Will the LOTR movies fuel a new craze for fantasy films?

[Mattius]

To answer a question from earlier- yes the Chronicles of Narnia were made in to a television programme some years ago by the BBC. They were, in my opinion at least, as devoid of character, entertainement and fun as the books were. Though I guess the studios will go full out on such a huge film production I can not see it topping Lord of the Rings.

To go back onto the topic, yes certainly "fantasy" seems to be creeping into the movie business but what seems to be happening is the butchering of the texts. This is obviously apparent in the Lord of the Rings fims with changed character personas and the dumbing down of the almost everything.

The excellent His Dark Materials is next in line for a big Hollywood production but I am seriously concerned about what it will end up like. I will not spoil the story but basically the plot surrounds the Church trying to overthrow God as well as scientists and scholars trying to destroy original sin. Phillip Pullman (the author) is a staunch atheist and it angers me so much that the money grabbing producers of Hollywood want to change THE MAIN ASPECT OF THE STORY as it would offend too many right-wing Christian fundamentalists.

Well sorry but that is just rubbish.

I would rather see no movie of His Dark Materials than live in a world where ignorant God fearing individuals can change a work of literacy genius.

As for Potter, it was always ineviatable that a book franchise as successful as that would make it to the big screen- loved by children and safe for the majority (except the right wing Christians- surprise surprise).

Don't get me wrong, I would love to see more GOOD fantasy films on the big screens but I think what is happening now is that comic book films are not drawing in the big crowds the studios are looking for the next big thing.

Fasten your seatbelts and grab your sick bags, its going to be a difficult ride.