Christopher Tolkien: kill HOBBIT film - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Legate of Amon Lanc · 05-25-2008, 01:14 PM

I always knew good old young master Christopher is a nice person!

And I shouldn't have read the article in the first place. Aragorn? If that's true, I suggest building up a process against them. And the second film? Horrifying just to think of it. (If anyone feels offended, it's just my personal opinion, and seriously, a honest Tolkien fan can't stand back in such a case of blasphemy - it's immoral!)

Sauron the White · 05-25-2008, 01:51 PM

Kristin Thompson of THE FRODO FRANCHISE is not reporting that the Times article is "a tempest in a teapot" and its conclusions are wrong.

http://www.kristinthompson.net/blog/

I hope she is correct.

ArathornJax · 05-25-2008, 05:02 PM

Kristin IS reporting in her blog that this article on the times IS a tempest in a teapot. She writes:

"My reaction on reading it is that this is probably a tempest in a teapot, with the Times over-dramatizing the upcoming June 6 meeting in the lawsuit the Tolkien Trust brought against New Line. The author claims that Christopher Tolkien will use the occasion to try and halt the production of The Hobbit. I don’t buy it. There’s absolutely nothing new . . . "

Just wanting to clarify what her words were and I'm sure that Sauron the White met this in their post.

William Cloud Hicklin · 05-25-2008, 10:23 PM

Presumably most any Tolkienista could see that this article is so full of errors that its credibility is close to nil.

Anyway, this "one last crusade" stuff is so completely unlike Christopher, in style and sentiment, in personality and disposition, that I can easily dismiss this as one more instance of the complete fabrications the Brit press and in particular The Times don't scruple to print about him.

They are determined to create this artificial villain, this ogre, this obsessed, bitter crank who paces the floors all night muttering and plotting how to destroy those horrible movies....

When in fact the truth is about as opposite as one can imagine: Christopher ignores them. Doesn't think about them. Has been largely successful in ignoring them for ten years now. He would not have assented to this lawsuit (being personally unconcerned with riches) but for the legal duty he carries as executor and trustee: he's responsible for many, many people's financial interests besides his own.

It's bilge, I tell you: bilge. Another non-story from a Fleet Street paparazzo.

davem · 05-26-2008, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hicklin

I can easily dismiss this as one more instance of the complete fabrications the Brit press and in particular The Times don't scruple to print about him.

Which I don't get - The Times is owned by Rupert Murdoch, who also owns Harper Collins (Tolkien's UK publisher). That simple fact alone should put paid to any idea that there is a real desire on the part of the plaintiffs to get the Hobbit movies banned - the case is being brought by the Estate & Harper Collins - & anyone who thinks Mr Murdoch is going to pass on the income from increased sales of TH, not to mention the numerous tie-in volumes, simply doesn't understand the man at all. What RM wants (& will get) is his share of the LotR movie profits & then to get on negotiating all those luvverly Hobbit licensing deals.

In short, I absolutely guarantee that Rupert will ensure the case will be sorted to his er.. the Estate's satisfaction, that the movies will be made & that come Christmas 2011 the shops will be filled with more Hobbit related tat than a dragon could comfortably curl up on. Anyone currently suffering nightmares that they won't be able to get their hands on a $50 plush talking Smaug or Arkenstone nightlight can now turn over & sleep peacfully...

William Cloud Hicklin · 05-26-2008, 09:45 AM

RM doesn't personally vet every story in his huge empire as some sort of Grand Propaganda Strategy. The one dominant watchword at the RuperTimes is- SELL! Sex it up, create scandal, do whatever it takes to move the rag. Oh, how Trollope's Thunderer has fallen!

If RM is concerned at all, it's along the lines that 'no press is bad press.' Any and all coverage helps generate the hypestorm desired.

Sauron the White · 05-26-2008, 02:45 PM

I very much liked the posts of WCH and Davem -- even when I differ with you ... (which is not now) -- I still respect your wisdom.

I never thought about the Murdoch connection with Harper Collins and the movies and the lawsuit. very interesting ...

in the end... its all about money from the Murdoch perspective ... and I think Davem is 100% right ---- there will be swag for all come 2011.

Look, I will be honest here ... I just want to have my grandson play hookey from his fifth grade class in December of 2011 and take him to see HOBBIT. I am 58 years old and hope to live that long. He loves the LOTR movies and I hope he will soon love the books as much or more ... hopefully more. I just want to live to see all this.

05-25-2008, 01:14 PM	#1
Legate of Amon Lanc A Voice That Gainsayeth Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In that far land beyond the Sea Posts: 7,431	I always knew good old young master Christopher is a nice person! And I shouldn't have read the article in the first place. Aragorn? If that's true, I suggest building up a process against them. And the second film? Horrifying just to think of it. (If anyone feels offended, it's just my personal opinion, and seriously, a honest Tolkien fan can't stand back in such a case of blasphemy - it's immoral!) __________________ "Should the story say 'he ate bread,' the dramatic producer can only show 'a piece of bread' according to his taste or fancy, but the hearer of the story will think of bread in general and picture it in some form of his own." -On Fairy-Stories

05-25-2008, 05:02 PM	#3
ArathornJax Haunting Spirit Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Out West near a Big Salty Lake Posts: 76	Clarification Kristin IS reporting in her blog that this article on the times IS a tempest in a teapot. She writes: "My reaction on reading it is that this is probably a tempest in a teapot, with the Times over-dramatizing the upcoming June 6 meeting in the lawsuit the Tolkien Trust brought against New Line. The author claims that Christopher Tolkien will use the occasion to try and halt the production of The Hobbit. I don’t buy it. There’s absolutely nothing new . . . " Just wanting to clarify what her words were and I'm sure that Sauron the White met this in their post. __________________ "At any minute it is what we are and are doing, not what we plan to be and do that counts." JRR Tolkien in 6 October 1940 letter to Michael Tolkien

05-25-2008, 10:23 PM	#4
William Cloud Hicklin Loremaster of Annúminas Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,330	Presumably most any Tolkienista could see that this article is so full of errors that its credibility is close to nil. Anyway, this "one last crusade" stuff is so completely unlike Christopher, in style and sentiment, in personality and disposition, that I can easily dismiss this as one more instance of the complete fabrications the Brit press and in particular The Times don't scruple to print about him. They are determined to create this artificial villain, this ogre, this obsessed, bitter crank who paces the floors all night muttering and plotting how to destroy those horrible movies.... When in fact the truth is about as opposite as one can imagine: Christopher ignores them. Doesn't think about them. Has been largely successful in ignoring them for ten years now. He would not have assented to this lawsuit (being personally unconcerned with riches) but for the legal duty he carries as executor and trustee: he's responsible for many, many people's financial interests besides his own. It's bilge, I tell you: bilge. Another non-story from a Fleet Street paparazzo. __________________ The entire plot of The Lord of the Rings could be said to turn on what Sauron didn’t know, and when he didn’t know it.

05-26-2008, 09:45 AM	#6
William Cloud Hicklin Loremaster of Annúminas Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,330	RM doesn't personally vet every story in his huge empire as some sort of Grand Propaganda Strategy. The one dominant watchword at the RuperTimes is- SELL! Sex it up, create scandal, do whatever it takes to move the rag. Oh, how Trollope's Thunderer has fallen! If RM is concerned at all, it's along the lines that 'no press is bad press.' Any and all coverage helps generate the hypestorm desired. __________________ The entire plot of The Lord of the Rings could be said to turn on what Sauron didn’t know, and when he didn’t know it.

05-25-2008, 01:51 PM	#2
Sauron the White Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 903	Kristin Thompson of THE FRODO FRANCHISE is not reporting that the Times article is "a tempest in a teapot" and its conclusions are wrong. http://www.kristinthompson.net/blog/ I hope she is correct.

05-26-2008, 02:45 PM	#7
Sauron the White Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 903	I very much liked the posts of WCH and Davem -- even when I differ with you ... (which is not now) -- I still respect your wisdom. I never thought about the Murdoch connection with Harper Collins and the movies and the lawsuit. very interesting ... in the end... its all about money from the Murdoch perspective ... and I think Davem is 100% right ---- there will be swag for all come 2011. Look, I will be honest here ... I just want to have my grandson play hookey from his fifth grade class in December of 2011 and take him to see HOBBIT. I am 58 years old and hope to live that long. He loves the LOTR movies and I hope he will soon love the books as much or more ... hopefully more. I just want to live to see all this.