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***Gilthalion*** · 06-10-2001, 05:34 PM

I seem to recall from Tolkien's Letters that he was willing to endure quite a lot of revision and compression for the sake of cinematic interpretation. I think when this has been brought up before, the term "sacrilige" or something like it has been used. This AIN'T Holy Scripture! And I don't think it will be "unrecognizable." From what I've seen so far, it will be simply wonderful, though necessarily different from my own private interpretation. I don't believe that most people who read (too few) will find their private interpretation shattered by the movie. And those who are inspired to read the book (who might otherwise have never picked it up, much less the rest of the Legendarium), will gain their own private interpretations as well. If they are mature, they will see the differences and many will appreciate the superior literary work. If not, then odds are they never would have picked it up in the first place. I think the movie is being done in the right spirit (so far) and that means a lot to me. Of course it will be done differently than my own solitary interpretation would have imposed. So what? Even those who never read the tales (who would never have read them anyway, most likely), will at least gain from the great Truths of the story and will learn from this Fairy Tale the lessons Tolkien taught. The caliber of the actors involved (Sir Ian Holm, Sir Ian McKlellan) and their own statements regarding what they have seen of the effort, make me as certain as can be prior to viewing, that this cinematic interpretation will indeed be a Good Thing. Most likely, it will prove to be one of the greatest movies (taken as a whole) of the 21st Century. It looks as if it will be the one to beat. And if you miss it, because you can't stand the thought of Burger King making a buck, then you are only depriving yourself. The consolation that one is a "purist" and has a "better" enjoyment of the original work somehow, is cold consolation indeed. Especially since the author himself was so willing to see the work filmed, and the story changed for the filming. All the same, I will miss Bombadil! <center> <a href="http://www.barrowdowns.com">Barrow-Downs</a>~<a href="http://www.geocities.com/robertwgardner2000">Bare Bones</a>~<a href="http://pub41.ezboard.com/btarostineruhir">Tar Ost-in-Eruhir</a>~<a href="http://www.geocities.com/robertwgardner2000/gilthalion.html">Grand Adventures</a>~<a href="http://www.barrowdowns.com/fanfichobbits.asp">The Hobbits</a>~<a href="http://www.tolkientrail.com">Tolkien Trail</a> </center>

06-10-2001, 05:34 PM	#20
*Gilthalion* Hobbitus Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: South Farthing Posts: 635	<BR><br><br> I seem to recall from Tolkien's Letters that he was willing to endure quite a lot of revision and compression for the sake of cinematic interpretation.<br> <br> I think when this has been brought up before, the term "sacrilige" or something like it has been used. This AIN'T Holy Scripture!<br> <br> And I don't think it will be "unrecognizable."<br> <br> From what I've seen so far, it will be simply wonderful, though necessarily different from my own private interpretation.<br> <br> I don't believe that most people who read (too few) will find their private interpretation shattered by the movie. And those who are inspired to read the book (who might otherwise have never picked it up, much less the rest of the Legendarium), will gain their own private interpretations as well. If they are mature, they will see the differences and many will appreciate the superior literary work. If not, then odds are they never would have picked it up in the first place.<br> <br> I think the movie is being done in the right spirit (so far) and that means a lot to me. Of course it will be done differently than my own solitary interpretation would have imposed. So what?<br> <br> Even those who never read the tales (who would never have read them anyway, most likely), will at least gain from the great Truths of the story and will learn from this Fairy Tale the lessons Tolkien taught.<br> <br> The caliber of the actors involved (Sir Ian Holm, Sir Ian McKlellan) and their own statements regarding what they have seen of the effort, make me as certain as can be prior to viewing, that this cinematic interpretation will indeed be a Good Thing. Most likely, it will prove to be one of the greatest movies (taken as a whole) of the 21st Century.<br> <br> It looks as if it will be the one to beat.<br> <br> And if you miss it, because you can't stand the thought of Burger King making a buck, then you are only depriving yourself. The consolation that one is a "purist" and has a "better" enjoyment of the original work somehow, is cold consolation indeed. Especially since the author himself was so willing to see the work filmed, and the story changed for the filming.<br> <br> All the same, I will miss Bombadil! <p><center> <a href="http://www.barrowdowns.com">Barrow-Downs</a>~<a href="http://www.geocities.com/robertwgardner2000">Bare Bones</a>~<a href="http://pub41.ezboard.com/btarostineruhir">Tar Ost-in-Eruhir</a>~<a href="http://www.geocities.com/robertwgardner2000/gilthalion.html">Grand Adventures</a>~<a href="http://www.barrowdowns.com/fanfichobbits.asp">The Hobbits</a>~<a href="http://www.tolkientrail.com">Tolkien Trail</a> </center></p> __________________ Please read my fan fiction novel THE HOBBITS. Wanna hear me read Tolkien? Gilthalion's Grand Adventures!