November 15, 2003

PJ is Doing Great
Eric the Brown

Hello all this is my first post although I have enjoyed following the forum since the movies have come out. However I felt compelled to post soemthing since the issue of cutting Saruman's demise out of the movie has become such a controversy. I have read many negative shots taken at PJ on this and other sites over that decision and I think they are unfair and unwarranted. This post might be a little lengthy but please bear with me for I have a lot to say.

Like many of you I have read the books many, many times and love them. Like many of you I was excited when I heard that they were going to make a movie for each book although I must admit feeling a bit of trepidation at whether the movies would be any good. As the first movie approached my expectations continued to climb as I eagerly followed what was happening on the web even though I knew in my heart that going into a movie with high expectations is a dangerous thing as you are often disappointed when the film doesn't live up to those expectations. Still I ventured forth to the theatre and watched FOTR and when the movie was over I sat there in awe at what PJ had done. I found the film to be outstanding in every way and found it hard to articulate how much I loved the movie. I am sure I was not the only one to leave the movie with a burning desire to tell everyone I met how marvelous FOTR was. Although some were disappointed with TTT I was not and again I was astounded at the magic that PJ had wrought.

So in my mind PJ has done an outstanding job in making two great movies and how can we doubt that the third won't be as good in fact I am betting it will be even better because it is the final movie of the trilogy with the most dramatic events to tell. Have I been happy with every change that PJ has made, no, but overall the movies have been so good I can forgive him because I understand that his interpretation might differ from mine and that is okay. How can anyone doubt the passion that PJ has for these movies after all he had dedicated over five years to this project with another year yet to go to finish the extended DVD of ROTK. You can see that passion in the care he took with every little detail and the fact that he not only gave us great action and suspense but that he carved out enough time in each film to develop the characters so that we cared about them. Even though I know Gandalf doesn't die when he is dragged down by the Balrog I cried just like some members of the fellowship did because PJ had done his job and made me care about these characters and what happened to them.

Would I like to see the Saruman scene in the movie the answer is yes but if PJ feels he needs to cut it I will give him the benefit of the doubt because not only has he earned my trust with the remarkable job he has done so far but he has also earned my admiration for the passion and hard work he has put into these films by dedicating so much time into making them the best movies he can.

To PJ thanks for doing an amazing job in bringing Tolkien's books to such vivid life. I know that many of you out there feel the same way so join with me in celebrating PJ's wonderful achievement. He has made two films that have touched my heart and soul and I know that ROTK will be a fitting finale and make the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy the greatest movie trilogy of our time and maybe any other.

Thank you for putting up with this long post.

Eric the Brown