: Hm. Well, I, for one, thoroughly enjoyed Jar Jar Binks. However, if there is NO comic relief, the movie would not seem very much like the book (which has plenty). Tolkien's comic relief is somewhat underscored, however. I wouldn't call it subtle, and he often uses it to lead into more serious stuff.

: But then, people are already alarmed about the fact that the movies are NOT going to be faithful to the book. I don't think it should matter one way or the other, as long as the audience enjoys whatever it sees. For me, the biggest shame is the heavy emphasis on medievality in architecture and (apparently) horse saddles. I fear the weapons and armor will also be too medieval in look and feel, and the clothing as well. I did have some input on swords, but we only discussed Anduril and Elvish weapons.

: [snip]

: : Such things are what I am scared of might happen in the
: : LOTR-movie too; that they feel they need to make Gollum very
: : "funny", or put in silly scenes to give the audience cheap
: : laughs. Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against using
: : humour in films; but it needs to come naturally, not be forced
: : in merely for its own sake.

: I doubt there will be much humor associated with Gollum. Based on all I've read and heard, Peter Jackson considers Gollum to be a very painful, tragic figure, and I believe he will try to portray Gollum that way.

I agree w/ you all the way, Michael. I did not find Jar Jar annoying - he was intended to fulfill the role of the droids in the first film. I think the droids were better, but I don't think Jar Jar failed in his role. My kids LOVED Jar Jar. Without him my kids would not have enjoyed the movie nearly as much. I think Lucas was remembering that the movie had to appeal to kids.

I also think the humor in LotR will not be focused on Gollum. It will probably focus on the Hobbits, as it did in the books. In my nightmares I see Saruman with a talking, sarcastic owl providing comic relief!

On a side note, I recently saw the musical play The Hobbit in Pittsburgh, put on by a college. Gollum DID provide some good humor in that setting & it worked very well because it was The Hobbit & not Lord of the Rings. Gollum was my favorite part of the play.

-Steve S.