Numerous comments have been made about the pluses and minuses
of PJ's LOTR movies. How about some preemptive suggestions, which
he would no doubt be grateful for
on making The Hobbit.
Here ar some possibles:
1) make it a two-part movie, more time to cover the story, but
more importantly, lotd more $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ (or pounds) (or euros).
2) Part one ends with Thorin and Co. entering Mirkwood and the
White Council taking Dol Guldur.
3) Part one romantic interest (okay, a little playing with Middle-earth
history is involved in some of these ideas), Aragorn and Arwen's first
meeting (yeah, he was really about 10, and not yet invented when the
Hobbit was written, but PJ makes him 20).
4) Since it's unclear who actually was in the attack on Dol Guldur, and
knowing PJ's battle scene fetish, include elves and Dunedain in the
attack (Aragorn can "earn his spurs" and impress his mates). Also
have the hint of tension between Gandalf and Saruman.
5) In Part II Legolas is present. If he had been invented it's very
possible Thranduil's son would have been involved and in LOTR I don't
believe there's any "Oh hi, Gandalf, we've never met before, I'm..."
6) Part II love interest, either Bard has a girlfriend (he shoots Smaug
just before she gets
really hot, or Legolas with any available
elf or Laketown girl.
7) Part II bits with Aragorn fighting for Gondor, and a young Denethor
getting steamed with Aragorn's success. Again, dates and the ages of
people are a bit off but I think it sticks, at least in the movie
universe, closish to Middle-earth events, and it allws especially
non-book people to relate to more characters.
8) Casting--- Unfortunately, Ian Holmes would probably be not only too
old for Bilbo, but not up to the almost total screen time the character
would call for. But movie Aragorn, Arwen, Gandalf, Galadriel, Agent Elrond,
John-Rhys Davies as Thorin Oakenshield, Smeagol, etc.
I believe the changes above are less intrusive (philosophically) then PJ's LOTR
changes, and I'm actually about 70-80% serious about them. Any comments
and/or other helpful hints for PJ, which he is no doubt eagerly awaiting?