Lord of the Rings Fans Discuss Azog's Character in the Movies V.S Tolkien's Lore in the Hobbit Books

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Eleonora Bader
May 7, 2024 11:30 AM EDT

I'm a huge Tolkien fan, and have read all the lore I could possibly get my hands on. I love how Azog's character, especially in the movies, has been transformed from a fearsome Orc leader in the appendices to a full-blown, complex antagonist. The pale, almost ghostly depiction in the Hobbit trilogy is chilling, and it sets him apart from the regular Orcs. But I am aware that he wasn't actually alive during the battle of five armies, so the movies added that bit, which in my opinion, kind of betrayed Tolkien's lore.

Still, there are some redeemable qualities that the movies bring out. In the books, he's just this brutal enemy, but the films give him this whole backstory, this burning obsession with wiping out the Dwarves and reclaiming Moria. It makes him a much more compelling villain, someone you can't help but be intrigued by, even as you root for his downfall.

Sure, the movies take liberties with the source material – his whole rivalry with Thorin is a big change – but I think it adds another layer of depth to the story. It gives the Dwarves a personal stake in defeating him, makes their victory that much sweeter. Lots of LOTR fans have different opinions which you can read about below. Later, check out these Dungeons and Dragons players who experimented with house rules… that totally backfired.

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  • 01
    What do you make of Azog in the movies?
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    Personally understand why they put him in the movie and gave him such a big role but personally felt like Smaug would have sufficed as a villain or they could have given Sauron a bigger part like the books. Like his design though.
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  • 04
    WastedWaffles .14 hr. ago A villain with no substance and is quite forgettable. Smaug was more impactful, and he only showed up for like 20 minutes (if even that) across 2 movies. 1.7k Reply Share Barkeep_Butler · 11 hr. ago Aye.. not to mention Azog d d many years before the events of the hobbit. Instead of his arm, his head was cled off. With a pouch of coins stuffed in. 441 Reply Share
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  • 05
    MrsDaegmundSwinsere · 14 hr. ago I hated the character and the decision to have CGI orcs. But when you stretch a simple story out to three long action movies, I guess you need to pad it out with this kind of stuff. 780 Reply Share kicksjoysharkness. 12 hr. ago Rohan Imagine if the Hobbit had been done as meticulously as LOTR and just one or two movies....all on set, all costumes, etc. could have been such a beautiful movie(s) 347 Reply Share
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    JaxterHawk 11 hr. ago There's a fan cut that is this. Only what's in the books, heavy editing like no fight scene in barrels which involved painting out all of the arrows sticking out of barrels frame by frame and wounds from that fight, etc. it makes the hobbit trilogy just as long as the extended edition of the other films so it fits in great. 173 Reply Share
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    Tokoroashuffler · 13 hr. ago 109 Reply Share Cobra Kreese. 12 hr. ago Can't believe they abandoned this design. Although this orc does show up in the extended cut of BOFA. Really unfortunate we got the all CGI stuff 85 Reply Share
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    Upbeat-Excitement-46 13 hr. ago He didn't need to be and shouldn't have been in them. In the book he'd been c ad for ages by that point. If they really wanted a big bad orc they should've just used Bolg trying to get revenge on Thorin and the Dwarves for kig his father. 151 Reply Share thetimharrison · 13 hr. ago But then who would Legolas fight? 35 Reply Share
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    Upbeat-Excitement-46 13 hr. ago . edited 13 hr. ago No-one, seeing as Legolas shouldn't have been in them either 98 Reply Share thetimharrison · 12 hr. ago That's what I was hinting at. 26 Reply Share Lorath_.5 hr. ago Legolas would've been a great cameo minor role if he stayed in Mirkwood and had a couple lines of dialogue. Instead of a whole a B plot.
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    Bing_Bong_the_Archer · 14 hr. ago Dumb. Unnecessary. Him TALKING BACK TO SAURON was shocking to the Tolkien fan in me. What a face slap. 226 Reply Share doegred 13 hr. ago edited 13 hr. ago Beleriand At one point in the Second Age Sauron did have some Orcs mocking and scorning him. That was because he still wore his fair form though. 75 Reply Share
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    Lopsided Highlight528 · 13 hr. ago What's up with azog and all his orc buds loving to be out on those sunny days tho 72 Reply Share AlfredE__HelloNeuman 13 hr. ago Especially with that complexion 37 Reply Share
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    QuantumHalyard · 14 hr. ago I think in part they needed a main enemy of the dwarves and in particular Thorin who could last until the end of the battle of the five armies. In the book of course Azog is ki...d by Dain outside Moria and it's Bolg that hunts and attacks the company until he ds to Beorn. But I think having this one, very personal, big bad guy wasn't that bad of a decision at all and in fact I really quite like his character and his d th and I think his cunning in the movies reflecte
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    GrievousDrone . 12 hr. ago Unpopular opinion I like him. His design is badass. However I think they should have just called him Bolg. There was no need to deviate from the book by retconning Azog's d th. 71 Reply Share Kamu-RS 12 hr. ago I don't understand that either. He could have easily just been Bolg? It's not like the average viewer knows who either of them were/are before the movie anyways 28 Reply Share
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    Lizzy_Of_Galtar - 12 hr. ago Éowyn I guess I'm the only one here that liked him lol ② Then again I'm a big fan of Manu Bennett. 23 Reply Share Feanor4godking. 10 hr. ago Watching behind the scenes mocap of him delivering lines is awesome, he gets so into it 9 Reply Share
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    TheLastEmuHunter · 13 hr. ago If they needed to make the Hobbit into a trilogy, Azog isn't the worst concept for a secondary villain. And I find the origin stuff with Moria and the Dwarves to be okay. He's ultimately poorly executed and the CGI isn't good. 5 Reply Share
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    OmegaBoi420 12 hr. ago He was at least cool. I'm very biased towards Manu Bennett after Spartacus though. 5 Reply Share Salty-River-2056. 12 hr. ago He's also too large physically. Orcs are suppose to be smaller than men and Azog (and others) look like giants. One of my pet peeves. 4 Reply Share
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    DancingHermit. 13 hr. ago Don't like him, don't like the design or his presence in the movies. 10 Reply Share HYDRAlives 12 hr. ago Looks atrocious, bad characterization, lore breaking, all that stuff. Just all around a bad addition. 8 Reply Share
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  • 18
    Martins224 10 hr. ago I think there are two ways to look at it... first, if your a fan of the source material and like accurate depictions, then the movie trilogy definitely isn't for you for the reasons people mentioned. However, if you're the second type of person and you like a bit more world building/action/drama, then it probably appealed to you (minus the love triangle). I personally didn't mind the films and I like the idea of there being smart orcs/servants of evil who have their own age
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    All in all, Azog could have been named Bolg and made more sense, but I don't think his character being added was a bad choice if your going to make a trilogy rather than a stand alone film. 3 Reply Share
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    Puzzleheaded_Swim896 13 hr. ago Very good. He adds an extra dimension to the orc race on screen, as a highly intense, terrifying and overawing menace about him. The Orcs in the original trilogy just come across as animals, unintelligent, submissive and basically cannon fodder. Azog and his son Bolg add change that perception through actual screen presence and domination. Strongest, active on foot villain by Peter Jackson.
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    rattlehead42069 · 13 hr. ago He was pretty bad. Especially the fight scene in the last movie felt like I was watching a video game boss battle with 3 tiers where he uses a different weapon and health bar replenishes, to the final stage where it's a quick time action event when he bursts out of the ice. +2 2 Reply Share
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    The_Dream_of_Shadows 13 hr. ago Servant of the Secret Fire Not only was his inclusion dumb and lore- breaking, every single aspect of his role in those films, from his motive to his actual plot, could have been better filled by Bolg, which would've been an immense improvement.
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    SHIIZAAAAAAAA. 13 hr. ago Hate him. His design is kind of neat but he took up way too much screentime and he looks straight out of a PS4 game. Kratos looks good in God of War 2018 but if you put that character model in a live action movie he'd look like s. and be distracting. Every time I see Azog it takes me out of the movies. Whenever I think about fake as hell cgi characters that ruin my immersion he's the first one that comes to mind. At least Jar-Jar Binks has the excuse that he appeared in
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fantasy lore sauron tolkien fans lotr books Lord of the Rings Frodo Baggins tolkien gandalf orcs The Hobbit lotr discussion The Shire ancient Bilbo Baggins the ring adventure
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