Suite101: Looking inside the Sauron Project

[Michael Martinez]

I figured it was time I tugged on fandom's movie anticipation again. This week's article tries to figure out where Peter Jackson can and should go with the character of Sauron. Naturally that entails a lengthy discussion of the character of Palpatine in George Lucas' Star Wars epic. :)

"Most fantasy movie villains turn out badly. As a literary villain Sauron is unusual but successful. So what will it take to bring him to life in Peter Jackson's three LOTR movies, and to make him convincing as a strong, powerful, and terrifying villain?"

I think the Suite101 link is in my .sig. If not, I'll come back and edit this message.

As always, I'll be glad to discuss the article with people right here, although I must apologize for not showing up much over the past couple of weeks.

www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/tolkien (http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/tolkien)

[Carcharoth the Red Maw]

Well if I were PJ, I would definitely not elaborate on Sauron too much. I've always liked the way that Sauron is enshrouded with a deadly mystic about him, which is so evil that no one even dares to utter his name, perhaps leaving a lot to the viewers imagination is the best way to go.

<a href="http://www.myprecious.freeuk.com">http://www.myprecious.freeuk.com/25hobbits.gif</a>

[Film Hobbit]

I don't know... I'd like to see SOME representation of Sauron. Maybe just some sort of dark inky shadow of a figure looming over a throne.... whever he goes darkness follows... something like that.

[IronParrot]

When reading LOTR, Sauron the character didn't instill as much terror and villainy for me as much as the idea of Sauron...

[Gilthalion]

I have read your article and found it a good read, indeed!

I am hopefull that Mr. Jackson will use visuals of Sauron as little as may be. If he is clever with effects surrounding the evil being, and sparing, he may pull it off, even with the rather fanciful armor you describe.

For what it is worth, just for a laugh, I invite you to visit my simple (I've spent minutes on it!) website to view my tongue in cheek comparison of SENATOR PALPATINE with SENATOR LIEBERMAN.

www.geocities.com/robertwgardner2000/ (http://www.geocities.com/robertwgardner2000/)

Keep up the good work! You're doing a great service for all of us who just can't wait!

[Strider]

i think it would be more dramatic to cut to saurons perspective and see through his eyes instead of presenting him in a human body or something akin to that. however the eye is good for me :)

[Wizard of the Secret Fire]

The eye is a good idea but it did not look so impressive in the trailer.

I really hope that they use the armour-Sauron only in the Last Alliance scene when he wrestles...

[Strider]

i think a lot of people dont like the eye simply because its something different, something that we havent seen before. dont get me wrong its still just an eye ;) but with its own unique look.

[Finduilas]

It would probably work best if only used in the scene at the end of the Last Alliance.

[Gilthalion]

Will they do a flashback to the Last Alliance? (!)

[Michael Martinez]

There are no guarantees about what footage will be included in the final cuts, but they have already filmed some battle scenes for the Last Alliance. Mark Ferguson was cast as Gil-galad.

[Carcharoth the Red Maw]

Perhaps they'll use a flash back to Gil-galad when Sam sings about him on Weathertop. Even though we've heard there wont be much singing, but you never know.

<a href="http://www.myprecious.freeuk.com">http://www.myprecious.freeuk.com/25hobbits.gif</a>

[Gilthalion]

I think that a lot of flashbacks (the imprisonment of Gandalf at Orthac, the Last Alliance) ought to come in its proper place, at the Council of Elrond.

[Film Hobbit]

I don't know, its sounding to me like there are a LOT of flashbacks in this movie. Now I know some are necessary to establish backstory... and that is hard to do for LOTR because it has so MUCH backstory, but the movie is going to start getting muddled if they add to much or don't do them right. I'm hoping they'll handle them similar to the way Highlander handled them. That is a film with tons and tons of flashbacks, but at no point do they seem confused or muddled nor do they distract from the main story, but only enhance it.... but so often flashbacks become excessive and annoying if not done properly.

[Shanamir Duntak]

Don't forget we're talking about 6 hours of cinema. So even if we heard of many flashback, they won't take a so big % of screentime