#i also had a pippin phase and i think it was entirely because of the singing scene

[anghraine]

It’s occurred to me that two of my least favourite scenes in two very different adaptations are ... basically the same. 

(Predictably, ranting negativity re: Jackson’s LOTR and Davies’s P&P under the cut)

I’ve talked about the P&P 1995 one bugging me before, but it’s the scene at Netherfield where Darcy snaps out “and yours is wilfully to misunderstand them” and it’s all UST-ish. The dialogue is almost word for word taken from the book and I’ve seen it praised as one of the best scenes on more than one occasion, but for me it kind of epitomizes my issues with the whole adaptation and esp the treatment of Darcy, because of how the supposed fidelity is executed.

(This is considering it as an adaptation and not TV—it’s good TV, but it is also an adaptation that’s praised to the skies for fidelity and that’s where a lot of my annoyance comes from.)

The thing is, the whole snappish UST deal between Elizabeth and Darcy is not their dynamic in the book—not mutually. Austen’s Darcy smiles as he delivers his line, and is repeatedly described as smiling in that phase of the novel. At Pemberley, Elizabeth remembers this when she recognizes the same smile in his portrait (we immediately thereafter hear that it was painted when his idolized father was alive, IMO suggesting that he feels around her the way he did at that easier, happier part of his life).

So all indication is that he enjoys being around her and having their back and forths. He doesn’t understand that it’s not enjoyable banter to Elizabeth—at least not in the same way that it is for him, and the disparity in their reactions is a major part of the point of those scenes.

On the face of it, converting Darcy smiling to Darcy snapping might not seem a monumental difference, but I think it really does change the entire tenor of the scene, and replacing Darcy’s smiles with irritable or brooding moments is a thing that adaptation does really often and yet it’s supposed to be the One True P&P and esp the One True Darcy. 

>_< 

As for LOTR, the scene I’m thinking of is the (initial) confrontation between Gandalf and Denethor. In general, the movies very persistently downplay Denethor and his family’s qualities. Like, Tolkien repeatedly associates Denethor with Aragorn and that is just—not there in the films, at all, because Aragorn is made so super special and Denethor so awful. Meanwhile, book!Gandalf’s warning to Pippin about Denethor shows a level of respect for the Stewards and particularly Denethor that is completely inverted in the film, where he describes them as “lesser men.” >:(

Anyway, film!Gandalf’s response to Denethor in that scene is very similar to the book in terms of the written dialogue, like the P&P scene. But in the film scene, Gandalf seems angry and tacks on steward in a tone of utter disdain. IIRC the line immediately following this in the book (“for I also am a steward”) is cut out to make that contempt work (this also reminds me of 1995 P&P cutting out “God bless you” from Darcy’s letter to make their treatment of it work, though it’s worse than that). But in the book, after that scene, Gandalf classes Denethor in with himself again.

To be sure, he does not seem to really approve of Denethor in that moment; he’s quietly rebuking him. But that is something very different from film!Gandalf’s contempt for Denethor and the Stewardship. Book!Gandalf has a clear respect for Denethor’s abilities and stature and his arc is treated as the tragic fall of a genuinely great man. The film, otoh, pretty clearly had zero respect for Denethor and zero interest in him as a towering figure who finally breaks.

And ... yeah, I think they bother me so much for the same reason: superficial fidelity combined with radical changes of the underlying dynamic/tone/emotional beats in the service of an easier, more generic narrative. It’s easier to treat Denethor as a contemptible obstacle to the right-minded characters. It’s easier to make Darcy out to be a brooding, snappish romance hero. 

Sure, they can go for the easier route if they want to, obviously. But it’s incredibly grating in adaptations that claim fidelity.

#anghraine rants #/ #// #/// #//// #///// #legendarium fanwank #austen fanwank #lord of the rings movies #pride and prejudice 1995 #fitzwilliam darcy #elizabeth bennet #otp of otps #denethor #gandalf #sure i'm a book purist but tbh pseudo-fidelity bothers me vaaaastly more than loose adaptations

[meandmypagancrew]

ello guvna. do 3, 6, 10, 12, 18, 26, 32, 31, 34,41, 41, and 50 or face my sword

Hello, sweet husband!

3. what’s your favorite play?

I haven’t seen a lot of plays, but I did see Play That Goes Wrong three times, so I guess I would have to tip it to that one!

6. what’s a role you’d like to play that you’d never be able to?

a n y. I have not nearly enough talent to be cast in anything, much as I would like to. But specifically, I have always loved belting out Santa Fe, but it’s Jack Kelly, not Jacqueline Kelly. also every male ensemble member in Mean Girls we talked about this

10. how do you feel about hyped up shows like hamilton, les mis, and rent?

To each their own, I suppose? For those three specifically, I went through my phases for them and the only one that remains with a fire in my heart like it used to is Les Mis, but watch me burst into tears in the theatre when the filmed version is released and I hear those first notes of Hamilton.

12. what award should there be that isn’t?

Best ensemble. Absolutely best ensemble. The ensemble works so hard, they carry the entire show on their backs, and they do not get nearly enough credit. Best ensemble. (Also, Newsies and Great Comet should have won best ensemble their respective years.)

18. favorite show currently or recently running?

You know, I can’t say I’m particularly horny for anything at the moment. I mean, like, I like things, but I wouldn’t lay down my life for them. Can I say The Hello Girls, because it had a full concert version recently? I’m going to say The Hello Girls, because it had a full concert version recently.

26. what role would you like to see your favorite actor play?

Don’t play. I know and you know and we all know what the answer to this one is. We talk about it like at least once a week.

(For those at home, Lauren Zakrin as Howard.)

32. create a show mash-up and explain the plot (ex: legally todd = sweeney todd + legally blonde)

Pippin + Newsies = Urinetown.

Am I doing this right?

31. did james corden do a good job hosting the tony’s (in your opinion)?

No. James Corden can suck my dick. They should have brought back Josh and Sara, seeing as how the BMC parody with them was the best part of the hosting.

34. how do you feel about musicals using other artists’ music?

I am a bit tired of biographical musicals- like, I liked Beautiful, but now it’s like every other one is like that and I’m just tired. But musicals that are jukeboxes but have original stories? I LOVE those. Mamma Mia!? That new Britney Spears one? I think those are so creative and awesome and I want to write one using Ingrid Michaelson’s songs.

41. what musical should be revived next?

I already answered this, but I guess I’ll give it another go. I like Thoroughly Modern Millie. I think TMM would be good again.

41. what musical should be revived next?

Why did you ask me this one twice? Are you okay?

50. would you rather design the set, direct the show, or help with effects?

Direct! Directing would be a dream job. I want to be like Rachel Chavkin. 

Thanks for the ask!! <3

[themerrymutants]

Long ass “what if Aragorn and crew were hipsters” modern au headcanons

@loyalservants​ - since you’d asked to see :)

Under a cut because there’s.. a lot. Also there’s a bit of canon breaking here but what’s a good au without a bit of canon breaking?

Elrond works as head doctor at the local trauma clinic. Having been alive as long as he has he's amassed quite a fortune which he uses to cover the cost of medical care for those who can't afford it himself.

He returned to Middle Earth when word reached him that Aragorn had passed on but his daughter hadn’t. It killed him to leave his wife a second time but, not knowing the fate of his sons, he couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her alone so he pleaded to be allowed to go back and join her and was eventually granted permission on the condition that if he or any others who inevitably follow suit do they will never be able to return. 

Celebrían eventually rejoins her husband and children on December 24th 2008 (modern calendar). In March of 2009 she contacted her parents, with a bit of help from her children, via text pretending to be Arwen. She wasn’t even able to get a simple “hello” out before she was pulled into a tear filled bear hug

Galadriel is a self defense course instructor at the Y and a very active environmental activist and human rights activist because for the love of Eru she’s way too old for your shenanigans humanity and someone has to fix it. humans are cute but by the valar are they dumb. Galadriel is still very much someone nobody wants to f*ck with and those stupid enough to still try anyway end up regretting it dearly. Rule #1 of telepaths: don’t piss off a telepath.

Her husband is a historian and has long since worked with his colleagues to help preserve Elven heritage sites.

Legolas looks wise looks like what would happen if you shoved him and Skrillex in a blender and put it on “puree” and already has a degree as a veterinarian (specializing in exotics) and is a biology and environmental studies dual major.

 Aragorn is a history major and is starting to get the memories of his past life back though he keeps this quiet because he rather enjoys his classes.

Gimli is dual majoring engineering and economics, Pippin and Merry are general studies majors and honestly have no idea what they’re doing half the time but hey at least they’re having fun doing it!

Arwyn, as she spells it in modern day to try and stay lower key, works at a tattoo parlor and has a total Kat Von D look going on which drives her dad up the wall.

Sam and Frodo are ex marines that were on the same squad (only survivors after an IED went off) they are roomies they were honorably discharged and earned a purple heart. Sam is blind in his left eye and Frodo was paralyzed from the waist down both suffer from PTSD. They've got two labs named Samson and Delilah who think they are lap dogs. Samson is a service dog washout (he was supposed to be Sam's dog but he just didn't have the right drive for it) and Delilah is Frodo's service dog. Currently Sam is looking for new candidates. In this AU Frodo died at mount doom so I can have him reincarnate with Sam since there was no way in hell Frodo would come back to middle earth after the sh*t he went through.

Legolas has a blind albino reticulated python named Lucy who was a rescue from a mass breeder. She's a bit off in more ways than one but is as sweet a noodle as possible Legolas often takes in special needs herps that his rescue can't home for various reasons 

Gandalf is the history professor and has become resigned to the fact that humans are dumb af and kind of need perpetual babysitting (races and magic and shit have remained unchanged just because it's more fun that way)

Thranduil is tough as nails and gives 0 fucks. if something needs done to keep those in his territory safe he will do it regardless of legality Cops don't bother coming because it's a cesspool and they've got less taxing things to do He's kind of a mob boss archetype but good and does good well except when he kicks some faces in but they always deserve it. He’s kind of the head of his own lil section of an as of yet unnamed city. He's not like crime or mob boss so much as "police don't do sh*t so we keep the peace instead". Police are happy to do so because the area is basically Gotham crime wise and nobody wants to touch it with a 40 ft pole I love the idea that Thranduil ended up blinded after his run in with Smaug he ended up staying in middle earth the entire time god bless his poor soul. In modern era he ran into a gangster with a fondness for flame throwers and got toasty again. Received extensive burns but survived because 1 Thranduil, and 2 like hell he was gonna die now when sh!t still needs to be kept in order.

Elves did sail to the west but it was less going back home and more "FUCK THIS SHIT I'M OUT" Eventually they come back and first land in ireland becoming the basis of the Tuatha Dé Danann Because I will die on the hill that elves are somehow involved with celtic mythology in the universe of LOTR and yes I know it's not earth but come on The geography actually kind of matches ...no I did not have an embarassing phase where I was way too obsessed with LOTR and calculated this stuff for funsies

I'm also super fond for immortals watching throughout history and just going "why did I do this again?" Also Elrond getting even more done with humanity gives me life

Merry is addicted to idle games and half the storage space on his phone is filled with them. 

Pippin has won a few Pokemon tournaments and even got a scholarship from one of them. He enjoys building teams from "useless" Pokemon and wiping the floor with them. His favorite pokemon to use is Pachirisu because no one expects to have their ass handed to them by a pika clone.

In this AU Aragorn is reincarnated over and over and over again and Arwen somehow manages to find him each time. Sometimes they’re lovers other times they’re just friends and every once in a while she’ll only manage to briefly brush past him before he’s gone again. Her father tried to convince her to go be with her mother but she found that even the short amount of time she got to spend with her love each time was worth the sorrow of losing him again, and again, and again.

Elrond and Celebrían renewed their vows in 2015 after learning of the practice and finding it fitting. Their first dance was to Like I’m Gonna Lose You

#ooc #lord of the rings #ngl i was tempted to make this a fic or an au blog

[fullbattleregalia]

Tagged by that wonderful Canadian wildflower @agirlnameded

Rules: Answer the questions and tag blogs you’d like to know better.

Sign: Genimi

Height: 5′5...ish (shut up - I can round if I want to!)

Last thing googled: “how to open an epub file” (there was some old school fanfiction that needed to be read)

Favorite music artist: Lindsey Stirling (she of the amazing and badass violin skills)

Last TV show I watched: I don’t watch very much TV but I caught an episode of How It’s Made with my dad the other day

When did I create my blog: December 2015

What kind of stuff do I post about: EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING. As you may have noticed, my blog is incredibly unfocused.  I have lots of things relating to various fandoms I enjoy, pretty pictures of nature, wildlife, tea, and small, fuzzy animals, cool random facts, bits of my fanfiction - basically anything that strikes my fancy at any given moment.  Generally I post stuff that makes me happy or that I find amusing.

Do I have any other blogs: Yes! @pippinnoodle is my blog dedicated entirely to pictures and videos of my cat, Pippin, who I adore because I have no shame in the fact that I am a crazy cat lady. It has also confirmed a suspicion that I’ve had for a long time that my cat is much more popular than me. ;)

Do I get asks regularly: Nope!  Though I do love it when I get them.

Why did I choose my url: Okay, so before I joined Tumblr I spent a brief and misguided period working as an industrial maintenance mechanic.  One day I was looking in the mirror at work - I was in my uniform plus my belt tool pouch, safety shoes and glasses, radio, etc. - and I thought to myself, “This is like my mechanic battle regalia!”  This was promptly followed by the thought, “That would be a cool name to use for something.”  Then I moved on but the “that would be cool” thought stuck around in the back of my head.  When I finally joined Tumblr I was trying to think of a name that wasn’t my traditional “AgentMalkere” (or “Agent Malkere”) which is what I use everywhere else on the internet.  I wanted to do something different.  Then I remembered “mechanic battle regalia.”  Well, I wasn’t a mechanic any more by that point, so I changed the “mechanic” to “full” instead to make it more neutral and because I liked it better.

Gender: Female (cis)

Pokemon Team: Valor (because I like the idea of loving your pokemon so much that they will happily help you take over the world)

Favorite colors: Purple!  Actually, I like most colors.  Except pink.  I really dislike 90% of the shades of pink.  I’m apparently one of the only girls in the world who NEVER went through a pink phase.

Average hours of sleep: not enough.  When I’m stressed, I stay up too late, and I’ve been stressed a lot recently.

Favorite characters: Question/Vic Sage, Han Solo, Gajeel Redfox, Bickslow, Peter Quill/Star Lord, Commander Sam Vimes, Batman, Catwoman, Lance (from Voltron Legendary Defender), Phil Coulson (even though I can’t bare to watch AoS anymore), Jayne Cobb, Spike (from Buffy), Kakashi Hatake, England (from APH), Sherlock Holmes (I like most of his incarnations), Detective Greg Lestrade (from Sherlock because pretty much every other incarnation of Lestrade is not really... complimentary), Detective Kevin Ryan, the Tenth Doctor, Rose Tyler, Crowley (from Good Omens), Castiel, Tony DiNozzo, Commodore James Norrington, Rodney McKay, Newt Scamander, and, um, others.  Lots of others.  But I’m going to stop there before this list gets any longer.

Dream job: author and/or some sort of artist.  Anything creative and hands-on would probably make me happy.

I tag... um... whoever would like to do this!  ‘Cause honestly I would love to  know more about anyone who’s seeing this, but I’m not really sure who to ask (and Ed got to @lilyrosethedreamer first). :)  So if you are interested, then TAG!  You’re it! :D

#about me #i have so many favorite characters #i just want them to be happy #i ramble