Talk:LOTR Movie

As was discussed in the thread, why Oregon? Doobieous 01:04, 1 December 2005 (PST)

Well, unless I'm seriously mistaken, the regions which incorporate Oregon *there* (as opposed to *here*) include quite a large area with a fair number of different looks--among other things, thousands and thousands of square miles of temperate forest. LOTR takes place across roughly a thousand miles from north to south, and a fair amount of it in or very near one of two huge mountain ranges (the Misty Mountains and Mordor). If in fact you want to get an idea what the land near Vancouver *here* is like, all you have to do is watch the first few episodes of THE X-FILES or check out other t.v. series filmed there (like THE L WORD). Obviously, I'm speaking of those episodes that take place in "wilder" areas rather than cities.

But there are two other factors to be considered. One is expense. It just seems cheaper to move and/or set up a production company three thousand miles away than nine thousand miles away. Another is lack of clutter. You need to find fairly large areas where you do not in fact see any other sign of habitation from *any* known historical period. New Zealand *here* fit the bill nicely. But unlike *here*, the director is not from New Zealand (which was the single greatest factor for New Zealand being the setting for the three films I now own in the Extended Edition DVDs). Communications between MMP and the studio will be much easier from Oregon, especially given the total lack of communications satellites.

Keep in mind also that IB's production companies are going to operating without much in the way of CGI. This complicates the logicistics and production quite a bit in some ways, so it is necessary it be simplified in other ways. The Nazgul fell beasts, for example, will have to done via stop motion animation (like THE CORPSE BRIDE or JASON AND THE ARGONAUGHTS *here*) and there will almost certainly be a far more lavish use of matte paintings than in the trilogy of films *here* (which also took advantage of digital grading--a technique unavailable in IB).

More about the movie will be posted later. However, I'm very interested in any feedback or ideas about how LOTR might be done over *there* and what sort of actors might be cast, what different directions might be taken, etc. Zahir 02:10, 1 December 2005 (PST)

I've heard Gollum will be played by Andrey Sirkin from St Petersburg, right? ;-) Kyrmse 06:42, 1 December 2005 (PST)

That's highly unlikely, since St. Petersburg is known as "Petrograd" *there*! ;)) --IJzeren Jan 06:57, 1 December 2005 (PST)

Keep in mind, no CGI. So whoever plays Gollum must actually be small enough next to the hobbit characters. So not only a good actor, but physically thin yet strong, and willing to put up with what will likely be very uncomfortable makeup. Does that sound like Mr. Andrey Sirkin, Ronald? You know more of him than I. 10:46, 1 December 2005 (PST)

Oh yesss, very much like him, my preciousss. Look at thisss... Kyrmse 10:55, 1 December 2005 (PST)
http://www.serkis.com/images/9964.jpg

Lordy! I hope that is with make-up, 'cause if not, one wonders just how much of a career the gentleman might have! And what kind! Right now, I'm planning that within a week the casting of several roles in the new LOTR will be announced. There'll also be an interview with the direction, noting the direction he's taking in the adaptation and what sorts of changes we might expect in adapting such a huge work into two films. Zahir 11:01, 1 December 2005 (PST)

I showed a copy of the original press release to a friend who is a Film and LOTR buff. It took her a couple of readings before she realised that it was secondary world. She suggested Liam Neeson for Aragon (obviously not possible as this part is cast), and Tim Roth for Wormtongue. I shall ask her after the weekend if she has any more suggestions. - AndrewSmith 00:30, 2 December 2005 (PST)

Whoever plays Aragorn must not have a beard! *Here* Jackson & Co. managed to miss the statement by Tolkien that all the decendants of Lúthien were beardless -- so it goes for the Argonath too! BPJ 04:33, 2 December 2005 (PST)

I have asked some folks I know who are so "into" Tolkien one of their major criticisms of LOTR is Legolas' elvish accent. They are looking into this, but I have to say that also means Boromir, Faramir and Denethor should also not have beards. In fact, virtually the entire aristocracy of Gondor and Arnor would then be beardless because after seven thousand years nearly all of them were related in some small way to the royal family of Numenor. There is also the very real practical problem of how do you completely hide any hint of 'five o'clock' shadow on an actor if he in fact is not Asian and/or Amerind? And when I brought this up, the first thing everyone asked was "Where is the source of this information?" Which seems to me a very logical question to ask. If it was, for example, The Silmarillion one must point out that the good professor never finished that work, and when you look at earlier drafts of LOTR (a hobbit ranger named "Trotter," the ring-bearer named Bungo Baggins, Aragorn marrying Eowyn, Boromir joining forces with Saruman, etc.) you begin to see just how different the final work might have ultimately been. Zahir 10:45, 2 December 2005 (PST)

I never realised fans of LOTR were like trekkies. Is there a particular noun for them ? (I'm not being a smart ass, just curious) --Marc Pasquin 10:54, 2 December 2005 (PST)

"Ringers" (not to be confused with "Ringheads" who are fans of Wagner's Ring Operas). Zahir 10:57, 2 December 2005 (PST)

Some of us also call ourselves Tolkiendili (from Quenya [High-Elvish] "Lovers of Tolkien"). More about this group - inter alia - here. See also (for a more limited view) my own Tolkien site, referred to on my user page. Kyrmse 11:20, 2 December 2005 (PST)

My sources point out the following, from Unfinished Tales:

... there is a discussion of the Elvish strain in Men, as to its being observable in the beardlessness of those who were so descended (it was a characteristic of all Elves to be beardless); and it is here noted in connection with the princely house of Dol Amroth that this line had a special Elvish strain, according to its own legends...

So it would seem (to me) that beardlessness was a trait that showed up in Numenoreans of the royal line. Not, however, that all descendants of Luthien were forever beardless. And anyway, just how important to the story is such a detail anyway? Really? Zahir 18:19, 2 December 2005 (PST)

Not having read the book (save for the first chapter), don't take this as an informed opinion but: could it be that their beardlessness is a physical symbol that they are no mere human ? (by being part elvish) --Marc Pasquin 05:11, 3 December 2005 (PST)

Well, keep in mind that Elros, the half-elven King of Numenor who is the only known Elvish ancestor of the Numenoreans (save for the princely house of Amroth) lived and died seven thousand years before LOTR begins. So logically, why assume that even Elros direct descendant--Aragorn--would still have such a startlingly elvish characteristic? Even more importantly, what difference does it make, especially given that the whole idea is based (evidently) on a somewhat vague reference in an unfinished work? Zahir 05:32, 3 December 2005 (PST)

I tend to concur with this last opinion. Unimportant it is not, but it may be safely assumed that Aragorn díd have some beard. Tolkien himself mentioned the "contrasistency" in his own works. Let me comfort you with Galadriel's words:

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Tonight you shall sleep in peace."

Kyrmse 05:30, 5 December 2005 (PST)

WIP or Proposal?

I'm going to be adding to this off and on for quite awhile. Should it remain a WIP all that time? Or should I upgrade it to proposal immediately? What do you think? Zahir 08:48, 6 December 2005 (PST)

Bid

The management of All-Fair comics would like to make a bid for publishing rights for the graphic novel based on the movie.Theophilus88

L!O!L! Zahir 09:24, 6 December 2005 (PST)

Casting?????

Okay, we've got Gandalf, Saruman, Frodo, Arwen, Aragorn, Gollum and Wormtongue cast. I've been taking suggestions around and would appreciate any further ideas for the following roles:

• Boromir of Gondor, member of the Fellowship
• Faramir of Gondor, his younger brother
• Sam, Merry and Pippin, the three Hobbits in the Fellowship
• Gimli, son of Gloin, the dwarf member of the Fellowship
  • May I suggest some equivalent of Deep Roy? BoArthur
• Legolas, prince of Mirkwood, the Elven member of the Fellowship

Soooooo...any suggestions? Zahir 21:44, 17 February 2006 (PST)