The Matrix vs. Lord Of The Rings

[Jos Elkink]

I don't even have to doubt for a second ... The LOTR series was the best movie I ever saw from a technical point of view - as stated above - and was just brilliantly done. What is it, about 8 or 9 hours total? And not a second of boredom!

And the battle scenes are just brilliant. And I love Gandalf ...

Well, I must admit, of the Matrix I only saw the second episode, but didn't like it one bit ... And people discouraged me to see the third.

Oh, and Orion, Hunter and Guide, you say the LOTR was just much like all those other fantasy books you read? True, but do keep in mind that they all copied LOTR, not the other way around ... And do you know the 'Poort des doods' series of Weis & Hickman - that's a bit different and really cool ... (sorry to all others: Dutch title is the only one I know ...)

[The Hunter]

Yep, Jos, I'm fully aware of that. LOTR was even the first in it's genre. But for most ppl LOTR is the first fantasy book they ever read and continue from there on, in my case it was the other way around which is a shame really.

But my favourite movies are a bit weird and unpredictable. That's why i generally dont watch hollywood productions, you know in the end the cool good guy is going to win, against all odds really. They rarely surprise you. Thats why "the usual suspect" is one of my all time favourites.

[David]

My Californian Cousin, Peter Oberdorfer did a lot of the special effects for the second Matrix... Here is the company:

http://www.giantkillerrobots.com/

As for the movies... I don't really compare the two... one is a fantasy epic and the other is philosophical/action thought piece... They are categorically different, they both excell in their genres.

[Pirog]

Jos>

To be fair Tolkien ripped off most of his material from Scandinavian and Celtic mythology
But he was still an amazing man...what incredible imagination...and the languages he created are very advanced.

[rklenseth]

I don't even have to doubt for a second ... The LOTR series was the best movie I ever saw from a technical point of view - as stated above - and was just brilliantly done. What is it, about 8 or 9 hours total? And not a second of boredom!

And the battle scenes are just brilliant. And I love Gandalf ...

Well, I must admit, of the Matrix I only saw the second episode, but didn't like it one bit ... And people discouraged me to see the third.

Oh, and Orion, Hunter and Guide, you say the LOTR was just much like all those other fantasy books you read? True, but do keep in mind that they all copied LOTR, not the other way around ... And do you know the 'Poort des doods' series of Weis & Hickman - that's a bit different and really cool ... (sorry to all others: Dutch title is the only one I know ...)

I read Hickman and Weis all the time. Mostly there DragonLance Books and Death Gate Cycle books. I can't translate Dutch so I'm not sure what series you are referring to of theirs but I love Hickman and Weis's works. They always twist the fantasy and sci-fi genre so it isn't the same. Death Gate was my favorite and I wish they would write more on the series but they aren't anytime in the future. I think the DragonLance "War of the Souls" series was the last series they wrote together. Now they are writing with other authors or by themselves.

[rklenseth]

Jos>

To be fair Tolkien ripped off most of his material from Scandinavian and Celtic mythology
But he was still an amazing man...what incredible imagination...and the languages he created are very advanced.

Well, Tolkien was Irish or English, wasn't he? So he was just using the culture that existed around. And even though Tolkien denies that MiddleEarth was a early Europe, one cannot deny how much it looks like Europe.

[ephiroll]

The Matrix movies kicked ass, but the Lord of the Rings story is a classic and has made the fantasy genre what it is today.

[Ramsey]

Well, as for me, LOTR is amazing. But, so were the books. Matrix was also excellent...although I positively drool over Keanu Reeves...so I'm slightly partial....but, in all seriousness.....you can't really compare the two. Matrix etc...they are movies and good ones. although the second one was a bit drawn out. LOTR were some of the best books i've ever read, then seeing it on the screen...leaves me without words.

So my opinion? They were both great films....One being new for the new age...the future etc....and one with a legacy. you just have to look on them for what they are....Different.

[Pirog]

Well, Tolkien was Irish or English, wasn't he? So he was just using the culture that existed around. And even though Tolkien denies that MiddleEarth was a early Europe, one cannot deny how much it looks like Europe.

Yes, but although he has formed the fantasy creatures to what they are generally thought of today (with elves, trolls, orks etc.), it seems like many people think he invented the terms from the beginning.

The whole concept with MiddleEarth is very similar to the Scandinavian ancient religion. MiddleEarth and Midgaard (Swedish=Midgård) feels like the same thing
Especially if you read Silmarillion, where much of Tolkiens world is described, you see the similarities with the Scandinavian gods & valkyries and the Valar...but it is really to complicated to explain here

[rklenseth]

I'm not disagreeing with you, Pirog. I totally agree. I just find it that he denied that MiddleEarth wasn't a early Europe or copy of with fantastic element added in.

Yes, most of the terms he used came from myth and legend but he did make them what they are today. The only difference that can be had is that he claimed that elves were taller than humans while most legends and myths claimed that elves were small fairie like creatures. Other fantasy series claim that elves are between 4 foot being the smallest adult elf and 5 foot being the largest adult elf. So I think he borrowed the term from legend and then people borrowed the term from him.

[Ash]

LOTR is by far better, the only decent Matrix film was the first one, the second one was boring.. (I went to the premiere of that!! ) Don't know about the 3rd one. But i def think LOTR is much better than the matrix, in most trilogies, the first one is always the best, henceforth The Matrix..

But the LOTR showed that wrong.. all the films are great!

YEY!! lol

[Báng]

OK, we'll settle that the Lord of the Rings is the best fantasy film trilogy ever. Take it out, what about x-men, and theres a new spider man film out next year. Terminator? Batman?

I liked the x-men comics, haven't read them in a while. Prefered the spiderman film to all of the above mentioned.

[grayjaket]

I loved X-men and X2. I can't wait for the third to come out. Spiderman rocked, and was by far, the best superhero movie to come out yet. I haven't seen any Terminator movies....Batman was overdone and too weird.

[Sho]

Tolkien's imaginary world (which technically should not be called Middle-Earth, since Middle-Earth was merely a continent of a complete fictional universe, but is called that for lack of a better name) was originally conceived as a "mythology for England" comparable to Greek or Norse mythology. In his early works, the Lost Road being the best example, he intentionally tried to connect Middle-Earth stories to Norse mythology and history. Of course, it rapidly drifted off course to become a completely separate world, but this does explain the influences.
I personally think the movies got worse, but they were all very good. I think there was a trend of increasing battle scenes and decreasing book-to-movie links as the three movies came out. If you look at the movies as a distinct set of works, then the third movie was certainly the best. Amazing movie.

[Darth Tiberius]

Matrix 1 was better than akll the LOTR movies but the other Matrix ones where soo much of a diappointment compared to the first that the LOTR stands out. Plus I~ liked the storyline better in LOTR. So I guess LOTR wins.