Posted: February 25, 2000 at 19:17:55: by Aelmer
: It has been known from the beginning that the movies will reflect PJ's vision of LOTR. To make a movie (or movies) from a book one has to adapt the text to the big screen because some things written are impossible to picture in a movie. Having said that I must admit that the changes have to be called for and not just for the change's sake.: But to sign a petition based mostly on wild rumours and headless speculations is for me impossible. And I think some people read too much into the tiny, almost molecular sized particles of news and tidbits, extrapolating "facts" which have almost no substance. Mostly these people have already made up their mind about the LOTR-movies being a catastrophy which will forever taint their view of Tolkien and his work. No matter how good or bad these films are going to be I will always have my cherished books and my view of Middle-earth will not change. If you're worried about the movies destroying your M-E then don't go and see them. Just relax and enjoy the ride! : More on "changes". It's an impossible job for PJ to "interpret" so that the films will fit in with everybodys vision of LOTR. Why? Because the dear Professor was (intentional) unclear when he described characters, places and events leaving a huge space open for every readers own imagination to fill, ex. Balrogs extermities, the coloring of certain Elves etc. etc. JRRT described more feeling than facts and he forces every reader to put his own fact/picture to the feelings described. Brilliant! Of course PJ can't deliver the "right facts" for every Tolkien reader. We have to sit back and enjoy PJ's "facts". : And finally... The casting of Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf are absolutely excellent! I discover new things on McKellens web-site every time I visit. : Cheers : Mjolnir While I have been outspoken concerning the role of Arwen in the new films, I do agree with most of what you say concerning translating a literary work to film, and the petition effort. Yes, Tolkien does leave spaces for the reader's imagination to fill in. This "filling in" is where PJ's or any director's vision should come into play. No problem,I can accept visions of Middle Earth that are different than mine. However, in my opinion, one does not have to rewrite portions of an author's book in order to interpret the author's work, or present one's vision of the work. If a director cannot define his/her vision without drastically altering the author's story, I would have to question the director's skills, or at least motives. That said, I do intend to see the first film. The first film will define where path the other two will follow. If it is a path I do no like, I shall not follow it.
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