Radar Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 I have read FOTR and just finishing the two towers, but now I am undecided as to read Return of the King or wait for the film. As I have not read them before I don't know how it ends!! For those of you who know do you think I should read the book first or see the film? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eogwyn Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 Ooh, difficult one this. I've just started re-reading ROTK but then I've read them all about 100 times already! I think as you've read FOTR and TTT you'd be best to read ROTK too, otherwise you'll miss out on some of the details - particularly if this rumour about Saruman is true (but you'll have already read about that!) Sorry I'm not making much sense Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike's dream date Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 I'm reading the TT at the mo but I am going to have the same dilema when I finish it. I think I'm gonna see the film first because that's the way I have done it with the other books/films. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radar Posted November 13, 2003 Author Share Posted November 13, 2003 That's what I was thinking and then at least I can enjoy the film and not be thinking 'They didn't do that in the book!' And I won't miss Sauromon as I won't know he was supposed to be there. Although I do know now that he is supposed to be there, but I won't know what part he plays in the final stages. (confusion!!) Think I've made up my mind now. Will probably change though!! Thanks!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyah Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 I've read the books quite some time before the movies anyway so I never was in that dilemma actually. What I realized though, when I read them again after seeing FOTR and TTT, was that I didn't pay that much attention to all the details anymore. It was like I had the whole image of the movies in my head so I felt it rather difficult at times to read on. On the other hand that's perhaps just because I read the books so many times already, so that I don't pay that much attention to everything mentioned anymore. Anyway...since you've read TTT and FOTR after you've seen the movies, I'd suggest that you do the same with ROTK. Mostly 'cause for you now the whole story's still totally open. I mean when I went to watch FOTR I knew already what would happen in ROTK, so I wasn't like some of my other friends, who hadn't read the books before the movies, and who just needed to know immediately what was gonna happen next. Besides when I first saw FOTR I also always had Tolkiens words in the back of my head, what made it quite difficult for me at the beginning to put up with PJ's changes for the movie. So what I want to say by this is that you should take this as a chance to really let the movie grow on you as it is, without knowing the ending. You still - and I really hope you do - can read ROTK afterwards. By the way, normally I would say to read a book before the movie, but since you've read FOTR and TTT both after the movies I think it doesn't really make any difference anymore. Oh..and another suggestion just comes to my mind. Do it as my brother did, if you don't want to know the ending yet: Just read ROTK and stop at some chapter near the ending. I personnally wouldn't be able to do that since I'm always waaaay to eager to know what is gonna happen when I read a book, but it might works for you as it worked for my brother! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naurarwen_fangorn Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 Personally I would wait till after the movie, thats what my friend Jo is doing. She has watched the movie first and then gone straight into the book but now with all the trailers and so on its hard not to get pulled into reading it. It should make your time watching the film more exciting if you don't know what gonna happen next Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike's dream date Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 Yes I'm looking forward to seeing the film without knowing what's coming. I'm avoiding all the spoilers so far! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radar Posted November 13, 2003 Author Share Posted November 13, 2003 Thanks Nyah. I know what you mean about reading the books after seeing the movie as when I picture it in my head I imagine the characters played by the actors in the film. I remember my friend saying to me after seeing TTT that Treebeard wasn't anything like he imagined when reading the book. It's nice when you read a book to imagine yourself what everyone looks like. I usually do prefer to read a book before seeing the film, but quite like your idea of reading most of ROTK and stopping near the end, but not sure if I can trust myself to stop!! Maybe I best leave the reading till after the film!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elanor_the_Fair Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 I've just started Book 6, so even if I do decide to finish reading it, I dont think I will finish before it comes out in teh cinema anyway - I'm a slow reader when I am trying to take in every detail about what Tolkien has written. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radar Posted November 13, 2003 Author Share Posted November 13, 2003 I've just read a bit by accident on the IMDb forum under return of the king about something that happens at the end. D'oh!!! I had to look away quickly so not to find out anymore! Definetly going to watch the film and enjoy that then read the books, then probably read them all again!! Am excited now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike's dream date Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 Yay! I'm excited too. Not long to go! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
POTATOES Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 READ IT READ IT!!!!!! hehe....well its up to you but i got into exactly the same situation! i started to read them after i had seen the first two films, and i read it right to the end and loved it! i dunno if its just that the third books better, or coz i hadnt seen a film of it, but i read the third one so much quicker than the rest coz i was really enjoying it and didnt know what was gonna happen! with the first two its so easy to just say u wont bother coz theres a film to watch instead, but the films dont follow the books exactly and i really enjoyed reading the book and not knowing whats gonna happen!! its up to you...but id recommend reading it now....sorry to be difficult and go against everyone else its just my oppinion...i think u'd enjoy the book more if you hadnt seen the film....it'd be easier to understand as you wont have all the other ideas in your head... mwahaha....good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiccawise21 Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 rite well.. a bit of a tough one this but i would say that if u have already read al of two towers then u will be safe in reading rotk. i mean u have read the beginning of the rotk film anyway because its the end of ttt book. go on read it. i dont know how u can stop urself to be honest!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radar Posted November 14, 2003 Author Share Posted November 14, 2003 I think I have (finally) decided to... Read it!!!! Good point that the end of TTT is the beginning of ROTK, that then means it's ok for me to read it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radar Posted November 26, 2003 Author Share Posted November 26, 2003 Am reading it now, it's BRILLIANT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOTR Fan Posted November 26, 2003 Share Posted November 26, 2003 read it then watch it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eogwyn Posted November 26, 2003 Share Posted November 26, 2003 Am reading it now, it's BRILLIANT. Hope you're enjoying it - I'm re-reading it for about the 100th time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobbit_of_renfrewshire Posted November 30, 2003 Share Posted November 30, 2003 I was goin to leave the third book until after the film, but decided to read it a couple of months ago! I didnt want to miss anything out and one of the girls in my work kept giving away plot details of ROTK as she had read the book in school! So I decided to read it before she gave away the ending to me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radar Posted December 5, 2003 Author Share Posted December 5, 2003 Finished Return of the King!!!!! It was superb. Am so looking forward to seeing the film now!! 12 days to go!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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