Seriously, while there are some movies that lose way too much in the translation to the living room, there are others that do just fine. It's easy to talk about the obvious reasons in both cases (spectacle vs. character-driven stuff et al), but what about the less obvious?
Example: Lawrence of Arabia. I would argue that the loss isn't only visual. but that the desert is effectively a main character, O'Toole and Sharif's co-star, and that her reduced screen presence unbalances the movie.
Anyone else have movies where the small screen versions don't work when they should, or do when they shouldn't? Or where (as with LOA, above) other things are lost than sheer size?
Thanks to Narya for jogging this out of my skull.
Movies on TV--wrong or merely pointless?
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narya
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I agree on the Lawrence of Arabia example - that's what I always think of when I think big vs little screen. Gone with the Wind is another one that benefited from a wide screen for the wide shots.
I disagree on the LOTR movies. They are a private obsession for me. I disliked being in a movie house with heretics and agnostics who giggled at all the wrong times, or held whispered conversations behind my back. Each stray noise took me out of the magic.
There are some movies I won't see in the movie house, because I know the violence will be too overwhelming for my nervous system. So I wait until they come out on video, and watch them on my laptop (I don't have a functional TV). I did that recently with "Flags of our Fathers". I know war is hell, and don't need to watch relentless 30 minute scenes driving that point home. But the dialog during the non-action scenes was worth while, so I skimmed through to those.
I disagree on the LOTR movies. They are a private obsession for me. I disliked being in a movie house with heretics and agnostics who giggled at all the wrong times, or held whispered conversations behind my back. Each stray noise took me out of the magic.
There are some movies I won't see in the movie house, because I know the violence will be too overwhelming for my nervous system. So I wait until they come out on video, and watch them on my laptop (I don't have a functional TV). I did that recently with "Flags of our Fathers". I know war is hell, and don't need to watch relentless 30 minute scenes driving that point home. But the dialog during the non-action scenes was worth while, so I skimmed through to those.
No, it doesn't. It shows up the insanity of pretending an army of horsemen could ride down that slope.Crucifer wrote:Yes, but annoying would-be fans aside, I think the effect is lost on the small screen.
Gandalf riding to the aid of Helms Deep on Shadowfax looks better, for example, on big screen.
Sorry.
A sore point with me.
Dig deeper.
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Primula Baggins
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There are things eagles can't do, either. 
“There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
I read it YESTERDAY) -
Primula Baggins
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<raps on table with thimble>
Do come out. We won't bite.
I think it's "Mearas," but I may be wrong and I probably left out a diacritical mark or two, or three.
As for yov's point, fantasy is not a world with no rules; it's a world with different rules. The fewer differences, the better. Where's the drama if characters can do impossible things simply because that particular bit of the story requires it? If Gandalf could have flown up out of the pit in Moria? If the Eagles could or would have carried the Ring to the Fire?
From what I see, writing fantasy requires close attention to reality, or the reader/viewer won't see the magic, the different rules, as important. So, better not to have horses doing impossible things just to get a single dramatic sequence of shots.
I find it much more exciting when characters do something that is almost impossible than when they magically do the impossible.
Do come out. We won't bite.
I think it's "Mearas," but I may be wrong and I probably left out a diacritical mark or two, or three.
As for yov's point, fantasy is not a world with no rules; it's a world with different rules. The fewer differences, the better. Where's the drama if characters can do impossible things simply because that particular bit of the story requires it? If Gandalf could have flown up out of the pit in Moria? If the Eagles could or would have carried the Ring to the Fire?
From what I see, writing fantasy requires close attention to reality, or the reader/viewer won't see the magic, the different rules, as important. So, better not to have horses doing impossible things just to get a single dramatic sequence of shots.
I find it much more exciting when characters do something that is almost impossible than when they magically do the impossible.
“There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
People do all sorts of ridiculously impossible things in mythical moments. The Greeks did it all the time and so does the Bible (for those who believe it's myth) and so does Tolkien (in the Sil, particularly). Three days running without food or sleep? 
Examining the reality of those situations seems so entirely, frustratingly besides the point to me.
Examining the reality of those situations seems so entirely, frustratingly besides the point to me.I wanna love somebody but I don't know how
I wanna throw my body in the river and drown
-The Decemberists
I wanna throw my body in the river and drown
-The Decemberists
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Voronwë the Faithful
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[OT]When people used to commonly mistake me for being female in my earlier days on TORC, I always took it as a compliment[/OT]
"Spirits in the shape of hawks and eagles flew ever to and from his halls; and their eyes could see to the depths of the seas, and pierce the hidden caverns beneath the world."
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axordil
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What, mistake Voronwë for female? 
Actually, for him, er her, it should be a
Anyway.
Sometimes a movie loses AND gains something in the transition. I'm thinking of Moulin Rouge, for example, where the loss of the massive phantasmagoria on screen is balanced by the fact that with the visual volume turned down from 11 it's easier to care about the characters a bit more, at least for me.
Actually, for him, er her, it should be a
Anyway.
Sometimes a movie loses AND gains something in the transition. I'm thinking of Moulin Rouge, for example, where the loss of the massive phantasmagoria on screen is balanced by the fact that with the visual volume turned down from 11 it's easier to care about the characters a bit more, at least for me.
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Primula Baggins
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I had a similar result with the LotR films, I think; I find I enjoy them as much or more on the small screen, because it produces a shift in focus from the spectacle to the characters. The beautiful images are still there, but in a more proper proportion, to my mind. And the bits that were over the top or in-your-face more than I liked are toned down.
I agree with narya, too: there's a lot to be said for enjoying the LotR films alone or with a small and appreciative group. I saw them all numerous times in theaters and several times was tempted to murder by running commentary and idiot questions nearby.
I agree with narya, too: there's a lot to be said for enjoying the LotR films alone or with a small and appreciative group. I saw them all numerous times in theaters and several times was tempted to murder by running commentary and idiot questions nearby.
“There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
Shadowfax was a "Mearas", the others were common horses.
If they had suddenly flown, it wouldn't have annoyed me: that would be magic.
But as a former horsewoman, I cannot stand to see those horses supposedly being galloped ventre a terre down a horse-killing slope. Most of them would have broken their legs! The scene would have been far more impressive if they hadn't CGI'd it into a monstrosity.
Like almost everything else PJ has done.
If they had suddenly flown, it wouldn't have annoyed me: that would be magic.
But as a former horsewoman, I cannot stand to see those horses supposedly being galloped ventre a terre down a horse-killing slope. Most of them would have broken their legs! The scene would have been far more impressive if they hadn't CGI'd it into a monstrosity.
Like almost everything else PJ has done.
Dig deeper.