Tolkien's novels were inspired by his mom's storytelling, falling in love with another orphan, Edith, forming a brotherhood with 3 other misfits at school, the trench war of WWI and later te... Read allTolkien's novels were inspired by his mom's storytelling, falling in love with another orphan, Edith, forming a brotherhood with 3 other misfits at school, the trench war of WWI and later telling stories to his own kids.Tolkien's novels were inspired by his mom's storytelling, falling in love with another orphan, Edith, forming a brotherhood with 3 other misfits at school, the trench war of WWI and later telling stories to his own kids.
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Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis is Finnish director Dome Karukoski's first English language movie.
- GoofsOne of Tolkien's friends sports a moustache during the war and is mocked for it. Actually, moustaches were mandatory in the British military at the start of World War I. Tolkien himself wore a moustache during his service.
- Quotes
Edith Bratt: Things aren't beautiful because of how they sound. They're beautiful because of what they mean.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Good Morning Britain: Episode dated 30 April 2019 (2019)
- SoundtracksImmortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
Lyric by Walter Chalmers Smith
Music by John Roberts
While the film is in the batting average for historical accuracy for Hollywood it weirdly ignores obvious things to discuss. The film greatly downplays Tolkien's Catholicism to the point where he doesn't seem any more devout than a random guy from that time period. Worse the film spends a lot of time on his courtship with Edith and the film just doesn't use the bit about Tolkien proposing at 12:01 on his 21st birthday. This makes Tolkien a less complex figure for removing his stubbornness.
However much the film's story is lacking I love the direction-cinematography in this film. There is a ton of very provocative and lyrical images that feel more Middle Earth to me than the weaker parts of the Jackson films. The film is handsome and despite the narrative drive being missing it doesn't get bogged down. It plays out like a standard coming of age tale, abet a more artistic one.
With all that being said Hoult's performance is easily the best part of the film and I wish it was in a much better film. I don't think he will ever top R but this a very touching naturalistic take on an icon.
- CubsandCulture
- May 11, 2019
Details
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- Also known as
- Middle Earth
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Box office
- Budget
- $20,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $4,535,154
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $2,200,537
- May 12, 2019
- Gross worldwide
- $9,090,040
- Runtime1 hour 52 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1