The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Will the LOTR movies fuel a new craze for fantasy films?

Encaitare · 12-22-2004, 11:54 AM

I think that there is a bit of an overload of fantasy (or fantasy-esque) movies now. With the success of LotR, I think producers and studios have been encouraged to make fantasy films, but it's getting to be a bit much.

Firstly, the Harry Potter movies. I know we have some, ahem, mixed opinions on HP here, but never mind that. I love the books, but I thought the movies were poorly done (Alan Rickman's acting is of course the exception, because he rocks). Maybe I've been spoiled on LotR, which took years of work, because it seemed to me that the HP movies were just thrown together, if you will, just to make money -- not out of any real passion for the work.

I've got a question of my own for those who read LotR before seeing the movies. I felt disappointed with some of the depictions of the characters in the HP movies -- I thought, "Hey, that's not how he looks!" and wondered what possessed the moviemakers to make them look the way they did, when clearly they should have called me to find out how to do it right.

Is this how anyone felt with the LotR movies?

Back on topic, we've also got Narnia, and a Series of Unfortunate Events (the latter is not exactly fantasy, and certainly not even close to LotR, but I think it's related in a sense). The Chronicles of Narnia are far older, and I don't know if they've ever been adapted for TV or made into a movie before. I guess they, like many great works, were bound to be made into a movie sooner or later, but Unfortunate Events is another example, like HP, where studios just jump on them so they have something to sell. I rather fear for what is going to be done to these excellent books in the movie -- for one thing, I don't like the idea of Jim Carrey as Count Olaf: too comedic.

So in response to the original question, I think an increase in fantasy movies is likely, especially as studios have a greater need to make money and find material. I just hope that it doesn't get to the point where the studio sends a representative to the fantasy section of Barnes & Noble, and has him close his eyes and pick out a random book to become their new box office hit!

12-22-2004, 11:54 AM	#2
Encaitare Bittersweet Symphony Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: On the jolly starship Enterprise Posts: 1,814	I think that there is a bit of an overload of fantasy (or fantasy-esque) movies now. With the success of LotR, I think producers and studios have been encouraged to make fantasy films, but it's getting to be a bit much. Firstly, the Harry Potter movies. I know we have some, ahem, mixed opinions on HP here, but never mind that. I love the books, but I thought the movies were poorly done (Alan Rickman's acting is of course the exception, because he rocks). Maybe I've been spoiled on LotR, which took years of work, because it seemed to me that the HP movies were just thrown together, if you will, just to make money -- not out of any real passion for the work. I've got a question of my own for those who read LotR before seeing the movies. I felt disappointed with some of the depictions of the characters in the HP movies -- I thought, "Hey, that's not how he looks!" and wondered what possessed the moviemakers to make them look the way they did, when clearly they should have called me to find out how to do it right. Is this how anyone felt with the LotR movies? Back on topic, we've also got Narnia, and a Series of Unfortunate Events (the latter is not exactly fantasy, and certainly not even close to LotR, but I think it's related in a sense). The Chronicles of Narnia are far older, and I don't know if they've ever been adapted for TV or made into a movie before. I guess they, like many great works, were bound to be made into a movie sooner or later, but Unfortunate Events is another example, like HP, where studios just jump on them so they have something to sell. I rather fear for what is going to be done to these excellent books in the movie -- for one thing, I don't like the idea of Jim Carrey as Count Olaf: too comedic. So in response to the original question, I think an increase in fantasy movies is likely, especially as studios have a greater need to make money and find material. I just hope that it doesn't get to the point where the studio sends a representative to the fantasy section of Barnes & Noble, and has him close his eyes and pick out a random book to become their new box office hit!