[Tar-Palantir]

Very thoughtful comments Lostgaeriel. I agree with much, but don't come to the same conclusions regarding the validity of either the films or the creators - very interesting.<P>What I disagree with most are the major assumptions.<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> He began to believe that he and his accomplices were screen writers. Not only that, but they believed they could write a better story with better characters and a better plot than Tolkien did. HUBRIS.)<BR> <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>They are screenwriters, and have been acclaimed as such in the past. They did not believe they could write a better story, and have said as much in interviews. They constantly refer to the challenges of getting it onscreen. Making it relevant and coherent to the public at large is one of those challenges. Not just pleasing you and me. Hubris? Wow. <P>Let me pose this to you - If LotR was perfectly captured on film, would that not reveal a flaw of simplicity in it? Sure it would, because the fact is that their complex nature and allowance of individual interpretation cannot be replicated visually. Movies en masse remove individual audience interpretation and replace it with perspective of the director, the nature of the medium. Specific camera angles, lighting, sound, you name it - in the books that is under MY control. Just something to consider, and why no film has ever appeased all. Especially not adapted screenplays.<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> Mr. Jackson may like to think he is independent of the Hollywood $ensiblity, but he has shown that he has a great fear of box-office failure or no real vision for his films. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>How do you know what his sensibilities are? No vision for his films? I think he had a vision and you just don't agree with it. You don't have to agree with it of course, just acknowledge it. He pursued the movies because he had a vision for them. And nobody can put in that kind of effort without a passion for it, in my humble opinion of course. Hollywood sensiblities? Other directors might parade around with their new found success and popularity, hitting all the banquets and awards shows, PJ does not do this.<P>Furthermore, many critics panned his decision not to incorporate flashbacks from the first film into TTT - that is a perfect example of "giving the audience credit". Non-readers were still taxed in keeping up with the storyline, even with the heavy-handed speeches. More subtlety would require more background and detail which there was not time to give.<P>I am also of the mind that mistakes such as Faramir and Elves at Helm's Deep were inevitable to some degree. Human mistakes. A few poor choices should not completely discredit the effort of the directors and writers. Or be cause to write them off as individuals.<P>I respectfully and wholeheartedly disagree with you and especially davem. <p>[ March 03, 2003: Message edited by: Tar-Palantir ]