I almost completely stopped reading new books because they are so badly written, filled with spelling errors, even when made by a publisher. I've seen self-published books where authors put in more effort to have a clean manuscrip than publishers.

I'd argue against your assessment of the orc baby, but only slightly. I think while it leans closer to realism, it ultimately reinforces the symbolism of Tolkien. Tolkien was aware of the problems with the potential orc genocide - and as such he had various interpretations of the orcs, some where they were essentially mindless machines, others where they had more autonomy. Obviously within the books, the orcs have conversations, emotions, opinions - they are fundamentally conscious. As a Catholic, Tolkien seemed to struggle with the idea that these thinking creatures wouldn't have a soul, and couldn't have redemption - and he never seemed to find a true solution to this. (Christopher Tolkien leans towards the orcs as corrupted elves, and as such, so do the LoTR films, and RoP). There's plenty of issue with RoP, but their use of the orcs felt like a way of bridging the gap: these are creatures that do not have inherent evil, and Adar represents (and vocalises) that fact. I don't think it undoes orcs in the main trilogy, since this interpretation of the orcs' story is designed as a tragedy: their fundamental flaws (who they trust, their predisposition to violence and conquest, their fear) lead them to killing the one man, Adar, that sees them as living, moral creatures, turning instead back to Sauron, who we know will forge the Ring and dominate. The story ends, presumably, with the orcs facing complete domination, a sort of spiritual death, that allows them to fulfil the role they have within the main trilogy - the evil cannon fodder for our heroes to battle against. It's one of the places where this adaptation of the story is very effective - it does more than Tolkien did. Which is what an adaptation should do - it should be in conversation with a work, since it cannot, and should not, replace the original text. I'd accept the argument that it's not necessarily THE angle that Tolkien would have taken, but I think it still wrestles with the same themes of good and evil, and is a worthy exploration of the morality of Middle Earth. It also shows us a great depiction of Sauron as the Deceiver that he is, which I think does a lot for that character. The execution could have been better, but I appreciate the themes they were going for, at least in that instance.

That was excellent, really. I particularly enjoy part 3. Totally Agree with your view of Rings of Power writer's and the orc''s heart-warming display of paternalistic love. That scene made me laugh. I thought surely they were having a bit of fun. But they weren't, I know. Fantasy isn't about how to be any ordinary pathetic human being. It's about being a hero as you explained so well with your analysis of the original Star Wars movies. You the hit nail on the head with LOTR vs Rings of Power and the injection of 'realism': "I don't want to relate to them. I want to aspire to them" and how psychology over symbolism means "the characters are brought to us. We don't have to reach for them."

Tolkien simply wrote a mythical story, which REQUIRES good vs bad dichotomy. Any gray in this ruins a mythical story. Mythos was there to motivate, to give hope, not to educate. That is why the feeling of condescending storytelling in modern (ew) adaptations.

I had a very similar moment with a bully with a very similar result. As a kid. As an adult, I'm handling bullies way worse unfortunately.

i care less about Rings of Power then i do The Last Jedi despite being a much bigger Lord of the Rings fan. I can ignore RoP as its a non canon adaptation so really matters little in the grand scheme of things but with TLJ we have to accept this is the version of Luke we have now which just takes away from all the movies. My favorite book series remands unchanged and unaffected and i go back year to year reading LotR, the Hobbit and the first age trilogy but i cant bring my self to watch the original trilogy of star wars now.

I clicked thinking you would have some new insight but it's just 50 minutes of you crying about how they wrote some mainstream children's stories in a different way than you would like

17:33 Those runes, letter-by-letter, appear to say "uhatkhu tolkiin about", which I assume means "what'cha Tolkien about".

Will you make more videos like this?

It's bad psychology too; usually disconnected from the story's themes. Because these writers are focused on being "realistic" they have lost sight of whether their definition of realism is even accurate. We are left with psychologically driven characters whose psychologies are only tangentially connected to other themes in the story or don't interact or grow within the story's own thematic logic. Needless to say, many of these writers don't even seem to recognize the importance of theme or symbolism. Or even the fact that intentionally laid out themes and symbolism can make the story MORE realistic because life works on its own internal logic- fantasy should too. Fantasy's internal logic can just be fantastical, but it should still work without sowing discord with the other aspects of the fantasy (atmospheric, symbolic, and thematic) One should realize after hearing enough anecdotes that it's possible to pull consistent themes from people's own real life stories. That is how we GROUND stories! The Game of thrones writers said themes are for 8th grade book reports. Look at how that turned out for them when the final seasons buck any consistency or overarching logic for favor of convenience and shock value. TLDR: *THEME, SYMBOLISM, ATMOSPHERE; THESE WRITING CONVENTIONS ARE REALISTIC WRITING CONVENTIONS.*

Only watched the Original Star Wars(New Hope) and after learning about the original after the prequels and what has happened with the sequel trilogy. I felt that people need to be careful what they wish for. Because it might not turn out the way you want it. Also, if the original had a good ending series, it's best to leave it. Put it to rest and explore something new, and when you don't find it, the original story is still there. Or better create your own from the existing story. That is why I loved fan fiction.

36:28 I honestly don't see the problem. Unless you regard the prequels in the same way. I guess you do, even though it isn't cool to hate them anymore. But what I love about Star wars is the critique of our society. That's why I love LotR too! Tolkien's hate of deforestation isn't subtle. It's a real world problem that might cost us our society in the end. But sure, manifestations and so on. But what I lack is the grey. Because how can you fight your Sauron if you never get to question if what you think is the hobbit, really is Sauron? Putin will never watch LotR and think that he could be like Sauron. Where are the stories that could make him question himself, and why don't we criticise Hollywood for not telling that? And also, why not handle Hollywood like the arms dealers of The last Jedi? I.e. if we buy the good stuff, they still get payed even though they also produce the bad stuff. I agree to the source of the stories. I write myself and cannot even afford food due to my situation. But they will never stop produce filth as long as we pay for it. That goes for everything within capitalism.

This was a great video outlining what has been upsetting me about modern adaptations.

Aww crap, I forgot Harry Potter will be adapted to HBO ...

When people talk about artistes needing to suffer for their art, it means there has to be a foundation of meaningful life experience to bookend a work of art.

Love the fantasy world but the romantasy world is becoming a bit much now.

Lol. Jake Skywalker.

I think what a lot of people overlook when they try introducing an excess of "realism" to stories steeped in symbolism is that reality isn't perfect, even in its... well, REALITY. Reality, at least the psychological and human aspect of it, isn't just a huge granite slab of unchangeable facts. It's also infested with lies, bargaining, complacency, and bribery. Reality can convince itself it wouldn't function without things it doesn't actually need. Reality can tell itself it can't solve problems that it really could. Reality won't always want to correct problems for others that it benefits from, and on the flipside, it can get a wild hair and decide it needs to fix what isn't broken. And most of all, reality, when given realistic excuses, will often take them. Fantasy looks at reality through a trimmed down and idealized lens, but not everything it trims is essential and irreplaceable. Likewise, not everything that looks idealistic and impossible from our current perspective really is. In my eyes, fantasy invites you to look at Samwise Gamgee, ask yourself what things stand between you and being like him, and just how immovable each of those obstacles actually is. Its grand purpose, I like to thing, is to break us out of reality's hypnotically habitual nature.

Tolkien was a capital-R Romantic at heart, a movement that leaned heavaly on symbolism over literalism, raw emotions over complex psychology, and vibes over sociologicaly rigorous worldbuilding. Science-fiction on the otherhand arose out of Modernism, which is in essence a deliberate rejjection and inversion of Romanticism. Meanwhile we now live under Postmodernism. Modern fantasy arose from Tolkien and his Romantic influences, but over the decades there has been significant cross-polination from these other two fields. Martin's emphasis on psychology and socioeconomics, Sanderson's fascination with magic systems, *whatever* the hell R Scott Bakker is doing with Second Apocalypse. This is neither good nor bad, but simply is. Ironically, in 2024 the true heir to Romanticism isn't fantasy at all, but the *horror* genre. Symbolism, dream logic, vibes over strict logical coherence. Clive Barker has more in common with Tolkien's style than any mainstream fantasy writer today does. My current WIP (or, at least, one of them, teeheehee) is an attempt to splice a epic fantasy (Lots of characters mingling in a large and intricate world, multiple races) with strong horror undercurrents.

Just fucking tell me to my face I'm worthless and I'll die out and be forgotten. ALL THESE FUCKING THUMBNAILS AND SHIT MAKING ME OVERTHINK EVERYTHING AND HURT MYSELF GOD

I’ve always appreciated having any unreasonable love I might have for the concept of “Star Wars” murdered in the early 00s by three steaming piles of shit labeled as “movies.” It lets me take each of these kid movies as they come and not try to assign any great meaning to them.

Thank you for giving me some much needed clarity. I'm currently in the process of writing a fantasy series about humans and dragons coexisting as equals in a shared society. Realism has always been my natural gravitational pull, and often I have to work very hard to remind myself that its ok to allow for areas of "suspension of disbelief." Having the real world exist in addition to my created one is rn my biggest conflict, and im caught between the decision of whether to let the "real world" part of the plot go, and just embrace having the original world built from the ground up. The latter would certainly help uncomplicate many things and allow for a deeper focus on the characters. Your words feel like they're inspiring me to tilt further in that direction despite all the revisions it would take. I deeply desire to revive role model type characters like young Skywalker and Aragorn in my own series. Cheers to hopefully making you proud someday 🐉🥂

as an aspiring writer, I do wonder how much moolah the western buisness suits are neglecting when they prefer billion dollar spectacles compared to, spectacles within animation. its why I would like my own fantasy novel to be adapted into an animated series, because we want to believe in another world right? why don't we trust in the artistic vision of creatives who want to pay real......attention? (for lack of a better term) to their work. that way artistic vision can never be sacrificed, the audience likes it, the money will DEFINATELY be cheaper....its such a good idea to me. it takes time, sure, but not as much time as making spending billions of dollars for sets of a lackluster story.

I think the disconnect is that if these new counterfeit works, these “elevated” stories, bring in new fans… they are not fans of lord of the rings, they are not fans of Tolkien, they are not fans of Star Wars, they are fans of something newer, different, and removed. They are not carrying the story forward, they’re just the latest player in along game of telephone that will be unrecognizable for its origins, and that I will never support for any work. Leave the integrity of fiction alone I say. Like you said, even if a character is realistic, they should not feel like someone I can run into on the street today, not in fantasy and high sci fi. I hate the way modern creatives, these big corporate goons think they, with little life experience, and little education can do better than someone like Tolkien, their egos are rampant. It blinds them to the quality of the source material because they seek not to bring forward the universe of Tolkien’s and instead to make their own mark upon that universe….to make Tolkien’s world now their world.

what is your current instagram user? lol

Great video. I'm baffled and intrigued by what's become of fantasy as a concept, not just a genre. Much like you've said, adding realism defeats the entire purpose. I will always prefer a dream-like logic above all in my fantasy, be it when I'm reading or writing it, because it engages you in abstract emotions. There's a video with audio of Grant Morrison explaining the problem today with realism in comics and, by extension, all fiction. Literally search "Grant Morrison Explains Realism In Comics". Worth a look. That being said, I think we're on the cusp of a writing renaissance in the near future. People are tired of the drek we've been fed the past decade, so I think your idea of people taking up the reins on existing properties or new material is about to bloom. Actually, when you brought up the *Orc Baby,* it reminded me of a season 2 episode of _The X-Files._ Mulder investigates a sewage treatment facility and discovers a mutated man-sized flukeworm that eats people. It's brought into FBI custody and his boss says they need to psych evaluate it and bring it to court. Mulder, baffled by this, points out "it's a monster, not a person" with little cognitive ability beyond eating and surviving. Orcs, in most media, are intended as the same. They are nightmare creatures made for war and slaughter. Nothing more. I'm all for a villain with some depth, but you cannot sympathise with something that, at it's core, is running on unrelenting aggressive instinct. True monsters work best when they're allowed to be what they are and be fought off without mercy. It bothers me when every writer under the sun thinks they're incredibly original when they think "Hey, what's this story from the monster's perspective?". Most likely " RAAAAAAWWWRRRRKILLRIPTEAREATDESTROYRAAAAAAWWWWRRR".

Star Wars has been pretty crappy since Return of the Jedi well before Disney got ahold of it

Ive been reading a lot of Robert E hpward, Michael Moorcock and David Gemmel recently and if it wasnt for my lack of skill i would probbaly write a book in that style I just dont enjoy contemporary writing the whole "write what you know" thing just doesnt vibe with me either 😂

I do think that it is a ego trip most of these writers think that they are making movies that they are superior to the book writers which us most fantasy writers.

Muchas gracias por tu opinion.

Books today are also terrible. No depth.

"modern" just means, "was pushed through school because the teaches didn't want to hurt their feelings. Hollywood is full of these people now. Everything they make "woke" or not is worthless. Bad story, no character development, and plot wholes the size of planets to name a few issues. I have a friend that complains about black rep in fantasy but that isnt a problem in fantasy. Closest thing would be like the Drow. Since everyone be hating on them.

I too am a survivor of the Star Wars to Lord of the Rings pipeline

A cynical culture that has stopped believing in heroes needs fictional heroes more than ever. I still consider myself a fan, but at present I’m happier devolving back into a fan who likes what they like in private. If I find others who share my passions, that’s fantastic, but I don’t expect to find them any longer in fandom proper. I think we’re going to need new fans to new properties, but don’t expect it from the industry, but from independents and the underground, and once the current industry has bastardized and wrung all they can out of the old stories, it’ll be these new creators that will come along and adapt those old stories and characters for a new generation the way they were meant to be.

Was that not clear to everybody after the first trailer who Sauron is? You you got it right. Rings of Power is for Managers to teach them how to behave, not for kids or entertainment. no please stop defending the bad acting of the new version of Galadriel, you do not know what you are talking about here.

Phantom menace killed it for me. Still not seen last Jedi.

I don't acknowledge the new Star Wars as cannon.I think of it more like a really bad fan fiction that cost a ridiculous amount of money

I'm just 2 minutes on the video, but wanted to say: when I started the video, I was not sure if I would really watch and enjoy everything, but then the memes started. I never pressed the subscribe button so fast. Great job, friend. 👍

Very good video Im not sure if this could fit with the topic of Bethesda games and the Elder Scrolls games

I still only acknowlegde the original trilogy and accept that there is a prequel fanfic. There is no movie version of a sequel, only a great series of books that Disney decided to throw in the trash the very moment they bought the brand name.

AI can write Star Wars better than Disney.

it's 2024. and lame white dudes are still whining about TLJ. fking hell.

I enjoy dark fantasy. I enjoy realism and complexity in fantasy. But I also like when that includes themes, archetypes and unapologetic acts of good that don't require explanation or answer beyond "<duck>ing empathy".

Hollywood is trying to resist the urge to make a coffee shop AU of <Insert franchise here> but it's letting it's demons win.

Really great video, I enjoyed the breakdown and agree with your points. I really hope that crowd funded media can take a stronger hold on the general populous. Corporate interests are really killing creativity.

Just 13 minutes in and i think that destroying Luke Skywalker was just the icing on the cake. Before that, they totally destroyed the victory of the rebellion by introducing the empire 2.0., just with a different name. Then they destroyed Han Solo, who was not a general any more but a hapless smuggler again. Then they showed us Han and Leia not as a loving couple for ever after, but divorced. And not as a role model for parents, because they gave their child away to this weird wizarding uncle. And i thought, Luke as a disillusioned hermit was at least something new. It may have been justified, because of the failure of the Jedi in the prequels. But showing him attacking his nephew was upsetting. In my head i think that this was Kylos version of the story. In "reality" it was the other way round, that Luke ignored the signs of evil until Kylo attacked him. They destroyed everything from the George Lucas movies right from the start.

Things like Luke looking down on Vaders copped off hand and then to his own robot hand. As a symbol of giving into the darkside and fear and how the same fear that lost him his hand, is the journey that ends with him becoming vader. (Cue the vision scene). Its just such a solid scene with no clunky dialogue or overtunes. I miss that shit!

Maybe Rian Johnson is an accidental hero for killing Disney's Star Wars money machine

I'm glad you can still enjoy the original Star Wars movies. I haven't been able to watch them since the sequel trilogy.

Generic comment for the algorithm.