looks like an image of JRRT charging across No Man's Land with an SMLE and Bayonet. Tolkien was a signals officer, he didn't "charge" anywhere and all he carried for weaponry was a Webley Mk VI revolver.

Huinesoron · 03-14-2019, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hicklin

Why would Tolkien have a vision of a Black Rider in this timeframe? His imagination was entirely in the First Age.

One also gets what looks like an image of JRRT charging across No Man's Land with an SMLE and Bayonet. Tolkien was a signals officer, he didn't "charge" anywhere and all he carried for weaponry was a Webley Mk VI revolver.

You're certainly right here - if Tolkien 'saw' anything on the Somme, it was a fair city in ruins, dragons of steel and thunder, and brave heroes tumbling with craven cowards to the same inevitable end. I'm still hoping we get a glimpse of the Fall of Gondolin - but it's not much of a hope.

I'm kind of inclined to rendering the idea in art, so... do you happen to know what Tolkien would have had on him as equipment etc when going over the top? I assume he didn't carry phones, lamps, flags, and pigeons with him at all times, though I'm willing to be proved wrong...

hS

03-07-2019, 11:47 AM	#1
Inziladun Gruesome Spectre Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Heaven's doorstep Posts: 8,038	Tolkien Bio-pic All right, I know I'm not the only one who's heard about the upcoming Tolkien biography film, and seen the trailer. So, how does it look? More importantly, how does it feel? On first glance, I'm put in mind of a cross between Dead Poets Society and Pearl Harbor. Thoughts? __________________ Music alone proves the existence of God.

03-07-2019, 12:48 PM	#2
William Cloud Hicklin Loremaster of Annúminas Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,324	Guarantee: they will de-emphasize his intense religious belief to the vanishing point. Good odds that they'll have the TCBS all serving in the same unit on the Somme, and one will die in Tolkien's arms. __________________ The entire plot of The Lord of the Rings could be said to turn on what Sauron didn’t know, and when he didn’t know it.

03-13-2019, 12:36 PM	#5
William Cloud Hicklin Loremaster of Annúminas Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,324	Couple of points re: the second trailer Why cast an actor who looks nothing whatsoever like Tolkien? Christ, they could at least have dyed his hair blonde. Why cast an American as Edith? And even if she can successfully pull off RP (which she speaks in the trailer)- Edith spoke Brum her entire life Although they do put Wiseman in naval uniform, the idea of the 4 TCBS in uniform together doesn't work (Tolkien delayed signing up until after graduation). Why would Tolkien have a vision of a Black Rider in this timeframe? His imagination was entirely in the First Age. One also gets what looks like an image of JRRT charging across No Man's Land with an SMLE and Bayonet. Tolkien was a signals officer, he didn't "charge" anywhere and all he carried for weaponry was a Webley Mk VI revolver. __________________ The entire plot of The Lord of the Rings could be said to turn on what Sauron didn’t know, and when he didn’t know it.