Christopher Tolkien: kill HOBBIT film

[Sauron the White]

Kristin Thompson of THE FRODO FRANCHISE is not reporting that the Times article is "a tempest in a teapot" and its conclusions are wrong.

http://www.kristinthompson.net/blog/

I hope she is correct.

[ArathornJax]

Kristin IS reporting in her blog that this article on the times IS a tempest in a teapot. She writes:

"My reaction on reading it is that this is probably a tempest in a teapot, with the Times over-dramatizing the upcoming June 6 meeting in the lawsuit the Tolkien Trust brought against New Line. The author claims that Christopher Tolkien will use the occasion to try and halt the production of The Hobbit. I don’t buy it. There’s absolutely nothing new . . . "

Just wanting to clarify what her words were and I'm sure that Sauron the White met this in their post.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

Presumably most any Tolkienista could see that this article is so full of errors that its credibility is close to nil.

Anyway, this "one last crusade" stuff is so completely unlike Christopher, in style and sentiment, in personality and disposition, that I can easily dismiss this as one more instance of the complete fabrications the Brit press and in particular The Times don't scruple to print about him.

They are determined to create this artificial villain, this ogre, this obsessed, bitter crank who paces the floors all night muttering and plotting how to destroy those horrible movies....

When in fact the truth is about as opposite as one can imagine: Christopher ignores them. Doesn't think about them. Has been largely successful in ignoring them for ten years now. He would not have assented to this lawsuit (being personally unconcerned with riches) but for the legal duty he carries as executor and trustee: he's responsible for many, many people's financial interests besides his own.

It's bilge, I tell you: bilge. Another non-story from a Fleet Street paparazzo.

[davem]

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hicklin

I can easily dismiss this as one more instance of the complete fabrications the Brit press and in particular The Times don't scruple to print about him.

Which I don't get - The Times is owned by Rupert Murdoch, who also owns Harper Collins (Tolkien's UK publisher). That simple fact alone should put paid to any idea that there is a real desire on the part of the plaintiffs to get the Hobbit movies banned - the case is being brought by the Estate & Harper Collins - & anyone who thinks Mr Murdoch is going to pass on the income from increased sales of TH, not to mention the numerous tie-in volumes, simply doesn't understand the man at all. What RM wants (& will get) is his share of the LotR movie profits & then to get on negotiating all those luvverly Hobbit licensing deals.

In short, I absolutely guarantee that Rupert will ensure the case will be sorted to his er.. the Estate's satisfaction, that the movies will be made & that come Christmas 2011 the shops will be filled with more Hobbit related tat than a dragon could comfortably curl up on. Anyone currently suffering nightmares that they won't be able to get their hands on a $50 plush talking Smaug or Arkenstone nightlight can now turn over & sleep peacfully...

[William Cloud Hicklin]

RM doesn't personally vet every story in his huge empire as some sort of Grand Propaganda Strategy. The one dominant watchword at the RuperTimes is- SELL! Sex it up, create scandal, do whatever it takes to move the rag. Oh, how Trollope's Thunderer has fallen!

If RM is concerned at all, it's along the lines that 'no press is bad press.' Any and all coverage helps generate the hypestorm desired.

[Sauron the White]

I very much liked the posts of WCH and Davem -- even when I differ with you ... (which is not now) -- I still respect your wisdom.

I never thought about the Murdoch connection with Harper Collins and the movies and the lawsuit. very interesting ...

in the end... its all about money from the Murdoch perspective ... and I think Davem is 100% right ---- there will be swag for all come 2011.

Look, I will be honest here ... I just want to have my grandson play hookey from his fifth grade class in December of 2011 and take him to see HOBBIT. I am 58 years old and hope to live that long. He loves the LOTR movies and I hope he will soon love the books as much or more ... hopefully more. I just want to live to see all this.

[ArathornJax]

As someone who is in their early forties, and waiting to hear if I have cancer or another disorder in my upper G I understand your point. The last week has brought to my face the issue of my own mortality and in a way though scary, it has been a very good thing. It has made me re-evaluate my priorities in life and as I hope and pray for one of the three things I may have outside of cancer (and it probably is not cancer but always the chance as the Doctor told me) I too would agree with you that I would love to go with my son who will be 17 at the time and my wife and my daughter who will be 18. I could almost day as much as I am excited about some things about The Hobbit movie adaptation, I am more excited to wake up each day and feel the wind on my face, raindrops dropping, seeing lightning and hearing thunder, the laughter of my kids and my wife and their affection. In the end what more does one need in life? Loved ones, a few good friends, good food and enjoyment in the simple things of life. Perhaps we are in the end, we all need to be more Hobbit like than human like as we get caught up in this crazy world we call life.

But I digress. I also agree with davem and William that money controls this and so in 2011 and 2012 there will be movies whether we view that as a good or a bad thing. Though I enjoy most of the adaptations (there are a couple . . . ) for me, the books are in the end, the cannon, the very source of all and I enjoy them the most.