Secrets of Middle-Earth - Inside Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" (4-Pack)
Our Price: $39.95
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $14.36 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: J.R.R. TolkienDVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Box set, Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 240 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-11-11
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Kultur Video
DVD Reviews of Secrets of Middle-Earth - Inside Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" (4-Pack)
DVD Review: Misinformation Galore- -Do Not Buy
Summary: 1 Stars
The only thing this series revealed to me was the ignorance of the producers on the subject of The Lord of the Rings. I was left with the distinct impression that they either have not read the trilogy or did so many years ago. The number of inaccuracies in plot and setting exposition is astonishing, leaving one with the impression that this was (yet another) attempt to cash in on the resurgence in Tolkien mania that Peter Jackson's rendition has created. Here are some examples of blatant errors:
1) Their synopsis states that Pippin met up with Frodo and Sam at Bucklebury Ferry, leading me to conclude that the edition they read was missing the two chapters detailing Frodo, Sam and Pippin's adventures on the way from Bag End to the Ferry. It is Merry that they meet up with shortly before reaching the Ferry (of whom they made no mention).
2) Their graphical mapping of Gandalf's path from Bree to Rivendell bypasses Weathertop completely, despite Gandalf's battle with the Nazgul which Strider and the hobbits saw from far off.
3) They claim Frodo's vision of Glorfindel as a shining figure at the Fords was due to the fact that he was wearing the Ring, when the text indicates that he was not wearing the Ring.
4) In the most obvious and glaring error, in the 2nd DVD, they describe Minas Morgul in a way that indicates that they have confused it with the Tower of Cirith Ungol. Their description of Minas Morgul places it on the eastern slopes of the Ephel Duath, inside Mordor, when anyone familiar with the story knows that it is on the western slopes of the Ephel Duath, outside of Mordor. Their physical description of it, as well as reference to Sam's thoughts upon seeing it, match the Tower of Cirith Ungol, of which they make no mention.
The impact of these errors is compounded by narrator Graham McTavish' incessant mispronunciations of place and character names, which was striking in a production that spent so much time discussing the influence of Tolkien's linguistic pursuits on his development of Middle-earth.
Call me nitpicky if you will, but you would think that a production which purports to such authoritativeness would do a better job on basic plot and setting details. I was struck by how many fewer "authorities" were involved in the Two Towers DVD than were included in the Fellowship DVD, suggesting the possibility that some become aware of the illegitimacy of the project and disassociated themselves from it. Note as well that the Tolkien hiers have not sanctioned this production, and it is easy to see why.
I'm only glad that I didn't buy this, but rather viewed a copy on loan from our local public library: thus, all I have invested in this series was the 3 hours to watch and the additional 10 minutes spent writing this review as a public service.
Avoid this production- -if you are an aficionado, you will be disgusted by the constant mistakes, and if you are seeking to become an aficionado, you will be misinformed and will require the purchase of other more authoritative works to disabuse you of the misconceptions perpertrated by the producers of this series.
More Secrets of Middle-Earth - Inside Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" (4-Pack) reviews:
1
1
Bestsellers in DVD
![The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS]Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS]by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops:
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops:
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
![Strike the Original Match [VHS] Image](/images/Strike-the-Original-Match-VHS-0001374079-X.jpg)
Strike the Original Match [VHS]New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] Image](/images/Medjugorje-The-Miracles-and-the-Message-VHS-0001373293-X.jpg)
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops:
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single Userby Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops:
Cost Accounting [VHS]by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
![J.R.R. Tolkien Giftset (The Hobbit/The Lord of the Rings/The Return of the King) [VHS] Image](/images/J-R-R-Tolkien-Giftset-The-Hobbit-The-Lord-of-the-Rings-The-Return-of-the-King-VHS-B00005RJ2W-X.jpg)
J.R.R. Tolkien Giftset (The Hobbit/ The Lord of the Rings/ The Return of the King) [VHS]Warner Home Video; Release date: 2001-11-06; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $79.99
The Blue and the Gray: The Complete MiniseriesSony; Release date: 2001-11-06; DVD
Best price: $6.99
Price in other shops:
The HobbitRANKIN & BASS; Release date: 2001-09-11; Published: 2001-09-01; DVD
Best price: $75.00
WizardsFox; Release date: 2004-05-25; Published: 2004-05-01; DVD
Best price: $7.15
Price in other shops:
J.R.R. Tolkien - The Origin of the RingsTrinity; Release date: 2001-10-30; DVD
Best price: $2.15
Price in other shops:
National Geographic Beyond the Movie - The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the KingWarner Brothers; Release date: 2003-12-16; DVD
Best price: $0.99
Price in other shops:
Ringers - Lord of the FansSONY PICTURES HOME ENT; Release date: 2005-11-22; DVD
Best price: $2.00
Price in other shops:
The Lord of the Rings: 1978 Animated Movie (Remastered Deluxe Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2010-04-06; DVD
Best price: $7.36
Price in other shops:
J.R.R. Tolkien - Master of the Rings Gift SetRelease date: 2002-07-16; DVD
Best price: $0.88
Price in other shops:
The Return of the KingWarner Brothers; Release date: 2001-09-11; DVD
Best price: $12.99