[HCIsland]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> Considering that Liv Tyler is the daughter of Steve Tyler of Aerosmith fame (I prefer not to think about it), I think she has played the role well. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Sorry, you lost me here Grimbold. Because she is the daughter of a rock star, that automatically means she can't act?<P>Rindowen, try not to get too upset. Some of the criticisms likely are too personal, but I think that is a result of many people having a very deep personal attachment to these books.<P>Personally, I agree with you. I was always expecting liberties to be taken with the book, and to be honest, I think PJ has, for the most part, successfully balanced the needs of Tolkien fans and the needs of movie fans. I think people need to realize though, that when push comes to shove, the movie fans come first.<P>I love these books, but I also love film and there has been many a book translation where the director has taken far more liberties then PJ has, many of these turned into great films. In The Shinning (a great film of a good book - though others will fight me here I'm sure) Kubrick kills off the book's hero the moment he walks in the door. Anyone seen The Lawnmower Man? (I don't know why I'm stuck on King). This stinker of a film was about virtual reality while the short story on which is was "based" was about a guy who run over cats with his lawnmower. The only thing they have in common is the title.<P>Yes, I know, these books are not Tolkien (they're not even close actually), but the point that I'm trying to make is that you should have seen these kind of things coming. It's what film makers do. You have every right to hate these films, but I don't understand the need to obsess about it. I don't know about you, but when I don't enjoy something, I leave it alone.<P>Anyway, why don't we all retreat to our respective corners, take a deep breath, and agree to disagree.<P>Group hug. <P>H.C.