Re: LOTR

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Matthew Pearson
>
> --- And wrote:
>
> My main worry is about the pacing. I fear it will be more
> like Braveheart than Kurosawa or Barry Lyndon; can a mere
> three films with blockbuster aspirations be sufficient to
> convey the majesty and grandeur? I also fear a surfeit of
> nauseating celtickry. But am daring to hope these fears,
> like the others, will prove unjustified.
> --- end of quote ---
>
> --- Matt replied
> I share your concerns. I fear that it will end up looking like an
> SCA convention gone awry--or be perceived that way by the general
> public. I have a strong aversion to what I call
> People-in-Funny-Hats movies. The recent sci-fi channel adaptation
> of "Dune" comes to mind. (Actually, I confess I kind of liked
> "Dune", but the preponderance of Funny Hats was a distraction.)
>
> As for the pacing, keep in mind that they'll probably be
> abridging the story quite a bit. I hear they've cut out Tom
> Bombadil entirely--which is a shame given his importance to
> Tolkien's conception of the Ring, but probably wise, since it
> would be hard to translate the Bombadil episode to film without
> making it look silly.
I always found the Tom Bombadil episode the least satisfying in the book.
Not only would it "be hard to translate the Bombadil episode to film without
making it look silly", but I found even Tolkien's rendition rather silly
<ducking>.  The whole "Hey dol! Merry dol!" thing came across as a bit too
disneyesque for me.

Nor am I sure that I agree about Tom's "importance to Tolkien's conception
of the Ring."  After his brief appearance early in the tale, he never
returns and is referenced only briefly.  It seems to me the story of the
ring could well be told without him.

Now I'm sure that I have angered the Tom Bombadil fans among us, but this is
just my humble opinion.

Stay curious,
David

David E. Bell
The Gray Wizard
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ir gonar amis
www.graywizard.net

Wisdom begins in wonder.
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