Lord of the Rings

veritasamat

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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
 
Kudos for noticing that

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


veritasamat said:
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 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.
 
did anyone read the book "Bored of the Rings"?

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