February 8, 2003

Bread and Circuses
Tom M.

I may have an advantage over some of the other fans of LOTR. For a while, until I tired of it, I was involved with community theatre, including some improvisational theatre. I remember long nights of notes and scene-trimming in order to create something for the audience to latch on to. As far as this as a widespread practice, of all the Shakespeare plays I have seen done by Equity companies, all have used liberal scene-cutting. A complete Hamlet runs over four hours long. You can't put it all in, because most of what we love in books happens _in the mind_ and not _on the page.

Personally, I would d six 3-hour movies. But studios are about numbers, i.e., money. Jackson was prepared to beg for three movies and settle for two. He admits that he was shocked and delighted when the studios went for three. Most cinemas open their doors before noon. A three-hour movie, plus an hour of clean-up, means three showings a day in one auditorium. Most people don't want to come in after a movie starts, therefore, a long movie loses money unless it is a huge favorite.

Has anyone sat down and really thought about what Jackson has accomplished? How many other directors could have done what he has done? Imagine Spielberg's take on the Shire (can you say child actors with dubbed voices?). Imagine what George Lucas would have done to the Ents ("Meesa name is Tweebeard!"). I admit, Jackson does better with dark themes than light ones. Just as artist Ted Nasmith does beauty better than 'ugliness'.

As for the reconfiguring of the Battle for Helm's Deep, Jackson used the lesson of my all-time favorite movie, "High Noon" as well as "Henry V". Ten thousand vs 5,000 armed cavalry soldiers is not interesting - it is just battle and slaughter. Ten thousand vs 300 with women and children in the mix, and with genocide on the menu, grabs you hard. I've sat in the theater with people who don't know the story and seen them weep at Helm's Deep.

And the music? Gorgeous and brilliantly done.

Myself, I'm just happy to be alive and to have seen this. There was a time when screen fantasy was "Willow" or "Legend" or stocked with muppets. This is wonderful stuff. Lighten up, people! You want the 'single-malt' LOTR? Read the novel.