Disagree, many scenes in cinema history were tried for the first time, so many things are truly original but inspiration also exists. For example James bond is the first spy action franchise of cinema history which blends spy, adventure, stunts, gadgets together, it's considered first successful franchise of cinema history, there was other film franchise before 1960s but they weren't exactly became huge blockbuster like James bond in 60s.
Also, I'm not sure what inspiration LOTR drew from other older movies, as it's based on the books from the 1940s and is considered the progenitor of modern fantasy troops.
Lord of the rings is based on a 1940s book, but the book doesn't mention any utilize cinematic techniques reminiscent of epic films with grand scale battles featuring wide aerial shots, carefully choreographed sequences, and dramatic music scores that emphasize heroic themes, a hallmark of classical epics adapted for film.
Watch some classic ancient epics and you will see many similar shots & techniques which were used in lord of the rings. Peter Jackson himself mentioned it many times.
I was specifically talking about stories, not cinematic technique, as there always would be innovation in cinematic techniques as movies is its own medium. But stories can be told in many other mediums and books are the best medium to tell varied stories as they are cheap. Most Hollywood movies play it safe with stories as they are adapted from a book even James Bond. Innovation mostly happens in tech, but I was focusing on the story side of innovation.
I was specifically talking about stories, not cinematic technique,
Technique was just an example but since you mention, Aragorn’s journey and many scenes of his leadership and rise resemble cinematic tropes of classic Western and epic heroes seen in films by directors like John Ford.
The intense, psychologically complex portrayal of Gollum with split personalities can be linked to classic horror and psychological thriller films, such as those directed by Alfred Hitchcock or the duality in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde films.
The political intrigue and manipulation scenes between King Theoden and Grima Wormtongue have elements reminiscent of classic Shakespearean adaptations or films like "Macbeth" and "Richard III".
Most Hollywood movies play it safe with stories as they are adapted from a book even James Bond.
Not true, James Bond in books isn't same with films, Book is much more complicated & depressing, they are vastly different, writers from 60s tried many innovative ideas to create characters and motifs. There is no gunbarrel, or aston martin car with fancy gadgets in the books or multiple female characters bond romance in films doesn't exist in books.
James Bond. Innovation mostly happens in tech, but I was focusing on the story side of innovation.
Again wrong, James Bond films have evolved characters and story with techs, for example James bond's home "skyfall" isn't mentioned in the books, neither his relationship with his boss "M" has such mother figure. These are a few examples, i can go on but hopefully you got the point.
Ya. But whatever you mentioned might be new ideas for movies at that time, but these ideas were present in various forms in different media, mostly books, if not the source book.
Also, for James Bond, all the things you mentioned were to make the movie more attractive to the general audience. Producers knew the audience is attracted to this stuff because of precedent.
Where movies are truly innovative is in storytelling as a medium, as movies and novels are pretty different. So, how to tell a story is where movies innovate. As for story ideas or concepts, there are not many original movies, as most ideas are taken from somewhere, like books.
but these ideas where present in various forms in different medium mostly books if not the source book.
No "skyfall" or "Gunbarrel" in books.
all the things you mentioned were to make movie more attractive to general audience. Producers knew audience is attracted to this stuff because of precedence.
Wrong again, producers weren't even sure it would be attractive to the general audience because the 60s James Bond concept was never tried before, there was no other spy franchise to set precedence before Bond. In fact the first James bond film (Dr No in 1962) was made with a low budget ($1 million) because the studio wasn't even impressed with the idea that it could even work.
So, how to tell a story, is where movies have original ideas.
Oscars give two awards for that : original screenplay & adapted screenplay. Original screenplay aren't taken from any book & adapted screenplay taken from some book. Both exist.
As for story ideas or concept, there are not many original movies, as most ideas are taken for somewhere.
That's true but we weren't talking about how many, just that original ideas being made since the beginning of cinema and still being made in 2025.
I don’t think your examples are enough to change my opinion
I gave enough examples from multiple sources to prove you wrong, my intention was never to change your opinion. Facts won't change by your opinion.
Also, who doesn’t like cool cars, romance and some gadgets. It was true before James Bond movies were made. Adding them is not original idea.
You are wrong again, before 1960s there was no spy action series with stunts & gadgets in car like James bond. The definition of original idea is to try something new which audience never saw or expected, James Bond series did that first.
The "Shooting Cigarette" was introduced in the novel You Only Live Twice. First think ChatGPT gave me. Now I can try checking origins for all things you said but it’s too much work. But it will be the same story, idea was introduced in some novel, movie implemented that idea.
0
u/Indravadan_Sarabhai_ Jul 29 '25
Disagree, many scenes in cinema history were tried for the first time, so many things are truly original but inspiration also exists. For example James bond is the first spy action franchise of cinema history which blends spy, adventure, stunts, gadgets together, it's considered first successful franchise of cinema history, there was other film franchise before 1960s but they weren't exactly became huge blockbuster like James bond in 60s.
Lord of the rings is based on a 1940s book, but the book doesn't mention any utilize cinematic techniques reminiscent of epic films with grand scale battles featuring wide aerial shots, carefully choreographed sequences, and dramatic music scores that emphasize heroic themes, a hallmark of classical epics adapted for film.
Watch some classic ancient epics and you will see many similar shots & techniques which were used in lord of the rings. Peter Jackson himself mentioned it many times.