A Nervous Premonition - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Birdland · 01-15-2003, 09:32 AM

(Birdie puts on burlap "wraith cloak" and reaches out claw-like hands) "Iarwain! Come back, come back. To Mordor we will take you!"Nah, just kidding! (Did I scare ya?) But honestly, don't work yourself up too much about all this. I've watched with horror through the years the "Disney-fication" of many of my favorite classic books. The hype dies down. It always does. It just seems bigger these days, what with the Internet allowing you to see the ravings of film-induced Tolkien mania.If the Internet had been available in the 60s, I might have had the same reaction towards "Camelot mania" caused by the release of the musical and Disney's "Sword In the Stone". "Where's T.H. White in all of this?" I wondered. But all of that died away, too. (Except for the occasional Kennedy documentary, and nobody seems to remember why.)I've made it a sort of mission to remind young minds that there are wonderful, glorious books hidden behind those cartoons in their VHS collection. "Look! Barrie! Salten! Kipling! White! Wonderful books! Forget that Disney dreck and try these!" Sometimes it actually works. In a few years you may be called upon to play a similar role as a standard bearer for the good Professor. In the meantime: sit back, don't sweat the small stuff, and remember that wearing cheesy cloaks and rubber elf ears will come and go, but great literature lives forever.P.S. - At least I liked the film version this time. I still shudder when I think of Richard Harris' "Arthur". [ January 15, 2003: Message edited by: Birdland ]

01-15-2003, 09:32 AM	#34
Birdland Ghastly Neekerbreeker Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the banks of the mighty Scioto Posts: 1,751	(Birdie puts on burlap "wraith cloak" and reaches out claw-like hands) "Iarwain! Come back, come back. To Mordor we will take you!"<P>Nah, just kidding! (Did I scare ya?) But honestly, don't work yourself up too much about all this. I've watched with horror through the years the "Disney-fication" of many of my favorite classic books. The hype dies down. It always does. It just seems bigger these days, what with the Internet allowing you to see the ravings of film-induced Tolkien mania.<P>If the Internet had been available in the 60s, I might have had the same reaction towards "Camelot mania" caused by the release of the musical and Disney's "Sword In the Stone". "Where's T.H. White in all of this?" I wondered. But all of that died away, too. (Except for the occasional Kennedy documentary, and nobody seems to remember why.)<P>I've made it a sort of mission to remind young minds that there are wonderful, glorious books hidden behind those cartoons in their VHS collection. "Look! Barrie! Salten! Kipling! White! Wonderful books! Forget that Disney dreck and try these!" Sometimes it actually works. <P>In a few years you may be called upon to play a similar role as a standard bearer for the good Professor. In the meantime: sit back, don't sweat the small stuff, and remember that wearing cheesy cloaks and rubber elf ears will come and go, but great literature lives forever.<P>P.S. - At least I <I>liked</I> the film version this time. I still shudder when I think of Richard Harris' "Arthur". <p>[ January 15, 2003: Message edited by: Birdland ]