Oh yeah, I remember those now you mention it .......

[Lathriel]

In university these movies aren't forgotten and a lot of people still talk about them. Actually, yesterday I did a Marathon which was lots of fun.
But I really don't think they will be forgotten just like that since these movies are a milestone in many ways and they also sparked the fantasy movement that's now going on with Narnia, Eragon (which is basically LOTR rewritten with a dash of Haprry Potter) and the Golden Compas which is coming out soon. So, I don't think they'll be forgotten, of course the hype is already gone but I wouldn't have expected that to last much longer anyway.

[Thenamir]

RE: Fantasy and film

I believe that the LOTR films will remain as classics for one reason in particular – that they are the first films that took the fantasy genre seriously, gave it the treatment it deserved.

In all movie making, there is an attempt to create a suspension-of-disbelief that makes us who watch the flick engage and even believe, if only for a short time. The aforementioned Neverending Story (OK) and Willow (horrors!) and most other fantasy films that I could name were made almost winking-and-elbowing the audience into an artificial form of that suspension-of-disbelief, as if to say, “yes, we know that we don’t have the budget of an insurance commercial, let alone a feature film, just humor us.” In my opinion, anytime you have a Muppet as a main character in a movie that does not clearly have the word “Muppet” in the title, you’re wasting my money and insulting my artistic intelligence. (The same could be said about any movie starring David Bowie, but that’s a minor digression.)

PJ’s Lord of the Rings will be remembered as the first fantasy film with to which was given enough resources (in time, talent, budget, and attention to detail) to bring a beloved story (reasonably) faithfully to the screen. Comparing LOTR to prior fantasy films is rather like comparing old black-and-white sci-fi a la Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon to the first Star Wars movie, now known as Episode IV, A New Hope. And just as Star Wars revived the sci-fi genre (look at all the quality sci-fi that has come out since…along with some not-so-quality stuff), the LOTR movies have revived the fantasy genre – the floodgates are open, Narnia (wow!) Eragon (yawn) are just two examples, and more are in the works.

I’m with most folks here, I wasn’t 100% happy with everything that PJ did with the books to make a good movie, but as a movie I was definitely 100% happy with the results. It’s an amazing achievement, and I think it will be well remembered down thru history.

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by Thenamir

Willow (horrors!)

Oh I remember rather liking Willow ... and I am sure it can't just have been because of Val Kilmer who was rather buff at the time...

Dave, I discovered it at the hour long repeat stage and remeber suffering agonies of having to sit quietly as my parents visited friends on a trip to the midlands at the crucial time - letting me listen to it in the car was not an option..... boring grown up talk while the Battle of the Pelennor fields was happening in the ether. However my mother redeemed herself by tracking down the tape of the music for me for Christmas after much effort. I wore that out and so had to get the wit music editon when I finally was able to buy the full set 5 years ago. Had I hung on a few more months I could have got the CDs....... but I will sometime.. At least I got the poster...

I also think that the great achievement of the Radio version is that it handles "Book 5" so well which I found (despite Faramir) hardgoing in print.

[davem]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

At least I got the poster...

The one I linked to? I don't have that - I tried to read the text on the back by enlarging the pic, but couldn't make anything out. I remember buying the Radio Times (with pics of members of the TS in 'costume') when it was broadcast, but I have no idea what happened to it. I always associate the Fraser illustrations with LotR now, & have come very close to buying the Folio Society editions (even though they are supposed to be riddled with typos) just to have an edition containing them. They strike me as quite 'fitting', & I can imagine the original Red Book having such 'woodcut' illustrations.

In fact, I do have a bit of a bonus due, & Daerons do have the Folio set (& The Hobbit & The Sil)...

Edit to correct artist's name...

[Mithalwen]

I can't see all the links ...as posters go it is small basically it is more a frieze of the cassette covers but it does "tell the story". I would love to do an "episode by episode " thread for the series but I guess it might just be you and me....

[davem]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

I can't see all the links ...as posters go it is small basically it is more a frieze of the cassette covers but it does "tell the story". I would love to do an "episode by episode " thread for the series but I guess it might just be you and me....

The one I linked to is quite big - it has the large colour pic used on the Radio times cover & on the back are pics of the cast & lots of text about the production. I think we could make it a three hander at least, as Lal could listen too. Don't know if anyone else here has heard it - plus it might ruin the movies for those who do listen to it

And when is the Beeb going to release a DVD of their production of the Jackanory Hobbit???

[Mithalwen]

I read the Hobbit because of Jackanory - I missed the last episode becasue I had to go to Brownies... Thorin's death was the second thing in a book to make me cry - the first being the death of Ginger in Black Beauty.... who needs films eh