The Anti-hero as the archtype
I've always enjoyed reading. Many of the stories I read as a kid had a protaganist who was a hero. He embodied all the qualities of a hero. He was noble, good, right, moral etc. In contrast, films have embraced the anti-hero as the archtype. He is flawed, often to the point of being indistinguishable from the bad guy (aside from a wife and/or child who must be kidnapped in movie cliche fashion, a badge, not-so-witty one liners and a seemingly inexhaustible supply of bullets and perfect marksmanship to boot.). I can understand Hollywood trying to make the characters "more human" or accessable or whatever but one example that has vexed me considerably is the in LOTR: The Two Towers
POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT
POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT
POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT
enough space? Good. Anyway, the changes to Theoden and Faramir dimish them as heroes and make them quite ordinary. In the book, Theoden, King of the Mark of Rohan is under the grip of Wormtongue's poisonous words (not possessed or whatever by Saruman). Once Gandalf shows him the error of his ways he casts Wormtongue out and immediately seeks to redress the ill that he has done while under Wormtongue's thrall. He knows he and his men face the evil that approaches and fight them even if they are going to be slaughtered doing so. Likewise, Faramir is steel willed and filled with very firm resolve and never ever wavers from his will to confront and defeat evil. Once he realizes who Frodo and Sam are, he does his best to aid them in their quest. He never seeks to use the One Ring and that is what distinguishes him from his brother (Boromir). Also the Ents are (in the book) aware of the threat that faces them and it is like no other before, the know they must fight. IMNHO, these changes dimish the gigantic heroic stature of the characters. The point is that when faced with great evil, men (and women like Dernhelm) will rise above themselves to fight it.
NB: Don't interpret this to mean that I didn't like the movie. I did. I [b]loved[/b] it. Jawdroppingly awesome. The CGI is the best that's ever been done and the battle scenes are simply astonishing.
I've always enjoyed reading. Many of the stories I read as a kid had a protaganist who was a hero. He embodied all the qualities of a hero. He was noble, good, right, moral etc. In contrast, films have embraced the anti-hero as the archtype. He is flawed, often to the point of being indistinguishable from the bad guy (aside from a wife and/or child who must be kidnapped in movie cliche fashion, a badge, not-so-witty one liners and a seemingly inexhaustible supply of bullets and perfect marksmanship to boot.). I can understand Hollywood trying to make the characters "more human" or accessable or whatever but one example that has vexed me considerably is the in LOTR: The Two Towers
POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT
POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT
POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT
enough space? Good. Anyway, the changes to Theoden and Faramir dimish them as heroes and make them quite ordinary. In the book, Theoden, King of the Mark of Rohan is under the grip of Wormtongue's poisonous words (not possessed or whatever by Saruman). Once Gandalf shows him the error of his ways he casts Wormtongue out and immediately seeks to redress the ill that he has done while under Wormtongue's thrall. He knows he and his men face the evil that approaches and fight them even if they are going to be slaughtered doing so. Likewise, Faramir is steel willed and filled with very firm resolve and never ever wavers from his will to confront and defeat evil. Once he realizes who Frodo and Sam are, he does his best to aid them in their quest. He never seeks to use the One Ring and that is what distinguishes him from his brother (Boromir). Also the Ents are (in the book) aware of the threat that faces them and it is like no other before, the know they must fight. IMNHO, these changes dimish the gigantic heroic stature of the characters. The point is that when faced with great evil, men (and women like Dernhelm) will rise above themselves to fight it.
NB: Don't interpret this to mean that I didn't like the movie. I did. I [b]loved[/b] it. Jawdroppingly awesome. The CGI is the best that's ever been done and the battle scenes are simply astonishing.
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