The Deeper meaning to it all.

[Ainaserkewen]

During the recent bombardment of commercials, product placements, actor turned artist/model or vice versa, subliminal messages and little boys’ voices, we, as the human race (at least humans with TVs) have developed two separate ways of thinking. One is that you believe everything you see and hear about and are completely naïve to what’s going on around you. If you are one of these people, sorry, you won’t like this thread. If you’re not, and if you, like me, subconsciously question everything that is pumped like melted butter into the overly fat-and-happy media then maybe you will enjoy this.

As I watched the tremendous premier of The Fellowship of the Ring, being completely incredulous to the story, I found myself thinking afterward about how manipulative advertisers could have tampered with the movie. Are some characters only there because they might sell something? Either an action figure or a personality drawn to buy such action figures? How about the scenery? Is it only a product placement for the even bigger and more evil New Zealand Tourist tycoons?

Legolas for example was cast for the soul purpose of drawing in the ladies ages 10 to 25 and for those older than that, there was always Aragorn, though slightly dirty “I’d wash’em.” Quoted my married middle-aged English teacher.

The Ring was fashioned in such a way as to make us believe that gold alone is a crime. We must buy diamonds, platinum and colours, damnit, colours! And there must be more than One.

What do you think? Is this a timeless classic, or just another excuse to more subtly guide our buying impulses? What are some obvious examples that we should know about and beware?

(Just in case anyone didn't notice that this is totally for fun and I'm not serious!)

[Atarah]

I can see where you're coming from. I've even seen an advert selling Orange mobile phones with Sean Austin (sp?) in it. It uses Sean's role as Sam to help them sell mobiles, but I don't think it does any harm to LotR. And the films themselves were most definately not made just so they can sell merchandise after releasing them. Peter Jackson would not allow the trilogy to be used in such a way - he has too much respect or Tolkien and his work or that.

[Lathriel]

I always have trouble with these topics because they make it all sound so negative. I believe that New Line took on the movie because they saw the potential. However I don't think that PJ began LOTR for this reason. In fact most of the people who worked on this project did it because they love LOTR. Most of them didn't get payed a lot. Besides people such Alan Lee helped with the movies. Alan Lee joined because (as you can see by his illustrations) he loved to design ME. So there are lots of people like that who were involved in the project.
Of course this doesn't mean that everybody went into the project without thinking of the money.
Obviously New Line knew that if the movies succeeded it would be a huge benefit for them. Besides, most of the comercial things came after the first movie's success and not before. Its mainly other companies (e.g Gameshop) who take advantage of the movie. However I don't think the movie itself was completly geered on consumers.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

What a fun tongue-in-cheek topic, Aina! I think the reason Gandalf the White got a new staff was so that the weapons companies could sell two versions - Grey and White. That is certainly the reason the Witch-King broke Gandalf's staff in RotK as well - but they messed up their chances when they only got it into the EE version. So I'm not sure if the third staff was given enough screen time to be sellable...

And of course Gandalf only got new white robes so that they could sell a second version of action figures! After all, the other characters walked around in the same grubby clothes the whole time - why couldn't he?!

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

It would certainly have been a better marketing strategy to have them change clothes often. From what I hear the Legolas in the blue tunic with circlet would have been a big seller!

I have a sneaking suspicion that the Wargs were played by candidates for adoption from the Ugly Dog institute of NZ. Although I can't imagine they were snapped up as quickly as the cute dogs they feature on the morning news every so often.

And I suspect that the plastic surgeon responsible for Gothmog's face isn't getting a whole lot of business.

Sophia

[tar-ancalime]

and for those older than that, there was always Aragorn,

Ouch! This Viggo-fancier suddenly finds herself in the "old lady" demographic!

I suppose I'm only two steps away from saggy floral dresses and lots and lots of cat food.

[Lalwendë]

Well I'm an old cynic and one of my favourite arguments is that anything and everything we buy is just another 'product' no matter how wonderful they make it all seem to us. No matter if I'm buying home-knitted-organic bread or anything like that, it is still just a product and I am just another consumer. And so the films have enabled a vast 'market' to grow up which I have been sucked into. There wasn't as much available Tolkien paraphernalia to buy before the films, but now we can get just about anything, even socks and incense sticks! I personally have a rather large collection of books and memorabilia, including around sixty of those action figures; my excuse is that once I had a few, I thought I might as well try and get a 'full set'. And I just plain like them, anyway, so there.

Now I'm beginning to wonder about certain things in the films with this comically cynical idea. Was Arwen's heightened role just a ploy to get us all to buy more hair products, so that we too could dream of having Liv Tyler's super-shiny hair? And I noticed that all the Elves had perfect skin, so maybe this was marketing new make-up products at us, or else photo editing software I for one have certainly been smoking more following the films; perhaps they have influenced me? On second thoughts - that kind of question would be taken as disturbingly serious in some quarters... The thought of a smoke-free Middle Earth is just too much to bear!

[Bêthberry]

Frankly I suspect that NewLine was financed in part by investments from board game companies. I'm sure that everyone is aware of how board games have been falling farther and farther behind on the toy sales charts, becoming poor, second-hand cousins in the face of video and computer games. It was time for companies like Porker Brothers to take action to repair this worrying decline.

All those battles and fight scenes. All that geography and terrain. All that long trekking. All those smelly boots. Peter Jackson, by hightlighting cinematography over legendarium and characterisation, played right into this perceived need in the market share. And so there we have it. LOTR board games! Hours and hours of fun for boys and men to take turns at throwing the dice and shuffling cards.

Before we know it some enterprising types will start to create their own board games. I only hope that New Line does not find out about it and demand royalties.

[The Saucepan Man]

Hours and hours of fun for boys and men to take turns at throwing the dice and shuffling cards.

Hmm. Would you happen to have anyone in particular in mind here, Bb?

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

We all know the quest of the Ring wasn't really that hard or treacherous. The reason the filmmakers made it so was due to pressure from car manufacturers. A world where people don't have cars is one where you are bombarded by enemies and you turn into a filthy, shrivelling wreck within days.

Use your common-sense, buy more cars.

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by The Saucepan Man

Hmm. Would you happen to have anyone in particular in mind here, Bb?

Why, Sauce, why ever would you think that?

[Lathriel]

After taking it seriously yesterday my mood has changed and thus also my perspective on this topic.

All those battles were just put into the movie so that the game workshop could produce lots of different action figures. But NOT only that!!!!!! They were able to produce the same characters but put them in slightly different poses claiming that that character was in a different battle.

e.g Aragorn holding sword at helm's deep and Aragorn raising sword at the battle of Pellenor fields.

[Nimrodel_9]

Legolas for example was cast for the soul purpose of drawing in the ladies ages 10 to 25 and for those older than that, there was always Aragorn

Hey! I'd take Strider over Lego any day and I'm only 14!

Well, me thinks that Gimli was just there so that men would take one look at him and either go out and buy a fancy new razor, or stop shaving all together.

Hobbits are just some scam trying to convince children (like myself) that shoes are not needed.

[tar-ancalime]

Those fluffy pillow scenes (Frodo waking up after the flight to the ford and after the quest is completed) are blatant plugs for fabric softener.

[The Only Real Estel]

Well, me thinks that Gimli was just there so that men would take one look at him and either go out and buy a fancy new razor, or stop shaving all together

I think that Rob Zoombie gave Peter Jackson some pressure to encourage people to go for increasingly wacky hairstyles, personally.

And it's pretty obvious that the stark contrast in the films between light & dark was only to encourage people to buy lightbulbs with more voltage--or else they'd turn into a giant, all-seeing (most of the time ) eye. It's also interesting to note that the big battery companies jumped on the same bandwagon & used the you'll-turn-into-a-huge-eye excuse to promote their battery rechargers.

[Beanamir of Gondor]

Well I just think it's a travesty that they had to advertise to get in new fans at all. If they'd just done everything exactly as it was in the books there still would have been... several... hundred... tenths of people that would watch the movies.
Anyway, my take on it is the drinking songs. Blantant advert for Budweiser. I can hear the frogs: "Are you hot as a hobbit in the house of Eorl? Have a drink--Budweiser is the sponsor of the Pelennor Fields Games. Watch for our ads on the sides of the Oliphaunts!"

[Ainaserkewen]

Ouch! This Viggo-fancier suddenly finds herself in the "old lady" demographic!

Hey! I'd take Strider over Lego any day and I'm only 14!

Would you believe me if I said that I just got caught up in it all? I meant no offence to any young Viggo lovers. And if you have bothered to be on this website at all, being able to use the Internet in the first place garentees that you indeed are not at all old. I am 17 and I have spoken.

Was Arwen's heightened role just a ploy to get us all to buy more hair products, so that we too could dream of having Liv Tyler's super-shiny hair? And I noticed that all the Elves had perfect skin, so maybe this was marketing new make-up products at us, or else photo editing software I for one have certainly been smoking more following the films;

I was thinking the same thing! The elves are so perfect that everyone buys more beauty products to look like them. And not just women either! What approximate year was it that the term "metrosexual" came out? Where did if come from anyway!?

[Maeggaladiel]

We all know the quest of the Ring wasn't really that hard or treacherous. The reason the filmmakers made it so was due to pressure from car manufacturers. A world where people don't have cars is one where you are bombarded by enemies and you turn into a filthy, shrivelling wreck within days.

Use your common sense, buy more cars.

The scary thing is that inside each copy of LOTR, there actually is a gamepiece to win a car.


The Flaming Denethor scene was obviously an advertisement for fire prevention. I guess the budget couldn't allow for a cameo by Smokey the Bear.

Boromir's death scene contained subliminal messages for Capital One cards. Borry didn't HAVE the card, unlike Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli, so he was killed by the rampaging mob. All he had to say was "Don't worry about the broken Horn of Gondor, Merry, we'll just put it on our Capital One card." Then the Uruks would stop in their tracks and look very unhappy. Lurtz would say "What's in YOUR wallet?" and the whole shindig would be over. Ta da!

Elves in general are walking Herbal Essences commercials. You throw 'em in a battle filled with mud and flying blood, yet their hair stays shimmery and flowy and perfect.

[Nimrodel_9]

Would you believe me if I said that I just got caught up in it all? I meant no offence to any young Viggo lovers. And if you have bothered to be on this website at all, being able to use the Internet in the first place garentees that you indeed are not at all old. I am 17 and I have spoken.

*bows to Ainaserkewen*

Gandalf, Strider, and the hobbits are trying to sell tabacco, or worse "weeds!!!" nooooooooo

Oh yeah, and we can't forget "the pint."

[Ainaserkewen]

Gandalf, Strider, and the hobbits are trying to sell tabacco, or worse "weeds!!!" nooooooooo

If it is indeed advertising "weeds!!" as you say then their sales pitch no-doubt would be something like "Better than BC Bud".

Not only are the movies’ product placements advertising a multitude of products and expenses that you could point out, it is also advertising something much more evil...

Stereotypes are reinforced inside Tolkien's world! Gasp!
Stereotypes that we have long harboured in all societies and long fought against. For example, Pippin is only solidifying the false idea that the younger you are the dumber you are. Never mind the lack of experience, there are a multitude of characters who proclaim this. Is it a personal grudge that the author has or the government trying to keep the radical youths from gaining real power?

Another common one is the women who are objects, mere paperweights in the story throughout, and not very smart paperweights either. Arwen is a silly romantic (another example of youth=idiocy?), Eowen keeps messing up, and don't forget that comic relief women in the houses of healing. And always the men triumph and look cool doing it!

All of these stereotypes are probably selling something, I won't go into the intricate plans of the evil censors or advertisers. Someone is making too much money. And my friends, the only way to fight them is to bring these pirates the limelight they deserve and uncover their foul plots disguised so cleverly as mere characters in a fantasy story.

[Oddwen]

"The Lord of the Rings" is completely an advertisement for Wisk laundry detergent. Some of you may remember that tv commercial, with those annoying people chanting "Ring around the collar! Ring around the collar!". All we hear in the movie is "The Ring must be destroyed! The Ring must be destroyed!", and Frodo seems quite reluctant for others to see it and indeed embarassed if they do.

Also, "Lord of the Rings" might be a reference to the rings on the planet Saturn, which could either mean that the carmaker Saturn had some influence, or that NASA got its hands on the material and want to fund more probes into deep space.

The latter would of course explain the 'dumbing down' of LotR, as the rocket scientists would not expect the average American to have any brains at all.