Baconsale Episode 85: Star Wars vs. Lord of the Rings (with Brandon Mull)

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, Baconsale decided to take on one of the biggest sci-fi/fantasy debates ever: Star Wars versus Lord of the Rings. However, we knew that we couldn’t bear the burden of this geek culture topic alone, so we formed a fellowship with Brandon Mull, New York Times bestselling author of the Fablehaven, Beyonders, and Five Kingdoms book series. Together, we will host a series of mini-battles, such as box office numbers, critical reception, acting, musical scores and even the attractiveness of the cast for both franchises. We will declare a winner for each round, and then, in the end, we will declare an ultimate winner between the science fiction blockbuster and the ambitious adaptations of J. R. R. Tolkien’s novels.

It’s time to press play, leave the Shire, join the rebellion against the Galactic Empire and listen to this latest episode of Baconsale.

49 thoughts on “Baconsale Episode 85: Star Wars vs. Lord of the Rings (with Brandon Mull)”

  1. Best looking cast? I was going to go with LotR but then Joel mentioned Natalie Portman, and you also have to include Kiera Knightly. Carrie Fischer has never really sparked anything for me except for the slave costume, but any semi attractive woman would be made more attractive by that outfit, at least it doesn’t make it hard to fund the Fantastic Beasts. So, anyway, Carrie Fischer is just meh, but Natalie and Kiera bring the average up, and so does Rey, but maybe I’m giving Natalie too much credit since I saw Episode 1 in my mission in Portugal and so she may hold a special place merely because she was the first hot actress I’d seenb in more than a year, and then grandma Leia brings it down again. Harrison Ford is also not too bad. This is tough cuz I think overall, the females in LotR are better than Star wars, and so are the males, so I think LotR gets my vote, even though I’d say the most attractive cast member in all shows is Natalie Portman.

    Like

    Reply

      1. She was mentioned. I said “it’s Carrie Fisher and Natalie Portman vs. Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett, Miranda Otto and Orlando Bloom.”
        Although I will admit that I see too much of Liv Tyler’s father in her to find her attractive.

        Like

      1. Besides, I get what Joel is saying about movie villains, sometimes they just need to try the same plan one more time. Also, I would think that the Empire was building the Death Stars simultaneously, and once a project is funded, it is really hard for the bureaucracy to defund it. They really should have invested more in fighters to protect the super weapons and the shield generators.

        Liked by 2 people

  5. Star wars had 3 full movies of missed opportunities…. LOTR wins that category. The prequels were AWFUL. So many missed opportunities. The biggest mistake was killing Darth Maul in episode 1. He should have lived and been the main antagonist through episode 2 and 3. They could have had Maul and Palpatine trying, independently, to turn Anakin and get him to help them kill the other one. That’s just one example of a superior plot to Count Dooku and his stupid “fencing lightsaber” and on the nose dialogue…. no dialogue is better than what Lucas did with Dooku.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      1. Wait, I’m confused. “No dialogue is better than what Lucas did with Dooku.”
        It sounds like you really enjoy the prequels. Right? I just wanted to double check.

        Liked by 2 people

  6. The Silmarillion is a great read.. it’s heavy, but it’s really great. I actually read it the first time when I was 13 and most of it went over my head but the second time I read it I was a bit older and it was easier to digest. I’m mixed on my feelings for getting rid of the expanded universe in Star Wars and making it the “legends” section of wookiepedia. It was definitely needed, but they got rid of some really cool stuff like the back story of Darth Plagueis, and characters like Mara Jade and Admiral Thrawn.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  8. I think the Star Wars Prequels are better than the LotR prequels. Mostly because I actually watched them. I tried watching the first Hobbit movie and fell asleep. I tried again, and fell asleep. I have not given the next ones a chance. When you take three really long beautiful books like the LotR trilogy and condense them into three movies (even if they are really long movies) and then take a short novel like the Hobitt and try to stretch it into 3 movies something is lost. I still can’t bring myself to watch the next two Hobbit movies, but I will be watching the Star Wars prequels again.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. I only watched the first and second hobbit movies. They shouldn’t have made it into 3, 2 would have been fine I think. It would have been enough time to add some stuff in, not make the film seemed rushed, and keep it entertaining. As it was, it took way too long to develop and actually have things happen.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

  9. I don’t know which I would say is better. They’re kind of mutually exclusive to me because I have to be in a certain mood to watch either of these trilogies. Star Wars is more of a popcorn kind of movie for me where I just want to see things blow up, or people fight with lightsabers. For Lord of the Rings it’s more of a slow burn kind of movie for me and I have to be in more of a contemplative mood. Plus I only have the extended editions so I need like 3 hours of alone time because my wife won’t watch them with me as she finds them boring. There’s only a few movies I can watch at anytime and I wouldn’t put any entry from either of these films in that category, but I’d put them as the best in their categories.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I watch them with my husband, on the couch with a pillow and blanket and fall asleep to LOTR. My husband also only has the enxtended editions and seems to like to watch them around Christmas.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

      2. That’s probably why. My husband also has the week between Christmas and New Years off work, so he has all the time in the world to watch hours and hours of movies.

        Liked by 2 people

  11. Now that I’ve finished it, I have one thing to say. Thanks a lot. Now my 12 year old thinks he needs to watch LOTR. At least Christmas break is coming up soon.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      1. He’s seen them all before. Actually, funny story. They just got done watching the Hobbit movies and of course we have to have the extended editions. Did you know the 3rd one is rated R? We didn’t the first time we watched it. We sat there watching and thought “wow, this is a lot more violent then I remembered it in theaters.” My 14 year old was so mad at me. I just had no idea, and didn’t think to check before playing it.

        Like

Leave a reply to chidwick1 Cancel reply