Good versus evil: Downplayed, or overplayed?

[Lord of Angmar]

Knight, thanks for providing Ms. Basham's other article, it was quite helpful in understanding where she was coming from.

As I already said, I cannot think of any other time that would be appropriate to discuss those themes. There are some here who want to know the thing that she wrote. And I believe it is the job of a journalist to ask tough questions.(Knight of Gondor)

Just a quick note: I think perhaps a more appropriate time would be an more intimate one-on-one interview between a journalist and one or two of the cast members from the movie, in which the discussion of religious and spiritual ideology is a subject of debate/questioning consented to by all parties involved.

Just because we are, say, fans of Viggo Mortensen's portrayal of Aragorn shouldn't make us privy to his spiritual life.(Lush)

I agree wholeheartedly. I am an outspoken critic of the intrusion of paparazzi into the lives of celebrities. As I said earlier, I also find it unreasonable for a journalist to expect actors (lest we forget, they are paid professionals merely doing their jobs) to be able to provide coherent analysis of the ideas and beliefs behind the movie they are starring in. That is not their job. Their job is to act dramatically or comically as the situation requires, and to do the best job of it possible with the material and the direction that is given them.

If it does not occur to you that there are underlying themes based on Tolkien’s faith system, then you miss a great deal from the books. While Tolkien eschewed blatant allegory (such as oversimplifications like ring = nuclear bomb or industrialization), the subtleties of parallelism and applicability are certainly and undeniably present. (Knight of Gondor)

Underlying themes and applicability are not allegory. Allegory is a consciously symbolic representation of a theme, person or event. Of course I agree that there are underlying themes and ideas, most of which are only generically Christian and could easily be 'applicable' to a number of other religions.

The whole concept of good and evil is clearly and inherently present in the Lord of the Rings (though what Tolkien's ideas about a real struggle between good and evil are open to anyone's interpretation if they so wish). LotR has inarguably been imbued to an extent with Christian undertones. That the actors do not have a responsibility to be able to communicate these ideas at a press junket (or, for that matter, anywhere) seems to still be up for debate in this thread, though I feel like I have made my own opinions clear on the subject (which a little help from Lush, Saucepan Man and others). What else is there?