The Deeper meaning to it all. - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Lathriel · 02-01-2005, 03:47 PM

I always have trouble with these topics because they make it all sound so negative. I believe that New Line took on the movie because they saw the potential. However I don't think that PJ began LOTR for this reason. In fact most of the people who worked on this project did it because they love LOTR. Most of them didn't get payed a lot. Besides people such Alan Lee helped with the movies. Alan Lee joined because (as you can see by his illustrations) he loved to design ME. So there are lots of people like that who were involved in the project.
Of course this doesn't mean that everybody went into the project without thinking of the money.
Obviously New Line knew that if the movies succeeded it would be a huge benefit for them. Besides, most of the comercial things came after the first movie's success and not before. Its mainly other companies (e.g Gameshop) who take advantage of the movie. However I don't think the movie itself was completly geered on consumers.

Estelyn Telcontar · 02-02-2005, 02:50 AM

What a fun tongue-in-cheek topic, Aina!

I think the reason Gandalf the White got a new staff was so that the weapons companies could sell two versions - Grey and White. That is certainly the reason the Witch-King broke Gandalf's staff in RotK as well - but they messed up their chances when they only got it into the EE version. So I'm not sure if the third staff was given enough screen time to be sellable...

And of course Gandalf only got new white robes so that they could sell a second version of action figures!

After all, the other characters walked around in the same grubby clothes the whole time - why couldn't he?!

Sophia the Thunder Mistress · 02-02-2005, 03:03 AM

It would certainly have been a better marketing strategy to have them change clothes often. From what I hear the Legolas in the blue tunic with circlet would have been a big seller!

I have a sneaking suspicion that the Wargs were played by candidates for adoption from the Ugly Dog institute of NZ. Although I can't imagine they were snapped up as quickly as the cute dogs they feature on the morning news every so often.

And I suspect that the plastic surgeon responsible for Gothmog's face isn't getting a whole lot of business.

Sophia

tar-ancalime · 02-02-2005, 04:14 AM

Quote:

and for those older than that, there was always Aragorn,

Ouch! This Viggo-fancier suddenly finds herself in the "old lady" demographic!

I suppose I'm only two steps away from saggy floral dresses and lots and lots of cat food.

Lalwendë · 02-02-2005, 05:05 AM

Well I'm an old cynic and one of my favourite arguments is that anything and everything we buy is just another 'product' no matter how wonderful they make it all seem to us. No matter if I'm buying home-knitted-organic bread or anything like that, it is still just a product and I am just another consumer. And so the films have enabled a vast 'market' to grow up which I have been sucked into. There wasn't as much available Tolkien paraphernalia to buy before the films, but now we can get just about anything, even socks and incense sticks! I personally have a rather large collection of books and memorabilia, including around sixty of those action figures; my excuse is that once I had a few, I thought I might as well try and get a 'full set'. And I just plain like them, anyway, so there.

Now I'm beginning to wonder about certain things in the films with this comically cynical idea. Was Arwen's heightened role just a ploy to get us all to buy more hair products, so that we too could dream of having Liv Tyler's super-shiny hair? And I noticed that all the Elves had perfect skin, so maybe this was marketing new make-up products at us, or else photo editing software

I for one have certainly been smoking more following the films; perhaps they have influenced me? On second thoughts - that kind of question would be taken as disturbingly serious in some quarters...

The thought of a smoke-free Middle Earth is just too much to bear!

Bêthberry · 02-02-2005, 07:58 AM

Frankly I suspect that NewLine was financed in part by investments from board game companies. I'm sure that everyone is aware of how board games have been falling farther and farther behind on the toy sales charts, becoming poor, second-hand cousins in the face of video and computer games. It was time for companies like Porker Brothers to take action to repair this worrying decline.

All those battles and fight scenes. All that geography and terrain. All that long trekking. All those smelly boots. Peter Jackson, by hightlighting cinematography over legendarium and characterisation, played right into this perceived need in the market share. And so there we have it. LOTR board games! Hours and hours of fun for boys and men to take turns at throwing the dice and shuffling cards.

Before we know it some enterprising types will start to create their own board games. I only hope that New Line does not find out about it and demand royalties.

**The Saucepan Man** · 02-02-2005, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Hours and hours of fun for boys and men to take turns at throwing the dice and shuffling cards.

Hmm. Would you happen to have anyone in particular in mind here, Bb?

02-01-2005, 03:47 PM	#1
Lathriel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Wandering through Middle-Earth (Sadly in Alberta and not ME) Posts: 612	I always have trouble with these topics because they make it all sound so negative. I believe that New Line took on the movie because they saw the potential. However I don't think that PJ began LOTR for this reason. In fact most of the people who worked on this project did it because they love LOTR. Most of them didn't get payed a lot. Besides people such Alan Lee helped with the movies. Alan Lee joined because (as you can see by his illustrations) he loved to design ME. So there are lots of people like that who were involved in the project. Of course this doesn't mean that everybody went into the project without thinking of the money. Obviously New Line knew that if the movies succeeded it would be a huge benefit for them. Besides, most of the comercial things came after the first movie's success and not before. Its mainly other companies (e.g Gameshop) who take advantage of the movie. However I don't think the movie itself was completly geered on consumers. __________________ Back again

02-02-2005, 02:50 AM	#2
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	What a fun tongue-in-cheek topic, Aina! I think the reason Gandalf the White got a new staff was so that the weapons companies could sell two versions - Grey and White. That is certainly the reason the Witch-King broke Gandalf's staff in RotK as well - but they messed up their chances when they only got it into the EE version. So I'm not sure if the third staff was given enough screen time to be sellable... And of course Gandalf only got new white robes so that they could sell a second version of action figures! After all, the other characters walked around in the same grubby clothes the whole time - why couldn't he?! __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

02-02-2005, 03:03 AM	#3
Sophia the Thunder Mistress Scent of Simbelmynë Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Aboard Highwind, bound for Traverse Town Posts: 1,780	Commercialisation failures It would certainly have been a better marketing strategy to have them change clothes often. From what I hear the Legolas in the blue tunic with circlet would have been a big seller! I have a sneaking suspicion that the Wargs were played by candidates for adoption from the Ugly Dog institute of NZ. Although I can't imagine they were snapped up as quickly as the cute dogs they feature on the morning news every so often. And I suspect that the plastic surgeon responsible for Gothmog's face isn't getting a whole lot of business. Sophia __________________ The seasons fall like silver swords, the years rush ever onward; and soon I sail, to leave this world, these lands where I have wander'd. O Elbereth! O Queen who dwells beyond the Western Seas, spare me yet a little time 'ere white ships come for me!

02-02-2005, 05:05 AM	#5
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	Well I'm an old cynic and one of my favourite arguments is that anything and everything we buy is just another 'product' no matter how wonderful they make it all seem to us. No matter if I'm buying home-knitted-organic bread or anything like that, it is still just a product and I am just another consumer. And so the films have enabled a vast 'market' to grow up which I have been sucked into. There wasn't as much available Tolkien paraphernalia to buy before the films, but now we can get just about anything, even socks and incense sticks! I personally have a rather large collection of books and memorabilia, including around sixty of those action figures; my excuse is that once I had a few, I thought I might as well try and get a 'full set'. And I just plain like them, anyway, so there. Now I'm beginning to wonder about certain things in the films with this comically cynical idea. Was Arwen's heightened role just a ploy to get us all to buy more hair products, so that we too could dream of having Liv Tyler's super-shiny hair? And I noticed that all the Elves had perfect skin, so maybe this was marketing new make-up products at us, or else photo editing software I for one have certainly been smoking more following the films; perhaps they have influenced me? On second thoughts - that kind of question would be taken as disturbingly serious in some quarters... The thought of a smoke-free Middle Earth is just too much to bear! __________________ Gordon's alive!

02-02-2005, 07:58 AM	#6
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6,003	Frankly I suspect that NewLine was financed in part by investments from board game companies. I'm sure that everyone is aware of how board games have been falling farther and farther behind on the toy sales charts, becoming poor, second-hand cousins in the face of video and computer games. It was time for companies like Porker Brothers to take action to repair this worrying decline. All those battles and fight scenes. All that geography and terrain. All that long trekking. All those smelly boots. Peter Jackson, by hightlighting cinematography over legendarium and characterisation, played right into this perceived need in the market share. And so there we have it. LOTR board games! Hours and hours of fun for boys and men to take turns at throwing the dice and shuffling cards. Before we know it some enterprising types will start to create their own board games. I only hope that New Line does not find out about it and demand royalties. __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.