<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> It's funny how we can all cite examples of people who hold the same views as us, isn't it? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Actually, I fnd it quite hard to find people that hold the same view as me about these films except in the particular case of Arwen ("which one is she?" is a common comment I hear).<P> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> I simply object to you stating points in a manner which suggests that they are absolute truths.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Well, this is really the polarizing result of being told over and over again that this is THE greatest set of films ever made. Absolute assertions provoke absolute rebuttals.<P>But, yes, obviously I am really stating opinions, just as much as Eurytus or yourself or Jackson and the cast for that matter.<P> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> As for Jackson's skill as a director, Eurytus is right, in terms of what Jackson set out to acheive. Jackson set out to bring Tolkien's story to the screen in a format which has mass appeal. He has succeeded overwhelmingly in doing so. He is therefore very good at his job,<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>I actually almost agree with all that. I think the crew has brought Tolkien's <B>world</B> to a mass audience in spite of the loss of the heart of the story. But you are right within that definition of the director's job that Jackson has done well. I just don't accept that a director of an adaptation only owes a duty to the studio and the audience, there is something due to the integrity of the source material too.<P>I'd like to stress, once more, that I think the films are a breathtaking and beautiful visual evocation of Middle-earth. <P>Also, Jackson almost certainly had to jump through some hoops that he would not have to if he had arrived at the project with a reputation like the one he now has.<P>Arwen was probably one such hoop and as I said before it would not have surprised me if the studio had forced him to replace Legolas with her in the Fellowship itself. Worse fates have befallen adaptations in the past.<P>Once out of the Shire Gandalf has been pretty good, as has Gollum (perhaps too overtly sympathetic but still pretty good so far) and I thought the Ents actually worked once you got used to them. Ents are always difficult to imagine anyway.<P>The destruction by Saruman of the Circle of Orthanc was better than the book and got across the whole "industry gone mad" feel well.<P>In the end, I wanted the BBC radio version with pictures. I got the pictures but I didn't get the script.
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