[Dominus]

After seeing the replies to my post about the 5 greatest fantasy auhors of all time, and seeing that almost everyone had Tolkien in their top 5, I think I can go out on a limb here and say that almost everyone who reads fantasy has at least read or heard of his books, especially the Lord of the Rings.

What I want to know is how you are feeling about the first coming this December.

And are you actually going to see it? If not, Why? If so, Excited? Worried? Extremely anxious over it?

Thanks

[Penumbra]

I intend to see it. Previous attempts, though artsy, proved to be frivolous in most viewer's minds, probably because of the difficulty of making Tolkien's characters appear lifelike. The technology available now is superior and from the promos I have seen, it appears that this new film may actually succeed at representing the story successfully.

I couldn't tell if Hobbits have hairy feet or if the film employs the habitual midgets for Dwarves, but it certainly comes across as being realistic and dramatic. No doubt the trolls, goblins and wargs will require special effects, but I am hoping they contribute to the impact of the story, rather than be thrown in for effect. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, because it may be a turning point in film, that they can actually, realistically convey what we authors truly want the audience to see.

[James Barclay]

Very excited by the prospect and I will defintely be going. If it's done right (and the word is the films are going to be excellent) it could put fantasy on a new plane entirely and many of those that snub have snubbed the genre through pure ignorance might open their eyes and see what it is we've been banging on about for years.

Ah well, I can always dream... perhaps other fantasy books'll get made into films.

[Alucard]

I didn't like the books, but I'm actually looking forward to the film. I didn't finish the lord of the rings, stopped somewhere within the second book(the two towers, I believe). I don't like tolkien's writing style, and although I respect his talent as a world builder, I certainly do not enjoy his work, nor will I ever......In book form. But in the films, it will simply be the story, I will be able to see the story without the writing getting in the way. Another complaint with the books is that the charcters seemed very flat to me. They all spoke in the same voice, the same personalties, except one was a little more angry and one was a little more placid. There wasn't a lot of "character" to his characters. But in the film, this probably may possibly be remedied (though, to be honest, I don't expect it.)So for me, the films will be like experiencing tolkien with the possibility of actually enjoying it. For that, I'm really looking forward to them...

And on a side note, even if the movie stinks, the cinematography looks amazing. If I hate the way it's directed or acted, I have a feeling that I'm going to love the way that it looks, which is going to be worth my price of admission.

[This message has been edited by Alucard (edited November 07, 2001).]

[Cadfael]

NOM... I really don't think it will work as you say. A lot of non-fantasy readers have read LOTR and enjoyed it, but they will not read any other fantasy... it is cool to say "I LOOVE Tolkien". One lady I know can't wait to see the movie on the strength of the trilogy, but it is the only fantasy book she has ever read, when I offered to loan her 'Song of Ice and Fire', she told me it was not her 'cup of tea', and she is not a fantasy fan... but she is a Tolkien fan! http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/wink.gif

[Lani]

I am really looking forward seeing LotR movie. It's like a Christmas present http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif
I really hope it is going to turn out well, and I'm planning to see it as soon as it comes out.

[mundanemies]

Excited? I can't even keep in my pants if December 19th isn't going to come soon!
Worried? Yes, a little. After all, this is the fantasy-book, elder statesman, the big enchilada.

Extremely anxious is pretty close. Not holding my breath since that would be silly, since I want to see the film and not try suicide, but almost http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

Going to see it more than once? Definitely! It has to be really bad in order for me not to see it again. I have seen the beyond abysmally horrible Return of the King (by Rankin & Bass) about five times and that's saying a lot. "When there's a whip!, there's a way"

I've seen LoTR on stage two times and enjoyed both, even if some of the magic was missing (well, there's only so much you can do on stage) and watched the brave (but flawed) attempt by Ryhmäteatteri (a Finnish theatre group, who did the other stage-production, albeit to say "stage" is a bit misleading since it actually took place in Suomenlinna, which is an island-fortress) to do a LoTR-tv -serie. It had it's moments, but with zero-budget. Imagine Doctor Who -episodes but with less of everything (well, except acting abilities).

I'm looking forward for this quite a LOT(r)! http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[This message has been edited by mundanemies (edited November 07, 2001).]

[James Barclay]

I fear you may be absoutely right, dennizm but dreams are fun to have anyway...

[Cardo]

After seeing the trailers of the film I would believe that it´s going to be even greater than you would expect, becouse even the trailers capture the feeling of the books. Waiting for 21 december when it´s out in Finland.

[Peregrine]

Never can tell until the film comes out BUT I have some faith because it appears that a lot of people working on the film are huge Tolkien and fantasy fans.

An interesting point is that the cinematography seems to dwell a lot on the New Zealand scenery, which is a good parallel of how the book dwells on the landscape of Middle Earth. Expect a lot of shots of mountains and forests with small people moving about in the foreground.

I also know quite a few people who acted as extras and from the sounds of things the film is the first in a long time that really employs a 'cast of thousands'. The battles at the gates of Minas Tirith should be mind blowing.

My only question is where will they get the elephants? As far as I know there are none in NZ (not even in zoos) so they will have to be as much a special effect as trolls!

Oh, and incidently I re-read tLOTR recently escpecially so I could refix in my mind how the characters 'ought to look' before seeing the film.

Peregrine