should i see the lord of the rings movies before i play the game?

[judy~ bday today]

[DigitalImpostor]

The game is based on the books not the movies.

[oreyos]

Reading the books will take a long time probably, so watching the movies is a convenient shortcut. Do watch the extended versions though. They make more sense.

Problem is, the movies omitted A LOT (And made up some stuff), which means you will find that the game does not follow the movies exactly (as it's based on the books, and the movies did not follow the books exactly).

If you know the world and the background against which the game is set, you will enjoy it more.
So if you haven't read the books, by all means watch the movies before you play.

But do yourself a favour, and read the books as well. Yes they can be a bit slow at places, but it worth it.

[glenn9171]

The movies were great, so you should watch them whether or not you want to play the game.

[Running-Target]

It helps to watch the movies but you will learn alot about the JRR Toliken universe just by playing and reading the quests as you play.

[76561198077869228]

It all depends on your imagination.
Seeing the movies won't hurt, but as pointed out -- the game is based on the Books, not the movies, and Peter Jackson took great "artistic license" with the movies. Several significant scenes were added and others deleted, which makes watching the movies a much different experience than reading the books and you imagining what Rivendell looks like when you first enter it. Similarly LOTRO is the same way, but since you are NOT part of Frodo and Sam's journey, you are experiencing the places they say and described in the books through your own character's eyes.

It doesn't much matter if you watch first and then play or play first and then read. LOTRO does reference dates times and places in the books while the movies simply assume that you already read the books, but don't remember details.

LOTRO is all about the story. Not just Frodo and Sam and Gandalf and Aragorn, but the story surrounding your character(s) - what they do, where they go.

[MMOGamer71]

Originally posted by DigitalImpostor:

The game is based on the books not the movies.

This.

[judy~ bday today]

Originally posted by Valamar:

It all depends on your imagination.
Seeing the movies won't hurt, but as pointed out -- the game is based on the Books, not the movies, and Peter Jackson took great "artistic license" with the movies. Several significant scenes were added and others deleted, which makes watching the movies a much different experience than reading the books and you imagining what Rivendell looks like when you first enter it. Similarly LOTRO is the same way, but since you are NOT part of Frodo and Sam's journey, you are experiencing the places they say and described in the books through your own character's eyes.

It doesn't much matter if you watch first and then play or play first and then read. LOTRO does reference dates times and places in the books while the movies simply assume that you already read the books, but don't remember details.

LOTRO is all about the story. Not just Frodo and Sam and Gandalf and Aragorn, but the story surrounding your character(s) - what they do, where they go.

thanks for the info but i don;t know who any of those people are

[oreyos]

Originally posted by DragonRump~takeing it easy:

Originally posted by Valamar:

It all depends on your imagination.
Seeing the movies won't hurt, but as pointed out -- the game is based on the Books, not the movies, and Peter Jackson took great "artistic license" with the movies. Several significant scenes were added and others deleted, which makes watching the movies a much different experience than reading the books and you imagining what Rivendell looks like when you first enter it. Similarly LOTRO is the same way, but since you are NOT part of Frodo and Sam's journey, you are experiencing the places they say and described in the books through your own character's eyes.

It doesn't much matter if you watch first and then play or play first and then read. LOTRO does reference dates times and places in the books while the movies simply assume that you already read the books, but don't remember details.

LOTRO is all about the story. Not just Frodo and Sam and Gandalf and Aragorn, but the story surrounding your character(s) - what they do, where they go.

thanks for the info but i don;t know who any of those people are

Watch the Lord of the Rings movies. The extended versions will cost you a day to watch. You could watch the theatrical releases, but if you don't know the books, you will not understand some things that are made clear in the extended parts.

Don't bother with the Hobbit movies. That's a waste of time, both because the movies are bad, and because the game's not based on the Hobbit. Read the Hobbit book though. That's small, easy to read, and fun.

When you've watched the movies, you know the setting of the game, and you'll know the background of why things are happening in the game.
You'll also recognise areas in the game. (Weathertop, Rivendell, Hollin Gate are really nice to see for the first time for example)

[judy~ bday today]

you do relize i haven't seen over 289 movies that others have seen but not me cause my child hood sucked>.>

[oreyos]

Originally posted by DragonRump~takeing it easy:

you do relize i haven't seen over 289 movies that others have seen but not me cause my child hood sucked>.>

I've read a lot of books. Most of the time the movies that were made based on the books were really, really bad.
So I prefer books over movies :-)

But do watch the Lord of the Rings movies. Take your time for them, and at least make up for some of your bad childhood :-)
They are worth watching.

The books are worth reading too, but they are BIG and slow. Not everyone has the patience for those kind of books/that kind of storytelling anymore.

And the game is worth playing as well, but it really helps to know the background. The world of Middle Earth has a very extensive history, and knowing some of it will help you appreciate the game.

[krashd]

You don't need to play an Elder Scrolls game to enjoy Skyrim, it's a fantasy world. The idea of orcs, trolls, goblins, elves and dwarves and so on were pretty much popularised by Tolkien, but you don't need to read Tolkien to enjoy a Dragon Age game.

Just dive in to the game, it's free afterall. Knowing Tolkien's stuff will help, but I don't see it as required.

[Zito Garcia]

if you know the lord of the rings lore it will be a much more enjoyable experience , the graphics of the game arent that good but it holds the attention because of detailed world building and correct lore as well as great gameplay . If you see the movies and like what you see give this game a go , but dont quit before you are lvl 30 cause first impressions arent that good ,but by my experience in this types of game (MMORPGs) this is the best free to play MMO out there

[judy~ bday today]

Originally posted by Zito Garcia:

if you know the lord of the rings lore it will be a much more enjoyable experience , the graphics of the game arent that good but it holds the attention because of detailed world building and correct lore as well as great gameplay . If you see the movies and like what you see give this game a go , but dont quit before you are lvl 30 cause first impressions arent that good ,but by my experience in this types of game (MMORPGs) this is the best free to play MMO out there

no i don't know the lore i never saw the lord of the rings movies or the hobbit movies

[CarolinaFrog]

the movies left so much out!! dont!! read the books, play the game, then chew out new line for making pj abreviate em!!!

[DigitalImpostor]

Originally posted by bfrog77:

the movies left so much out!! dont!! read the books, play the game, then chew out new line for making pj abreviate em!!!

Peter Jackson's as much at fault as New Line. He added in stuff that wasn't in the books.