No doubt if he did try to make a film of The Silmarillion, Peter Jackson would be accused by some of ‘gold-digging’ as has happened with The Hobbit trilogy. On the other hand having done such a good job according to many with Lord of The Rings and, so far, The Hobbit who else would you trust the project to?
Originally intended as a sequel to The Hobbit, any future production of The Silmarillion would start out by having an even more tenuous link to the author’s authentic work than has the latest trilogy. This is not least because the book was never finished and its present incarnations have been fleshed out extensively by Christopher Tolkien and others, notably fantasy writer Guy Gavriel Kay, based upon JRR Tolkien’s notes.
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If true then the refusal is based upon a small group of people’s aesthetic tastes, which raises interesting questions about how much control you ought legitimately to exercise once a genie has been released from a bottle. The family is not so concerned by Peter Jackson himself it appears, since their target is commercialisation of JRR Tolkien’s writing in general. Christopher Tolkien is reported by LeMonde as saying, quite emphatically:
“Tolkien has become a monster, devoured by his own popularity and absorbed into the absurdity of our time. The chasm between the beauty and seriousness of the work, and what it has become, has overwhelmed me. The commercialization has reduced the aesthetic and philosophical impact of the creation to nothing. There is only one solution for me: to turn my head away.”
And of course anyone producing a new Hobbit film, should they choose to draw upon the later additions by Christopher Tolkien and Guy Gavriel Kay, (and I do not see how they might not), would not only be interpreting the work of a deceased author, but also accessing the intellectual creations of two currently living other authors that have themselves reinterpreted someone’s work, albeit a pretty well-informed interpretation at that.
This dilemma is presented as a battle between popular commercial pressure forcing the systematic removal of Tolkien’s philosophical intent, set against a respectful re-telling of a story as accurately as it can be. Given that backdrop, one has to wonder just how possible it is that any story can be retold ‘accurately’, since the imagination of its teller remoulds, through nuance and emphasis every aspect of even the most prosaic tale.
We all have a stake in this argument. Most viewers of this site came here after having read the books and probably before they watched the films. They have already experienced JRR Tolkien ‘in the raw’, making their own judgements along the way. A few of us might even be literary Philistines that never really appreciated the philosophical intent of Tolkien’s work, nor properly appreciated its beauty, or seriousness. I suspect most though are obsessed with Middle Earth and beyond not because Hollywood drove them into the cinema in a frenzy of consumerist hype, but rather because JRR Tolkien fired their imaginations in the traditional way by reading the books in a quiet corner of a local park or at night in their bedrooms away from interfering adults.
The bottom line for fans of JRR Tolkien’s writing is that, like William Shakespeare’s and Jane Austen’s fans before them, they are as interested as anyone to see The Silmarillion translated into film in as authentic a way as possible. Perhaps it is time to allow the genie to roam free and see what happens.
I personally think that he should film THE CHILDREN OF HURIN as I think it's a better book than LOTR and THE HOBBIT, but nevertheless I love the books and the films
ReplyDeleteAccording to the trend, if he made a movie based on Silmarillion, it would have more parts than "Bold and Beautifull" episodes... And 3 hours each. That's what we could call a real braindead...
ReplyDeleteAnd what if he films Silmarillion in a form of TV series, like HBO's The Game of Thrones? Five star production is a must...
ReplyDeletewithout Peter Jackson, you're not gonna get that 5 star production. adapting a book onto screen is not an easy thing to do, and certain liberties must be made at times. not every adaptation that tired to be more like the book has worked. what Peter Jackson did was adapting a book into live action form that worked on screen. I respectfully disagree that we need it on TV like Game Of Thrones because I don't think that this kind of story would work on the small screen as well as you may think. just because Game Of Thrones worked well on the small screen, doesn't mean that the same can be said for The Silmarillion.
Deletewhat I do think needs to happen is that you Mr Tolkein and Peter Jackson needs to come to some kind of compromise. express your concerns directly to Mr Jackson and see what you both can agree on. Peter Jackson wants to direct, and you want it to be as faithful to the book as possible. but there has to be some kind of middle ground where you both are happy in a way that will make the fans happy as well. because at the end of the day, it's all about the fans. and what I think you should consider is how to make the fans happy without being simply saying no and refusing any kind of agreement. what Peter Jackson did on those films is commendable, and given the history that happened before the Lord Of The Rings became 3 films, it was a bold and gutsy move for both New Line Cinema & Peter Jackson. no other director is as committed to making these films like him, and he does it with respect and affection to the story. not to just adapt every single thing written on page. Peter Jackson wants to direct, and you want the films to be more faithful, but there has to be a fair compromise between the two of you if both you and Peter Jackson are going to please the fans of the book and the fans of the film series. if you can't owe it to yourself to at least sit down and talk with Peter Jackson, then at least owe it to the fans and those who actually support Tolkien's work.
because let's face the cold hard truth here, you're not gonna find anyone else who can do it better or who has that level of commitment that is willing to translate this film on the big screen. especially with the current condition that Hollywood is currently in, you're options aren't that big. so, at least cut your loses, take what you already got, and find that middle ground to the point where everybody is happy.
JRR Tolkien.. That, i agree! I'd love that! Much better.
ReplyDeleteWell, it will be probably stuff for fans only, but they would lowe to see it.
ReplyDeleteI would prefer film Roverandom ;-)
ReplyDeleteI love Tolkien´s tales
My opinion is that we owe The Silmarillion not just to Tolkien himself but to his son's masterful (and nigh obsessive) editing. What we have is far from a complete version of a finished novel that was released by its creator; as such, I really think Christopher's say should be most important.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I respectfully disagree with his opinion about Tolkien's "monster". I myself was drawn to this fascinating series by the films, living in a part of the world where fantasy fiction was (and is) even less well liked or respected as it is in more developed countries. So without the films, the books may never have been sold here and I might never have experienced the journey that most people here took for granted.
I am a Tolkien fan, first and foremost. I've re-read the books many times and I watch the special extended editions of the movies. I learn something each time I do and I'm grateful. Tolkien created an incredibly visiual world and charecters that half the world are now deely invested in and their history. I only speak for myself here, but I want to SEE the One, HEAR the voices of the his first children, be AWED by the battles against Morgoth's stronghold, to FEEL I'm in the undying lands. Peter Jackson is the only director/producer who can do it. Chris Tolkien's refusal to let him make this last tribute to his grandfather is forgetting why Tolkien wrote it in the first place, so people can enjoy what he wrote. A cinema ticket can help people decide if they really want to take a chance on a thousand page book.
ReplyDelete"Chris Tolkien's refusal to let him make this last tribute to his grandfather is forgetting why Tolkien wrote it in the first place, so people can enjoy what he wrote. A cinema ticket can help people decide if they really want to take a chance on a thousand page book."
Deletecouldn't agree more. all 6 films are great movies, and one of the best faithful adaptations we will ever see on the big screen. to have someone else direct The Silmarillion or have it on the small screen would be a terrible idea. you're not gonna find someone who can bring the feeling and emotion of the books successfully on screen a second time around. after all, it's an adaptation. you can't translate everything from the book to the film, it's not necessary and it's a silly argument to make. hell, making a live action adaptation that would work successfully on screen as a motion picture is extremely hard to do, especially in a story such as this. but after 6 films and all the commitment and effort Peter Jackson put in, why would you hire someone else? and ultimately, did he ruin the books or disrespect the source material? no. if anything, I appreciate the story even more. I love the characters, I love the stories, and I want to see more.
but I also think that there needs to be an equal agreement between Mr Tolkien & Mr Jackson where both parties can reach a compromise that will make everybody happy. if anything, wouldn't that help the book sales even more? so, already the whole refusal problem doesn't make sense and to me it just brushes off as being stubborn & closed minded. and most importantly, the adaptation not only respects the books that it's based off of, but it also manages to inspire those to either create their own middle earth story or to create their own characters and stories. much like Star Wars, this tale can inspire and entertain people in both book form and movie form.
I showed my support for Peter Jackson to direct The Silmarillion, and I truly hope that the fans will continue to help get this wonderful book adapted on screen. if it takes the efforts of the members of the Tolkien Estate, Peter Jackson, New Line Cinema, and the massive, devoted, and loyal fans, then nothing is impossible. collaboration, compromises, progress, and commitment is far better & more important than just flat out locking up the rights and throwing away the key.