Sunflower
Valinor
Apr 27 2008, 2:10am
Views: 20748
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HOW are you going to finish the last stages of HB2 with reading TORN?  j/k....it's an honor to have you here.
No need to talk of trust here.....I have that. But I would like to note that for some others who are not as familar (yet) with you or your work, it will seem hard for them to believe that you can fill the formidable shoes of Peter, Fran and Philippa.
We know you can do it, and it is for them to become familiar with the worlds you have rendered so far onscreen....worlds full of "beauty and terror and meaning", (as W.H. Auden wrote in his review of LOTR...I beleive it was him, though I could be wrong)
Allow me to note, though, that (as Gramma and others have said) that adapting Tolkien is a VERY formidable task, and only the greatest of artists in modern cinematic history are capable of doing it successfully. This is a job for the Greats of the Cinematic Peathon: a Cocteau, a Spieberg, a Coppola, a Kubrick, a Hitchcock, a Kurasowa, a Miazaki, a Ray.......and yes, a Peter Jackson. (there are many other Greats of the Silver Screen I could name, but to list them all would take up too much space!) .
(Pan's Labyrinth reminded me so much of Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast, which one of my all-time favorite films. It had that same feeling of the Gateway to the Fantastical leading into a realm that was not as far away as we think. And it put you, in my mind, on the path to becoming one of the Greats.)
The eyes of the world will be upon you these next four years (or five?) and we have VERY high expectations. People like myself who are familiar with your work so far, know and understand that you are up to the task. But Tolkien fans are, either way around, a passionate bunch and we guard the Professor's legacy VERY closely. We welcome you, but I should warn you that (I have to be honest) even after all these years, there are many passionate defenders of the books, who take fidelity to them VERY seriously. There are those who will not hestitate to raise questions and air opinions. Some of these people have done so already, as you have doubtless now become aware. And they will continue to do so, in the months and years ahead. We are fully aware, in light of the current circumstances of the lawsuit brought by the Tolkien Estate, of the graciousness by which we have been allowed to see these stories made possible ion film. So,we cherish them highly.
So: the eyes of the world will be upon you for the next few years, Sir. We hope you begin to realize the magnitude of the task you have set yourself to.Someday, it will sink in. I am sure that Peter Jackson has filled you in on just how formidable a task it will be, in all ways. But I for one know that you can do it.
Oh, and BTW: I have been a longtime lurker on your excellent site. This site has quite a history behind it, as Peter has no doubt made you aware. Another excellent place to find out about the history of this website is film scholar Kristin Thompson's wonderful book The Frodo Franchise. She has a great website too.
Thanks for taking the time from your busy schedule to post, and good luck with HB2!
(This post was edited by Sunflower on Apr 27 2008, 2:18am)
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