Link of the Day [1.09.13]
I’m glad to hear that JRR Tolkien was striving to make The Silmarillion his masterpiece. Unfortunately, his death derailed that dream, but his son, Christopher, fulfilled it. But now Tolkien is remembered as the dude who wrote the stories for Peter Jackson’s films. At least his son knows what the real deal is.
2 Replies to “Link of the Day [1.09.13]”
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this was a great article but the gist of the divorce between the family and the studios looks to be about the money.
It must certainly be hard for a family to preserve the legacy of a great artist. but you can't be the "interpreter" of everything for the audience. at some point the work has to belong to the audience to love and imagine what they want. that's art.
Eye of the beholder and all that. I like the books and the films. a bit snobby for the family not to meet Peter Jackson I think. Tolkien sold the film rights…get over it.
I'm sure money makes it easier to focus on. The movies are making a boat load of money. The tie-ins and ancillary things like the video games and collectibles all making money. Surprisingly, none of that would be going to Tolkien's family. The movies have been a boon for the books, but the other stuff doesn't make it to their pockets. I can understand why the money gets in the way.
But the films, as the article suggests, have changed our perception of Tolkien's world. The films are how most people will be first introduced to Middle Earth. Imagine their surprise as to how different the books would be. The Hobbit even more so.
I think the films distract from Tolkien's world. I love The Silmarillion which not many who have seen the movies have read. It's majestic. I'm dreading if they do that as a movie.
I think CHristopher Tolkien is justly upset that his father's work is now just second class to the films in the current public's perception.
See Les Mis.