: Nothing against Peter Jackson, who seems to have the proper passion for the project, as well as a great respect from the acting and film community, but I had never even heard of him before this all started up.

Jackson did the lucritive film "The Fighteners" which was very well-done but didn't receive the praise it deserved. He also directed "Heavenly Creatures" which was equally well-done but under-appreciated.

: Here are my choices:

: If we're including the deceased: Sergio Leone. Anyone who has seen "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," "A Fistful or Dollars," or "For a Few Dollars More" knows that the man was a genius, and had a gift for the kind of vision and drama that is necessary to pull off the trilogy.

The only problem with Mr. Leone is the fact that he uses a lot of "non-action" shots to convey the pressure and fear of a situation. I once timed the last shoot-out scene from the moment Clint sets down the stone until they actually slap leather and shoot. The scene is almost ten minutes in length. I just can't see that working for Tolkein. Imagine Gandalf confronting the Nazgul at the gates for five minutes while we focus on Gandlaf's hand on his staff, the Nazgul's hand on his sword, Gandalf's steely stare, the Nazgul's "look of fear", ad nauseum.

: If we're only including the living: Bernardo Bertolucci. "The Last Emperor" is exactly the look and feel I'm hoping for here.

Bertolucci would definately work. He had the ability to shoot the entire scope of the movie, from panned out massive battle-scenes, to intricate single actor moments.

: Those I don't think are right (even though I enjoy their movies): George Lucas -- great imagination, but can't tell a story. Stephen Spielberg -- good story teller, but shameless panderer. Tim Burton -- ingeniously clever, but hopelessly saracastic. James Cameron -- he has the skills, but I can't see him putting Tolkkien's ideas ahead of his own.

Can't go with George Lucas. He has an imagination, but I think he spent most of it on the first trilogy. Spielberg would be a better choice, but I think he would do too much appealing to the masses, and he would cost too much. The story is not dark enough (or drug-induced enough) for Burton, though scoring by Danny Elfman would be great! Cameron is too conceited, and too big of a name on his own. As with Speilberg, he would cost too much (or think he was worth too much!).

: What are people's thoughts?

I would actually go with John Woo. He's on the rise, has a great deal of experience, has the ability to shoot the scope of the movie, and has some very nice, nearly patented trade mark shots that would carry the drama of the story (I would love to see Gimli and Legolas faced off with the Tolkein equivelenant of cross-pointed at each others face). Perhaps Chow Yun Fat can star as Aragorn. ;)

-RobRoy