[Marileangorifurnimaluim]

Heavens - Don't expect to see the Lord of the Rings! This is a movie. <P>Movies have different strengths than books. A good actor can reveal in expression and intonation what takes pages to describe. <P>But LotR is a milieu story. The world he describes and all it's fine history is the real point. That's something better described in books where you can wander and not leave a theatre audience wondering, what's this have to with anything?<P>If we put all these details in, not only will the movie be horribly long, it'll be a snooze for 99.9% of the population. Even some fans. If you don't believe me, watch one really faithful Masterpiece Theatre adaptation of another milieu story (Jane Eyre?). <P>Milieu stories (like Jane Austin, anything by the Bronte sisters) have been successfully adapted for screen by tightening the plot. You lose those wonderful meanders. But then they make up for it by creating very authentic and rich scenery and costumes.. the visual detail is a stand in, an implication of historical detail. Call it visual shorthand. <P>It's never entirely satisfying for those who know the stories well, because they're changing it into a different Kind of story. One that's focused on plot, not world.<P>Heck, not only will I miss Bombadil, I'll miss details like Pippin teasing Frodo about being out of shape their night camping in the Shire.<P>I'm going in knowing I'm not going to see the LotR. It's going to be a different kind of story. <P>So I'm looking forward to what Film <B>does</B> do well: these are some darned fine actors, who seem to love this story, and it's gonna be great to see their interpretations. And I can't wait <I>See</I> Middle Earth brought with a kind of immediacy and reality you can't get from any book, because there's alway the author's 'voice' between you and that world.<P>For doing what films do well, it's gonna be fantastic!<P>-Maril<BR>