Itaril

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Rumil

And so it begins!

But where will it end? With Bilbo crashing the auction and dueling with Otho Sackville-Baggins, who is really possessed by Saruman, and is also Gollum's father?

I really don't see why they have to do that sort of rubbish. I hope that particular character will be left on the cutting-room floor.

[Mithalwen]

And the laws of Hollywood mean it is fine for a 17 year old to play the love interest of a guy twice her age......eww

[Rumil]

Yeah but they'll both be portraying 3000-year olds

(Though the evidence is ambiguous on LG's side iirc)

[Alcuin]

Why doesn’t Hollywood just dispense with all this pretense and do what it really wants to do – make Bored of the Rings instead. From “Of the Finding of the Ring”,

As is told in the volume previous to this hound, Valley of the Trolls, Dildo Bugger set out one day with a band of demented dwarves and a discredited Rosicrucian named Goodgulf to separate a dragon from his hoard of short-term municipals and convertible debentures. The quest was successful, and the dragon, a prewar basilisk who smelled like a bus, was taken from behind while he was clipping coupons...

Surely this is more along the lines of “modern cinema”. Sex sells. So get rid of all this nonsense about “sticking to the story”, and let them … hm … dress it up a bit. Or sell out to Disney. Whatever makes the biggest buck in the shortest time.

After all, how many Hollywood producers have ever actually read a book? Considering the quality of their productions, how many of them actually read? Their lawyers – they can read, of course, but … stick to a story? That’s so gauche! Bring out the voluptuous elf-maidens! Bring out your dead!

[FeRaL sHaDoW]

This always happens in movies to make it more interesting :/ i got 20 riding on we see Legolas in the Hobbit.

[skip spence]

Oh dear, this sounds terrible.

Well, no surprise I guess, in a big block-buster these days there has to be a strong, female character to appeal to a very profitable demographic group.

Mind you, a few plot changes and a couple of new characters aren't inherently bad in my opinion, it could make the film more enjoyable not knowing every twist and turn beforehand. That said, chances are they eff it up. Badly.

[Alcuin]

Then Eorache daughter of Eorlobe is exactly what Hollywood needs! More from “The Riders of Roi-Tan” (ibid.),

As they watched helplessly, the line of riders bore down upon them. Suddenly the centermost figure, whose spiked helmet also boasted two longhorns, gave a vague hand signal to halt and the men reined to a stop in a display of astoundingly inept sheepmanship. … [T]he pronged leader cantered up to the three astride a bull merino of great stature and whiteness, its tail intricately braided with colored rubber bands. … The leader, shorter than the others by a head, looked at them suspiciously through twin monocles and brandished a battlemop. It was then that the company realized that the leader was a woman, a woman whose ample breastplate hinted at a figure of some heft.

“Vere ist you going and vat are you doing here when you are not to being here in der first place vhere you ist?” the leader demanded…

Stomper stepped forward and bowed low… “Hail and greeting, O Lady,” lisped Stomper... “We are wayfarers in your land searching for friends taken by the foul narcs of Sorhed and Serutan. … They are three feet tall with hairy feet and little tails, probably dressed in elvin cloaks…”

The captain of the sheepmen stared at the Ranger dumbly, then turning to her own company beckoned a rider. “Medic! Hurry up, I haf vork for you. Und he ist delirious, also!”

“Nay, beautiful Lady,” said Stomper, “they of whom I speak are boggies, or in the tongue of the elves, hoipolloi. I am their guide, who am called Stomper by some, though I have many names.”

“I bet you do,” agreed the leader, tossing her golden braids. … “I ist Eorache, daughter of Eorlobe, Captain of der Rubbermark and Thane of Chowder…”

See? Ready-made Hollywood heroine with minimum rewrite. And if they want more, the sheep can dance.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by skip spence

Oh dear, this sounds terrible.

Well, no surprise I guess, in a big block-buster these days there has to be a strong, female character to appeal to a very profitable demographic group.

"Strong", indeed! There has to be a female character who is young, pretty, and can use a sword (or an equivalent weapon suitable for the story). Therefore, she is a wonderful female role model, which is further emphasised by that her personality, beyond the things mentioned above, is reduced almost to zero, or even below. (Though speaking of that, not that many main male characters are much better in that regard.)

In any case, I don't know what is the reason to bring her in, but what I hate the most are these pseudo-heroines (indeed, pseudo-heroines, because on top of everything else, they are mostly just pitiful less-than-human or less-than-elf or whatnot creatures) invented out of nowhere because there weren't enough women in the books. In LotR, there were few women, but those who were there compensated with their impact and personality (thinking mainly of Galadriel, who would have sufficed for the whole book even if she was alone, and Éowyn, and Ioreth - three great personalities. Oh, and Goldberry. Rosie Cotton and Arwen in brackets, they don't stand out very much, or play any very active role). Unfortunately, there was no woman in the Hobbit (except for Belladona Took - now that would be a worthy character!), but we can surely live with that. We have learned to accept it and like the story as it is. You blasphemers go and make your own movie about something else if you don't like it.

(I have the feeling I have been here before.)

[Galadriel]

Originally Posted by skip spence

Well, no surprise I guess, in a big block-buster these days there has to be a strong, female character to appeal to a very profitable demographic group.

Apparently, females can only be 'strong' when they wield a sword and ride a horse better than Glorfindel I just can't understand why...