[Rimbaud]

Addressing the thread and not the topic of the thread: this is a literary website, that is, one based on the <I>books</I> of Tolkien, and as such, any discussion of the films must of necessity refer back to the source material.<P>Indeed, even were this not a book-based site, I would argue valid criticism of the film must involve a comparison with the text. I am not wide of the mark when I state my view that most viewers will see and understand the film as a translation of the earlier work.<P>Therefore all comparitive criticism is relevant here. To people who would say, "Don't bash the film, it is a stand-alone work," I would riposte thus: "There are purely movie oriented sites out there."<P>Then again, I may just be grouchy after that tepid and rather wasted three hours of an especially busy week.