(deep, heavy sigh)

Well, first off, flaming is not permitted, nor is it conductive to discussion, though I must admit to being emotionally tired of addressing posts like this. However . . .

Peter Jackson has been very forthcoming in exactly how his interpretation of the Tolkien classic will be filmed. He has shown that he has a special love for the books, which many purist would regard as a pre-requisite for directing their most beloved of stories. While he and his crew have remained rather tight-lipped about a great deal of the filming, and have prosecuted or threatened prosecution regarding the "theft" and/or release of stolen information, they have provided us with enough insight to know that there is true effort being put forth into this film.

I will point out, however, that many people enjoyed ST:TPM. I am not one of those, but be that as it may, I would not consider it a "big budget clunker". And it certainly wasn't a reliance on the "repressed romance between Han Solo and the Princess" that made the first series so successful. There were many more universal themes that appealed to a much wider audience, such as the eternal fight of good versus evil, the idea that there is a higher source of power that guides our actions, if only we choose to see it, that evil is just as much a choice as good (which are, interestingly enough, all themes that are in Tolkien as well).

PJ is going to aim at a wider audience then the massed Tolkien purists in the world. But he is not going to sacrifice "authenticity" for the sake of a "frustrated romance". LOTR revolves around multiple levels of a struggling populace, and to forget that two small hobbits struggled to complete a task that was, for all intents and purposes, beyond them, is simply foolish.

Once more, I will encourage fans to sit back, relax, and not get steamed up over the most recently heard "film news". Galadriel does not have an evil twin sister. Arwen is not going to join the fellowship. Frodo will not confront Sauron in the final battle for the Rings.

If the worst is realized, at the very least we will have a complete set of films encompassing LOTR that can be flamed away with every inconsistancy and nuance of error. But if the best is realized, then we will have a wonderful visual display of one of the greatest heroic fantasy stories every told.

-RR