[Tirinor]

I too hope that the popularity of the movies helps to promote more movies of a fantastical nature, but I cringe at the thought of LOTR being mentioned as fantasy and as a flag bearer, of sorts, for the fantasy genre. <BR>Tolkien's work transcends fantasy, It's origins grew from the classics, mythology, and fairy tales. The term fantasy, as used today, is very "popular." by including Tolkien in fantasy you equate other works of that genre with the Lord of the Rings. It is the same mistake as saying neil young and n'sync are rock stars. neil young is a rock star, nsync are pop stars. fantasy is like pop stars, Tolkien is greater than that. <P>Don't cheapen LOTR by considering it in the fantasy genre. Fantasy exists because of creators like Tolkien, but Tolkien's work is not itself Fantasy. It is Literature.