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To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (2779)	11/13/2002 2:43:26 AM
From: D. Long	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 6901

There was a lot of detail in every scene that I wanted to see, and little time in the movie to see it. It was what I expected from having to cram in such a rich book into 3 hours. The movies could easily be five hours if every detail was dwelled upon. Kristel was sorry Tom Bombadill and Goldberry couldn't be included, for instance. The missing detail of Galadriel handing out the gifts might muddy the story for people not familiar with the books. "Where did that phial thing come from and what's the big deal about it?" But overall it was a good compromise I thought. Very different from standard Hollywood fare like the Scorpion King, where you depend on fast cutting to keep you from being bored out of your mind: the scene is: Glistening hulk. Sword. Fire in the background. Got it. Next. No detail at all beyond what's built into the sets, not even a rudimentary attempt at character or plot. That seems to be the trend. Which explains why I don't go to the movies much anymore. All splash, no content. And I hate the increasing use of "edgy" camera work. Makes me want to puke on the guy in front of me from motion sickness. Agreed, unless you count The Empire Strikes Back as fantasy (there's no science in Star Wars). I didn't care for The Princess Bride, but I liked Lady Hawk. I haven't seen the others. Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal was another good fantasy movie. Yeah, Star Wars is Space Opera fantasy. I enjoy the movies but I don't expect much of Lucas. American Graphiti and Raiders of the Lost Ark were his best work, IMO. Fantasy is hard to do well. Like science fiction, you have to invent the whole world, not just your characters and plot, and make it believable. Also, there is a predominate school of thought that Fantasy is not suitable for serious subjects and should not be taken seriously. It is hard to do well. Especially when, as you said, it's not considered a serious story vehicle. Kid's stuff. So what you get out of fantasy is stereotypical fairy dust fluff with cutesy squeaky voiced muppets. Lord of the Rings has stood the test of time because it is a believable Homeric epic. It resonates with all ages, even 50 years after its publication, because it deals with serious issues that are timeless. Good and evil, nature vs technology, war and pacifism, courage against all hope in the face of overwhelming evil, duty and sacrifice, nobility of spirit. I think the Greeks would have approved. Derek