What would you like to see in Warner Bros. new movies?

[Galadriel55]

I suppose then it simply becomes a question of target audience. Sadly, the chances of Downers being a representative target group are next to nothing. However, there are more "shades" to Tolkien fans. The movie franchise has its own set of fans. Would Warner Bros rely on "movie canon" in any way? Considering the vast influence this franchise has on the collective image of certain concepts, undoubtedly there will be bleedthrough. But would WB purposefully stick by certain concepts or images introduced in the movies? Would they try to guess what the average movie fan would like to see, and preserve the movie continuity / recognizability? Would they attempt to preserve recognizability with the Amazon show?

It's a fine can of worms, trying to guess what goes on in the planning stages of the movie industry.

[Alassë Estel]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

It's a fine can of worms, trying to guess what goes on in the planning stages of the movie industry.

Quite so, quite so.



I think they really ought to stay away from any association with Amazon's series. They can gamble on the hope that RoP will be a some sort of big hit (the chance of this is all but gone, I think) and then absorb fans, publicity, and etc. from it, but that would be wistful thinking. It seems far more likely that the animosity which they would gain from such a course would far outweigh any advantages. They are better off succeeding -or failing- by their own merit.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

What would I like to see in Warner Bros. new movies?

Nothing. I wish they would keep their pin heads and grasping claws off of Tolkien's world.

[Alassë Estel]

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hicklin

What would I like to see in Warner Bros. new movies?

Nothing. I wish they would keep their pin heads and grasping claws off of Tolkien's world.

I feel that way after I see the end result.

I find that, before seeing it, I am still hopeful in spite of myself, even though I still know deep down that they shall merely do what movies always do.

Afterall, why would Warner Bros. be some sort of great exception?

But I may as well take the pleasure from it that I can, which is, essentially, saying to myself (and anyone who happens to read it) "Wouldn't it be nice if they...".

[William Cloud Hicklin]

My view is that nobody but Tolkien can write Tolkien.

Consider this analogy: a composer today succeeds in writing imitation Mozart which is such an expert pastiche one can hardly tell the difference (although I doubt Mozart's sublimity could ever be reproduced). But in that case, wouldn't we want a composer that talented writing his own stuff, not imitating? Similarly, if there exists (which I doubt) a screenwriter of the awesome talent required to adapt Tolkien well, then his talent is wasted on adaptation.

[Alassë Estel]

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hicklin

My view is that nobody but Tolkien can write Tolkien.

Consider this analogy: a composer today succeeds in writing imitation Mozart which is such an expert pastiche one can hardly tell the difference (although I doubt Mozart's sublimity could ever be reproduced). But in that case, wouldn't we want a composer that talented writing his own stuff, not imitating? Similarly, if there exists (which I doubt) a screenwriter of the awesome talent required to adapt Tolkien well, then his talent is wasted on adaptation.

That is well put, and I quite agree.

But while the adaptations fall ever short of their source material, Peter Jackson's movies hold a special place in my heart for being my first taste of Tolkien, however tainted it might have been. I suppose my feelings toward them might be quite different had I read the books first. For instance, I did read The Silmarillion before seeing Rings of Power (I know they don't technically have the rights to The Sil., but they are dealing with things covered in The Sil.) and I surely bear no love for it. Then I ask myself how RoP is different from PJ's movies, and I don't have a very good answer (other than that I far prefer the effects and writing in the movies; some of RoP is downright "cringey", and you certainly couldn't tell that it has a billion dollar budget if you didn't know). So, I guess it's just a bit of favouritism on my part.

In the end nothing can hold a candle to the original work, but somehow I like P.J.'s movies anyway.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

Originally Posted by Alassë Estel

That is well put, and I quite agree.

But while the adaptations fall ever short of their source material, Peter Jackson's movies hold a special place in my heart for being my first taste of Tolkien, however tainted it might have been. I suppose my feelings toward them might be quite different had I read the books first. For instance, I did read The Silmarillion before seeing Rings of Power (I know they don't technically have the rights to The Sil., but they are dealing with things covered in The Sil.) and I surely bear no love for it. Then I ask myself how RoP is different from PJ's movies, and I don't have a very good answer (other than that I far prefer the effects and writing in the movies; some of RoP is downright "cringey", and you certainly couldn't tell that it has a billion dollar budget if you didn't know). So, I guess it's just a bit of favouritism on my part.

In the end nothing can hold a candle to the original work, but somehow I like P.J.'s movies anyway.

In great part it's because Jackson had an affection and respect for the originals, even if I think he misunderstood some things, oversimplified others, and occasionally indulged his old horror-film instincts (too many jump scares, gratuitous water zombies). Whereas the writers of ROP do not appear remotely to understand what they are working with, and certainly have no respect for it, often revealing naked contempt for the original.. because in their twenty-something conceit, they think they "know better" than some awful old Edwardian Catholic how his world ought to work. (Also, they have no talent; there is better dialogue in a Transformers movie).

[Snowdog]

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hicklin

You can untick it, since it appears The War of the Rohirrim will have almost nothing to do with what Tolkien wrote.

That's a matter of opinion and remains to be seen since it hasn't shown yet. I tend to wait until after I see things before I decide such matters.

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hicklin

What would I like to see in Warner Bros. new movies?

Nothing. I wish they would keep their pin heads and grasping claws off of Tolkien's world.