I can see where you're coming from. I've even seen an advert selling Orange mobile phones with Sean Austin (sp?) in it. It uses Sean's role as Sam to help them sell mobiles, but I don't think it does any harm to LotR. And the films themselves were most definately not made just so they can sell merchandise after releasing them. Peter Jackson would not allow the trilogy to be used in such a way - he has too much respect or Tolkien and his work or that.
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