Advantages: True to a fantastic story, excellent actors, great music Disadvantages: Finding time to listen, might surprise those who only know the film
...to plough your way through the mighty tomes that make up J.R.R.Tolkein’s ‘Lord of the Rings’, the only option available was the BBC Radio 4 radio adaptation, which was first broadcast in 1981. Fortunately, this is one of the finest pieces of radio drama ever made, with a host of star names playing the roles.
VERY QUICK PLOT OVERVIEW
The second age of middle earth is drawing to an end, which marks the passing of the age of elves and the coming ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Story
Characters
How does it compare to ...
very helpful
04.07.2007
you can hear it this week Review ofThe Lord Of The Rings: BBC Radio 4 Dramatisation (Audio Book) - J.R.R. Tolkienby
Bryn_Pearson
Advantages: Good adaptation with some great actors Disadvantages: Remembering to tune in. Not very well promoted.
Back in 1981, the BBC undertook a particularly challenging project: To bring Tolkein's "The Lord of the Rings" to the listening masses. This is a huge piece of work, spanning 13 hours of listening time. If you missed it first time round, tapes and cds of the recording are availble - Amazan has the cds for about fifty eight pounds.
Better still however is the news that radio Four are running the series again (You've missed the first two, but there ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Brings the book to life, excellent detail and music Disadvantages: Songs can grate a bit, and pricey
...is what I found with the Tolkien classic 'The Lord Of The Rings'. But now can you imagine the same book, but in a fully radio-dramatised form? All your imaginings brought to life before your very eyes, um, ears?
- The roots of obsession
My love of 'The Lord Of The Rings' unsurprisingly started with me reading the book. Sure, it took me an age to do it, but I was so totally enthralled by the whole thing that I just kept reading and reading ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Story
Characters
How does it compare to ...
very helpful
01.09.2001
(02.09.2001)
More important than life itself Review ofThe Lord Of The Rings: BBC Radio 4 Dramatisation (Audio Book) - J.R.R. Tolkienby
dave27
Advantages: A brilliant, brilliant story Disadvantages: Absolutely none
...opinion is off topic. The full opinion has now been moved to the right section under Books.
Sorry for any misunderstanding and I will edit this opinion to make it more relevant shortly - Thankyou
*************************
This is a magnificent opinion Dave but.... It's in the section for audio books and as such is meant to be about the BBC dramatisation. The BBC dramatisation is a fantastic piece of work in it's own right and can be purchased ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: It's a superb story told Superbly with a huge cast. Disadvantages: It's expencive and rare, but it's worth paying alot for and searching alot for
The title is normally something i would say about a film especially as this "The Lord Of The Rings" and "The Hobbit" (which I would love to write a review on except that the site doesn't include it) are the only 2 stories I have on tape. However I have to say that this isn't as good as the book it just doesn't have the detail.
But that’s all I can say negatively about it, I'm very confident it is better then the up and coming film will be, ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: The chance of a lifetime. Disadvantages: none whatsoever.
...held me spellbound for the entire time. Listening to Ian Holm as Frodo was outstanding. I lay in my bed, eyes closed, imagination running wild and free over the terrain, I found myself transported to Middle Earth, and could feel the magic of it all.The feeling of hearing the voices and trying to put faces to them was a task on its own, but they told the story so well, I felt I was there. The music was well placed, and the sorrow was felt. I first ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Story
Characters
How does it compare to ...
helpful
07.07.2004
Watch out Peter Jackson Review ofThe Lord Of The Rings: BBC Radio 4 Dramatisation (Audio Book) - J.R.R. Tolkienby
Owensmiff
Advantages: Fantastic production and detail Disadvantages: Some of the songs go on a bit
...this first came out on the radio, trying to imitate Gollum's glottlestops. You are right there in Middle Earth throughout, and get to know the characters as if they were friends - and its all in the mind without any computer-generated wizardry! Whilst it is long, it is easier than reading the books which are so very heavy-going. Like the film, it cuts out the chapters with Tom Bombadil, but this will only upset ardent Tolkien fans as the story does ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Story
Characters
How does it compare to ...
helpful
10.04.2003
A Repeatable Experience Review ofThe Lord Of The Rings: BBC Radio 4 Dramatisation (Audio Book) - J.R.R. Tolkienby
dibblerip
Advantages: Exiting, dramatic, wonderful characters, magnificent language,unusual scenery descriptions Disadvantages: may be too long for some people
...something to keep life interesting. The BBC dramatisation of the Lord of the Rings provides you this and so much more. From the wonderfully believable lovable hobbits to the , sometimes hidden, magnificence of Gandalf all the characters become closer than your friends as you journey with them on this epic trip. And there are bad characters too, some of them also misleading, like Saruman the White. The purpose of their quest is true to all the best ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Story
Characters
How does it compare to ...
somewhat helpful
03.03.2003
Good as the BBCgets Review ofThe Lord Of The Rings: BBC Radio 4 Dramatisation (Audio Book) - J.R.R. Tolkienby
hooligan854321
Advantages: Disadvantages:
...are always unforgiving, especially of the adaptation of a beloved book, thankfully this does not fall short.
After the movies the interest in the book has risen, there is nothing that replaces the book experience but for anyone who can't cope with reading this format allows you to use your imagination, Frodo looks differant to ever reader, as do the Orcs or the wizards or even Sauron. The films were very good but they still leave you disappointed ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Story
Characters
How does it compare to ...
somewhat helpful
03.01.2009
Lord of the Rings - your way Review ofThe Lord Of The Rings: BBC Radio 4 Dramatisation (Audio Book) - J.R.R. Tolkienby
katzen
Advantages: Good for the imagination Disadvantages: Need to listen to the whole recording at once
The audio recording is the best way to tackle this fantastic novel. The reaon I say this is because it lets your imagination run riot. Peter Jackson has done a remarkable job with the films and most of the characters coincide with my own private version. The only thing I can criticise is the journey through the Mines of Moria. There is no way that the flim version can compare to listening to the audio version, lying on your bed, in the dark, or with ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Story
Characters
How does it compare to ...
somewhat helpful
04.09.2003
Better than the films Review ofThe Lord Of The Rings: BBC Radio 4 Dramatisation (Audio Book) - J.R.R. Tolkienby
catasc
Advantages: Fantastic for listening to in the car when you want to escape into the world of Tolkein Disadvantages: It is quite expensive and very long
...is even better than watching the films as it allows you to immerse yourself into the story without images being forced upon you. The songs and poems in Tolkein's languages help to bring the story alive.
My main concern with this audio book is the price but it is probably worth it for the hours of entertainment it can give as I have found that I can listen to it again and again as it is so exciting.
If you have seen the films before listening ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Story
Characters
How does it compare to ...
somewhat helpful
16.09.2004
Good Radio Production Review ofThe Lord Of The Rings: BBC Radio 4 Dramatisation (Audio Book) - J.R.R. Tolkienby
akurve
Advantages: excellent, i like that Disadvantages: sound quality
...music that let you follow the story and visualize it in your mind. The books are of course very long and detailed, and the BBC adaptation is quite compact and faithful to the book -- very little of the action is left out. One nice feature of the recording is the use of a narrator who both moves the action along and also provides many of Tolkein's fantastic word pictures of the world of LOTR.
This is a set worth having, particularly at the price ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Story
Characters
How does it compare to ...
somewhat helpful
28.02.2004
The LOTR audiobooks Review ofThe Lord Of The Rings: BBC Radio 4 Dramatisation (Audio Book) - J.R.R. Tolkienby
Elven_Princess
Advantages: you dont have to try and read all those long Middle-Earth words and names! Disadvantages: takes a little while to get used to the voices!
the audiobooks are a fantastic idea for those who are partially sighted, or cannot read easily for whatever reason-which could be a good thing with all those unpronouncable words inside!
the cassettes and/or cds allow us to enter or re-enter the magical world or Frodo and the Fellowship on their quest to destroy the One Ring-which of course was a big hit on the big screen, winning what, over 25 awards in total between the three movie instalments??
these ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Story
Characters
How does it compare to ...
somewhat helpful
22.03.2004
Why bother reading the book? Review ofThe Lord Of The Rings: BBC Radio 4 Dramatisation (Audio Book) - J.R.R. Tolkienby
cs94njw
Advantages: Tells the whole Lord of the Rings story in an entertaining and managable way. Disadvantages: It's long, but it's worth it!
The Lord of the Rings is a fantasy epic set in the past. It involves Elves, Dwarves, Humans, Hobbits, and Orcs!
This book is must reading for any kid/adult, and is likely to be on many school's syllabuses.
These tapes/CDs do not leave my car. While it may be expensive, you get hours and hours and hours of entertainment from these tapes!
The story is fascinating for both adults and kids - and will have both on the edges of their seats.
Peter ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Story
Characters
How does it compare to ...
somewhat helpful
16.09.2005
fantastic!!! Review ofThe Lord Of The Rings: BBC Radio 4 Dramatisation (Audio Book) - J.R.R. Tolkienby
j_a_s_22
Advantages: you can just sit back and relax Disadvantages: the voice can get rather annoying after a while
...can't be bothered to read the book, and also for people with problems with their sight and vision. listening to other peoples voices for me did get a little annoying. but it was much much easier than reading it myself. it was also helpful for me because when reading i cannot always pronounce all the words, but having someone else say them is helpfull as it makes alot more sense. if not read this book before then i recommend you read or listen to it, ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Temporarily out of stock. Order now and we'll deliver when available. We'll e-mail you with an estimated delivery date as soon...