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04-06-2002, 10:22 AM

Most of us came to the world of Middle-Earth through the books. We fell in love with that world and the elegant prose of Professor Tolkien. We thought it so superb that we returned to the pages again and again and found more each time to love and appreciate. It is only human to then not feel comfortable with another incarnation of something we became so enamored with. Very few films have surpassed the books which originally spawned them. Exceptions may be the 1939 WIZARD OF OZ (although I imagine the Oz fans might take exception), CUCKO"S NEST, and FOREST GUMP. If you want to read a really bad, offensive book waste a day or two with that one. But all three made excellent films. Jackson should be congratulated for his respect and aproach in making these films. Do people realize just how much they have of the books? In the end, we will have at least eleven hours of first rate film at a cost of over $300 million dollars. That is mind boggling! The casting ws superb - the characters of Gandalf, Frodo, Sam and Aragorn were almost too good to be true. Like many, I was convinced that only Sean Connery could play Gandalf and now I am glad my wish was not granted. Who every even heard of Viggo Mortensen before this but now we have the personification of the King returned. Someone made the point that these films will inspire many to read the books for the first time. That in itself is an incredible good thing. The fanatics - and I proudly count myself as one - now have a huge variety of high quality toys, statues, games, and other items to constantly help bring the world of Middle-Earth to life for us. Quit griping about the glass being only 80% full and you did not get a full pour. You have far more than a reasonable person could ever have hoped for two years ago. Like many, I grew up on the films of Steven Spielberg and have always felt he was the best of his generation. That torch was passed to Jackson with FELLOWSHIP. If he is able to pull of his promise of each film surpassing the previous one, he will have accomplished a feat unequaled in cinema history. Sit back and enjoy this people. It may not happen again until your grandkids come over for a visit and you show them the 22 volume DVD set for the fifth time. PEACE.

04-06-2002, 10:22 AM	#13
wainrider Guest Posts: n/a	Most of us came to the world of Middle-Earth through the books. We fell in love with that world and the elegant prose of Professor Tolkien. We thought it so superb that we returned to the pages again and again and found more each time to love and appreciate. It is only human to then not feel comfortable with another incarnation of something we became so enamored with.<BR>Very few films have surpassed the books which originally spawned them. Exceptions may be the 1939 WIZARD OF OZ (although I imagine the Oz fans might take exception), CUCKO"S NEST, and FOREST GUMP. If you want to read a really bad, offensive book waste a day or two with that one. But all three made excellent films.<BR>Jackson should be congratulated for his respect and aproach in making these films. Do people realize just how much they have of the books? In the end, we will have at least eleven hours of first rate film at a cost of over $300 million dollars. That is mind boggling!<BR>The casting ws superb - the characters of Gandalf, Frodo, Sam and Aragorn were almost too good to be true. Like many, I was convinced that only Sean Connery could play Gandalf and now I am glad my wish was not granted. Who every even heard of Viggo Mortensen before this but now we have the personification of the King returned. Someone made the point that these films will inspire many to read the books for the first time. That in itself is an incredible good thing. The fanatics - and I proudly count myself as one - now have a huge variety of high quality toys, statues, games, and other items to constantly help bring the world of Middle-Earth to life for us.<BR>Quit griping about the glass being only 80% full and you did not get a full pour. You have far more than a reasonable person could ever have hoped for two years ago.<BR>Like many, I grew up on the films of Steven Spielberg and have always felt he was the best of his generation. That torch was passed to Jackson with FELLOWSHIP. If he is able to pull of his promise of each film surpassing the previous one, he will have accomplished a feat unequaled in cinema history. Sit back and enjoy this people. It may not happen again until your grandkids come over for a visit and you show them the 22 volume DVD set for the fifth time.<BR>PEACE.