Juli | 20 | current obsession: at this point idk anymore lmaoo | Ass deep in sollavelan hell | currently partying in slasher fandom | Sometimes I post arts | My Ko-Fi
We watched the whole LOTR trilogy this weekend and it struck me very strongly how much weight the props, the sets, the *things* in this movie have as opposed to other fantasy films/shows
And I think it's not just because they're so lovingly and beautifully designed. Yes the design is detailed and intricate and there's a whole logic behind the differences of every culture and the chain mail is handmade and so on. But I don't think that would have mattered as much if not for the fact that 1) the story itself and 2) the camera ALSO linger on those things and give them weight. The sweeping shots of the Argonath, of Edoras, of Minas Tirith, the way the story lingers on a sword, armor being put on, even Grond - this is a world where the incarnate Thing has incredible power (the Rings but also the sword reforged, pipeweed or seasoned salt that reminds you of home, Elven cloaks that hide you, an old sword that a frightened boy will use in battle, the cup that you drink from to honor the dead, etc etc etc.
Tldr; It's not enough to design your props well, you have to give them weight in the story and in the narrative, otherwise they're just forgettable eye candy.