Will the LOTR movies fuel a new craze for fantasy films? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

starkat · 12-23-2004, 11:51 AM

I'm a fan of both LotR and Narnia. I'm hoping that they do a good job with this first film. I honestly don't think that The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe would have been made without LotR being such a big success. I just think that Hollywood is overdoing it a bit on the sorcery side of fantasy. There are probably other fantasy books that they could adapt that don't always involve a lot of magic like the HP films (I am not a HP fan at all).

Orophin · 12-23-2004, 02:00 PM

I would say that that is very good possibility. They have already made a movie about the series of unfortunate events. I wouldnt be suprised to see more and more movies of that sort to come out.

Lhundulinwen · 12-23-2004, 05:16 PM

I agree that there is, or will be in the near future, an increase of fantasy movies, though I doubt there will be a movie with as much passion and love put into it as LOTR. LOTR made so much money, and ROTK won so many awards, studios would be stupid to ignore these types of movies. Not to mention all the merchandise.

The HP movie, and Series of Unfortunate Events, are both far removed from the vision I got when reading the books. I read the books before seeing the movie, a personal habbit of mine, and I was disappointed when I did see the movie. With LOTR, I felt like I was at home, where somebody had moved the furniture around for the Christmas tree, but it was still home.

The fantasy trend in movies comes and goes, especially when people are looking for an escape. It will fade eventually, but I don't think this particular trend would have ever grown this large without LOTR success.

Lalwendë · 12-24-2004, 02:47 AM

Firstly, I think LotR was marketed more as an 'epic' than a 'fantasy', and there have certainly been a lot of epics made since, including Troy, King Arthur and Alexander. I do have bad memories of some dreadful fantasy films from the 80s, and as a film, LotR beats them all hands down, as it also does in terms of books. But films do seem to come along in 'batches'. After Trainspotting there was a glut of films about young people indulging in hedonistic behaviour - most of them bad and missing the bleak subtext of the original. Following on from The Matrix we also had a fair amount of films using martial arts style fighting and negative views of the future, again, none of them as good as the original.

I think it's just the nature of marketing that where one 'product' leads, others will follow. One thing I remember from studying economics is 'The Law of Diminishing Returns' - meaning that once we have a product we have enjoyed, we then desire more, but inevitably, none of them are quite as good as our enjoyment of that first product. Think of eating chocolates: one is lovely, two is nice, but once you get to the bottom of the box you feel vaguely ill.

Now, about the HP films - I enjoy both the books and the films. I wouldn't call myself a huge fan, possibly because I know someone who is literally obsessed with the books, in comparison I'd say I just enjoy them! I thought the films did miss out a lot of the details in the books, but I still like them and one of the main reasons is the acting from the adults. I reserve special praise for Alan Rickman, Robert Hardy and David Thewlis. I was pleased that they managed to preserve the sinister aspect of Azkhaban, which was my favourite of the books as it was so dark. What does bother me is that they might lose some of the 'politics' of the later books.

Sanitisation of films is something I always dread. There's always a risk of this when it comes to films that may be popular with children, hence my dread of His Dark Materials being stripped of its interesting theology and science. What many film makers (or rather, the studio management) seem to forget is that children can happily deal with darker entertainment, as most traditional tales are extremely sinister.

Mattius · 12-24-2004, 11:42 AM

Exactly right.

I hate political correctness, children can deal with dark, complicated stories so there is no reason to make everything so nicey nice.

12-23-2004, 11:51 AM	#1
starkat Wight Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Cair Paravel during the Golden Age of Narnia Posts: 146	I'm a fan of both LotR and Narnia. I'm hoping that they do a good job with this first film. I honestly don't think that The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe would have been made without LotR being such a big success. I just think that Hollywood is overdoing it a bit on the sorcery side of fantasy. There are probably other fantasy books that they could adapt that don't always involve a lot of magic like the HP films (I am not a HP fan at all). __________________ "Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight, At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more, ... And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again. ~ The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe Narnia Movie Info

12-23-2004, 02:00 PM	#2
Orophin Animated Skeleton Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Lothlorien Posts: 48	I would say that that is very good possibility. They have already made a movie about the series of unfortunate events. I wouldnt be suprised to see more and more movies of that sort to come out. __________________ Yrch!

12-23-2004, 05:16 PM	#3
Lhundulinwen Wight Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wishin' and hopin' in the Shire Posts: 139	I agree that there is, or will be in the near future, an increase of fantasy movies, though I doubt there will be a movie with as much passion and love put into it as LOTR. LOTR made so much money, and ROTK won so many awards, studios would be stupid to ignore these types of movies. Not to mention all the merchandise. The HP movie, and Series of Unfortunate Events, are both far removed from the vision I got when reading the books. I read the books before seeing the movie, a personal habbit of mine, and I was disappointed when I did see the movie. With LOTR, I felt like I was at home, where somebody had moved the furniture around for the Christmas tree, but it was still home. The fantasy trend in movies comes and goes, especially when people are looking for an escape. It will fade eventually, but I don't think this particular trend would have ever grown this large without LOTR success. __________________ ~Just call on me, and I'm there. I'll always be your Sam~

12-24-2004, 02:47 AM	#4
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	Firstly, I think LotR was marketed more as an 'epic' than a 'fantasy', and there have certainly been a lot of epics made since, including Troy, King Arthur and Alexander. I do have bad memories of some dreadful fantasy films from the 80s, and as a film, LotR beats them all hands down, as it also does in terms of books. But films do seem to come along in 'batches'. After Trainspotting there was a glut of films about young people indulging in hedonistic behaviour - most of them bad and missing the bleak subtext of the original. Following on from The Matrix we also had a fair amount of films using martial arts style fighting and negative views of the future, again, none of them as good as the original. I think it's just the nature of marketing that where one 'product' leads, others will follow. One thing I remember from studying economics is 'The Law of Diminishing Returns' - meaning that once we have a product we have enjoyed, we then desire more, but inevitably, none of them are quite as good as our enjoyment of that first product. Think of eating chocolates: one is lovely, two is nice, but once you get to the bottom of the box you feel vaguely ill. Now, about the HP films - I enjoy both the books and the films. I wouldn't call myself a huge fan, possibly because I know someone who is literally obsessed with the books, in comparison I'd say I just enjoy them! I thought the films did miss out a lot of the details in the books, but I still like them and one of the main reasons is the acting from the adults. I reserve special praise for Alan Rickman, Robert Hardy and David Thewlis. I was pleased that they managed to preserve the sinister aspect of Azkhaban, which was my favourite of the books as it was so dark. What does bother me is that they might lose some of the 'politics' of the later books. Sanitisation of films is something I always dread. There's always a risk of this when it comes to films that may be popular with children, hence my dread of His Dark Materials being stripped of its interesting theology and science. What many film makers (or rather, the studio management) seem to forget is that children can happily deal with darker entertainment, as most traditional tales are extremely sinister. __________________ Gordon's alive!

12-24-2004, 11:42 AM	#5
Mattius Soul of Fire Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: City of Steel Posts: 666	Exactly right. I hate political correctness, children can deal with dark, complicated stories so there is no reason to make everything so nicey nice. __________________ A problem shared is a problem halved, so is your problem really yours or just half of someone else's?