Saruman's fireball

[The Only Real Estel]

you have to remember that the movies were movies for everyone, not just the book readers

Of course...that's why they have the Oliphaunt scene later.

But I'm repeating myself, am I not Estel?

I suppose I shouldn't answer that.

[Essex]

Estel, if it wasn't for the average movie goer, then you wouldn't have seen ANY Tolkien films.

If people want a fantasy film based word for word entirely on the book, go see the (rather dissapointing) Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

[Snorri Swifthammer]

Originally Posted by Essex

If people want a fantasy film based word for word entirely on the book, go see the (rather dissapointing) Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

Umm, you do know that movie was the highest grossing movie in the year it was released? It's one of the highest grossing movies of all time, I believe.

To me that suggests people actually do want faithful adaptions.

This is even further supported by the fact that even though many people consider Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban to be a better book, it didn't do nearly as well as a movie because they hacked out so much of the book and disappointed the fans.

Edit - I just checked my facts http://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/...yr=2001&p=.htm.

HP outgrossed even FOTR that year.

[The Only Real Estel]

Estel, if it wasn't for the average movie goer, then you wouldn't have seen ANY Tolkien films

Of course. I try never to belittle the 'average movie goer' in any way. But I also don't think that any particular scene can be justified by saying that the average audience might've liked it better (Legolas shooting Grima, that is) when the character in qutestion already has plenty of bravo moments.

[Lolidir]

it not so much as the book fans going to see the movie, its a matter of how big the book is before the movie. the Harry Potter books were a big deal and every one new about them, therefore they went to see the movies. LotR was the same way, it was well known and looked good so people went.