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For those who have seen Ep.III--LOTR influence?

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For those who have seen Ep.III--LOTR influence?

Old 05-15-05, 03:35 PM
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For those who have seen Ep.III--LOTR influence?

(no major spoilers, I dont think)

I saw Episode III at the Boston charity screening last week, and was quite impressed---up there with A New Hope and Empire, IMO. But anyways, I wonder if Lucas was a bit influenced by some of the LOTR movies---for example, some of the ethereal/angelic choir music in the score struck me as sounding closer to the LOTR score, and particularly in the final battle between Obi-wan and Annakin, there were a few shots of them fighting from VERY far away, where you can just see these two tiny glowing lightsabers against the dark, cauldron-like setting---that definiitely reminded me a bit of LOTR---like when Gandalf was battling the Balrog. And really, the whole setting of that battle had a huge, very Wagnerian feel and look to it, which reminded me of LOTR ( like the scene at Mount Doom) more than other SW movies. Did anyone else who saw it get this feeling at all, or am I off base?

BTW--this is not a complaint!
Old 05-15-05, 04:00 PM
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That's the first thing I thought when I heard the soundtrack for the first time. Alot of choirs this time around....so the question is...was John infulenced more?
Old 05-15-05, 04:15 PM
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Well, TPM had a choral theme in it's soundtrack before the LOTR films were even scored. So probably not. Though Lucas isn't responsible for the score, John Williams is.

As for the volcanic planet of Mustafar, we've know for more than a decade that the famous battle would take place on a volcanic atmosphere. So yes, Mustafar and Mount Doom have a similar look. Was it inspired by LOTR, who knows.
Old 05-15-05, 06:17 PM
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Watch ROTJ. They have choir music during Luke/Darth's final battle. This is back in 1983 so I would consider it just being used again and not copying another movie.
Old 05-16-05, 09:46 AM
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The volcanic setting for the climax may have been inspired by the LOTR novels but not the films since this has been the supposed setting for the duel for 15 years.

To me, the score reminds me more of Harry Potter than LOTR.
Old 05-17-05, 01:01 AM
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Originally Posted by Qui Gon Jim
To me, the score reminds me more of Harry Potter than LOTR.

This is because all John Williams scores sound the same. The poor guy is running on empty.
Old 05-17-05, 01:21 AM
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Originally Posted by Lara Means
This is because all John Williams scores sound the same. The poor guy is running on empty.

says these

Awards
BAFTA Anthony Asquith Award for Achievement in Film Music 1975
BAFTA Anthony Asquith Award for Achievement in Film Music 1978
BAFTA Award 1987
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award 1998
Emmy 1968
Emmy 1971
Golden Globe Award 1975
Golden Globe Award 1977
Grammy 1982
Grammy 1978
Grammy 1975
Grammy 1981
Grammy 1979
Grammy 1980
Grammy 1977
Grammy 1982
Grammy 1972
Grammy 1982
Grammy 1977
Grammy 1979
Grammy 1984
Grammy 1980
Grammy 1978
Grammy 1977
Grammy 1999
Las Vegas Film Critics Society 1999
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award 1977
Oscar 1982
Oscar 1975
Oscar 1993
Oscar 1977
Oscar 1971
ShoWest Maestro Award 2000
Old 05-17-05, 01:27 AM
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This is because all John Williams scores sound the same. The poor guy is running on empty.
Um............WRONG!
Old 05-17-05, 02:07 AM
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Originally Posted by Cameron
says these

Awards
BAFTA Anthony Asquith Award for Achievement in Film Music 1975
BAFTA Anthony Asquith Award for Achievement in Film Music 1978
BAFTA Award 1987
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award 1998
Emmy 1968
Emmy 1971
Golden Globe Award 1975
Golden Globe Award 1977
Grammy 1982
Grammy 1978
Grammy 1975
Grammy 1981
Grammy 1979
Grammy 1980
Grammy 1977
Grammy 1982
Grammy 1972
Grammy 1982
Grammy 1977
Grammy 1979
Grammy 1984
Grammy 1980
Grammy 1978
Grammy 1977
Grammy 1999
Las Vegas Film Critics Society 1999
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award 1977
Oscar 1982
Oscar 1975
Oscar 1993
Oscar 1977
Oscar 1971
ShoWest Maestro Award 2000
Says these what? Are you saying that only after 2000 did Williams start to sound like crap? His last really terrific and original sounding score was for Spielberg's A.I. Everything since then has been a letdown.
Old 05-17-05, 04:52 AM
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There's a LOTR influence all over the Star Wars movies.

From "A New Hope":

Obi Wan = Gandalf (Owen even refers to him as a wizard)

The scene in Obi Wan's hut with Luke recalls the meeting of Gandalf and Frodo in FOTR.

Darth Vader = Witch King/Ringwraith - a great, powerful man who through personal weaknesses became beholden to a great evil. Also wears black and breaths heavy.

The Cantina scene recalls where the Hobbits met Strider at the Inn of the Prancing Pony.

Obi Wan sacrificing himself so that Luke, Han, and Leia can escape recalls Gandalf's sacrifice on the Bridge of Khazud'dum. (Watch me screw up the spelling on that one)
Old 05-17-05, 05:01 AM
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Obi Wan = Gandalf (Owen even refers to him as a wizard)

The scene in Obi Wan's hut with Luke recalls the meeting of Gandalf and Frodo in FOTR.

Darth Vader = Witch King/Ringwraith - a great, powerful man who through personal weaknesses became beholden to a great evil. Also wears black and breaths heavy.

The Cantina scene recalls where the Hobbits met Strider at the Inn of the Prancing Pony.

Obi Wan sacrificing himself so that Luke, Han, and Leia can escape recalls Gandalf's sacrifice on the Bridge of Khazud'dum. (Watch me screw up the spelling on that one)
LOTR and Star Wars will have things in common simply because fantasies and sci-fi films with mythical archetypes always have similar elements. I don't consider them influences. They're more like the mythical themes and archetypes found in most epic stories and fantasies.

You really want to see shocking similarities, look at the similarities between Wagner's "Ring Cycle" and Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings."
Old 05-17-05, 05:33 AM
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The volcano setting would have to be George borrowing from the books then, since we knew back in 1977 that Obi-Wan and Vader dueled it near a molten lava pit.

I think it's more likely that Peter Jackson borrowed from the Star Wars movies...that battle in ROTK with the elephants reminds one a lot of the AT-AT battle in ESB.
Old 05-17-05, 08:24 AM
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I think it's more likely that Peter Jackson borrowed from the Star Wars movies...that battle in ROTK with the elephants reminds one a lot of the AT-AT battle in ESB.
I take that as a hommage rather than a borrowing.

Do not forget the most obvious one: physically Yoda is derived from Gollum

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