Film Won't Do Justice to 'Rings'
Staff Reporter

LONDON (Reuters) - The son of J.R.R. Tolkien says the forthcoming Hollywood adaptation of his father's classic ``The Lord of the Rings'' will not do justice to the magical Middle Earth tale.

In a statement to newspapers published on Saturday, Christopher Tolkien, who is literary protector of his father's works, said he did not disapprove of the film but was dubious about the adaptation.

``My own position is that 'The Lord Of The Rings' is peculiarly unsuitable to transformation into visual dramatic form,'' he said.

Michael White, who wrote a biography about the Oxford professor and creator of the trilogy, said the author would have hated the film.

``I think he would have just closed his eyes to it,'' White said of Tolkien, who died in 1973 aged 81.

``He had a hatred of all things Hollywood and did not believe in the idea of imitation being the best form of flattery. As a writer I find that staggering.''

``The Fellowship of the Ring,'' the first in a trilogy of films based on Tolkien's best-loved novels, will have its premiere in London on December 10 amid intense hype over its box office potential.