Voices in My Head
Posted at 7:48 PM
Before Peter Jackson and Co. decided to delight us all with a film version of “The Lord of the Rings,” I had — like so many others — read Tolkien’s books. In fact, for over 20 years I’ve read both “The Hobbit” and the trilogy almost every season.
But since the films premiered I’ve stayed away from the books so they didn’t influence my evaluation of Jackson’s films, for good or ill. To be honest, I didn’t want to be unnecessarily harsh with Jackson’s interpretation. Last week I decided to pick up the books again, starting with only “The Hobbit” to maintain a little of that distance since “The Return of the King” is not out yet on DVD.
And then I heard voices in my head.
I’m certain this has happened to others and it was probably predicted by many, but it was a bit odd nonetheless. As I read the book I could distinctly hear Ian Mckellen’s voice as Gandalf and Ian Holm’s as Bilbo. Even Hugo Weaving as Elrond. It was a bit uncanny — not that it happened at all but that it sounded so appropriate.
Is it simply because I’ve also seen the films so many times? (I’m watching “The Two Towers” as I write this.) Or is it just perfect casting? I think perhaps the latter. At least I hope it is since I wouldn’t want my own imagination to be corrupted so easily. Which means I’ll let my vanity praise those choices.
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