Dumbing it down

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by SpM

The reason for the different approach is, I think, mainly because such issues go largely unnoticed by the majority of viewers, or are just not considered sufficiently important by them to warrant any major concern.

That doesn't hold true in my experience. I've had so many people ask me about incidents in the films which they did not understand or which they saw as inconsistencies and time and again I have to explain to them what the meaning of particular scenes was. There are a large number of people out there who are, for want of a better word, geeky, and who notice tiny details, and a significant number of them have not read LotR (shock! ), and this is the audience which Jackson hoped to reel in, I'm sure, as they are more likely to spend vast sums on repeat viewings and collectable merchandise.

But about my own objections to the films... I do not watch the films with my lips pursed in a sour expression, pen poised in my hand as I write a letter of complaint to New Line. I watch the films and enjoy them. I collect the memorabilia, in fact the mathoms have taken over a large part of my house, and I can say they are big favourites with me. But it is those few sticking points which spoil it for me. And the more I hear grumbles from those who have not read the books, the more those sticking points are reinforced.