What effect will the movies have? Any predictions?

<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Newly Deceased
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Will it be as big as Star Wars? If it is, is that a good thing, or a sad thing? Will millions jump on the Tolkien band wagon and then Middle-earth conventions will start popping up? (Like Star Wars and Star Trek?). If so, would that be good or bad? What are your thoughts?
Eledhgil (Elvenstar)

</p>

[enep]

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Biiiig

It'll be big. As big as Star Wars or Star Trek; mainly because of the large fan base it has already around the globe. I don't think that'll be bad, it will more than definitely pull more readers into Middle Earth; and conventions will just have to pop up. It has to happen. It is...inevitable. <img src=wink.gif ALT="">

- enep</p>

[the Lorien wanderer]

<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Wight
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Re: Biiiig

Inevitable it is.....unfortunately. <img src=frown.gif ALT="">

What if - what if this is as good as it gets?</p>

[Inziladun]

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Re: Biiiig

I really hope it won't come to that:huge exhibition halls filled with people dressed as Gandalf and Gondorian soldiers,with dozens of vendors selling cheap memorabilia.One can only hope. Or wish fervently the movies would not be made.

Those who will defend authority against rebellion must not themselves rebel. </p>

[the Lorien wanderer]

<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Wight
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Re: Biiiig

I'm with you on that Inziladun.

What if - what if this is as good as it gets?</p>

<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Pile o' Bones
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Re: Biiiig

Yea, I figured there would be some mixed reactions on this one, Which is ok. If it does get really big, and conventions pop up, I just hope it doesn't have the effect of &quot;cheapening&quot; Tolkien's works. Know what I mean? There's kind of a &quot;sacred&quot; atmosphere about Middle-earth, so to speak. (it's hard for me to describe). I hope we don't lose that. If it gets really big, then this site, and others like it are going to explode, and some of the &quot;intimacy&quot; that I sense here (This is the friendliest ME site on the web I've found) could dissipate. that can be both good and sad.
Eledhgil (Elvenstar)

</p>

[burrahobbit]

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Re: Biiiig

I don't expect an explosion here at the downs, at least not from people that have only seen the movies. The hobbits won't be going through the Barrow-downs in the movie, so they wouldn't recognize the name.

What's a burrahobbit got to do with my pocket, anyways?</p>

[Sharkû]

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Re: Biiiig

The amount of success the movies will have will only determine the number of people who become interested, not their motifs; although the broad and otherwise uninterested mass would be more attracted to Tolkien if the movies are commercially powerful.
Still, I deem this effect of attraction be almost without flaw a good one. The ignorant ones whom we might reckon as those who see everything wrongly and who only damage the aforementioned 'sacredness' of ME will disappear quickly, while a large mass of people will probably start to devote sincere time to Middle-Earth. This can, in my opinion, only be a good thing. Of course this might mean more members here, more Tolkien on TV, more Tolkien in commerce. But of all of these only the good stuff and the good people will stay longer than for the short time of commercial success. Such an inevitable 'natural selection' will result in positive things for us Tolkienians: more 'cool' people here, more 'cool' Tolkien-events, broader acceptance of our sometimes poorly estimated hobby/devotion/whatsoever etc.

Our duty will thus be to stand the tide of rubbish and hype, and lead those willing to the heart of Tolkien's creation. We must prepare for the task ahead of us, and when it starts, we must not falter but stand as one!

- Sergeant Sharkû, commander of the Barrow-Downs eastern defense line <img src=wink.gif ALT="">

</p>

[Orald]

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Re: Biiiig

I hope no one comes in here believing every even that happens in the movies happens that way in the books. I don't think I coud bare it. I would become so irate, I would go off on some of them old fashioned hobbit style. Could you just imagine some of the silly questions that could be asked by someone who reads some of the books but not all of them and instead watches the movies.

"It seems fate is not without a sense of irony."</p>

[the Lorien wanderer]

<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Wight
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Re: Biiiig

Ther'll probably be queries like &quot;Wasn't Arwen great in the battle?&quot; and &quot;Who the hell is Tom?&quot;
But what I'm really hoping for, is that it doesn't come to tacky Gandalf figures with Happy Meals. ME sacredness will go for a toss. Though it'll stay intact for us. Because we've read the books first.

What if - what if this is as good as it gets?</p>

[HerenIstarion]

On the other hand it may cause some people previously not familir with ME actually read JRRT's books, and that will be nice

[Orald]

<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Ghost-Prince of Cardolan
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Re: Biiiig

Of course that will happen, the question is how many people will read after seeing the movies?

"It seems fate is not without a sense of irony."</p>

[the Lorien wanderer]

<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Wight
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Re: Biiiig

Exactly. And when they do, will they be able to imagine their own ME or will the movie images be set?

What if - what if this is as good as it gets?</p>

[Inziladun]

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Re: Biiiig

I'm afraid the movie images will likely stick with those who see the movies first,and maybe for the rest of us as well.And if the movies are the blinding success they are expected to be,Happy Meal toys and Gollum Halloween masks are inevitable.

Those who will defend authority against rebellion must not themselves rebel. </p>

[Imp]

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Re: Biiiig

I believe the older, wiser Tolkien fans will flock to see the movie just because they are a fan. I doubt it will change their out-look on it.

But I also believe the 'youngins' will go and see the movie and don't think much of it, but when they get older they will remember the movie and want to read the books.

</p>

<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Pile o' Bones
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Re: Biiiig

This much is for sure: Things will never be the same after December 2001. 2 groups will emerge...Those who read the books before they saw the movie, and those who saw the movie first and then read the books. I deem the latter group to be less fortunate because the books are always better than the movies and they will come at the books (if they do read them) with a Hollywood, pre-programmed imagination.
Eledhgil (Elvenstar)

</p>

[Orald]

<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Ghost-Prince of Cardolan
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Re: Biiiig

We are of the High-Tolkien kindred, and they will be of the Dark Tolkien kindred. Then there are still the Avari, who are and will be unwilling to see the movies or read the books.

It seems fate is not without a sense of irony.</p>

[the Lorien wanderer]

<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Wight
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Re: Biiiig

Hear, hear!
Eledhgil - you're right. Things will never be the same again. However, I rather think they'll be the same for us.

Inziladun - I don't think the images that old Tolkien fans have in their minds will be altered, so it's perfectly okay for a seasoned Tolkien fan to see the movie (if you're ready for the rather distorted version, that is). Words are stronger than images and a picture can never replace a 1000 words (in most cases anyway).

What if - what if this is as good as it gets?</p>

[Child of the 7th Age]

It's now seven months since the movie has been issued, and I'm pulling up this thread so we can all read the predictions and compare with what's really happened.

Are you a High Tolkien Kin (read book before movie)? Or a Dark Tolkien Kin (read movie before book)?

Sharku -- You have the best post on this thread. You should get an award as the one who can best predict the future!!

sharon,the 7th age hobbit

[Nevfeniel]

I saw previews of LotR and read the book before I saw the movie.

[burrahobbit]

I don't expect an explosion here at the downs, at least not from people that have only seen the movies. The hobbits won't be going through the Barrow-downs in the movie, so they wouldn't recognize the name.

Wow. I was pretty wrong.

[obloquy]

So you're the one who jinxed us.

[burrahobbit]

Yeah, my bad. Sorry about that, guys.

[Nevfeniel]

IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!!!! No, I'm just kidding,. [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img]

[Child of the 7th Age]

Burrahobbit and Obloquy or any of the other "older" members of this board---

I'd be really curious to hear your "thoughtful" assessment as to how the Downs has changed since the movie came out. Not just the fact that you have greater numbers or a large number of "I love Legolas" fans, but how it has affected the type and quality of discussions on the board, what questions get addressed, who your posters are, etc.

I've got my own perceptions on this since I poke around in the back threads a lot. Also, I've also been reading Tolkien for over 35 years, but I didn't post on this board until last March. So whatever I say is only secondhand guessing.

I'm going to stick my own ideas on the other thread I put up a day or so ago--"Before and After the Movie". But if you get a chance, I'd appreciate it if you could give us some thoughtful comments either on this thread or "Before and After the Movie."

Burrahobbit -- I always love your posts (even when I don't agree with them!)

sharon, the 7th age hobbit

[tangerine]

I started reading LOTR about 6 months before the movie came out, BECAUSE i knew that there would be a movie and i wanted to read the story first. I had heard about it back in february 2001 since i work at a theater and saw the teaser trailer that was only out for about 2 weeks. My dad had been a huge tolkien fan as a kid, and my sister had read the books last summer(without first reading the hobbit-she still thinks that dragons and the good guys), so it seemed like a good idea. now i have the hobbit, all 3 LOTR books, unfinished tales and the lost road. I just wanted to see what the actual story was about, since alot of decent books get made into movies that are absolutely terrible.