Very interesting Star Wars/Lord of the Rings comparison

[SheepEater]

Most interesting website I've seen this month.

Even more so if you're into one of the Lego themes (or both!)

http://www.listal.com/list/ring-wars-star-wars

[______]

Didn't George Lucas want to make the Lord Of The Rings into a film, however he wasn't allowed? A few years later, Star Wars comes out.

[SheepEater]

Didn't George Lucas want to make the Lord Of The Rings into a film, however he wasn't allowed? A few years later, Star Wars comes out.

Yes! But that didn't stop him: he did his own medieval fantasy movie a few years later, featuring "hobbits" knockoffs. (Not allowed to directly use the hobbit name, of course, calling them "nelwyns"). You get a knockoff Frodo and Aragorn as main characters. It featured a big "hobbit" village, like Hobbiton. They were played by actual midget actors (or little people, if the term midget offends you)

[Gryphon Ink]

Interesting, but really starts stretching when they get into the walk-on characters - Bail Organa's assistant, and Elf warriors who have three seconds of screen time? Who knew these guys even had names? All this proves is that both trilogies have lots and lots of minor characters.

But overall, yes, there are strong parallels between them. Both trilogies offer great examples of the Hero's Journey monomyth that Joseph Campbell talks about. In the case of Star Wars, it's specifically because George Lucas used Campbell's work on the Hero's Journey as a template for the plot of A New Hope. There is also at least one scene in the LOTR films that is a Star Wars homage - Legolas killing the Mumakil is an intentional AT-AT reference.

[Bilbo Baggins]

Pretty good comparison. On the other topic I've never seen Willow but I'll try to see it now. Did you knew that George Lucas wasn't the first to try making LOTR a film? In the 1960s there was a project in which The Beatles would make a movie based on the book, but J. R. R. Tolkien didn't gave them the rights to make it

Edit: Knight yey!!

Edited July 18, 2012 by Bilbo Baggins

[Artanis I]

Interesting, but really starts stretching when they get into the walk-on characters - Bail Organa's assistant, and Elf warriors who have three seconds of screen time? Who knew these guys even had names? All this proves is that both trilogies have lots and lots of minor characters.

There is also at least one scene in the LOTR films that is a Star Wars homage - Legolas killing the Mumakil is an intentional AT-AT reference.

I think almost all of those character comparisons are a stretch. Not even on the list was Saruman/Dooku, probably the best similarity. Wizard gets corrupted by Sauron, tries to talk Gandalf into joining him / Jedi Master turns to the dark side, tries to talk Obi Wan into joining him. Both played by Christopher Lee, similar dialogue in those two scenes.

But the AT-AT/Mumak scenes are a good call.

In the 1960s there was a project in which The Beatles would make a movie based on the book, but J. R. R. Tolkien didn't gave them the rights to make it

Thank God for that. As much as I like the Beatles.

[Oky]

Dang. Even if I attempted a Ring Wars minifig mash-up, I don't think I would have come up with so many parallels. Although I must agree that about half of these are kind of a stretch. Thanks for sharing!

EDIT: Apparently they made one with PotC as well, but that one seems even more stretched.

[Jimbobulus]

I don't really agrree with that article-

FRODO vs LUKE

Frodo hardly leads a 'plan, simple life' prior to his adventure by Hobbit standards. He inherits the richest estate in the Shire and is part of a family many people think are "queer". Additionally, Whilst Luke does live a simple life, he yearns for adventure, whilst all Frodo wants to do is smoke a good pipe and eat lots of food.

Lukes 'power' (the Force) is one he trains and wields, and embraces. Frodos 'power' (the Ring) is something he shies away form using as much as possible, and in fact, it almost overwhelms him.

AS for most of the other points, surely they arent really comparisons but more, the expected nature of their death defying adventures? i.e the injuries they both sustain, the loss of loved ones/mentors etc..

HAN SOLO VS ARAGORN

How is Aragorn a Rogue? A Ranger is nothing like a Rogue, they are the descendants of the Men of Westernesse, i.e possibly the most noble men on Middle Earth. Han Solo is a Rogue who regularly cuts corners, bends the truth and commits crimes (in a lovable rogue way).

Aragorn is in The Prancing Pony waiting for Gandalf, and his friends, and knows to look out for the Hobbits so he can help them. Han Solo is sort out by Kenobi and has to bargain extensively for his services. Solo was not waiting for them.

AS for the other 'similarities' well, as the leader of the opposition, I would try to kill or destroy my big foes, so that's not really that surprising.

R2D2 vs SAMWISE

To Say that Sam is 'comic relief' is just insulting. He is one of the key characters and protagonists.

Sam is not small compared to Frodo, infact he's probably bigger. R2 is however, quite considerably smaller than Luke.

R2 does not carry any gear as far as I can remember.

The idea of Sam being tougher than he looks applies to all Hobbits.

Sam loves Frodo and they have a great friendship, this is perhaps the most important feature of the story. Luke and R2 do not 'love' each other.

C3PO vs MERRY

Again, Merry is not comic relief. It is in Hobbits' nature to be chirpy and good humoured, no matter what, making light of their bad circumstances. The ability to make a joke of something should not be misinterpreted as comic relief.

Why should both characters being intelligent be a common similarity between the films? Most of our main protagonists are very clever. That comparison could be made by most of these.

Merry only berates Pippin in the same way that great friends can berate each other. Pippin does like wise. R2 often does things his own way without seeming regard for C3PO, this cannot be said of the relationship between Merry and Pippin, which is a lot deeper than this article gives credit.

No, C3PO is not related to Luke. In any way.

PIPPIN VS JARJAR

JarJar is comic relief, essentially. He is meant to be clumsy. Pippin, is a lot more than that.

Pippin is always hungry? Well, so is every Hobbit. JarJar however is peculiar to his race in being always hungry. It's like saying Usain Bolt likes to run. Well yeah, he's the worlds best sprinter.

JarJar often hides/is scared. He surrendered when surrounded on Naboo despite his superior telling him not to. Pippin would never have done this.

CHEWBACCA VS GIMLI

Chewbacca isn't scruffy. As I remember, he likes to preen himself. Also, all of the protagonists named so far are scruffy. Thy generally don't have the facilities or the means to make themselves pretty whilst trying to save the world.

Gimils size isnt that different to the Hobbits. Also, Gimli is smaller than average, Chewbacca much taller. Surely this is a key difference between the two, not a similarity?

Extremely loyal/stout hearts? Well yeah, these are the heroes of the stories.There is a reason they are the heroes.

The idea of comic relief- almost every character in these films displays shows of humour, is called empathy, so the audience can relate to them. They arent similarities between two characters.

WEDGE ANTILLES vs LEGOLAS GREENLEAF

I don't think I can even dignify this comparison with an answer. Seriously?

LANDO CALRISSIAN VS BOROMIR

Lando and Han are good friends, old friends. Aragorn and Boromir met a few weeks/months ago, Boromir didnt even knoiw Aragorn existed. There was respect between the two, but not the same deep rooted friendship Hand and Lando had.

OBI WAN VS GANDALF

Gandalf is not a native of Middle Earth, he sent there by the Istari, and is not a warrior, although he can fight if needed. Obi Wan is a native of this world and trained to fight the forces of evil.

Gandalf is not a human, Obi Wan is.

The idea of Gandalf not being taken too seriously? By Whom?? Not everybody liked Gandalf, but not one person on Middle Earth didnt take him seriously.

Saruman wasn't Gandalfs friend, he was his leader. Bilbo was friend, Saruman wasn't.

Luke met Obi Wan having already grown up. Frodo had always known intimately of Gandalf.

Obi Wan willingly and intentionally gave up his life. Gandalf didn't. Going into Moria Gandalf hoped to get out the other side. Obi Wan knew going to the Death Star, he wouldn't come out.

Gandalf didn't die!

YODA VS TOM BOMBADIL

Tom Bombadil doesn't rival Saurons powers. He would get destroyed. He only has power in a very small area which he won't move out of. Yoda however, is the Don, the Man.

Yoda is one of the most important figures on the whole of Star Wars lore. Bombadil is not.

Bombadil has a wife, Yoda has no family

MACE WINDU VS ELROND

Isildur is not under Elronds influence.

Mace is killed in part because of the protagonist under his influence. Elrond survives.

QUI-GON JINN VS RADAGAST

Rdagast is not a warrior. Jinn is.

Jinn dies. Radagast does not.

Jinn was Obi Wans mentor. Gandalf was a friend of Radagast, not a mentor.

Radagast did not defy his orders. His 'speciality' was through nature, and it was in that medium he sought to fufil his duties. Jinn willingly defied orders, bringing about one of the greatest evils the Star Wars galaxy knew (Vader).

JOCASTA NU VS GALADRIEL

Galadriel is one of the most powerful and oldest characters in her universe. she also is an outcast, having left the Eldar willingly, and not returning.

The Jedi Archives/The Mirror of Galadriel are two entirely different things.

PADME AMIDALA VS ARWEN

Padme falls in love with the great evil, Arwen falls in love with the great saviour.

Arwen is/was immortal, and an elf, Padme is a human.

LEIA ORGANA VS EOWYN

Eowyn falls in love with Faramir. She fancied Aragorn for a bit. Neither Aragorn or Farmair are rogues. She likes them because of their virtuistic natures. Solo is a rogue, and thats why Leia likes him

Leia controls her destiny, Eowyn has to defy her orders to do what she wants

BAIL ORGANA VS THEODEN

Doesn't Alderaan get blown up?

CARLIST RIEEKAN VS EOMER

Another really sketchy one. Eomer is at first considered a rebel/outcast by his own leader.

Eomer then inherits the Kingdom. Rieekan does not.

RAYMUS ANTILLES VS THEODRED

Theodred isn't a soldier of high rank; he's the prince and heir.

Theodred dies whilst his father still denies any war. Antilles dies with everyone knwoing what is at stake.

OWEN LARS VS BILBO BAGGINS

Bilbo is one of the most important characters in LOTR and he has a long back story. He also willingly invites Frodo into his home. Luke is foisted upon Owen (although I am sure he gladly accepted the burden).

Bilbo was an adventurer who liked to explore. Own actively discouraged Luke from doing this.

BERU LARS VS HAMFAST "THE GAFFER" GAMGEE

One is female, one is not.

What is so surprisng about characters having a relative?

SHMI SKYWALKER VS LOBELIA SACKVILLE-BAGGINS

Lobelia is a nasty piece of work, who wants to exploit Frodos estate. Shmi gives everything to her son.

CLIEGG LARS VS OTHO SACKVILLE-BAGGINS

Lars = nice, Lotho= not nice

WATTO VS SANDYMAN THE MILLER

Watto owns one of the key protagonists and his actions play a major part in what happens. No one cares about Sandyman.

BIGGS DARKLIGHTER VS FREDEGAR "FATTY" BOLGER

Biggs' name does not denote size. Fatty, obviously does

CAMIE VS ROSE "ROSIE" COTTON

Rosie has 3 or 4 kids with Sam

LAZE "FIXER" LONEOZNER VS TOLMAN COTTON

"With the given pictures both look strikingly alike aesthetically" Hmmm.If Cotton is a LOTR book exclusive character, where did they get that picture from?

I will do the other half in a bit..

[Clone OPatra]

Very much agreed Jimbobulus

These types of things are fun little games, trying to compare one fictional work to another, but it's so selective. You pick the details you want that match up and forget about the rest.

[Jimbobulus]

You could compare almost any story or film to another if you tried hard enough. Spiderman for instance, the reluctant hero being thrust into the action through no fault of their own (Parker and the Spidey bite/ Frodo and the inheritance of the ring) etc..

I had no idea how long that list was, else I would never have started

[SheepEater]

I provided the link only as a way to entertain folks, but by no means do I agree with the majority of the comparison points listed on the site.

[Kelmanator]

I think if any of the comparisons are true, though I don't agree with a majority of them, I think it was almost certainly George Lucas copying J.R.R Tolkien.

[Kelmanator]

I think if any of the comparisons are true, though I don't agree with a majority of them, I think it was almost certainly George Lucas copying J.R.R Tolkien.

[______]

Ah yes, I've seen Willow, if I'm honest it was a terrible film!

Anyway, you can compare any film of the same genre as they will use the same codes and conventions. As both Star Wars and LOTR are adventure films they'll have the same sort of idea, regardless of the setting (Space and Middle Earth)

[SheepEater]

Ah yes, I've seen Willow, if I'm honest it was a terrible film!

The worst thing about it were Willow's two little leprechauns. They were supposed to be the comic relief, but were annoying to no end. The "Jar Jar" of that film.

With that said, I enjoyed it as a kid

[Brickscape]

Personally, I'm a fan of "Willow." Maybe I just have a sense of childhood nostalgia for it, but I still enjoy it.

If you want to say that George copied anyone when he made "Willow," he copied himself...

Willow is Luke, the hero and a farmer who dreams of something more, eventually becoming a sorcerer (Jedi). Madmartigan is Han Solo, a rogue of questionable loyalty who ends up joining the cause. The High Aldwyn is Obi-Wan Kenobi, an old, bearded sorcerer who sends the hero on his journey. Fin Raziel is Yoda, a powerful sorcerer (who appears to be anything but) who is banished to a distant location and is sought out by our hero for further training. Rool and Franjean (the Brownies) are RD-D2 and C-3PO respectively. They accompany the hero on his journey, act as comic relief, and one of which is a know-it-all who is often exasperated with his companion. Sorsha is Leia, a tough princess who has an initially antagonistic relationship with the rogue which turns into romance. As for the villains, there's a powerful evil sorcerer (Bavmorda/Palpatine) with a right-hand man who is tall, carries a sword, wears a cape and a scary mask (Kael/Vader).

[The_Chosen_1]

Whoever wrote this article needs to do some research if they think Kenny Baker played Jar Jar Binks, or Bonnie Piesse was the older Beru Lars...