Nothing left to wait for?

[the phantom]

What I've always wondered was what will happen to the downs once the BW, and the other administraters pass away.

That's when the phantom will take over the Barrow-Downs. Ha ha ha ha....

(and now that the admins know this, I'm sure they'll hang on as long as possible )

[Morgul Queen]

Now why would they do that when hiring a hitman requires much less effort, hm?

[Lalwendë]

Well, Tolkien had taken over my head a long time before the films, and I have no doubt this will continue until I take my last breath. How could I tire of Tolkien? There are always new things to be found there, new things to say. I'm thinking of everything I still have to read - and it could keep going a long time. Why would the 'Downs go away? There will always be more fans to be signed up, I'm sure. I might not have been as active the past few days as my mind is rather deeply occupied elsewhere, but I would hate to see the 'Downs in decline! Tis a very special place.

[Turin]

Oh, the pessimism!!

As you will be able to tell, I am new to this site and am currently really enjoying my time here. I don't think there's any worry that interest will wane.

Like many Tolkien nuts, I'm absolutely confident that despite the movies having all been released, interest will remain the same. Why? Because it shouldn't be forgotten that the movies can in no way overtake the pre-eminence of the books. There are always new angles to explore, new perspectives to think about, deeper appreciation when reading the books to enjoy etc etc.

The books will always stand the test of time - movies come and go. Plus, age shows up more glaringly in cinema. In 10-15 years will we look back at LoTR and find that it looks out-dated? The same questiion won't be asked of the books, i'm sure.

[Sapphire_Flame]

I know I'm not going anywhere.

I completely agree with what Turin said. This goes beyond movies. LotR is timeless, and isn't likely to become obsolete just because the movies are done.

If you must see something new, help out here: http://silmfilm.proboards25.com/index.cgi [/shameless plug]

Abedithon le,

~ Saphy ~

[Gurthang]

That's exactly what I was thinking. The Downs was around before the movies were, and people came and loved it.

I don't think this glorious graveyard will deminish, due to the fact that most of us are extremely loyal to the books, since they were our first breath. The movies are done, and will probably be redone in a decade or two, but the books are timeless, and will always draw more people here.

I myself was drawn in by the books, although I was only in the Hobbit when the movies came out. I still consider myself a book fan first, but that really doesn't matter. The whole Tolkien style is what fascinates and keeps us, and I know I will always come here.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Don't forget that the Downs forum is more than discussions of the movies and the books - the RPGs give those who participate opportunity to keep on (sub-)creating new stories in Middle-earth! I can well imagine that interest there will continue for quite a while.

Aside from that, it is possible that Middle-earth will take a back seat in our attention in time; we have lives to live, after all, and there are plenty of people and activities off-line. We've seen it happen in the past few years - some of us go on to other things (there are quite a few creative writers who've left or come infrequently because they're busy writing their own stories), some look in once in awhile, some stay around regularly for a long time.

To paraphrase Aragorn:

There may come a day when we are no longer interested in Tolkien discussions, but this is not the day.
There may come a day when real life keeps us so busy that we have no time for the Downs, but this is not the day.
There may come a day when our computer access is limited so that we are not able to log on, but this is not the day.
Today we post!

[Essex]

Originally Posted by Turin

The books will always stand the test of time - movies come and go. Plus, age shows up more glaringly in cinema. In 10-15 years will we look back at LoTR and find that it looks out-dated?

No. I remember Star Wars 26 years ago, and today looking at it on DVD it is not dated at all. Neither will LOTR be. The film will remain a classic as the book as.

[Boromir88]

Esty, I think we get a steady flux of people who join, how many end up staying for a while, who knows. But, I see a growth of new members each day .

Essex, I wouldn't be surprised if someone actually remakes LOTR. I would love to see a "futuristic LOTR" sort of like what they did with Romeo and Juliet. However, I don't think the remakes will appeal to me as much as the original (if they do remake them).

About the Silmarillion, I never see it coming out as a movie, maybe like a series on TV or something, if one would dare to do it. I thought it would be interesting if someone did a TV series of LOTR, where you have a 1 hr episode, on a chapter (or two if the chapter is bigger).

[The Saucepan Man]

Great paraphraseology, Esty.

Originally Posted by Turin

Because it shouldn't be forgotten that the movies can in no way overtake the pre-eminence of the books.

Well, they probably have in terms of sheer popularity. I would wager that more people have seen and enjoyed the films than have read and enjoyed the book. And, like Essex, I do think that the films will become classics of their genre.

Nevertheless, I take your point. The books will remain pre-eminent in the minds of (most of) those who have read and enoyed them.

It is certainly the case that there is far more to the Downs than discussion, although I don't see discussions dying down simply because the films are finished. The books discussions will go on here, as they have done for some 3 or 4 years already. There are always new opinions, new angles and new ideas.

As for the Movies forum, I would like to see it turn more to dicussion of the films as films (techniques, themes, performances etc), rather than the usual comparisons to the book and "what did you like/dislike" type threads. I have a few ideas for threads in mind, but time (as always) is against me getting them out.

I must say, however, that there has been a decline in new members joining since the film trilogy ended. That was natural, given that they gave such widespread coverage to Tolkien's story. And many (probably most) who joined as films fans have since become book fans and stayed, while some others have drifted away (no doubt to find sites with a greater emphasis on the films). Ultimately, given that there is a natural decline in active members over time, due to the demands of "real life", this will lead to a "population reduction". But that is no bad thing in itself. This site was just as active (and just as erudite), if a little slower, when it had only a handful of members, if the old threads are anything to go by. And I think that we will still have a good many members for a good many years yet.