Lord of the Rings vs Harry Potter

[axisoftime]

Im a big fan of both LOTR and HP-however I would say LOTR is
the best-in fact Id say LOTR is the best fiction/fantasy series of all time!Its hard to compare in many ways;

LOTR takes place long ago in a fantasy world called Middle Earth
HP is in modern times and takes place around London

There are only 4 wizards in LOTR while HP has thousands

LOTR is a sweeping epic whereas HP is more of a continuing story

I would rather be at Hogwarts then Middle Earth-but LOTR rules IMO.

[yeshuamyking7]

I've never read either book series, although I will eventually read Tolkien's books. I refuse to read the Potter books based on competent reviews I've received from friends and Christian entertainment reviewers online, who almost invariably point out the moral problems with the books. The use of actual Wiccan practices, as well as many of the actions Harry takes in the books and movies, make me question the appropriateness of these books and movies for children (or anyone, for that matter). I actually caught part of Chamber of Secrets on ABC a few nights ago, and though I admit it is funny and the special effects are astounding, the moral tone of the piece leaves much to be desired.

Lord of the Rings, on the other hand, is a work of a much greater literary quality. The intricate details of the world, down to the creation of fictional languages, are nothing if not astounding. Plus, Tolkien himself was a committed Christian, and used many Christian themes in his work. Tolkien is even credited with leading C.S. Lewis, of Chronicles of Narnia fame, to a belief in Scripture, and the two remained close friends throughout their lives.

So, of course, I'm voting Lord of the Rings. Harry Potter isn't even in the same category.

[Elite]

hard to say: havent read any LOTR book or seen all the potter movies
but ill say harry potter was better for reading and the LOTR trilogy were the better movies.

i think the one you do first is usually better
e.g. if you read the book first, the movie wont be as good (well, unless you didnt understand the book)

[axisoftime]

I read the books 20 years b4 the LOTR movies came out.
But Id agree the LOTR books were better then the films-and while I havent read any of the HP books-it seems like the movies would be better.Though Im not sure if any big HP fans would agree with me lol.

[Steppenwolf]

I also originallly read LOTR back in the late '60s. NO question that it's much better writing, and quite intense. Just that HP is simply fun fantasy.....no more, no less.

[Xcalibur]

I'm not a big HP fan but I have read the LOTR books.
The fellowship was wayyy too boring.

[Mysticlies]

Harry Potter all the way....I LOVE YOU PROFESSOR MINERVA MCGONAGALL!!!

[Summers]

Without a doubt Harry Potter. I love the story. It doesn't matter the reading level, or if it created another language. To me one of the most important things of reading a story is the themes of it. HP series emphasises truth, loyalty, friendship, working hard, not to be ashamed of your background, and there is so much more.

It's not a kiddie book, and I find it very frustrating that it is sometimes marketed and seen as one. When it is clearly is not anymore.

[TMLS' BROTHER]

Harry Potter Period.

[Lexgirl33]

oh yes...LOTR all the way!!!!

[vikingjedi]

Im a big fan of the Harry Potter movies. I tried to like LOTR but I just couldn't get into it.

As for best of all time, the original Star Wars trilogy wins hands down for me.

[Magus]

POLL!

[Magus]

this thread was made, but with no poll.

[Lexgirl33]

Agree wheres the poll!

[ImzadiJedi]

I'll be happy to make one but since this has already started I bet the mod's will close it.

[Steppenwolf]

Why does everyone talk about the mods like they are some kind of gestapo!

[axisoftime]

Nah they just mainly try to enforce the rules,and a duplicate thread with a poll would be closed.I didnt create a poll because I would rather read ppls comments then just have them check a box.

I agree HP is more fun then LOTR.Much more comedy for one-and with mostly kids in it theres alot of childhood awe and school related problems and growing up things many can relate to.
U could say JKR created her own language as well with things like magic spells and parselmouth.She is a great writer but JRR Tolkien was a professor of literature at Oxford University,so Id give him the edge there.Personaly I thought 'Fellowship' was the best of the 3 LOTR books.

[Lexgirl33]

I agree, the fellowship was the better book. As for the movies, its hard to pick between the ROTK and FOTR.

[LexLuthor92]

I love both LoTR and HP, but I think LoTR is better. The movies are great and so are the books.

[Magus]

Originally posted by Steppenwolf
Why does everyone talk about the mods like they are some kind of gestapo!

the mods ARE NOT the gestapo. THey are the benevolent dictators i dream of.

[Agent D]

Lord of the Rings. I'm not a fan of little kids in movies. Give me the fellowship any day.

[Lexgirl33]

wooo yeah Agent D, I agree with you. LOTR is a more mature fantasy then HP

[Summers]

I have to disagree. The writing structure of the HP series is for a lower reading level, however; the themes of the movies become very, very mature. CoS emphasizes this by the racist view of mudbloods, and that is only in book 2.

HP is not a little kid book/movies. GoF really brings home the darkness/maturity that comes with death and standing up for what is right. From GoF onward the rest of the series turns very dark, and mature issues are raised. Please don't base it off of movies that cut half of the story out due to time contraints.

Futhermore, the argument that since it is for "mature" readers doesn't automatically make it better either. That is the same debate when it comes to versus debates with the show Buffy and Angel. I really don't get the logic in that whatsoever :(.

[Lexgirl33]

to correct my comment, i havent read the HP books so i wouldnt know :\ It just seems that way becuase a lot more kids ( to me) are into HP

[Summers]

A lot of kids are into it, but over the years the fanbase reached people to the adult ages. Funny, I discuss HP with more adult readers than kid/teen readers :lol:. The fanbase of HP books are universal in age. It's a huge bracket of ages. The movies, to me, really do not do the books justice at all. The books are far better than the movies because I mean so many things are left out which concern the reading fanbase that it will later affect the delivering of the storyline in the later movies.

HP is in awkward position. It is either marketed as "kiddie" book, or marketed "dark" book. It's just plain frustrating :lol:.

[Shadowknight]

Originally posted by vikingjedi
Im a big fan of the Harry Potter movies. I tried to like LOTR but I just couldn't get into it.

As for best of all time, the original Star Wars trilogy wins hands down for me.

Amen to that. I am a big LOTR fan. HATE Harry pothead or whoever he is but SW is still my favorite

[axisoftime]

Are u talking about the Star Wars movies or books?The Star Wars films-at least the first 2-are classics-but the books(story)arent really known as 'great' SF.Never has George Lucas been known as a great writer-he put together some great films for sure.
Harry Potter,like LOTR and Narnia really dosent have an age limit-they transcend age-like classic books for instance-Treasure Island-Moby Dick-Hucklebury Finn-can be enjoyed at 8 or 80.

[Summers]

SW I was always under the impression to more sci-fi than fanstasy. I don't know if it is or not. There is more sci-fi in the films and books. To me the books seemed to be far better written than the dialogue than most of the SW movies (primarly the prequels :lol: ).


Harry Potter,like LOTR and Narnia really dosent have an age limit-they transcend age-like classic books for instance-Treasure Island-Moby Dick-Hucklebury Finn-can be enjoyed at 8 or 80.

Exactly :). Some things are just so univerisal age, and what can be said the similarity between the two fanbases.

[axisoftime]

Yeh Star Wars is Science Fiction-whereas LOTR,Narnia and HP are fantasy.Though u could say the force is magical-and Darth a dark wizard!So the SW books are better then the movies?Or just the dialogue?Star Wars is always known for the movies-the spectacular effects-the adventures-alien races-but not as the literary work that LOTR or Narnia is.

[Summers]

For me the dialogue, and storylines in the post-RoTJ books are better than the prequels. They are so well-writtened, and care for of these characters. It makes the prequels look like small potatoes :lol:. Literary works they are since they are in literacy, but as you said I wouldn't put them in the same category as LoTR or HP. I don't know what label you would put the SW books at :confused:.

[Ketchup]

I think this whole thread is a waste of time pretty much. HP fans will stay HP fans, while LotR fans will stay LotR fans. I never understood why people like to compair the two so much... we are looking at two completely different types of movies/books. LotR was written over a 100 years ago for adults and adults only. HP is still being written and was originally intended for younger audiences. LotR was an attempt to create a whole world out of nothingness, recreating all of its myths/creation stories/etc, while Harry Potter takes place on a modified version of our own Earth. I love both equally, although I've only read the 4th and 5th books for HP, while I read all of LotR and Silmarillion. These two shudnt be compared, because the stories are so very different.

[axisoftime]

Of course everyone is entitled to their own opinon,however I must dissagree with the above statements;

-First off,LOTR was wrote about 50 years ago,not 100-and even if it was it would not take anything away from it.Mozart wrote his music 250 yrs ago-and is still considered among the finest ever wrote.
-Personally I see nothing wrong with comparing 2 great fantasy series.Yes they are different as I mentioned in my 1st post and LOTR has stood the test of time while HP is still being wrote-the HP books get darker and more adult after the 1st 2-but the LOTR's started with the Hobbit-wrote for a younger audience also.
-Like I stated b4 too-is Hucklebury Finn more for kids?or Moby Dick?I think classics are for everyone regardless of age
-I certainly dont feel this thread to be a waste of time-as Im sure
most of the ppl who have posted here,as well as the hundreds who have viewed it,dont either.In fact I dont understand sumone posting in a thread that its a waste of time-seems kinda rude IMO.Like posting sumones thread is boring.There are many threads-and all will not be interesting to everyone.

[Kalel33076]

Having read both series I would definately say that Harry Potter is the better series. For starters it is more interesting and almost everything ends up coming into play. In LOTR you had some chapters about Tom Bombadil and other characters that your just at the point can't they just go away. Also in Return of the King I couldn't stand the whole part of book 6 after chapter 3. After Frodo "destroyed" the ring and they went back to the Shire to find Sauruman had taken over, that was so horrible! While both are great and hopefully HP will be considered a classic there is just no comparison HP all the way!

[shadowcat20x]

I consider myself more of a LOTR fan, but I have to truthfully say that I remember having a more enjoyable time reading HP then reading LOTR.

[katt12]

Harry Potter all the way!

[littlegreenelf]

Harry Potter. But I can't really say since i've never read LOTR. I tried watching the movies and got bored so i never tried the books although that is just my opinion. I will probably read them one day since IMO books rule over movies.

[netlynn]

LOTR all the way....harry potter is ok but doesn't compare to LOTR

[red-K glory]

I am by far more of a Harry Potter fan than LOTR. I like them both but when it comes down to it Harry Potter wins without question.
The Harry Potter books are what really got me into reading and I am really thankful for that. Harry Potter Rocks!

[smallvilleaddict15]

Harry Potter kicks a$$!!!

LOTR was boring. I never finished the book and fell asleep in the movies.

Harry Potter is the best by far!!!

[rangerl]

Love Harry potter!! Read all the books at least 4 times each. LOTR are ok.. just to much!

[UDStyle]

Originally posted by yeshuamyking7
I refuse to read the Potter books based on competent reviews I've received from friends and Christian entertainment reviewers online, who almost invariably point out the moral problems with the books. The use of actual Wiccan practices, as well as many of the actions Harry takes in the books and movies, make me question the appropriateness of these books and movies for children (or anyone, for that matter). I actually caught part of Chamber of Secrets on ABC a few nights ago, and though I admit it is funny and the special effects are astounding, the moral tone of the piece leaves much to be desired. LOL

Anyways..

for me I sort of perfer the Harry Potter Books. Though Tolkien was an incredible visionar and was a genius when it came to his stories (created a whole world down to every detail for God sake), his style of writing was kinda dry. For instance the dry writing in the first few chapters in the hobit are hard to get by. It's the same for some of the Lord Of The Rings chapters. Overall what he crated was Incredible. What JKR did was create a magical world (no where near as grand as Tolkein's) and wrote it in a way where you felt you had to keep reading to find out what happens next. Very potent style.

I really can't say I whole heartedly like one more then the other because it really is apples and oranges with these two book series. The book series that I have read more then once is definately Harry Potter.

[AshRose62]

although I love LOTR It has to be Harry Potter.

[Dark Knight23]

I have to go with LOTR because it was first and w/o LOTR there would be no HP.

[BoyScout-ManOfTomorrow]

LotR but I love the Potter-books too!

[HeartChakraBabe]

LOTR!! I love the HP books, but not the movies. And LOTR has EPIC movies and great books! The LOTR trilogy has been my favorite movie (along with Avatar now) since I saw it! :cool:

[Davis Bloome]

Harry Potter. With all respect to its fans, but I don't like LOTR because of its hidden propaganda, which I prefer not to go into. And I should also argue that SW is not sci-fi. The story is fantasy and it has sci-fi elements to it. Don't judge the story just because you see space ships and modern weapons. It's the classic hero's journey and the path that it follows more resembles that of a fairytale.

[zanos]

I hated Fellowship of the Ring. It literally took forever for Frodo to get out of the shire and I never even made it that far. The silly songs and the interminable slowness of the plot was just too much for me. Now I know why I didn't like the first film either. The Hobbit was tolerable at least. Harry Potter wins hands down.

[Raistlin]

I never did read LOTR, because it was just too much (I have to agree about the silly songs). I listened to the books on CD. HP is a much easier read.