LOTR: Simply the best films ever made

[Nitro]

How could you!! :maul :emperor

ha. it was my first viewings of the movie. i initially wrote off the Fellowship after I saw it in the theaters...but it took a second viewing out of me to obtain a proper respect for Peter Jacksons vision of Tolkiens tale when it came out on DVD. i've been a fan ever since...a little late i know...but better than nothing

 

[carbo-fation]

ha. it was my first viewings of the movie. i initially wrote off the Fellowship after I saw it in the theaters...but it took a second viewing out of me to obtain a proper respect for Peter Jacksons vision of Tolkiens tale when it came out on DVD. i've been a fan ever since...a little late i know...but better than nothing

It's cool! I was just kidding! Better late than never!

 

[LOTRFan]

Even I would be rather hesitant to say that LOTR are the best films ever made, arguably so in the last 20 years, but I don't think ever.

 

[The Josh]

IMO they are but I don't begrudge anyone for feeling different.

 

[Bonehead15]

I would give the OT a slight edge over these, but if you incorporate the PT and do either saga, it's LOTR. Either way, I never get tired of watching these films.

I'll agree with you Loki.

Either way, OT or LOTR, you can't go wrong.

BOTH trilogys are awesome.

The major factor that LOTR has over the OT is that the movies flow so much better from one to another but that's cause there isn't any time laps between the movies. TTT starts up right after FOTR ends whereas ESB takes place at least a year after ANH.

 

[Radagaster]

Believe it or not, LOTR does have time lapses too, but you couldn't tell that because they made it so seamless. Take the case of Frodo finally heading out of the Shire with the Ring. That took place several years after Bilbo disappeared to Rivendell. You think Uruks were grown out of Isengard overnight? Even that took time to amass. Basically, the Fellowship was just sitting on their butts at Rohan around that time.

What you're seeing is the ability of one director helming 3 movies at one time and making it look seamless. Lucas couldn't achieve that with the OT since he had a change in directorship even though he helmed the overall production from the get go.

Put this way, if I had a choice between Lucas and Jackson as the director and production company, I'd stick Lucas to the storyboards, and have Jackson direct all Star Wars movies . . . Maybe.

 

[Khev]

Even I would be rather hesitant to say that LOTR are the best films ever made, arguably so in the last 20 years, but I don't think ever.

Out of curiousity what 20+ year old film would you rank above the LOTR trilogy? And I don't mean "Citizen Kane because it was so ahead of its time" or some other canned "Film Appreciation School 101" answer.

 

[Radagaster]

I'm not sure if having won 10 academy awards or that it ranked in the top AFI spots, but it'll be hard to find a movie trilogy with the same caliber. Godfather trilogy? NOT!

 

[LOTRFan]

Hey now, slow down everybody. Movies are quite subjective, let me just remind you of my board name ... (I am not called Godfatherfan)

As for films that are just as impacting or more so; well really how long could a list like this be - I will only list a few:

Citizen Kane - yes I can list this!; The Godfather; Patton; Casablanca; Amadeus; The Bridge Over the River Kwai; Das Boot; etc, etc.

 

[gtb]

ha. it was my first viewings of the movie. i initially wrote off the Fellowship after I saw it in the theaters...but it took a second viewing out of me to obtain a proper respect for Peter Jacksons vision of Tolkiens tale when it came out on DVD. i've been a fan ever since...a little late i know...but better than nothing

You won't regret your choice.... you can start to learn more from Silmarillion

 

[LOTRFan]

I'm not sure if having won 10 academy awards or that it ranked in the top AFI spots, but it'll be hard to find a movie trilogy with the same caliber. Godfather trilogy? NOT!

Oh and btw, LOTR doesn't appear in the TOP 100 .

 

[pordey2]

Oh and btw, LOTR doesn't appear in the TOP 100 .

But "Fargo" is

 

[Khev]

Hey now, slow down everybody. Movies are quite subjective, let me just remind you of my board name ... (I am not called Godfatherfan)

As for films that are just as impacting or more so; well really how long could a list like this be - I will only list a few:

Citizen Kane - yes I can list this!; The Godfather; Patton; Casablanca; Amadeus; The Bridge Over the River Kwai; Das Boot; etc, etc.

Bla bla bla. That's what I was talking about. The oh so generic AFI list that everyone mindlessly repeats to sound cinematically "cultured". I don't care if you prefer Jury Duty over LOTR, to each his own and all that, I was just curious as to what 20+ year old film you thought stood up to LOTR on its own filmmaking merits alone, not how impactful it was at the time. Don't worry, it isn't a loaded question. If you think the story, characters, drama, music, etc. of Jaws or Raiders, Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind, or what have you is outright better than LOTR that's what I'd like to hear about.

Citizen Kane is an unbelievably amazing achievement for 1941. But it isn't 1941 anymore.

 

[LOTRFan]

Blah, blah, blah, newer is always better - I know we do it so much better now. I didn't bring up the AFI list, but was merely pointing out that LOTR isn't in the top 100.

It's funny that I am needing to justify my appreciation for LOTR, I almost feel that I would be the last to need to do that. Hmm, guess not; oh well. Without hesitation I would rank LOTR as the top fantasy trilogy, and certainly amongst some of the finest films ever made.

Down with the critics and amateur film watchers, you may not have an opinion on such matters. Khev, you sound like a Kurganite!

 

[Wetanut]

Oh and btw, LOTR doesn't appear in the TOP 100 .

Fan: don't mean to sound like I'm piling on against you, but this list was compiled in 1998 I believe -- and since FOTR came out in 2001.......
On their next revision (who knows when) am sure that one or all of the trilogy will appear.

But I agree...."best" is so very subjective.

 

[LOTRFan]

Fan: don't mean to sound like I'm piling on against you, but this list was compiled in 1998 I believe -- and since FOTR came out in 2001.......
On their next revision (who knows when) am sure that one or all of the trilogy will appear.

Nah, no harm done. In fact I wasn't quoting from AFI. All I was saying is that the claim that it ranks amongst the top 100 wasn't true.

 

[Wetanut]

Bla bla bla. That's what I was talking about. The oh so generic AFI list that everyone mindlessly repeats to sound cinematically "cultured". I don't care if you prefer Jury Duty over LOTR, to each his own and all that, I was just curious as to what 20+ year old film you thought stood up to LOTR on its own filmmaking merits alone, not how impactful it was at the time. Don't worry, it isn't a loaded question. If you think the story, characters, drama, music, etc. of Jaws or Raiders, Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind, or what have you is outright better than LOTR that's what I'd like to hear about.

Citizen Kane is an unbelievably amazing achievement for 1941. But it isn't 1941 anymore.

Have to disagree....but Citizen Kane stands the test of time in artistry, vision, creativity, etc. So does Sunset Boulevard and Singing in the Rain. As well as The Searchers and They Shoot Horses, Don't They, and Treasure of the Sierra Madre. etc. etc. etc. This is not to say LOTR doesn't belong with them. In fact, I believe they do. They WILL also stand the test of time. And not just cornered into a fantasy genre either...but as a film that "crosses over", if you will, and is appreciated without that "fantasy" label tacked on.

 

[Khev]

Blah, blah, blah, newer is always better - I know we do it so much better now.

Okay, okay, I take back the "generic AFI list" comment. We cool?

I remember when Braveheart came out. I thought, "somebody should combine that movie with the CGI dinos of Jurassic Park to make the ultimate fantasy movie." Peter Jackson did just that.

But yes, films are definitely subjective, and highly influenced by whichever one I happen to be watching at the time. Even after starting this thread I could easily pop in the DVD for The Empire Strikes Back or E.T. and go "no, THIS is simply the best movie ever made."

But dang, LOTR, what stupendous achievements.

 

[LOTRFan]

But dang, LOTR, what stupendous achievements.

Salute!

 

[Radagaster]

Hmm . . .if it aint AFI, then I know they're in someone's top 100 list . . .