Book vs movie comparisons would be a good idea in my opinion. I think too few people know about the differences and assume that the movies are a perfect adaptation. They deserve to see the full picture and judge for themselves.
@@untruelie2640 if you are talking about "The lord of the rings " then yes, many people believe the movies are perfect adaptations. "The Hobbit" on the other hand....
I think Bolg would have been a fine main villain for the movies. Thorin could have helped Dain defeat Azog in the past and then Bolg would be out for revenge of his father during the movies.
Great point. And this way the deleted scene with the crowning of Dain would have some meaning showing it in the threaticul cut. Otherwise with nothing for Dain at stake reduces the drama from the scene!
I honestly think this would have been stronger tbh. Dain and Thorin kill Azog for killing Thror. Bolg then kills Thorin for killing Azog. Make it into a cycle of vengeance.
I thought Peter Jackson’s adaptation of Azog was far less interesting than in the books, however I loved the nickname “The Defiler”, and I loved the choice to make him a “pale orc”. I think the use of pale orc reminds me of Kratos from God of War, which is probably why I like it.
Yeah the visual adaptation of Azog is, like with many things in the movies done extremely well, however from a purely storytelling standpoint it is definitely less interesting…
I kind of liked Azog in the Hobbit films. He was an imposing villain, and he was actually smart, skilled, and dangerous, not just a mindless monster. And I liked how he looked in the movies.
much of the Hobbit was made up in order to make it a similar length to the lord of the rings movies. the book the hobbit is much shorter than the lord of the rings. the hobbit movies are a hollywood story, not a Tolkien story.
@@625098evan Yes, but the stuff they put into the movie actually happened in Middle Earth lore. Gandalf really did go off to investigate the Necromancer. Jackson did embellish it quite a bit, but he did not just pull it out of his butt and call it Lord of the Rings.
Didn't hate Azog in the film's. That being said we missed out on an Orc with a revenge story because Azog lived through the Battle outside Moria. Just seemed like a weird choice to not kill him off and make Bolg the main villian. I thought for sure they would just not introduce Bolg since they kept Azog alive. But it was all the more confusing when they introduced both of them.
I honestly couldn't believe for a while that Azog was played by the same guy who did Deathstroke in Arrow. And I find it kind of funny how the only time you can really recognize the voice, is when he yells
They actually did do a prostestics and make up on an actor it's the orc galadriel kills rescuing gandalf and u can find pictures online they cast the guy who played Gregor Clegane in got season 1
@@Ageofsigmarr I agree, Azog is an awesome character. That's why it's so sad they used CGI. I know PJ said it was to cut cost and speed up the production. But still, that's the only thing I don't like with the Hobbit, the CGI-orcs.
I like both TBH. What I like the most of movie Azog was showing not all orcs are mindless creatures and he actually was a really great commander and strategies, also his visual representation is freaking awesome. Comparison between books and movies are fun, what I didn't like of LOTR movies was cutting out maybe the most important chapter in the books: The souring of the Shire. Love the vid!
I feel like Azog’s role could have been taken over by Bolg, sort of using his fathers legacy to inspire fear in the dwarves when they encountered each other during the journey and battle of five armies.
I enjoy your analysis of Peter Jackson’s contributions. Considering Tolkien had multiple versions of stories/characters/events, it’s easy for me to imagine and appreciate the cinematic contributions as just one more version of the tales.
That is the coolest way I've heard it put yet out of hundreds of comments that I've read!!! I've seen so many people bash Peter Jackson and I think he did a great job. It's not easy to adapt something from a book that's so detailed to a movie. Making something cinematically intriguing and good is difficult enough much less when you're trying to stick to other material!! Like I said that was put very well sir!!! Thanks for being one of the nice ones
@@BJETNT Even considering Peter Jackson was pushed into making Hobbit at the last minute, also wanting it to be single film, rather than a trilogy.... he had to make up lots of filler to direct a trilogy in few months of preparation
I watched The Desolate of Smaug today. I like Azog as he is in the movies. Too many bad guys is confusing, especially by the time you get to the battle of the five armies. Having a clear person or persons (Bolg/Azog) makes the movie clearer.
I try to keep in mind that if the movies were made without the books, they would telling an awesome story already. Keep the movies and books separate and enjoy each as it’s own. Yeah, new characters are sometimes a tough sell if you nitpick a movie vs. the book. I love both and appreciate the incorporation of Azog and others.
Honestly, when I saw the first movie, I liked what they did to Azog. Keeping him alive added more urgency to the story. What I didn't like was that after the first movie he and Bolg were continuously used to play for time with additional orc battles in places where I definitely prefer the book's approach (looking at you, Barrel Ride).
Interestingly I have been criticised for complaining how the movies take the story, bastardise it, then present it in an atypical Hollywood style. It is not that I expect much more, and I am not disappointed. I find it hard to watch personally.
@@eastender74 true, although I am just misanthropic about trying to enjoy the cinematic version of a story that I have read, reread and returned to numerous times; the pretty lights of Hollywood just blinded my enjoyment of LOTR too much to enjoy it fully.
The movie version of the background history leading up to the quest for Erebor always bothered me since I first saw them. It was mainly because the War of the Dwarves and Orcs was pretty much my favourite part of the appendices, and I have such a soft spot for the Dwarves as a people and culture. It was already a great tale to give background and colour to so many at once, yet they changed it for the sake of a singular antagonist 😏 Tolkien's idea of collective heroism instead of heroic individualism being the thing which decides great quests didn't gel with that at all. Just didn't feel right, and still doesn't. Thanks for doing this one Nerd, it's so worth knowing for those that don't 😁
They could have just removed Azog’s character, but kept his design for Bolg. There wasn’t a need for two antagonist. The story would have actually worked better lol. With Bolg’s Father being killed by the dwarves, Bolg would have all the motivation he needed to hate the dwarves. Also, it was criminal what they did to Beorn in BOFTA. Jackson was a huge fan of horror, this was his chance to show it! While I still enjoy the Hobbit movies for what they are, it was giant missed opportunity
I very much agree with you. To me it kinda felt like they only kept Azog alive after Azanulbizar because they wanted 2 villains, Bolg an Azog, just so Legolas could kill one of them.
Yeah, they totally ruined Beorn. That pretty much ruined The Hobbit movies for me. Beorn has such an important role in the battle of 5 armies that they left out. The Hobbit movie story rewrite goes like it was put together by a board of corporate suits trying to make money and not a fans of Tolkien. It's sad.
@@austinbees I read somewhere that Beorn was originally meant to have a much rather presence in the battle of five armies movie, but his screen time was drastically cut because the actor got mixed up in a drug scandal and Jackson wanted to distance the actor from the movie. That could be bogus, but I remember it being a big deal
Thanks for this episode. I couldn't remember the Azog character from the books. I liked what Jackson did in the 6 movies for the most part ( still wish he included Tom Bombadil and showed the return of the Hobits to the Shire to only have to deal with Saroman and how both Pippin and Merry had grown from drinking Treebeards water, but oh well.) So thank you for clearing this up. Sir, have a great day 🌤 🍺
I think this is the first video where saying like and subscribe actually reminded me to subscribe. I've enjoyed your content for the past month or 2, and didn't even do that. Excellent job, and I also didn't know you could buy the artwork!!! Cool!!
Personally, I feel I prefer book Azog, in part because accuracy, and more because I didn't really appreciate the book that is shorter than any other in Tolkien's work getting stretched out into three films, and then nor just so they could include more details. Azog was a question I had right from the start; who will the villain be?, and ivwasnt hugely impressed by him. Again, it was cool to have a villain who was related to Thorin, especially since the dragon had to wait so long to appear, but I still wasn't personally pleased with it.
I think if they fleshed out certain aspects more, like the 13 dwarfs and there relationship with each other or the dwarfen society as a whole it could have worked out.
I was excited when i heard it was going to be an extended take. I expected to get the war between the Dwarves and the Orcs, and the origin of Thorin Oakenshield, as well as Gandalf in Dul Goldor. We got brief but lacking interpretations of both, as well as a completely out of place dwarf elf love affair, and the nonsensical Battle of Five Armies. Man it was so disappointing.
I just discovered this channel 2 days ago and have watched nearly all of the videos already. I love the content on this channel. Really well put together!! My new favourite channel to watch.
I prefer the movie's version as Azog seems to be more intimidating than Bolg, Bolg is an impulsive villain and I think that he is not worthy of his father's legacy, what Azog did in the past actually got him this chance to be one of the main characters. The only thing the books did better is his death and the coin moral revenge from the dwarves.
I had to pause the video at 8:07 because I thought that version of Dain Ironfoot looked so much like Brendan Gleeson!! Looks almost exactly the same as he did in Kingdom of Heaven with all that red in his beard. I love your videos, keep up the great work!!
I was never a huge LOTR fan, but your videos have provided me a lot of the background and lore from Tolkien’s world. I now consider myself a fan. Great job 👍🏼.
I love every bit of the stories there are regarding the Naughrim thank you for covering this NOTR, their origin tale is really tragic from the creation when Aule creates them in secrecy and Eru accepts them but only as adopted children who will awaken after his first born, even the Goddess mother Yavanna was against them, she asked that there should be shepherds in nature to protect it from dwarves because they will need wood (ents). Dwarves are just amazing, how they helped the elves races and carved the great halls of lord Thingol and Melian the Maia and if am not mistaken Gondolin as well or was it Nargothrond. Even though the elves were masters of craft, they occasionally were helped alot by the dwarves and their smiths, crafting them armours and swords. The dwarves of Belegost and Nogrod even stood by the side of lord Fingon in their great siege of Angband against Morgoth the Vala. When Angband was emptied and came the terrible worm Glaurung, the dwarves of all the present races stood their ground because their armours and masks could withhold dragon fires. They lost their king but the father of dragons was greatly wounded by their king in his last dying breath thus it fled. I love them so much, tale of the caverns of Khazad Dum, Durin folk and Azog the defiler is also very interesting one, in which young lord Dain of the iron hills is a hero who stood out and took vengeance upon the orc who wronged their great kings. I could read that story over and over again yet not grow tired of it. Thank you Nerd of the rings, your channel has come so far and grown too, wish you all the best and hope you can cover more tales of the dwarves.
@@Rauruatreides Thank you for the correction i will edit the comment! :) Well time to read Silmarillion again. It's my favorite book of all Tolkien's work and i have read it many times, but for the life of me i can't memorize the names of people, places and the order in which some events took place lol.
I honestly prefer the movie version. Azog in all three of the Hobbit movies was absolutely ruthless. He was a brutal strategist and the commandeering of his armies in BOTFA, where he’s screaming orders in black speech from the top of Ravenhill was the standout aspect of the entire battle for me. The father son duo him and Bolg made in the trilogy was also a standout and were both equally intimidating. My favorite Bolg moment actually being the scene where Legolas and Tauriel go to Gundabad and watch Bolg call forth the Army there( he’s atop his warg on a cliff, raises his sword in the air, screams a war chant and the horde marches out in full force from the fortress below. His rivalry with Legolas and the fact he made him bleed was great too.
It now makes a lot more sense why the Hobbit trilogy utilized this character. Honestly I like both Azogs, the original has more meat to him but the movie Azog is also memorable and a good villain that added some extra stakes to the story.
Agree though I wish they would have dropped the cgi and did what they did for LotR. Though it came out a decade later, the Hobbit looks and plays vastly inferior.
I liked the idea of having a Darth Maul character throughout but I will say it felt weirdly out of place in a story that is generally more upbeat. And there are bigger complaints to be had with The Hobbit trilogy.
Thanks a lot Nerd of the rings. Man I love your page since I found it like 3 weeks ago I been hearing and watching your videos. I’m a huge fan of Tolkien books but I don’t really have the time to read it. And now thanks too you I can get to understand so many things. Thanks again. The best UA-cam channel I ever found.
I appreciate that you're not mad that hollywood twisted so much of Tolkein's work in the hobbit movies. I have a hard time not being a little upset about it.
Azog in the movies is basically the epitome of the perfect Orc. He’s ruthless, cunning and won’t hesitate to destroy, defile or kill whatever or whomever gets in the way of his goal. He’s also an intelligent strategist with a burning sense of hatred and purpose that keeps him going. Morgoth would be proud
Great informative video as always. Thanks. I would have liked Toybiz to have continued on and produced several Azog 7" figures (Whole, One-armed and Battle Armour) as well as other Orc figures from the Hobbit Trilogy. And of course Billy Connolly's Dain.
Re - The Secret Life of Orcs I haven't watched the whole video yet, so this might already be mentioned (at some point after 0:42 which is where I'm currently paused). Shagrat and Gorbag are talking, after capturing Frodo and before Sam arrives. They're orcs and they're talking about "The Good Old Days." They mention specific things like that there were no "Big Bosses" around. I think they're talking about some time after Sauron's second-age downfall. It sounds like they're talking about the early half of the third age, since the wars of Angmar started about then. Before that time, the orcs would have had no 'Big Boss' controlling them, using them as pawns to enact their will. After that point, there's almost constant warfare, interspersed with occasional bouts of peace/ quiet. It's either one of the Nazgul, or the Spirit of Sauron that's dominating the will of the Orcs. Anyway, if my hypothesis is correct, it would mean that these two orcs (at least) would have to have been born before the year 1400 of the third age. On top of that, they would have had to have been old enough at that point, to appreciate a world without any mind-dominating evil presences. So these two orcs would have to have been almost 2,000 years old and they probably weren't the only ones, either. Ok, now to watch the rest of the video...
I would have had Azog die at Dain’s hands in the movies and let Bolg be the main villain of the series, hunting down all the children of Durin to avenge his father.
I actually love Azog in The Hobbit movies. Lovethe design and he was so badass. Maybe having Azog and Bolg both in the movies was unnecessary so they could just rename Azog to Bolg and get rid of Bolg we got in movies, but either was, I was pretty happy what we got with Azog in the movies.
Why didn't they have bolg be the villain then? Like, hear me out. Dain struck down Azog upon the stairs of Moria and hew from his shoulders the foul still grinning head of the orc chief. There upon he speared the head on a pike, and in it's mouth returned the bitter gift once thrown to Nar many years before in this very place. With a cry of triumph he held the twisted trophy of their revenge aloft and all the voices of the dwarves rolled over the hills in victory. But their trumph drowned the cry of Bolg, who fell upon Dain and struck him from his place of pride. Dain fell upon the stair there, the foul orc cheif's head tumbling away to be lost among the corpses of his kin, copper spilling from his mouth like blood as he went. Bolg, filled with fury raised his blade so the dwarves head may join his fathers. As the blade fell it rent deep in not flesh but wood, blunted as it was from dwarvish armor a branch of oak held aloft in haste by Thorin, son of Thrain. Dwarves rushed forward then and though many blows did hit Bolg fled with not to show but scars, and a rage that would burn all the line of Durin for standing between him and his revenge. that would have been so good in the movies if they HAD to have the orc subplot, and it would explain why Dain was so fast to come to Thorins aid even though all the dwarves refused to help claim the mountain. It would explain why Bolg came for thorin personally much better than Azog who is a leader, why is he coming in person???
I'm so happy that I appreciate this video so much. This channel has deepened my knowledge of Tolkien's intricate world, and I look forward to watching these every Saturday 👌
I have seen the movies, but haven't read the books. However, I have seen a lot of Azog's story, including his death at the gates of Moria, in Lord of the Rings Online, with his head placed on a pike and the coin purse shoved in his mouth and all. It seems to be mostly faithful to the books from what I understand, and I prefer LOTRO's version of the story over the one in the movies.
Essentially, keeping Azog alive for the events of The Hobbit gave the filmmakers reason to depict the battle outside Moria, which was a major event in recent Dwarvish history but which would've had no real connection to the exploits of Thorin and company, and thus having a sustained rivalry that dated to that time gave them cause to show that battle, which otherwise would've been irrelevant. That's the main reason I expect they gave him the role of primary villain, as opposed to Bolg.
I'd def like to see more videos on changes from book to film. I liked the style of Azog in the film but agree on preferring the book version more. If you have yet to do Bolg that would be awesome.
Yeah Azog was the only real problem i had with the movies. Everything about him could have easily been filled by Bolg. Wanting Revenge for his father's death would have been the best motivation for him wanting Thorin the the line of Durin Dead.
For me The Main problem were The overexaggerated stunts and parkour element combine with crazy and dumb moments like The barrels în The Rover, The goblin Town run and other. They suck all The tension from The movies.
I'm on the side of the books here. Honestly, I think it would have made a much better story (for the films) to have had Thorin actually kill Azog and make Bolg the "big bad" orc. Bolg wanting revenge would have been a stronger story on multiple levels, such as: it would have humanized orcs a little, it would have made the orcs' overall motivations a lot stronger, and it would have drawn a parallel between Thorin and his enemy, all while being a bit closer to the books, if not exactly.
@@nemilyk of course it wouldn't be Tolkien's idea, but you have to make some adaptations so it can be a good movie. Dain's part would be a little cut, but I think he would still be honoured enough at the final battle and afterwards.
I much prefer the original story of Azog, but I won't lie, I LOVE the design they went with for the movie. i would have liked it even better if he wore a heavy iron armor, but well, cinema being cinema, you have to see the faces of your main villains!
The Books version is more "monsterous" and vile while the Movies version is more "human" and spitefull. So I guess its up to preference tho I kinda prefer the Movies because I think hes more fleshed out with more of a unique drive compared to basically all other Orcs. In the Books I think hes more "regular" in terms of what you would expect of an Orc.
Submarine Azog killing Thorin alone far away the rest of the battle was just so disappointing… and with fork arm.. Mon dieu… and anti gravity Legolas killing Bolg was soo disappointing to.. what a shame. A final fight in the middle of the battle would be such a epic end ! Merci for all the work. Cheers for France et comme disent les nains « Puisse ta barbe ne jamais tomber »
Got here after finishing the "Blood of Azog" storyline in The Lord of the Rings Online. It's unbelievable how faithful the game is to the canon events.
@@hassanawdi3793 NOT even close to the same experience as the book. Needles overuse of cgi when lotr have shown us how good pratical makeup and effects can look. The new characters introduced only to create drama and bloat the runtime to justify 3 movies instead of 1 or 2. It didn't help That they weren't That well executed. All in All it just felt like a basic action movie and not a trip to the magical world of Tolkin. And in the process most of the charm that made the book so great was lost. Just my little drunk rant.
@@hassanawdi3793 I don't know, I could definitely see a difference between some areas which looked real (and a lot better), and some areas which looked like CGI
Nerd of the Rings: Are you going to make a video about “The Men or Easterlings of Bor?” I am not sure if you covered this in one of your videos. This is specifically this type of Easterlings aside from Hadrdrim and Sauron. (The Good ones) -Blue Wizards
Put this video on play while I cleaned the kitchen up. Didn’t happen to look at how long it was. I was expecting to be able to clean a lot longer without scrolling 😂
I wish the story of Dien was included in the hobbit. Would help bring more meaning to him becoming the king under the mountain. As is without Bilbo quest I don’t think Gimli son of Gloin or Legolas son of the elf king of Mirkwood would have been at the fellowship. I like to think also Dein has familial connections to Gimli. Both being such renowned red bearded dwarves.
Which version of the Azog story do you prefer? And would you like to see some book vs movie videos here on the channel?
The Tolkein version is pretty epic because he's been gone for so long he's like a phantom legend people talk about for centuries to come.
How is the sons of feanor series going? I really want a vid about maglor
Book vs movie comparisons would be a good idea in my opinion. I think too few people know about the differences and assume that the movies are a perfect adaptation. They deserve to see the full picture and judge for themselves.
the books and yes books vs movies would be fun
@@untruelie2640 if you are talking about "The lord of the rings " then yes, many people believe the movies are perfect adaptations. "The Hobbit" on the other hand....
I think Bolg would have been a fine main villain for the movies. Thorin could have helped Dain defeat Azog in the past and then Bolg would be out for revenge of his father during the movies.
Precisely
Yeah that would make sense. But I’m not disappointed with using him as a villain either
Great point. And this way the deleted scene with the crowning of Dain would have some meaning showing it in the threaticul cut. Otherwise with nothing for Dain at stake reduces the drama from the scene!
I honestly think this would have been stronger tbh. Dain and Thorin kill Azog for killing Thror. Bolg then kills Thorin for killing Azog. Make it into a cycle of vengeance.
I thought the same when I watched the Hobbit. Why change the line of Azog when he could have taken Bolg
I thought Peter Jackson’s adaptation of Azog was far less interesting than in the books, however I loved the nickname “The Defiler”, and I loved the choice to make him a “pale orc”. I think the use of pale orc reminds me of Kratos from God of War, which is probably why I like it.
Yeah the visual adaptation of Azog is, like with many things in the movies done extremely well, however from a purely storytelling standpoint it is definitely less interesting…
Azog also was pretty much the first good looking orc. Even uruk-hai weren't exactly pretty but Azog was a handsome boi.
@@chillax319 fr Azog had a good skin care routine that man was glowing, not to mention those piercing blue eyes
@@Get_Splooshed fr he cute
@@Get_Splooshed Bro, i want a child from him and I am a man, I'm just saying.
I kind of liked Azog in the Hobbit films. He was an imposing villain, and he was actually smart, skilled, and dangerous, not just a mindless monster. And I liked how he looked in the movies.
Except that was bolg.... The took bolg storyline and gave it to azog
much of the Hobbit was made up in order to make it a similar length to the lord of the rings movies. the book the hobbit is much shorter than the lord of the rings. the hobbit movies are a hollywood story, not a Tolkien story.
@@625098evan Yes, but the stuff they put into the movie actually happened in Middle Earth lore. Gandalf really did go off to investigate the Necromancer. Jackson did embellish it quite a bit, but he did not just pull it out of his butt and call it Lord of the Rings.
@@Cyrus-rodn45 who cares, they did great with it. the hobbit movies were even better than the lotr
@@thecaptain3594 most of the Hobbit movies didn't happen in the books.
Didn't hate Azog in the film's. That being said we missed out on an Orc with a revenge story because Azog lived through the Battle outside Moria. Just seemed like a weird choice to not kill him off and make Bolg the main villian. I thought for sure they would just not introduce Bolg since they kept Azog alive. But it was all the more confusing when they introduced both of them.
Yeah, it felt like Bolg was simply tacked on at the last minute, as he doesn't affect the plot at all.
Especially as they could have used the same pale orc design choices and called him Bolg… it’s the exact same movie, except it makes sense.
I guess you can say it’s the best of both worlds, but ehh... probably not... idk
Yeah, but Bolg's cgi was crappier than Azog's.
@@WesleyWyndam-Pryce Yeah because he was shoved into the last movie at the last minute.
just imagine the Azog originally depicted for the Hobbit trilogy, played by an actor with the incredible make up and prosthetics from the Weta team.
I honestly couldn't believe for a while that Azog was played by the same guy who did Deathstroke in Arrow. And I find it kind of funny how the only time you can really recognize the voice, is when he yells
@@jneumy566 absolute icon
The studio didn't have the time for that unfortunately
They actually did do a prostestics and make up on an actor it's the orc galadriel kills rescuing gandalf and u can find pictures online they cast the guy who played Gregor Clegane in got season 1
The hobbit films have too much CGI and it looks glossy, shimmery most of the time
I had forgotten about this. I prefer the book to the movie version. More character breakdowns please. I love them! Thank you ❤
I would have preferred a non CGI-version of Azog. Lurtz in LOTR looks so much cooler.
nah Azog is much better He is a powerful orc
@@Ageofsigmarr Yes, but the CGI-Azog is crap. I would be much better with an actor in a costume.
@@familjenhansson7144 true but azogs Past and death was iconic he was the most best orc Except from gothmog who even had a disability
@@Ageofsigmarr I agree, Azog is an awesome character. That's why it's so sad they used CGI. I know PJ said it was to cut cost and speed up the production. But still, that's the only thing I don't like with the Hobbit, the CGI-orcs.
@@familjenhansson7144 I get that
I like both TBH.
What I like the most of movie Azog was showing not all orcs are mindless creatures and he actually was a really great commander and strategies, also his visual representation is freaking awesome.
Comparison between books and movies are fun, what I didn't like of LOTR movies was cutting out maybe the most important chapter in the books: The souring of the Shire.
Love the vid!
I feel like Azog’s role could have been taken over by Bolg, sort of using his fathers legacy to inspire fear in the dwarves when they encountered each other during the journey and battle of five armies.
Hit subscribe - and the bell!
agreed! that way it also would've made so much more sense watching having grown up with the book
Also trying to get revenge on Thorin for killing his father
@@LordVader1094 exactly
Did this happen in the book?
Everything I learn about Dain just reaffirms him as my favourite dwarf
He really does stand above all the other Dwarves in the LOTR and Hobbit... Quite the warrior king and a perfect heir to the Dwarf kingdom in Erebor.
He really does stand above all the other Dwarves in the LOTR and Hobbit... Quite the warrior king and a perfect heir to the Dwarf kingdom in Erebor.
He was a faithful ally and dealt his treasure well.
@@WHJeffB He doesn't really stand above Gimli, necessarily. Both were kings, and Gimli may have been even greater in battle.
I enjoy your analysis of Peter Jackson’s contributions. Considering Tolkien had multiple versions of stories/characters/events, it’s easy for me to imagine and appreciate the cinematic contributions as just one more version of the tales.
That is the coolest way I've heard it put yet out of hundreds of comments that I've read!!! I've seen so many people bash Peter Jackson and I think he did a great job. It's not easy to adapt something from a book that's so detailed to a movie. Making something cinematically intriguing and good is difficult enough much less when you're trying to stick to other material!! Like I said that was put very well sir!!! Thanks for being one of the nice ones
@@BJETNT Even considering Peter Jackson was pushed into making Hobbit at the last minute, also wanting it to be single film, rather than a trilogy.... he had to make up lots of filler to direct a trilogy in few months of preparation
This is an incredible take!
I love the quote in the book after the war is over… “If this is victory, then our hands are too small to hold it”.
I watched The Desolate of Smaug today. I like Azog as he is in the movies. Too many bad guys is confusing, especially by the time you get to the battle of the five armies. Having a clear person or persons (Bolg/Azog) makes the movie clearer.
Immaculate voice acting as always
Awesome video. Azog is brutal & merciless, makes him a perfect villain. The movie version is pretty cool, but I wish this story was in the movies.
I try to keep in mind that if the movies were made without the books, they would telling an awesome story already. Keep the movies and books separate and enjoy each as it’s own. Yeah, new characters are sometimes a tough sell if you nitpick a movie vs. the book. I love both and appreciate the incorporation of Azog and others.
Agreed, that’s a good way to look at it. Plus It’s not as if the original trilogy didn’t completely disregard elements of the books either.
Honestly, when I saw the first movie, I liked what they did to Azog. Keeping him alive added more urgency to the story. What I didn't like was that after the first movie he and Bolg were continuously used to play for time with additional orc battles in places where I definitely prefer the book's approach (looking at you, Barrel Ride).
Interestingly I have been criticised for complaining how the movies take the story, bastardise it, then present it in an atypical Hollywood style. It is not that I expect much more, and I am not disappointed. I find it hard to watch personally.
Having the movie different from the books gives you a connection and yet at the same time a new experience to enjoy.
@@eastender74 true, although I am just misanthropic about trying to enjoy the cinematic version of a story that I have read, reread and returned to numerous times; the pretty lights of Hollywood just blinded my enjoyment of LOTR too much to enjoy it fully.
The movie version of the background history leading up to the quest for Erebor always bothered me since I first saw them. It was mainly because the War of the Dwarves and Orcs was pretty much my favourite part of the appendices, and I have such a soft spot for the Dwarves as a people and culture. It was already a great tale to give background and colour to so many at once, yet they changed it for the sake of a singular antagonist 😏 Tolkien's idea of collective heroism instead of heroic individualism being the thing which decides great quests didn't gel with that at all. Just didn't feel right, and still doesn't.
Thanks for doing this one Nerd, it's so worth knowing for those that don't 😁
"BARUK KHAZAD!!!KHAZAD AI-MENU!!" Keep up the great work Mellon!
ECTHELION!!
It's been so long since we've had a dwarven video
Nerd, whatever you're covering, I'm here for it. Any info you put out in these videos is always fascinating 🍻🧙🏻♂️
I love how calmly you read out "and ends up with his own coin-purse shoved into his severed head"
They could have just removed Azog’s character, but kept his design for Bolg. There wasn’t a need for two antagonist. The story would have actually worked better lol. With Bolg’s Father being killed by the dwarves, Bolg would have all the motivation he needed to hate the dwarves. Also, it was criminal what they did to Beorn in BOFTA. Jackson was a huge fan of horror, this was his chance to show it! While I still enjoy the Hobbit movies for what they are, it was giant missed opportunity
I very much agree with you. To me it kinda felt like they only kept Azog alive after Azanulbizar because they wanted 2 villains, Bolg an Azog, just so Legolas could kill one of them.
Damn... What a missed oppurtunity with Beorn.
@@fredriksvensson2593 They could have just given Bolg a son to take up that role.
Yeah, they totally ruined Beorn. That pretty much ruined The Hobbit movies for me. Beorn has such an important role in the battle of 5 armies that they left out. The Hobbit movie story rewrite goes like it was put together by a board of corporate suits trying to make money and not a fans of Tolkien. It's sad.
@@austinbees I read somewhere that Beorn was originally meant to have a much rather presence in the battle of five armies movie, but his screen time was drastically cut because the actor got mixed up in a drug scandal and Jackson wanted to distance the actor from the movie. That could be bogus, but I remember it being a big deal
Thanks for this episode. I couldn't remember the Azog character from the books. I liked what Jackson did in the 6 movies for the most part ( still wish he included Tom Bombadil and showed the return of the Hobits to the Shire to only have to deal with Saroman and how both Pippin and Merry had grown from drinking Treebeards water, but oh well.) So thank you for clearing this up. Sir, have a great day 🌤 🍺
I think this is the first video where saying like and subscribe actually reminded me to subscribe. I've enjoyed your content for the past month or 2, and didn't even do that. Excellent job, and I also didn't know you could buy the artwork!!! Cool!!
Personally, I feel I prefer book Azog, in part because accuracy, and more because I didn't really appreciate the book that is shorter than any other in Tolkien's work getting stretched out into three films, and then nor just so they could include more details. Azog was a question I had right from the start; who will the villain be?, and ivwasnt hugely impressed by him. Again, it was cool to have a villain who was related to Thorin, especially since the dragon had to wait so long to appear, but I still wasn't personally pleased with it.
I think if they fleshed out certain aspects more, like the 13 dwarfs and there relationship with each other or the dwarfen society as a whole it could have worked out.
I was excited when i heard it was going to be an extended take. I expected to get the war between the Dwarves and the Orcs, and the origin of Thorin Oakenshield, as well as Gandalf in Dul Goldor. We got brief but lacking interpretations of both, as well as a completely out of place dwarf elf love affair, and the nonsensical Battle of Five Armies. Man it was so disappointing.
Title of the video: *The life of Azog the Defiler.*
Me: *it was probably a tough one with a name like that*
I just discovered this channel 2 days ago and have watched nearly all of the videos already. I love the content on this channel. Really well put together!! My new favourite channel to watch.
I prefer the movie's version as Azog seems to be more intimidating than Bolg, Bolg is an impulsive villain and I think that he is not worthy of his father's legacy, what Azog did in the past actually got him this chance to be one of the main characters. The only thing the books did better is his death and the coin moral revenge from the dwarves.
Yes! More videos of characters changed! The comparisions deepen my appreciation of both!
I had to pause the video at 8:07 because I thought that version of Dain Ironfoot looked so much like Brendan Gleeson!! Looks almost exactly the same as he did in Kingdom of Heaven with all that red in his beard. I love your videos, keep up the great work!!
I was never a huge LOTR fan, but your videos have provided me a lot of the background and lore from Tolkien’s world. I now consider myself a fan. Great job 👍🏼.
Tbvh I’ve never really been a fan of such commentary videos, but the way you keep the audience captivated and your story telling just is next level.
I love every bit of the stories there are regarding the Naughrim thank you for covering this NOTR, their origin tale is really tragic from the creation when Aule creates them in secrecy and Eru accepts them but only as adopted children who will awaken after his first born, even the Goddess mother Yavanna was against them, she asked that there should be shepherds in nature to protect it from dwarves because they will need wood (ents). Dwarves are just amazing, how they helped the elves races and carved the great halls of lord Thingol and Melian the Maia and if am not mistaken Gondolin as well or was it Nargothrond. Even though the elves were masters of craft, they occasionally were helped alot by the dwarves and their smiths, crafting them armours and swords. The dwarves of Belegost and Nogrod even stood by the side of lord Fingon in their great siege of Angband against Morgoth the Vala. When Angband was emptied and came the terrible worm Glaurung, the dwarves of all the present races stood their ground because their armours and masks could withhold dragon fires. They lost their king but the father of dragons was greatly wounded by their king in his last dying breath thus it fled. I love them so much, tale of the caverns of Khazad Dum, Durin folk and Azog the defiler is also very interesting one, in which young lord Dain of the iron hills is a hero who stood out and took vengeance upon the orc who wronged their great kings. I could read that story over and over again yet not grow tired of it. Thank you Nerd of the rings, your channel has come so far and grown too, wish you all the best and hope you can cover more tales of the dwarves.
True, though Durin's folk did not do those first age deeds, but rather the other dwarves from Belegost and Nogrod.
@@Rauruatreides Thank you for the correction i will edit the comment! :) Well time to read Silmarillion again. It's my favorite book of all Tolkien's work and i have read it many times, but for the life of me i can't memorize the names of people, places and the order in which some events took place lol.
As always I love all your videos, but the art in this one needs addressing. It’s FANTASTIC
I honestly prefer the movie version. Azog in all three of the Hobbit movies was absolutely ruthless. He was a brutal strategist and the commandeering of his armies in BOTFA, where he’s screaming orders in black speech from the top of Ravenhill was the standout aspect of the entire battle for me. The father son duo him and Bolg made in the trilogy was also a standout and were both equally intimidating. My favorite Bolg moment actually being the scene where Legolas and Tauriel go to Gundabad and watch Bolg call forth the Army there( he’s atop his warg on a cliff, raises his sword in the air, screams a war chant and the horde marches out in full force from the fortress below. His rivalry with Legolas and the fact he made him bleed was great too.
Exactly. Scenes when he command his armiers are actually one of my favorites scenes in Hobbit trilogy
Really stoked for this episode!
I absolutely love this man's pronunciation
It now makes a lot more sense why the Hobbit trilogy utilized this character. Honestly I like both Azogs, the original has more meat to him but the movie Azog is also memorable and a good villain that added some extra stakes to the story.
Agree though I wish they would have dropped the cgi and did what they did for LotR. Though it came out a decade later, the Hobbit looks and plays vastly inferior.
I liked the idea of having a Darth Maul character throughout but I will say it felt weirdly out of place in a story that is generally more upbeat.
And there are bigger complaints to be had with The Hobbit trilogy.
Thank you for this, we need this channel more than ever!
Thanks a lot Nerd of the rings. Man I love your page since I found it like 3 weeks ago I been hearing and watching your videos. I’m a huge fan of Tolkien books but I don’t really have the time to read it. And now thanks too you I can get to understand so many things. Thanks again. The best UA-cam channel I ever found.
Ty so much for all ur vids
Now that battle of the Dwarves and Orcs is a series I would watch!!!!!
I appreciate that you're not mad that hollywood twisted so much of Tolkein's work in the hobbit movies. I have a hard time not being a little upset about it.
NOTR - The topic of Azog, books & film, was a good one to bring up. Thank you for sharing, and as always, great job! 👍
Only REAL Tolkien fans know that Lego Azog from the Hobbit game is the most intimidating version
Lego games are for children 😂
I agree with you on the versions of Azog. I think Tolkein's original would make a great limited series.
My favorite channel! Always waiting for new videos from you!
dude you guys are awesome, lovin this stuff
Excellent video. Make more similar videos.with other characters. Greetings from Germany.
ooo love this lore!!!!! Great video!!!!!
Azog in the movies is basically the epitome of the perfect Orc. He’s ruthless, cunning and won’t hesitate to destroy, defile or kill whatever or whomever gets in the way of his goal. He’s also an intelligent strategist with a burning sense of hatred and purpose that keeps him going. Morgoth would be proud
Great informative video as always. Thanks. I would have liked Toybiz to have continued on and produced several Azog 7" figures (Whole, One-armed and Battle Armour) as well as other Orc figures from the Hobbit Trilogy. And of course Billy Connolly's Dain.
Definitivly more Videos for book vs. Films, plz. Personally i like the Film Azog more. He seems to be a stronger enemy.
Excellent presentation.
I like the version you just told from the book. Like most movie conversions, the book is better.
Wow very interesting I did not know different azog was from the books...
i wouldn't mind if the audio versions of these videos were added to the podcast. Your voice is quite evocative
Re - The Secret Life of Orcs
I haven't watched the whole video yet, so this might already be mentioned (at some point after 0:42 which is where I'm currently paused).
Shagrat and Gorbag are talking, after capturing Frodo and before Sam arrives. They're orcs and they're talking about "The Good Old Days." They mention specific things like that there were no "Big Bosses" around. I think they're talking about some time after Sauron's second-age downfall. It sounds like they're talking about the early half of the third age, since the wars of Angmar started about then. Before that time, the orcs would have had no 'Big Boss' controlling them, using them as pawns to enact their will. After that point, there's almost constant warfare, interspersed with occasional bouts of peace/ quiet. It's either one of the Nazgul, or the Spirit of Sauron that's dominating the will of the Orcs.
Anyway, if my hypothesis is correct, it would mean that these two orcs (at least) would have to have been born before the year 1400 of the third age. On top of that, they would have had to have been old enough at that point, to appreciate a world without any mind-dominating evil presences. So these two orcs would have to have been almost 2,000 years old and they probably weren't the only ones, either.
Ok, now to watch the rest of the video...
Ah Moria!
The pitfall of my favourite characters...
Pitfall is a very apt choice of words.
I would have had Azog die at Dain’s hands in the movies and let Bolg be the main villain of the series, hunting down all the children of Durin to avenge his father.
Great video like always
I would absolutely love a follow up to this discussing Bolg
I actually love Azog in The Hobbit movies. Lovethe design and he was so badass. Maybe having Azog and Bolg both in the movies was unnecessary so they could just rename Azog to Bolg and get rid of Bolg we got in movies, but either was, I was pretty happy what we got with Azog in the movies.
I love the design of Azog in the movies
I really like what the movies did with azog they made him arguably a way more important character
Why didn't they have bolg be the villain then?
Like, hear me out.
Dain struck down Azog upon the stairs of Moria and hew from his shoulders the foul still grinning head of the orc chief. There upon he speared the head on a pike, and in it's mouth returned the bitter gift once thrown to Nar many years before in this very place. With a cry of triumph he held the twisted trophy of their revenge aloft and all the voices of the dwarves rolled over the hills in victory.
But their trumph drowned the cry of Bolg, who fell upon Dain and struck him from his place of pride. Dain fell upon the stair there, the foul orc cheif's head tumbling away to be lost among the corpses of his kin, copper spilling from his mouth like blood as he went.
Bolg, filled with fury raised his blade so the dwarves head may join his fathers. As the blade fell it rent deep in not flesh but wood, blunted as it was from dwarvish armor a branch of oak held aloft in haste by Thorin, son of Thrain.
Dwarves rushed forward then and though many blows did hit Bolg fled with not to show but scars, and a rage that would burn all the line of Durin for standing between him and his revenge.
that would have been so good in the movies if they HAD to have the orc subplot, and it would explain why Dain was so fast to come to Thorins aid even though all the dwarves refused to help claim the mountain. It would explain why Bolg came for thorin personally much better than Azog who is a leader, why is he coming in person???
I'm so happy that I appreciate this video so much. This channel has deepened my knowledge of Tolkien's intricate world, and I look forward to watching these every Saturday 👌
I have seen the movies, but haven't read the books. However, I have seen a lot of Azog's story, including his death at the gates of Moria, in Lord of the Rings Online, with his head placed on a pike and the coin purse shoved in his mouth and all. It seems to be mostly faithful to the books from what I understand, and I prefer LOTRO's version of the story over the one in the movies.
Before joining notr: man these movies are epic
After joining notr: man these books are absolutely insane. How dare the movies butcher this and that!
hey this was a good video . thanx for making it
Book version 100%
I would love to see more videos from characters that were changed
Essentially, keeping Azog alive for the events of The Hobbit gave the filmmakers reason to depict the battle outside Moria, which was a major event in recent Dwarvish history but which would've had no real connection to the exploits of Thorin and company, and thus having a sustained rivalry that dated to that time gave them cause to show that battle, which otherwise would've been irrelevant. That's the main reason I expect they gave him the role of primary villain, as opposed to Bolg.
This episode was so well done i ended up subscribing
I'd def like to see more videos on changes from book to film. I liked the style of Azog in the film but agree on preferring the book version more. If you have yet to do Bolg that would be awesome.
yes - more videos on characters that changed books-to-film.
That feeling when you see a new notr video pop up between watching notr videos
I could actually hear the disdain as you mentioned him as the antagonist in Peter Jackson’s Hobbit. It made me happy.
Dwarves and orcs are really cool characters and very underrated in the franchise.
Yeah Azog was the only real problem i had with the movies. Everything about him could have easily been filled by Bolg. Wanting Revenge for his father's death would have been the best motivation for him wanting Thorin the the line of Durin Dead.
For me The Main problem were The overexaggerated stunts and parkour element combine with crazy and dumb moments like The barrels în The Rover, The goblin Town run and other. They suck all The tension from The movies.
@@mihaimercenarul7467 I chalk that one up to The Hobbit being a kids book rather than a young adult book like the LotR are.
only main problem? So I guess the fili and elf chick forced relationship was fine
Great topic, bro!
What a silly question (which version of Azog do we prefer?)- has anyone in Hollywood ever improved on Tolkien’s original material by even one word?
Great vid bro
"ONE of a HANDful of named orcs..." Well done. Hahaha
I'm on the side of the books here. Honestly, I think it would have made a much better story (for the films) to have had Thorin actually kill Azog and make Bolg the "big bad" orc. Bolg wanting revenge would have been a stronger story on multiple levels, such as: it would have humanized orcs a little, it would have made the orcs' overall motivations a lot stronger, and it would have drawn a parallel between Thorin and his enemy, all while being a bit closer to the books, if not exactly.
That would've been really cool. A never ending spiral of revenge
@@smeagolbaggins Thanks. It still wouldn't have been "canon" but it would have been better thematically, in my opinion.
@@nemilyk of course it wouldn't be Tolkien's idea, but you have to make some adaptations so it can be a good movie. Dain's part would be a little cut, but I think he would still be honoured enough at the final battle and afterwards.
I do like Azog's physical depiction in the movies and it definitely informs the mental image I have of him, but I like his story from the books more
I much prefer the original story of Azog, but I won't lie, I LOVE the design they went with for the movie. i would have liked it even better if he wore a heavy iron armor, but well, cinema being cinema, you have to see the faces of your main villains!
Azog? That filth died of his wounds long ago...
Imagine surviving an encounter with him and everyone wanting to know just how he defiled you.
Easy, Thorin lost an eye and did the entire Hobbit story with an eyepatch.
The Books version is more "monsterous" and vile while the Movies version is more "human" and spitefull. So I guess its up to preference tho I kinda prefer the Movies because I think hes more fleshed out with more of a unique drive compared to basically all other Orcs. In the Books I think hes more "regular" in terms of what you would expect of an Orc.
Submarine Azog killing Thorin alone far away the rest of the battle was just so disappointing… and with fork arm.. Mon dieu… and anti gravity Legolas killing Bolg was soo disappointing to.. what a shame. A final fight in the middle of the battle would be such a epic end !
Merci for all the work.
Cheers for France et comme disent les nains « Puisse ta barbe ne jamais tomber »
Got here after finishing the "Blood of Azog" storyline in The Lord of the Rings Online. It's unbelievable how faithful the game is to the canon events.
Great content man, keep it up.
The Hobbit trilogy movies were a letdown and way too bloated, but they did a good job of making Azog a badass villain.
Letdown in what way?
I didn't read the books but liked the movies
@@hassanawdi3793 three words: needless love triangle.
@@hassanawdi3793 NOT even close to the same experience as the book. Needles overuse of cgi when lotr have shown us how good pratical makeup and effects can look. The new characters introduced only to create drama and bloat the runtime to justify 3 movies instead of 1 or 2. It didn't help That they weren't That well executed.
All in All it just felt like a basic action movie and not a trip to the magical world of Tolkin. And in the process most of the charm that made the book so great was lost.
Just my little drunk rant.
@@Maltesfilm which characters r new?
Also did u know that Peter Jackson used real locations not cgi ones
@@hassanawdi3793 I don't know, I could definitely see a difference between some areas which looked real (and a lot better), and some areas which looked like CGI
Excellent video as always, Matt! However, I must admit, the way you say Dáin drives me nuts 🤣
I definitely want videos about characters changed for the movies.
Nerd of the Rings: Are you going to make a video about “The Men or Easterlings of Bor?”
I am not sure if you covered this in one of your videos. This is specifically this type of Easterlings aside from Hadrdrim and Sauron.
(The Good ones) -Blue Wizards
Put this video on play while I cleaned the kitchen up. Didn’t happen to look at how long it was. I was expecting to be able to clean a lot longer without scrolling 😂
the one that carved his name on the skull of the king is my favorite. brutal.
I wish the story of Dien was included in the hobbit. Would help bring more meaning to him becoming the king under the mountain. As is without Bilbo quest I don’t think Gimli son of Gloin or Legolas son of the elf king of Mirkwood would have been at the fellowship. I like to think also Dein has familial connections to Gimli. Both being such renowned red bearded dwarves.