My wife and I liked it. Only 2 episodes on Prime have been released, and that was tonight.

If there's one, there's a hundred youtube videos predicting how awful Rings of Power was going to be. Mainly because of the Ring producers insisted that they were updating Tolkien's world to make it conform more to modern tastes and ideals compared to the 1940s (when Tolkien seriously started to write what became his trilogy). Based on those YT videos and also what I thought were poor trailers, I was expecting a mediocre show. Notwithstanding the billion dollars it was costing Amazon to buy the rights and produce the series, which reportedly is to run for five seasons.

2 things astonished me: 

The art, scenery, choreography, settings were very good. Far better than the trailers predicted.

The acting and directing was very good too. Which surprised me even more.

The casting turned out to be good enough. I was afraid it wouldn't be.

The screenplay is not up to the Jackson films, but then Jackson, insofar as possible, was using Tolkien speak. A master of all things linguistic, to say the least.  But the Amazon Rings script is not substandard, good enough.

I think there is too much action and not enough drama leading up to it. Not like in the Jackson films where for instance tension increases as large enemy armies slowly build and approach upon Helms Deep. A fast pace to dazzle the audience with pizazz instead of substance is a common modern cinema trick.

I think the Amazon production got their money's worth in their purchase from the Tolkien estate, considering what they did with what they bought. Yes, I am going to enjoy it all. Can't say who else will for sure. 🤣

 

 

 

 

If its available in the UK then I'll have a watch tonight. I'm not really a Lord of The Rings fan but I'll give it a chance. 

Thanks for that.  I love Tolkien and was excited to hear about the new series, but was turned off by some bad reviews and criticisms that they made it another "woke" production.

I'll give it a shot.

Dave

Great fan of the books and really enjoyed the films. Looking forward to watching on Prime.

The Guardian gave it a really good review......but there again, the Guardian is seen as a bit "woke " by some.😉😂

 

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/aug/31/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-rings-of-power-review-so-astounding-it-makes-house-of-the-dragon-look-amateur

Edited September 2, 20223 yr by GaryK

ROP gave up on filming in New Zealand and further seasons are to be filmed in the UK. Its never going to be as good as Jackson's LOTR because Jackson had all of Tolkien's material and the good sense to let his films tell Tolkien's story instead of his own. Nobody involved in writing the script, plot, and characters for Rings of Power are as talented as JRRT and they did not have a book by him for a guide. Only Tolkien's vague outlines which covered eons of time and therefore had very little space to tell the stories this series is based on.

So nothing sings like Jackson's movie constantly does, nothing is as memorable, as classic. I was almost afraid to start watching it. But it turned out to be a very good series. It has lots of interesting and unique characters, none of which seem cardboard or cliches. I say a strong B+ for a score.

 

 

I watched it last night also. Bottom line - I like it and will continue. My only complain, and I understand why they did it, is that they jumped from one situation to another to introduce all the characters. They tied in the segments mostly but it was, to me, a little choppy.

I feared they were going to try to make it a "woke" Tolkein but, if they did try it was not an in your face moment.

The initial storyline is interesting, the actors are quite good altho I detect a strong Irish accent on many of them but it doesn't affect anything. The graphics and scenery are beautiful.

I'm interested to see where this goes.

On 9/2/2022 at 2:20 PM, Fielder said:

ROP gave up on filming in New Zealand and further seasons are to be filmed in the UK.

Any idea on why they "gave up on filming in New Zealand?"

I think it was the labor costs. Way back in time Jackson had hundreds of NZ volunteers working for free, enamored with the idea of a colossal film series being filmed there, and delighted it was about Tolkien's beloved 3 book series. There were issues between these Amazon producers and NZ labor unions. It turned out to be much cheaper to film in the remote regions of the greater UK. Perhaps hordes of Brits will love to join together a million plastic rings into coats of mail for the Orc armies!

After the mostly cgi prologue of LOTR, Fellowship opens with Gandalf and Frodo in a cart entering Hobbiton. Frodo says Uncle Bilbo has been secreting himself and pouring over old manuscripts. It jumps to a quick very few seconds long scene where Bilbo is reading ancient words on parchments. Special Features on the DVDs tell about the long effort of creating paper and ink and calligraphy all from the middle ages. Mostly by directed volunteers.

17 hours ago, Fielder said:

I think it was the labor costs.

Thanks for clearing up things for me. 

On 9/2/2022 at 7:00 PM, GaryK said:

Great fan of the books and really enjoyed the films. Looking forward to watching on Prime.

The Guardian gave it a really good review......but there again, the Guardian is seen as a bit "woke " by some.😉😂

 

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/aug/31/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-rings-of-power-review-so-astounding-it-makes-house-of-the-dragon-look-amateur

......I've now watched it and really enjoyed it. Visually stunning and if you've watched the Lord of the Rings movie the characters have a nice familiar feel.

Apparently there are groups of "anti-woke" supporters bombing amazon with bad reviews. They seem to have issues with the ethnic diversity of the cast.......So many angry folk around these days. Sad.

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/sep/04/amazon-delays-rings-of-power-ratings-combat-fake-reviews