I think I figured it out!

[Gilthalion]

<BR><br><br> While I do regret the expurgation of Bombadil and perhaps the Downs from the movies, I have no trouble with the expansion of Arwen's role, as I have &quot;reliably&quot; heard it. It won't quite be a Xena Warrior Princess thing afterall. Tolkien himself agreed that this sort of thing was better for such efforts than condensing too much into too little.<br> <br> I, too, enjoyed the Ralph Bakshi movie for what it was and wished he had finished! It was flawed in many ways (find the Tolkien Sarcasm Page for a GREAT critique!), but there was love behind it. I rented it last year again. <br> <br> I will enjoy the forthcoming Peter Jackson trilogy for what it will be. The quality of actors assembled, the loving care that has been spent on costumes and sets and special effects, the wonderous New Zealand scenery...<br> <br> I CAN'T WAIT!<br> <br> Red is right! Stop whining!<br> <br> As for putting Tolkien's work on a pedestal, that's precisely where it belongs, as the greatest work of literature in the 20th century.<br> <br> It is absurd (in my opinion) to expect even a $300-400 million dollar cinematic effort to compare to it word for word. But I expect to be greatly pleased with it all the same!<br> <br> Cinematography is a completely different thing from literature, as Mr. Underhill has ably written. Even so, the &quot;feel&quot; I have for this is ever-so-close to what I have myself imagined such a picture should be.<br> <br> The anticipation! Ahhhhh!<br> <br> I don't think that anyone is more cynical or a greater critic of the contemporary Hollywood-New York culture/entertainment industry than I am. <br> <br> I do not read the fantasy novels that others have drooled over, for scanning the first chapters of these &quot;works&quot; has always left me cold. These authors are just knocking off cheap serials for the cash. There is no love and certainly no genius or great spirit behind these efforts. Some folk, in their thirst for fantasy and science fiction devour these efforts like the pathetic folk who read Harlequin Romances or (recent) Star Trek novels. Formula writing and cotton candy for the mind! That's why that Dungeons &amp; Dragons movie failed! I didn't <i> and won't</i> waste the precious money and even more precious time! I could be enjoying sunshine or starlight instead, for free, and with much better consequence to my heart and soul.<br> <br> Save your slings and arrows for crap like those endless fantasy serials and formulaic Hollywood knockoffs! These deserve your vituperation!<br> <br> Peter Jackson's cinematic effort will be different, I'm sure. Though it will be (necessarily) Tolkien Abridged, it will still be (obviously!) Tolkien, presented with great love and craft!<br> <br> I CAN'T WAIT!!!! <p><center> <a href="http://www.barrowdowns.com">Barrow-Downs</a>~<a href="http://www.geocities.com/robertwgardner2000">Bare Bones</a>~<a href="http://pub41.ezboard.com/btarostineruhir">Tar Ost-in-Eruhir</a>~<a href="http://www.geocities.com/robertwgardner2000/gilthalion.html">Grand Adventures</a>~<a href="http://www.barrowdowns.com/fanfichobbits.asp">The Hobbits</a>~<a href="http://www.tolkientrail.com">Tolkien Trail</a> </center></p>