Latest on the new Tolkien movie... - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

The Squatter of Amon Rûdh · 04-10-2007, 01:22 PM

Metaphorically speaking, Tolkien, Lewis and Williams had all been into strange lands peopled with outlandish beings. However, as usual in films, the suggestion is that it didn't take years of intensive study and deep thought to travel there. Taken too far, a metaphor is merely a childish over-simplification.

[EDIT: This paragraph made no sense. I meant to point out that all of them, Tolkien in particular, had travelled among the languages, folklore and mythology of Europe; but that this had been by means of intensive study and hard graft at inter alia Norse grammar and Welsh vocabulary, not some magic map.]

Taking the story further, Tolkien was a member of the same Oxford college as William Morris, who also produced an impressive body of literature with roots in Norse philology. Any such map could very easily pass through that environment into the hands of a young Tolkien, but not so Lewis and Williams. London is a bizarre meeting place for them, particularly during the First War, and seems justifiable only because it's the one British city guaranteed to be recognised worldwide. In short, whilst I don't object to meta-fiction, I like those parts of it set in reality to agree with established fact.

More to the point, why does everything always have to be about young versions of famous people? What's wrong with the Inklings having genuine adventures in fantasy realms? Since they were middle-aged academics, that would be hilarious, and it's even been done before: by none other than Tolkien and Lewis themselves (The Notion Club Papers and Out of the Silent Planet respectively).

I might be wrong, and this might turn out to be a very entertaining film, but I expect it will be another round of missed opportunities and Hollywood cliches.

04-10-2007, 01:22 PM	#2
The Squatter of Amon Rûdh Spectre of Decay Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Bar-en-Danwedh Posts: 2,178	Another brilliant idea wasted Metaphorically speaking, Tolkien, Lewis and Williams had all been into strange lands peopled with outlandish beings. However, as usual in films, the suggestion is that it didn't take years of intensive study and deep thought to travel there. Taken too far, a metaphor is merely a childish over-simplification. [EDIT: This paragraph made no sense. I meant to point out that all of them, Tolkien in particular, had travelled among the languages, folklore and mythology of Europe; but that this had been by means of intensive study and hard graft at inter alia Norse grammar and Welsh vocabulary, not some magic map.] Taking the story further, Tolkien was a member of the same Oxford college as William Morris, who also produced an impressive body of literature with roots in Norse philology. Any such map could very easily pass through that environment into the hands of a young Tolkien, but not so Lewis and Williams. London is a bizarre meeting place for them, particularly during the First War, and seems justifiable only because it's the one British city guaranteed to be recognised worldwide. In short, whilst I don't object to meta-fiction, I like those parts of it set in reality to agree with established fact. More to the point, why does everything always have to be about young versions of famous people? What's wrong with the Inklings having genuine adventures in fantasy realms? Since they were middle-aged academics, that would be hilarious, and it's even been done before: by none other than Tolkien and Lewis themselves (The Notion Club Papers and Out of the Silent Planet respectively). I might be wrong, and this might turn out to be a very entertaining film, but I expect it will be another round of missed opportunities and Hollywood cliches. __________________ Man kenuva métim' andúne? Last edited by The Squatter of Amon Rûdh; 04-10-2007 at 04:04 PM. Reason: Clarified my rushed initial paragraph