8 Reasons Its Tough to Watch the Lord of the Rings Trilogy Today

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While J.R.R. Tolkien created the foundation for modern fantasy with *The Lord of the Rings*, Peter Jackson’s film trilogy made the story a worldwide phenomenon. The movies were hugely successful, winning seventeen Academy Awards and earning billions of dollars at the box office. The story has since expanded into a full franchise, including several spin-off films and the surprisingly high-quality *Rings of Power* series on Amazon.

While the original *Lord of the Rings* trilogy is still incredibly popular and beloved, it was made in the early 2000s. Compared to today’s visual effects, some aspects haven’t held up as well. It’s not that the movies are bad – they’re still worth watching! – but it’s worth noting why they might feel a little different to watch now than they did twenty years ago.

The Movies Excluded Many Important Elements of the Story

Adapting *The Lord of the Rings* into three films from its incredibly detailed thousand-page book was a massive challenge, and Peter Jackson ultimately succeeded. He did a great job of shortening the story while staying true to the core plot. However, some fans were disappointed by the removal of several scenes and storylines from the book. Details about character backgrounds and cultures, while interesting, weren’t as crucial to the main story as the characters themselves.

The way Saruman dies in the show is different from the books; he’s killed by his own weak servant, Wormtongue, at the top of Orthanc. The books also included a detailed section about the rebuilding of the Shire after the war, which is missing from the film. Removing this element felt unnecessary, considering how important themes of home and healing were in Tolkien’s work. With *The Rings of Power* now expanding on the story of Middle-earth, the absence of these details feels even more noticeable.

CGI Was Increasingly Overused in the LOTR trilogy

The *Lord of the Rings* films were celebrated for their groundbreaking visual effects, which combined traditional techniques like models and practical effects with innovative computer-generated imagery. *The Fellowship of the Ring* used CGI sparingly, only when absolutely needed. *The Two Towers* then pushed the visual boundaries further, particularly with the epic Battle of Helm’s Deep and the incredibly realistic character of Gollum – a performance largely due to the talent of Andy Serkis.

While groundbreaking for its time, the visual effects in *The Return of the King* haven’t aged particularly well. Scenes like the Battle of the Pelennor Fields and the creation of Gondor relied heavily on early CGI, which now appears excessive and outdated. Even moments showcasing Andy Serkis’ acclaimed performance as Gollum, such as his fall into Mount Doom, feel awkward by today’s standards. Overall, the effects don’t quite stand up to modern viewing expectations.

Female Characters Have Little Agency and Less Screentime

As a huge Tolkien fan, I’ve always noticed that while his stories *have* female characters, they often feel secondary to the male heroes. It’s not that the women aren’t powerful – characters like Galadriel, Lúthien, and Arwen are definitely forces to be reckoned with – but Tolkien tended to put them on a pedestal rather than letting them *do* things and drive the plot. And honestly, Peter Jackson’s movies didn’t really fix that. Arwen getting a bit of focus as Frodo’s savior was nice, but her storyline still felt way too focused on romance instead of her own adventures and decisions.

Galadriel often represents an idealized version of womanhood, which feels unnecessary given the strength and complexity of women throughout history. While Éowyn’s defeat of the Witch-king is linked to her being a woman, it subtly suggests that any woman could have achieved the same victory. In general, the female characters in *The Lord of the Rings* are often placed in supporting roles – as wives, lovers, or helpers. Even Éowyn, despite her bravery, gets caught up in a romantic storyline involving Aragorn, reducing her role in some ways.

Monoculturalism and Race Stereotypes Make LOTR Feel Ancient

The claim that Tolkien was a product of his time doesn’t excuse the lack of diversity in his work, particularly the overwhelmingly white portrayal of its characters. While the Elves are depicted as kind, they are also consistently presented as white, a pattern that extends to the Dwarves, Hobbits, and Men. The attempt to include a character of color, Arondir, felt like a belated addition. Notably, there are no actors of color among the main heroes in *The Lord of the Rings*.

Tolkien portrayed the Haradrim and Easterlings – two groups of people who allied with Sauron – as weak and ineffective villains. He associated them with darker complexions and hair, contrasting them with what he presented as the pure, fair-skinned people of the West. This perspective, rooted in a Eurocentric worldview, relies on both negative stereotypes and the romanticizing of ‘other’ cultures, and it doesn’t work well in modern fantasy stories.

The Extended Cut Isn’t as Accessible as the Theatrical Version

Peter Jackson made his Lord of the Rings trilogy tighter for movie theaters, cutting scenes he felt weren’t essential to the main story. But he put those scenes back in for the longer, extended editions, which add about two hours of footage. You’d think streaming services would make these extended versions widely available, but that’s not always true.

Although director’s cuts sometimes appear on streaming services, it’s usually the original theatrical versions you’ll find. What’s frustrating is that it’s hard to know *when* the longer, extended editions will be available. Fans *can* buy them on Ultra HD Blu-ray, but that adds an extra cost that many might not want to pay. Ideally, viewers should be able to easily access the complete versions of these films – it feels out of place that something so difficult exists within an otherwise smooth and convenient streaming experience.

Years of Cultural Saturation Have Left Fans Numb

The popularity of *The Lord of the Rings* has led to a common issue for big franchises: too much of a good thing. While the original movies were hugely successful and remain popular, the constant release of new content – like *War of the Rohirrim* – keeps the franchise visible. However, *The Rings of Power* is likely the main reason fans are feeling overwhelmed.

Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films have become so ingrained in our culture that they’re constantly joked about, analyzed, and referenced. Even people who’ve never seen the movies likely know the main plot points thanks to the countless memes and references online. The big moments – like Gandalf’s return, Boromir’s fall, and Frodo destroying the Ring – have lost their impact over the years because they’ve been discussed and shared so much for decades.

Today’s Fantasy Is a Lot More Subversive Than LOTR

Even though revisiting *The Lord of the Rings* will likely still be enjoyable in 2025, people discovering it now face a different situation. Fantasy storytelling has changed a lot since Peter Jackson’s films, with the most compelling new stories often challenging traditional tropes. Shows like *House of the Dragon* demonstrate this shift by immediately presenting intricate worlds with a wide spectrum of beliefs and ethics, mirroring the complexities of our own world through fantasy.

Many modern readers find *The Lord of the Rings* lacks the nuance and complexity we expect in stories today. Its characters are often too clearly good or evil, which doesn’t feel realistic. Contemporary fantasy, like *The Green Knight*, often mixes genres and avoids simple stereotypes to feel fresh and engaging. As a result, *The Lord of the Rings* doesn’t stand out as much as it once did.

Fears of a Remake Have Put Pressure on the Nostalgia

Remakes are a hot topic in media right now, and they’re incredibly popular. Many movie and TV studios seem to prefer revisiting proven ideas instead of taking risks on original stories, resulting in a lot of unnecessary reboots. For example, a new *Harry Potter* TV series is in the works, retelling the same story as the films, but promising to be more accurate to the books. Plus, Disney continues to release live-action versions of its animated classics, even though many fans haven’t asked for them.

Another adaptation of *The Lord of the Rings* seems improbable, especially with so many related projects already in the works. Even the thought of a reboot is unappealing. Fans are already grappling with changing feelings about the original films, which adds pressure to how we view the trilogy. Some want a reboot to fix perceived flaws, while others want to leave the films untouched. This conflict between wanting to revisit the past and wanting to reimagine it turns *The Lord of the Rings* into a point of contention for fantasy cinema, and it can make rewatching the films less enjoyable.

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2025-10-09 03:38