Slashdot Mirror


RotK Delayed Until May 2004

An anonymous reader writes "New Line Cinema's The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, will be held for domestic release until Wednesday, May 12, 2004. The effects work on this third and final film of the trilogy will surpass its predecessors in scope and intensity, and the producers as well as director Peter Jackson feel that the extra time will cement the film's status as the king of fantasy films and the crowning jewel of New Line's massive effort to bring J.R.R. Tolkien's epic to the screen."

193 comments

  1. Hoax by Ken@WearableTech · · Score: 4, Funny

    Dry your tears this is a hoax. Its the Matrix 2 that is being pushed back to May 2004.

    1. Re:Hoax by GreyWolf3000 · · Score: 1
      I almost forgot about that movie.

      Those guys take longer to make a sequel than George Lucas (is the script even started for episode 3?)

      So when's Duke Nukem Forever gonna come out anyways?

      --
      Slashdot: Where people pretend to be twice as smart as they really are by behaving like children.
    2. Re:Hoax by stevenbdjr · · Score: 4, Funny

      Oh, haven't you heard?

      They've delayed DNF due to a platform switch. This one looks REALLY good!

    3. Re:Hoax by gmuslera · · Score: 1
      So when's Duke Nukem Forever gonna come out anyways?

      Check Freshmeat's Duke Nukem Forever project page. Seems that it was released today.

    4. Re:Hoax by shoptroll · · Score: 1

      Yeah, Matrix 3 is coming in Nov. They did the shooting for both sequels at the same time, hence the blended trailers and promotional stuff. Unless you're talking SW Ep 3... That I have no clue. Have they even picked the cast for that?

      --
      Insert Sig Here
    5. Re:Hoax by quantaman · · Score: 1

      Those guys take longer to make a sequel than George Lucas (is the script even started for episode 3?)

      God I hope not.

      --
      I stole this Sig
    6. Re:Hoax by ConceptJunkie · · Score: 3, Funny

      I'm not sure he ever started the scripts for episodes 1 and 2!

      --
      You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike.
    7. Re:Hoax by DJ+Rubbie · · Score: 5, Funny

      I *REFUSE* to believe this until it was posted more than the amount of times that darned RFC was posted here!

      --
      Please direct all bug reports to /dev/null
    8. Re:Hoax by ShawnDoc · · Score: 1
      They've got a new video out of DNF in action (console version):

      Console Version of DNF

    9. Re:Hoax by Mac+Degger · · Score: 2, Funny

      Now that's a good idea...let's set up a sourceforge project for Duke Nukem Forever...betcha we're done first!

      --
      -- Waht? Tehr's a preveiw buottn?
    10. Re:Hoax by EvilJohn · · Score: 4, Funny

      Are you kidding? He hasn't even started the script for Episode 2.

      --

      Less Talk, More Beer.
    11. Re:Hoax by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Those guys take longer to make a sequel than George Lucas (is the script even started for episode 3?)

      His films have scripts?!!?

    12. Re:Hoax by drunk_as_in_beer · · Score: 1

      Wow.. An April Fool's joke that actually got me because I viewed it on April 2nd. This one was actually believable (or maybe just caught me off guard).. I was imagining the thousands of angry nerds who would be posting to message boards about how pissed off they are about the delay.

      --
      --Drunk as in Beer
    13. Re:Hoax by mink · · Score: 2, Insightful

      D.N.F. says to me "Did Not Finish"
      Sadly it works on so many levels.

      --
      Well I've wrestled with reality for thirty five years doctor, and I'm happy to say I finally won out over it.
  2. Uh Huh........ by raider_red · · Score: 1

    Well, I hate to admit it, but I nearly hit the ceiling when I saw this one, before I remembered it was the 1st of April. I guess he wants the extra time to work on King Kong.

    --
    It's good to use your head, but not as a battering ram.
  3. sure.. by outsider007 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Peter Jackson feel that the extra time will cement the film's status...

    plus it will allow him extra time to work on 'King Kong vs. Godzilla II'

    --
    If you mod me down the terrorists will have won
    1. Re:sure.. by Peterus7 · · Score: 1
      Or it may just infuriate the masses to riot and torture him into releasing it once it's done...

      And... King Kong...? Why? Couldn't he do Dune or some other epic sci fi/fantasy? (Even though I liked Sci fi's dune, Dune by Peter Jackson could be a real work.

    2. Re:sure.. by Neon+Spiral+Injector · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Dune's been done to death. I was hoping he'd get William Gibson's Sprawl (Neuromancer, Count Zero, Mona Lisa Overdrive) trilogy.

    3. Re:sure.. by Peterus7 · · Score: 1
      Or something by Terry Prachett....

      I still pity the poor fools who are waiting outside the theater.

      By delaying the release however, that just increases the number of cheapass pirated versions floating around, perhaps...

    4. Re:sure.. by Coryoth · · Score: 1
      Dune's been done to death. I was hoping he'd get William Gibson's Sprawl (Neuromancer, Count Zero, Mona Lisa Overdrive) trilogy.

      As much as I like Peter's work, I'd much rather see Alex Proyas or Darren Aronofsky do these. Lets' be honest, they've got more of the right sort of style.

      Jedidiah

    5. Re:sure.. by bfree · · Score: 1

      I'd kill to see someone worthy take on Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Trilogy! Imagine that though, no more struggles to make a ring and an eye the centerpiece, now you have to make it the planet! Failing that I'll give my vote to doing all the City Watch books of Terry Pratchet! SocioPolitical commentary in my movies please, guess I'll have to wait for Michael Moore to do his next movie though if I want it to be american!

      --

      Never underestimate the dark side of the Source

  4. fuck fuck fuck ./ by ziplux · · Score: 0, Troll

    nice reporting :/ I nearly cried when I saw this...it better be fake.

    1. Re:fuck fuck fuck ./ by joFFeman · · Score: 5, Funny

      i have a feeling you will never have sex unless an exchange of currency is involved.

      --
      "Life is great; without it, you'd be dead." -Harmony Korine
  5. what by CanSpice · · Score: 4, Informative

    I thought April Fools jokes were supposed to stop at noon.

    1. Re:what by dimator · · Score: 4, Funny

      I thought April Fools jokes were supposed to not suck.

      --
      python -c "x='python -c %sx=%s; print x%%(chr(34),repr(x),chr(34))%s'; print x%(chr(34),repr(x),chr(34))"
    2. Re:what by ergo98 · · Score: 1

      Heh that's just something that teachers tell their students to get them to cut out the crap when the day has barely begun.

    3. Re:what by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You mean you fell for that old line? It's just a way to make people more gullible after noon.

    4. Re:what by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is an American website.

    5. Re:what by DiSKiLLeR · · Score: 1

      Yeah and its mid afternoon on the 2nd of april, and we STILL have to put up with this shit.

      Yeah, so what if i'm in Australia... why do we ALWAYS get our april fools on the 2nd?

      D.

      --
      You can tell how powerful someone is by the magnitude of the crime they can commit and be able to get away with.
    6. Re:what by gilroy · · Score: 2, Insightful
      Blockquoth the poster:

      I thought April Fools jokes were supposed to stop at noon.

      Ah, but that's the April Fool's meta-joke....
    7. Re:what by siliconshock.com · · Score: 1

      You are right... But the slashdot staff does not wake up until 2pm and then dont get around to reading submitted articles for several hours.

      Then they use their patented 1 click dup checker(which not always works) before its submitted. As you can see this usually creates delays :)

    8. Re:what by Not+Quite+Jake · · Score: 1

      April Fools jokes stopping before noon!? if that were the case there wouldn't be any at all...I mean who wakes up by noon, especially on a tuesday!?

    9. Re:what by srn_test · · Score: 1

      I thought April Fools jokes were meant to stop before the 2nd, at least...

    10. Re:what by Naikrovek · · Score: 2, Insightful

      yep, and ya know what? news organizations aren't supposed to play april fools jokes. its unprofessional, and if they're this cavalier about journalistic integrity, then how much more integrity do you think they have the rest of the year? (clue: the answer is 'not much')

      to me, the sheer volume of april fools jokes today, the duplicates that happen every week, the spelling mistakes that happen in 4 of 5 posts PROVE to me that this site is one giant year-long april fools joke.

    11. Re:what by MidnightBrewer · · Score: 1

      Take a deep breath and relax...heaven forbid the world might have a sense of humor. A holiday just for humor?!? What'll they think of next?

      Life is too short to take so seriously. It's not as if you didn't have fair warning; April 1st happens the same time, every year.

      --
      "Give a man fire, and he'll be warm for a day; set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life
    12. Re:what by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      news.google.com:
      From small hobbits to King Kong
      Canada.com - 8 hours ago
      Oscar best-director nominee Peter Jackson poses outside his Wingnut Films office in Wellington, New Zealand earlier this year. ...
      RotK Delayed Until May 2004 Slashdot
      Peter Jackson resurrecting King Kong in NZ Stuff.co.nz
      Northland Age - BBC - Nzoom.com - The Scotsman - and 72 related
    13. Re:what by crashnbur · · Score: 1

      Let's not underestimate the need for a little lightheartedness given the geopolitical circumstances. People are so consumed in war right now that it's probably a good idea to be distracted by a handful of jokes.

    14. Re:what by Myuu · · Score: 1

      man, stfu.
      the fact that there is still people with senses of humour and irony is what make /. /. wouldnt be /. without this kind of crap
      if you dont like it, dl php nuke and start your own damn site with your own damn rules...watch no one come.
      sorry to rip on you, but settle man.

      --

      forget it.
    15. Re:what by krswan · · Score: 1

      Umm, I thought that /. was an online community of geeks, not a news organization. This is not CNN. Chill.

    16. Re:what by Commutative+Monoid · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      Take a deep breath and relax...heaven forbid the world might have a sense of humor.

      The world might, but the people running Slashdot don't.

      --
      You have exactly 314 seconds to come up with a less retarded plot.
    17. Re:what by Commutative+Monoid · · Score: 1

      Surely you see the futility in telling someone else not to complain, using that particular train of thought, with a complaint about the content of their commentary.

      Afterall, if you don't like his complaint you can download Slash and start your own "news" site, set your own rules, and sit back and watch no one come to your site either.

      Now I, I am not particular sorry for pointing this out, but perhaps sorry I felt deluded enough to consider for a moment that I might prevent one day stumbling upon another attempt by you to provide enlightenment through hypocrisy.

      --
      You have exactly 314 seconds to come up with a less retarded plot.
    18. Re:what by aaribaud · · Score: 1

      to me, the sheer volume of april fools jokes today, the duplicates that happen every week, the spelling mistakes that happen in 4 of 5 posts PROVE to me that this site is one giant year-long april fools joke.

      Well, in this cas, it would be unprofessional for ./ to *change* their editorial line and stop doing jokes just on april the 1st only, wouldn't it? :)

      Albert.

    19. Re:what by chegosaurus · · Score: 1

      Whatever gave you that idea?

    20. Re:what by sql*kitten · · Score: 1

      to me, the sheer volume of april fools jokes today, the duplicates that happen every week, the spelling mistakes that happen in 4 of 5 posts PROVE to me that this site is one giant year-long april fools joke.

      Yes, and they wonder why more people don't pay for subscriptions...

    21. Re:what by kalidasa · · Score: 1

      Read the date on the posting. It was April 1st when posted. As for the stopping at noon thing, that seems to be a local variation, as I never heard any such thing around here.

    22. Re:what by srn_test · · Score: 1

      Hmm, you mean this part:

      Posted by timothy on 11:40 2nd April, 2003

      I suspect it's adjusted into my local time, but it's waaay past April 1.

    23. Re:what by uhmmmm · · Score: 1

      You're new here, aren't you?

    24. Re:what by ces · · Score: 1

      ... the spelling mistakes that happen in 4 of 5 posts ...

      You know I would make far fewer spelling mistakes if Slashdot would add a spelling checker. Decent open source spellcheckers have been availible for at least 20 years, it shouldn't be too hard to come up with a web interface.

      I suppose I could develop the habit of typing my posts in a sane editor first but for 99% of the posts I do this is way too much trouble.

      --
      Happy Fun Ball is for external use only.
  6. sigh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    i can't wait till today is over :-\

    1. Re:sigh by no-one-important · · Score: 1
      i can't wait till today is over :-\
      /-:
      /:
      /.
  7. King Kong by john_smith_45678 · · Score: 0

    I heard he's combining King Kong with the final Lord of the Rings.

    1. Re:King Kong by Drooling+Iguana · · Score: 2, Funny

      Return of the King Kong?

      --
      ... I'm addicted to placebos
  8. April Fools by Traxton1 · · Score: 2, Funny
    C'mon, these are some pretty weak April Fool's jokes this year. Although I would cry if this was true, I'm sure it isn't. I mean, it's not, right? Right?????

    1. Re:April Fools by nomadic · · Score: 1

      Actually they're better than last years, which isn't saying much.

    2. Re:April Fools by fjordboy · · Score: 1

      I think your post proves how effective this april fool's joke was.

      I pulled a quick one on a buddy of mine really early this morning (about 12:15...I don't waste my time!)...told him Ghoti Hook was gonna have a reunion tour this month. He went crazy! He told all his roommates and was really excited...asking me about the dates for the tour and locations and stuff...he took it [ghoti] hook, line and sinker. It went to the point that I felt really bad having to tell him the truth..then he got real superninjapissed. Yeah...I think I'm gonna steer clear of him for a few months...

    3. Re:April Fools by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      hey, that gentoo one, albeit completely unbelievable, was still pretty fucking funny :)

  9. And just to save time by Drishmung · · Score: 4, Informative
    --
    Protoplasm. Quiet Protoplasm. I like quiet protoplasm.
    1. Re:And just to save time by Krizhek · · Score: 1

      this is a sick sick joke.....
      In fact I would like to share what my wife did to me after telling her about the story and then a few minutes later I showed here that it was a april fools joke.......well i am still waiting for her to talk to me....

      j/k- she gave me a dirty look and then pinched me.....which is my feelings about this joke....
      but it was good.

  10. This had better not be a hoax! by Lukano · · Score: 0, Troll

    Correction, it had BETTER be a hoax, because I'll be mighty choked if this turns out to be true.

    And fuck you that the Matrix Reloaded is pushed back a year... it's ready to go already you fuktard. :P

    1. Re:This had better not be a hoax! by Ken@WearableTech · · Score: 5, Funny

      You may think it's ready to go but the W. Brothers want to rerender all the effects on linux boxes so people will think its cool.

    2. Re:This had better not be a hoax! by ackthpt · · Score: 1
      You may think it's ready to go but the W. Brothers want to rerender all the effects on linux boxes so people will think its cool

      Nah, they're waiting to render it on Linux powered Opteron boxen. That way, it'll be so cool the audience will have to wear sun glasses.

      So what's to render? Lots of stormy looking sky? All they'd have to do is focus a camera on the skies above Michigan during an average winter and they'd have all the grey, dark grey, drab grey, ugly grey, depressing grey and gray they'd need for any amount of gloom.

      --

      A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  11. LOGO by doomy · · Score: 3, Funny

    It took you 2 movies to get the logo done? I knew things were slow in middle earth, but this slow ? :)

    --
    ...free your source and the rest would follow...
    1. Re:LOGO by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh sorry, I was just smoking some pipe weed... and well 17 years went by, how time passes.. in hobbiton.

    2. Re:LOGO by SweetAndSourJesus · · Score: 1

      Well, seeing as how this is the only article in this subject, I don't think the logo is late.

      You might ask why a subject wasn't created before, but nobody would answer.

      --

      --
      the strongest word is still the word "free"
    3. Re:LOGO by TotallyUseless · · Score: 1

      dear sweetandsourjesus,
      it is the only story in the subject because the logo, and hence the subject were *just* created!

      --

      Time for some tasty Shiner Bock!
  12. Site Slashdotted, Original Text by tbmaddux · · Score: 3, Informative
    --
    Can't you see that everyone is buying station wagons?
  13. Oooo Ahhh - pretty new topic icon by uiil · · Score: 1

    Methinks this bogus story was just an excuise to put a new ring icon in the topics section.

  14. Who are the fools by TedTschopp · · Score: 3, Funny

    Who exactly are the fools... The ones who believe this or the ones who thought others would?

    --
    Fantasy remains a human right; we make in our measure and in our derivative mode... -- JRR Tolkien
    1. Re:Who are the fools by lpontiac · · Score: 1

      It got me. After all, it's the morning of April 2 here in .au.

    2. Re:Who are the fools by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Who'se the more foolish: the fool, or the fool who follows him?
      - Obi Wan

    3. Re:Who are the fools by child_of_mercy · · Score: 1

      Yeah ditto

      and i forwarded it to all my friends before realising.

      angry nerds downunder out of this.

      Someone might burn down jackson's house if he's not careful

      --
      'There is a Light that never goes out.'
    4. Re:Who are the fools by the_burton · · Score: 1

      I'd say the fools are the ones who read this slashdot article when it get's put off the front page and forget that this is an April's Fool day joke. I'd say that it's believable enough to be taken for truth if one forgets the context of todays' hoaxes.

      --
      Polluting the Internet since 2003...
      http://percep
    5. Re:Who are the fools by dwanethecat · · Score: 1

      tsk tsk tsk....seems someone doesn't like being 2nd best...or even 3rd

  15. Finally by nrmrvrk · · Score: 1

    About time that someone posted a decent April Fools joke.

    Now i just hope that the part about Mithrandir giving the elves AR-15s and Sauraman choking on a pretzel are true...

    -nrmrvrk

    --
    Keine eier
  16. !!!... BASTARDS! by TheKey · · Score: 1, Funny

    .... NOT FUCKING FUNNY! :)

    --
    My Journal - 1,337 fans and countin
  17. For more information... by Znonymous+Coward · · Score: 2, Funny
    --

    Karma: The shiznight, mostly because I am the Drizzle.

  18. Also, they can fix the Plot by weston · · Score: 4, Insightful


    Also, they can take the time to go back, re-read TTT and ROTK and correct all the plot problems they introduced in TTT.

    When Faramir turned out to be "Boromir II" I nearly walked out of the theatre.

    How did they get the first film so right and the second one so wrong? *pounds head against wall*

    1. Re:Also, they can fix the Plot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      I attempted to walk out. Supposed 'friends' held me back from doing so.

      About the only enjoyable things about the Two Towers were the ents (which were tastefully done, even if their scenes were a bit hasty. Hoom, hoom.).. And Theoden not quite getting into the entire 'Arise! Arise!' schpiel.

      Where's Narsil? Why is Aragorn so damned whiny about taking his throne, where in Tolkien's writings, he was flashing the blade that was once broken all about like mad?

      What, in the name of Mandos, were the elves doing at Helm's Deep?

      Who will bring Arwen's standard to Aragorn now that Haldir (who seemed a little chunky for an elf) had a lobotomy?

      Oh, and what's with Gollum's eyes? They're about ten times the size of everyone else's. Gollum would almost be 'realistic', if not for that.

      I will not comment on what Jackson did to Faramir, other than to say, the man has obviously not read the works of Tolkien.

      Perhaps he ordered a set of those cheap knock-offs of popular books, that you can get from Taiwan. You know, the ones where they make up crazy shit and call it the new Harry Potter sequel?

    2. Re:Also, they can fix the Plot by geekoid · · Score: 1

      see, It had been years since I read the book, and had played in quite a few games, so my memory of the actually story was sketchy, so I enjoyed the movie.
      Of course, then I made the grave mistake of reading the two towers... Not that the book was bad, but as my memory of the story became less hazy, I kept getting angrier. sigh.
      I will wait a couple of years after the LOTR movie stuff dies down, then re-read the series, I think I'll enjoy both much more. I'll pick up the DVDs after the get into the used store.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    3. Re:Also, they can fix the Plot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0


      How did they get the first film so right and the second one so wrong?


      No shit! I'm glad that I didn't see it when it was running on the big DTS and THX theatres at $10 a head. It was barely worth the $2.50 ticket price at the local one screen theatre (I saw it this Monday). Granted, the special effects were amazing, but horribly twisting Faramir's character into a Boromir retread? I would be the first to say, "okay, so this is Jackson's screen interpretation. I can live with that." But, to do that, then cut & paste lines from the book into the movie, either spoken by or to the wrong character is atrocious. All of the deeper meaning is lost, the characters are as flat as, well, any other movie for the masses. I guess we wouldn't have the cool Battle of Helm's Deep if it were a $200k art-house film.

      Arwen reviving Aragorn? Huh? Did I misinterpret that?

      The poor, worn device of switching camera angles when Gollum was fighting with his alter self (slinker vs. stinker) was another annoyance. Are people too stupid to realize what's going on? Couldn't they have picked up on it if Gollum's mannerisms were more pronounced?

      Blah! Now you've got me going off again. Damn you, Internet!!!

      It stands by itself as an okay movie. It's still a poor second to the animated Lord of the Rings.

    4. Re:Also, they can fix the Plot by Thing+1 · · Score: 4, Funny
      ROTK

      Anybody else read that as "rolling on the ... king?"

      --
      I feel fantastic, and I'm still alive.
    5. Re:Also, they can fix the Plot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      TTT had a lot of differences from the book.
      That really bugged me for the whole film, I kept thinking "why did they do it"?
      However if i could forget about the book, it could be a reasonably good fantasy film. Until the scene with the nazgul at osgiliath. Not thinking about why they were at Osgiliath and how did they get there so fast the real problem is that nothing would keep the nazgul from following (if not attacking) Frodo. This totaly breaks the logic. If the nazgul knew the ring was at Osgiliath they would never simply go away because Faramir was shooting a couple of arrows. My $0.02

    6. Re:Also, they can fix the Plot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >How did they get the first film so right and the second one so wrong?

      A wizard did it.

    7. Re:Also, they can fix the Plot by ryanvm · · Score: 1

      Is that you, Comic Book Guy?

    8. Re:Also, they can fix the Plot by Sabalon · · Score: 1

      Don't you know - PJ just can't resist any temptation to hammer into the viewer's head that man can't handle the right. Elrond goes on about it over and over, Boromir and now Faramir go on about it.

      I fully expect that when Aragorn arrives at Minas Tirith that he will be drawn and quartered for not bringing the one ring, thus further showing the desire for it.

      If they'd stop thinking viewers are stupid, they could have put more of the book end and ended with Shelob stinging Frodo, which would have been a great cliffhanger.

      Then again, after FotR, I heard someone explaining to someone else that there are gonna be three movies. I guess he couldn't handle the one ring either :)

  19. A LOGO AT LAST by halo8 · · Score: 5, Funny

    FINALLY

    http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=48383&cid=49 16 794
    http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=49299&cid =4983 792
    http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=49969&cid =5033 027
    http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=53467&cid =5280 387
    http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=55587&cid =5416 129
    http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=58123&cid =5579 563

    After ALL my posts (and Total karma Whoring) LOTR HAS A LOGO!!!! THANK YOU!!

    --
    The More Knowledge you have the Luckier you Get- J.R. Ewing
    1. Re:A LOGO AT LAST by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      APRIL FOOLS, it's only temporary!! HAHAHAHHAHAHA

    2. Re:A LOGO AT LAST by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Incredible that they picked GW Bush's wedding ring for the logo.

    3. Re:A LOGO AT LAST by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      After ALL my posts (and Total karma Whoring) LOTR HAS A LOGO!!!! THANK YOU!!

      Sorry. It's not a permanent logo, just an april fool's joke.

      Sucks to be you :-P

    4. Re:A LOGO AT LAST by jdbo · · Score: 1

      I'm glad someone campaigned for this; we've only got 9 months (+ the DVDs) left of major Tolkien news. and I want it properly labelled!

      (At least, until some movie studios get on the ball and decide to produce the Hobbit; fortunately the logo will still be approp. for that. Also, some sad, sad part of me hopes that the BBC/PBS/Sci-Fi will someday adapt the Silmarillion/Unfinished Tales/Lost Tales/etc. My delusions know few bounds.)

      In any case, this icon is _long_ overdue, movies aside: I've long considered Tolkien to be an unsung geek patron saint, in terms of his indirect influence on geeks' interest in creating large, unreal, self-consistent worlds. Yes, I mean computers + programming, and as much as that'd probably horrify Tolkien, he showed how one person could do this sort of thing. (In his spare time even, so this very much applies to the hobbyist/open source programmer esthetic).

      And yes, from this perspective the continuity errors in Middle Earth may be considered bugs. Now shut up and go name some variables after elven forests.

    5. Re:A LOGO AT LAST by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, thanks. I can finally limit all this LotR crap from my slashdot frontpage.

    6. Re:A LOGO AT LAST by miu · · Score: 4, Funny
      Now shut up and go name some variables after elven forests.

      Okay, but I'm giving the maintenance programmers your email address.

      --

      [Set Cain on fire and steal his lute.]
    7. Re:A LOGO AT LAST by Commutative+Monoid · · Score: 1

      Also, some sad, sad part of me hopes that the BBC/PBS/Sci-Fi will someday adapt the Silmarillion/Unfinished Tales/Lost Tales/etc.

      After the merciless living-death SciFi gave Messiah and Children of Dune, they would be the last channel I would want adapting any literary piece that I valued.

      --
      You have exactly 314 seconds to come up with a less retarded plot.
    8. Re:A LOGO AT LAST by Paul+Lamere · · Score: 1

      But now its time to start a movement to get an "April Fool's Logo". It would save us to much frustration. And how 'bout a "dup article" logo ... yeah that's the ticket.

    9. Re:A LOGO AT LAST by calethix · · Score: 1

      After ALL my posts (and Total karma Whoring) LOTR HAS A LOGO!!!! THANK YOU!!

      Sorry, but the LOTR logo is actually another April Fool's joke.. posts after the 1st will no longer have the ring logo. ;)

    10. Re:A LOGO AT LAST by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So what? Even "The Matrix" gets one, these days...

  20. April fools day by contagen · · Score: 1

    How about next year the editors try real hard to get everyone, and then on april 2nd post a slashback with all of the hoaxes they found on april 1st instead of bombarding us with crap all day? well, it was worth suggesting :p

    1. Re:April fools day by poisoneleven · · Score: 1

      Because the Slashback would be full of dupes:

      RFC...
      blah blah blah

      RFC...
      blah blah blah

      RFC...
      blah blah blah

      RFC...
      blah blah blah

  21. Allow me to assure you... by shadowbolt · · Score: 0, Redundant
    ...that this is a hoax. Visit lordoftherings.net (the official movie site). No report there of pushing back the release date, and the date at the top of the home page still says 12/17/2003... You people sure are easy to fool!

    This sig brought to you by McDonalds, the War on Terror, and Chevrolet

  22. This kinda joke may work better.. by PeterGraves · · Score: 1

    If there had been a few more real stories posted.. It's hard to fool people if it's compleatly obvious from the rest of the stories that it's april fools day..

  23. The real cause by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I believe the real cause of the delay of return of the king is because of this:
    A NEW CHARACTER

    If you don't beleive it, click here.

  24. DVD version? by Fabio+Dias · · Score: 1

    Will the DVD version have the evil bit set on the shots featuring Saruman?

    1. Re:DVD version? by Speedy8 · · Score: 3, Funny

      What is this evil bit that you speak of? I would like to read an article about it.

  25. NO NO NO!!! by Dareth · · Score: 2, Funny

    You don't understand, unless you married like I am, ... no this aint another April Fool's joke, I am really married... but it is important this comes out in December. My birthday is December 18th, so I kinda get a free pass with my wife on picking a movie to see. If it is moved to May, I may be forced to divorce my wife and quit my job just to go see the last movie in the series!!!!!

    --

    I only look human.
    My mother is a halfling and my dad is an ogre, so that makes me an Ogreling
    1. Re:NO NO NO!!! by Christianfreak · · Score: 1

      You mean you married someone that doesn't like LOTR??? That's grounds for divorce right there!

      (/me has a wonderful wife that would kill me if I didn't take her to see it opening day)

    2. Re:NO NO NO!!! by mrscorpio · · Score: 1

      Same here. I'm not saying you have to have a spouse that shares all your interests, but she has to be able to tolerate your passions :)

      Chris

  26. Duh? by Suhas · · Score: 0

    Taco you jerk....Don't do this to me. Now I don;t know if I should believe this or not.

    AAAARGH?!?!??!?!

  27. I don't get it... by Goonie · · Score: 1
    Isn't the point of April Fool's jokes is to make it obvious, in hindsight, that it was a joke? What gives this one away, aside from the date and the April Fool message on the link?

    BTW, did anyone else see the fake doco explaining how the moon landing footage was actually faked by Stanley Kubrick because NASA knew the camera on Apollo wouldn't work? With interviews of capcom David Bowman and KGB agent Dmitri Muffley, no less, as well as the very real Donald Rumsfeld, Henry Kissinger, Kubrick's widow, Alexander Haig, and so on? Brilliant.

    --

    Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from a rigged demo
    --Andy Finkel (J. Klass?)
  28. shock and awe by cford · · Score: 5, Funny
    The effects work on this third and final film of the trilogy will surpass its predecessors in scope and intensity


    So... ROTK will be employing a Shock-n-Awe campaign?

    1. Re:shock and awe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They want to fuck it up while and distance themselves from it?

  29. This is a Hoax. by Cyno01 · · Score: 1
    Funny, cuz the just the other day I was reading about how they had to speed up post production because of the new oscar deadline.

    And finally theres a LotR topic. Still no Star Trek topic, i guess 2 movies deserves a topic more than almost a dozen movies and 4 tv shows. *ignores existance of enterpise* Ooo, look, a new Matrix topic too...

    --
    "Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."
    1. Re:This is a Hoax. by geekoid · · Score: 2, Insightful

      How many good ST movies since Slashdot began?
      hint: )

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  30. I'LL MAKE JOKES AND YOU MUST LAUGH by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    THIS IS THE TIRANY OF CMDR TOMACO AND HIS EVIL SON TIMOTHY SON OF CMDR TOMACO (YES I MADE A DUPE YEAH!).

    Btw, LOTR is a shitty boring movie, really boring for ppl who can't handle complex movies like me.

    Ok, enough of slashdot, now gimme my ration of prozac 'n sexorat. Thank you.

  31. The Hobbit... April 1st Release Date by DeadBugs · · Score: 1

    Seems a lot of these movies are coming out on April 1st.

    --
    http://www.kubuntu.org/
  32. bah, im waiting for the remake by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0


    you know, hollywood tradition and all that

  33. what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Man, it's 12:13pm April 2nd here (Australia). That's why I almost believed this one.

  34. lamers by jaxon6 · · Score: 1

    They're only doing it cuz of the Matrix sequel that'll be out 1 month prior. Fricken lamers.

    --
    Do you see the sig? Do you have it in your sights? Why yes, Miss Moneypenny...
  35. The real story by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Didn't ya'll hear the real story? Jar Jar is going to make an appearance in the new LOTR movie. Apperently Lucas had a lot of extra footage that he had created before he discovered Jar Jar was a flop. He sold it all to Jackson real cheap.

  36. spoiling SLASHDOT!!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    check out topic two hundred... 2 pills.. next april fools gag they post is matrix related.... i hate them all

  37. The real joke by TheDukePatio · · Score: 1

    The opening of The LoTR site has been pushed back until May 2004 after being slashdotted. Peter Jackson has stated that the servers and backend services for the third installment of the series will be beyond anything done for the previous two movies. He hopes it will live up to /. expectations.

    --
    To Alcohol! The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems.
  38. Bah by Mu*puppy · · Score: 1
    Fools, all of you!


    What most fans are not twigging on, is the fact that the 'Tolkien icon' is the REAL hoax here. Think we could get Slashdot to really keep and use it? Hah!

    --
    There's no wrong way, to eat a Rhesus...
    1. Re:Bah by Ziviyr · · Score: 1

      What most fans are not twigging on, is the fact that the 'Tolkien icon' is the REAL hoax here. Think we could get Slashdot to really keep and use it? Hah!

      Just stick a windows logo in the middle of the ring and give me karma.

      --

      Someone set us up the bomb, so shine we are!
  39. Slashdot is really pissing me off by stevefox · · Score: 1

    This site has gone to shit today. One Aprils fool joke is ok. But when your whole site is full of crap its a waste of my time even bothering to visit your portal. Whenever I read an article I have to try and first figure out whether it is an april fools joke. This site is a waste of space today...

    1. Re:Slashdot is really pissing me off by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why don't you take that stick out of your ass?

    2. Re:Slashdot is really pissing me off by cranos · · Score: 1

      Ooohh a bit touchy today are we?

    3. Re:Slashdot is really pissing me off by Jestrzcap · · Score: 1

      Stoke me a clipper, I'll be back for christmas.

      Whatever.

      --
      "I have great faith in fools: Self confidence my friends call it." ~Edgar Allan Poe
    4. Re:Slashdot is really pissing me off by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh yeah, but you have enough time to "waste" so you can post a whiny bitchfest? Piss off tosser, not like there's anything relevent on this site to begin with. At least on April 1st it's honest.

    5. Re:Slashdot is really pissing me off by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Only today?

  40. Actually... by dcmeserve · · Score: 1
    I rather wish it was real (it's not). It would've been pretty cool to see the effects that they'd need an extra 6 months to work on!

    --
    "Orthodoxy is unconsciousness" - Orwell
  41. Two Towers by EMIce · · Score: 1

    Was it just me or did anyone else feel like the Two Towers was carried by the momentum of the first? There was some great action, but a lot of movies do that today. I didn't feel the same suspense and didn't see the same intense level of new character or story detail as in the first. The Two Towers relied too much on action to hold my attention, and I ended up bored through much of the time.

  42. I wouldn't mind one bit. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Jackson can take all the time he needs, as long as he doesn't put out another mockery like TTT was.

    Gods, I had such high hopes for these movies after seeing Fellowship.. *sigh*

  43. You know it's fake by Winterblink · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Because if it was real there'd be like 2000 comments by now. :)

    --
    "I'm a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar."
    -Hoban Washburn
  44. An Alternate Route by Acidic_Diarrhea · · Score: 0, Troll
    Well, he could always pursue a career in the mortuary. As you may very well know, the cold slab in the basement of your favorite hospital is one of the most sexually charged atmospheres you'll find outside of my bedroom. You'd be well advised to dabble in the dark art for a few years of your life, for the experience and sexual awakening alone. When you couple this with solid health care coverage, deceny pay, and great hours it becomes quite clear that no other job comes close. So, check it out!

    Dead people are not just for fucking anymore.
    Oh, wait - no, my mistake: they're still just for fucking.

    --
    I hate liberals. If you are a liberal, do not reply.
  45. Please Mod this up. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Slashdot fucked up the ring logo. The text is supposed to be red not yellow. This must be corrected, or hordes of Orcs and Uruk-Hai will destroy slashdot!

  46. RotK??? by ewhenn · · Score: 4, Funny

    The final stage of Leprosy.

  47. gott admit it... by Jucius+Maximus · · Score: 1

    I was actually taken in by this.

    1. Re:gott admit it... by Bonker · · Score: 1

      I love the new One Ring graphic too.

      Yeah, a bunch of my buddies fell for this too. Frankly, I haven't taken anything I've seen today seriously at all... except maybe the SARS news.

      Man, that's some scary shit right there...

      --
      The next Slashdot story will be ready soon, but subscribers can beat the rush and slashdot the links early!
  48. Yeah but... by Chazmati · · Score: 1

    On the other hand, that is a swell icon for LoTR stories. Is that new?

    1. Re:Yeah but... by zapod4 · · Score: 3, Funny
      Is that new?

      No. Sauron forged the one ring c. 1600, second age. It's kind of old.

    2. Re:Yeah but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow, and to think hey made the icon at the same time for some possible future technology. What a go-getter!

  49. bbspot mailbag by sixdotoh · · Score: 1

    bbspot had a pretty good fool's day material involving peter jackson. check it out

    --

    This post was brought to you by the number 584811 and the characters / and .

  50. That's NOT funny.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I know it's April 1st. But what sicko's idea was this?

    I am certainly not amused. ...

    (trying to keep a straight face)

  51. With all of these fake stories... by nekura · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... am I the only one who thought it seemed like a normal day at Slashdot?

    --

    "Programming is like sex - one mistake and you'll have to support it for the rest of your life."
  52. I don't get it ... by alofron · · Score: 1

    I cannot understand /. folks obsession with the LOTR films. Having read the books many years ago, I was rather disappointed by the films. Too many special effects that distract the viewer. Too much detail on too few scenes. I was impressed by the overall effect but not happy. It was better than I thought it would be, but far worse than what I'd like it to be.

    The bottomline is that I would prefer a low-budget LOTR trilogy. One that was closer to Tolkien, a different director perhaps, some changes on the script, totally different cinematography and less annoying panoramic views, different post production colouring on certain scenes etc. I understand that this is an umber-commercial flick that is directed for an US/western audience and therefore it never had a chance to start with ... but still, I feel kinda bitter about the result.

    Anyway, there have been something like 20 posts on /. about it (not counting other movie reports, eg Matrix, King Kong [lol] etc.). I find it rather annoying.

    Just expressing an opinion, don't go 'all guns blazing' ... perhaps I am not educated or tasteful enough to appreciate it but please ... stop posting anymore LOTR stories on /..

    1. Re:I don't get it ... by div_2n · · Score: 1

      I too wish the films could be better. But then I stop to ask myself "better than what?" The books? No way a film could do that. Ok, I might settle for as good as the books.

      Ok, so what would it take to do that? An extra two hours of footage per film bare minimum to develop the characters and plots properly. Watching films that long would be a pure chore and they wouldn't possibly be bareable to watch in theaters.

      No, the problem is that each book is really two books squeezed into one. That means that each movie is two squeezed into one. In the books, it is easier to do because you can add more pages without really changing the fact that it is just one book. Adding another two hours to a movie that is already a long film won't work.

      Thus, we are left with what we have. And I am afraid that is as good as it will ever get unless someone goes back and does it again with everyone involved working for free. The only ones that will watch three 5 to 6 hour movies are the most faithful of fans. It probably wouldn't be a huge money-making endeavor.

      Just my $0.02 worth.

    2. Re:I don't get it ... by Mac+Degger · · Score: 1

      "No, the problem is that each book is really two books squeezed into one"

      Hehe...that was a purely arbitrary decision by Tolkien's publishers...they told him to seperate them, and they originally published 6 books. Later, they decided that 6 books was a bit much, and put two 'books' per book. Tolkien OTOH wasd all for just one big book...so your point is kinda...uhm...wrong on that account :)

      --
      -- Waht? Tehr's a preveiw buottn?
    3. Re:I don't get it ... by the+eric+conspiracy · · Score: 1

      flick that is directed for an US/western audience

      Are you saying that a story derived from northern european myth laced with themes derived from Shakespeare, Beowulf etc. should be directed at a non-western audience??????

      That would work. NOT.

    4. Re:I don't get it ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Have you read the LOTRs? It is absolutely impossible to film. I have have read it a lot and enjoy it, but it is incredible mismosh of time lines and missed sequences. While I agree fellowship was better, I think PJ (et al) did an amazing job of creating a movie from a source which is fundamentally unfilamble (in a standard 2-3 hour format anyway).

    5. Re:I don't get it ... by will_die · · Score: 1

      Who cares about LOTR itself, the main thing is that the success will cause more fantasy films to be made.
      The main thing people are waiting for is The Sword and the Sorcerer II.

  53. That's Nothing... by Alan+Holman · · Score: 1

    That's nothing. I've delayed posting my BANANA CHAN anime scripts to the internet since 1995; that's when I started planning the first storyline for my site, so Peter Jackson can kiss my boot :)

    1. Re:That's Nothing... by Alan+Holman · · Score: 1

      My conscience tells me to admit that my previous post was just an excuse to mention my site. My mind is telling me that certain interpretations of my post make it on topic. My ass is telling me that Peter Jackson's richer from the writings of an old dead dude than I can ever hope of being through my writings; therefore, my previous post is justified in some weird definition of the word "justified." However, though I have plenty excuses for my previous post, nothing can excuse this one.

  54. Exchanging money by redune45 · · Score: 0

    Somehow I doubt that anyone in the last 1000 years has had sex without an exchange of currenty.
    If only there were a way to keep my g/f happy without spending all my hard earned videogame money

    --
    redune.com: The World 3.2 Megapixels at a time
    1. Re:Exchanging money by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Does your "girlfriend" happen to work at that massage place down on 45th?

  55. Terry Brooks needs the time to finish the rewrite by Nova+Express · · Score: 3, Funny

    I heard it was pushed back so Brooks could finish up the last volume in his rewrite of The Lord of the Rings. Details at:

    http://www.locusmag.com/2002/News/News0401b.html

    --
    Lawrence Person (lawrencepersonh@gmailh.com (remove all "h"s to mail)

    http://www.lawrenceperson.com/

  56. surely not.. by marcushnk · · Score: 1

    Please.. please tell me I'm right in thinking that its a April 1 hoax..

    --
    "Consider how lucky you are that life has been good to you so far. Alternatively, if life hasn't been good to you so far
  57. Finally! by Dr_Cornholio · · Score: 1

    We finally have a LOTR topic on /. One topic to rule them all!

    --
    In Soviet Russia, the monkey spanks you!
  58. This IS a good joke! by Dr.+Spork · · Score: 1

    April fools jokes are supposed to have an element of absurdity. Just passing on false information does not a joke make. That's why the article in the parent comment is so much funnier than the one Slashdot linked.

  59. what a fine birthday present! by calyxa · · Score: 1

    a wonderful gift - go see ROTK opening on my birthday!

    yeah, yeah... I know... it's an Evil Bit.

    -calyxa

    --
    Decay! Decay! Decay! -Helium
  60. There's a link by dhartzell · · Score: 1

    I won't spoil anything, but there's a link near the bottom of the news story with the text "CLICK HERE FOR REACTIONS FROM THE THEONERING.NET STAFF!" Click the link, just belive me. Good one, guys!

  61. I wish the delay were real by Adam+J.+Richter · · Score: 4, Insightful
    I wish this announcement were not an April Fools joke. Fellowship of the Ring was cut much better than The Two Towers. I think that the cartoonish special effects to represent the Ents was probably also the result of a too tight schedule. I think that with a little more time, the Ents probably would have been redone, and a more careful viewing of the movie would probably have resulted in removal or replacement of some of the credibility-destroying scenes, like when Legolas became a skateboarder in the middle of the battle for Helms Deep. I also think the comic relief by Gimli should and would have been toned down a bit.

    There was nothing that I can recall in the original theatrical release of the Fellowship of the Ring that made me cringe (some of the material that in the Extended Release did, but that largely shows what a good job of editting was done in the Fellowship of Ring theatrical release). In comparison, there were several places in The Two Towers that made me cringe.

    1. Re:I wish the delay were real by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I entirely agree with you and strangely enough most people I know of said TTT was better in special effects...
      IMHO The Two Towers contained a lot of awful special effects (ok I am picky with special effects even though I am not a professional). I remember the piece towards the end when they leave Helms Deep on a bridge forcing through a bunch of orcs, all the orcs looked "fuzzy" and the ones that fell on the river or whatever down below were badly animated, something like 10 fps. And the bad editing doesn't help the movie neither...

    2. Re:I wish the delay were real by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, I cringed at the original 'Nobody tosses a dwarf' comment in FOTR. And Aragorn spent so much time trying to back out of the relationship with Arwen I thought the two female writers must have been secret slash fans trying to save him for Boromir.

    3. Re:I wish the delay were real by drinkypoo · · Score: 1
      credibility-destroying scenes, like when Legolas became a skateboarder in the middle of the battle for Helms Deep. I also think the comic relief by Gimli should and would have been toned down a bit.

      People were sliding down tilted surfaces on rigid objects long before skateboards were invented. You're looking too hard for things to be pissed off at. Before the skateboard it was the scooter, and before the scooter the sled; Before the sled it was the toboggan (sleds have runners) and a toboggan bears an uncanny resemblance to a war door-type shield, except for one end being rolled over.

      As for the comic relief; I agree that it should have been toned down but I also think that you can't get hollywood money without comic relief. If that was a make or break on this film (which it very well could be) or if he gave up gimli for comic relief (he is always sticking his foot in something like a damn hobbit after all) we might have ended up with even worse editing.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  62. It could be an April Fool prank by antdude · · Score: 1

    What if the ring doesn't return? ;)

    --
    Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
  63. you must be new here... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    nuff said

  64. Handy Tip by Dr.+Dew · · Score: 1

    perhaps I am not educated or tasteful enough to appreciate it but please ... stop posting anymore LOTR stories on /.

    I have no comment on your education or your taste, both of which are your own affair.

    However, rather than asking for Slashdot not to cover articles on a topic of obvious interest, perhaps you could go to your Preferences tab, then to the Homepage subtab, where you can mark the checkbox to exclude the LotR articles.

    This is how thousands of users survived the Jon Katz Experience. Like Saddam Hussein, nobody could prove he was alive anymore. (If Jon reposts one of his articles from the woods, and everybody has him excluded, is he still annoying?)

  65. no no... by zephc · · Score: 1

    It's so Jackson can add more realistic explosions, more droids, and random walking dewbacks into the ROTK scenes

    --
    "I would say that 99 per cent of what my father has written about his own life is false." - L. Ron Hubbard Jr.
  66. Just noticed the new category by teko_teko · · Score: 1

    I've just noticed the new topic category for Lord of The Rings. What's next? The Matrix :)?

    /me crosses fingers

  67. Great..... by dimension6 · · Score: 1

    ......now I have to wait even longer to find out how the series ends!

  68. Silmarillion by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...finalizing a deal with supra-major fantasy author R-- J-- to do a 75 book rewrite of The Silmarillion.

    Why did they hire Ron Jeremy to rewrite Silmarillion ?

    Oh.. the other RJ, nevermind

    Peder

  69. They started screwing the plot up in Fellowship by rynthetyn · · Score: 1

    How did they get the first film so right and the second one so wrong? *pounds head against wall*

    I would argue that the plot deviations that were introduced in TTT were the logical result of the "minor" plot changes that were made in Fellowship. For example, all that absurdity with the Aragorn/Arwen story that was introduced in TTT is the direct result of expanding the role of Arwen in Fellowship--the changes made it a plot necessity to expand the Arwen story in TTT. If Jackson had stuck with the plot in Fellowship, that whole mess wouldn't have happened.

    I would also argue that the Faramir debacle is a direct result of the change in focus that Jackson introduced in Fellowship. He sees the central story of the books as the way that no one in Middle Earth can resist the ring, and added the scene of Aragorn being tempted to take the ring. It would not have fit with the story as he started to tell it to have Faramir to be able to withstand the power of the ring when even Aragorn was almost overcome. If Jackson had stuck with the plot, we wouldn't have had the Faramir mess.

    By about halfway through the movie, the only way that my sister and I retained our sanity was by making peanut gallery comments and making fun of the Arwen/Aragorn subplot (if that whole thing was supposed to draw in the female audience, it certainly didn't work on us).

    The thing that especially bugs me is that if only Jackson had bothered to read any of Tolkien's writings outside of LOTR, I doubt that he would ever have butchered the story like he did--TTT, especially, isn't even in the spirit of Tolkien. How hard would it have been for him to read Tolkien's Of Fairy Stories which sets out what he believes are the important elements of a fairy story--elements that Jackson totally left out. Further, Jackson should have read some of Tolkien's writings on Anglo-Saxon literature, and should have read some Anglo-Saxon literature himself, so that he could have had an understanding of the type of literature that influenced Tolkien--if he had done that, he wouldn't have totally screwed up the people of Rohan, for one.

    --
    Eagles may soar, but weasles don't get sucked into jet engines...
    1. Re:They started screwing the plot up in Fellowship by noewun · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The thing that especially bugs me is that if only Jackson had bothered to read any of Tolkien's writings outside of LOTR, I doubt that he would ever have butchered the story like he did--TTT, especially, isn't even in the spirit of Tolkien. How hard would it have been for him to read Tolkien's Of Fairy Stories which sets out what he believes are the important elements of a fairy story--elements that Jackson totally left out. Further, Jackson should have read some of Tolkien's writings on Anglo-Saxon literature, and should have read some Anglo-Saxon literature himself, so that he could have had an understanding of the type of literature that influenced Tolkien--if he had done that, he wouldn't have totally screwed up the people of Rohan, for one.

      If you would watch the director's commentary footage on the LOTR DVD, you will find that Jackson and the two other writers have thoroughly read the Tolkein cannon for many, many years and, in fact, are very well versed in Middle Earth. What many of the people who are bitching about the movies don't realize is that a movie is a very, very different beast than a book, and making a movie requires a very different type of storytelling.

      There are four main issues which require major changes when going from book to movie, and on issue specific to LOTR:

      1) Time. Most people have a hard time sitting through a movie longer than three hours, which translates into about 180 script pages. On a movie the size of LOTR, a unit is lucky to shoot about half a script page a day, and, when the scene involves stunts, one minute of screen time can take three weeks of shooting time. A movie which translated all of the events in the books to the screen would be, literally, too long to film, and much too long to sit through. Cuts had to be made.

      2) Story-telling paradigm: Books are (duh) a verbal medium, which means that, in many ways, novelists can be very lazy story tellers. Readers will forgive pages of interior monologue, long descriptive scenes, and characters who have relatively minor roles being given large chunks of attention for short periods of time - as the reader visualizes the story in his/her head, there are no time limits necessary. Film is a visual medium, which means that something has to be happening on the screen at all times in order to keep viewers interested, and, because of point 1) stories need to be streamlined so that the storytelling never bogs down. Tolkein's writing has a habit of taking grand digressions: at many points in the story Gandalf or Elrond or whomever will completely stop the action and retell some part of Middle Earth history, which, while it throws some light on the story, would absolutely completely kill the momentum in a movie. Because much of the intricacy of Middle Earth comes from these digressions, these had to be cut or reinterpreted.

      3) Character is handled very differently in the two mediums. The first rule in any storytelling is to have characters the audience wants to watch and wants to care about. As already stated, books have the luxury of time and tropes not available to film: Gandalf can spend three pages telling us of the plight of the Dwarves and, from this, we can have a deeper understanding of their motives. In film you don't have this luxury, and you really have only three ways to develop a character: dialog, action and visual symbolism.

      Many people have complained about the enlargement of Arwen's character and role in the movies. This was necessary because of the constraint of film. In the books Arwen doesn't actually have that much face time - much of the information and emotional impact of Arwen and Aragorn's relationship comes from Tolkein's historical digressions and knowledge of the past of Middle Earth, specifically the story of Beren and Luthien. There was absolutely no way to fit this information in the films while maintaining a watchable narrative flow: the action would have to be stopped to explain the plight of Elves versus men, the Doom of the Val

      --
      I am a believer of momentum and curves.
    2. Re:They started screwing the plot up in Fellowship by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What is it about film that makes it impossible to make a movie like a book? The physical size of the medium? The low bitrate of digital versions?

      I can not understand what it is that makes it impossible to make a movie the way the viewers want to see it, and instead making people almost walk out of the theatre in disgust. It cannot be the viewers, most viewers would rather see the whole movie done right, than see half a crap movie and then walk out of the theatre. So what is the technical problem?

    3. Re:They started screwing the plot up in Fellowship by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Read his (insightful, IMHO) post again.

    4. Re:They started screwing the plot up in Fellowship by kalidasa · · Score: 1

      Superb posting. I disagree that the Faramir episode had to be rewritten the way it was (I can see, of course, why it was done that way - to give the viewer some idea of the fallen city, but I don't think it was necessary to have Faramir succumb). But a superb posting nonetheless.

    5. Re:They started screwing the plot up in Fellowship by nagora · · Score: 1
      If you would watch the director's commentary footage on the LOTR DVD, you will find that Jackson and the two other writers have thoroughly read the Tolkein cannon for many, many years and, in fact, are very well versed in Middle Earth.

      Well, all I can say is Jackson hides it well. After seeing the first two films I genuinely doubted that he had even read LotR from cover to cover. If he has, then he didn't understand it or something because he's screwed the films up very, very badly. I mean, the second film was just rubbish with the silly plot twists and Elrond's continuing mental break down ("I've waited thousands of years to see Sauron overthrown and now the time is at hand. I'm off! we're all doomed! DOOMED, I tells ye!"), 3-hit-point wargs (wargs at all!) and that total shite about Aragorn falling over the cliff, and the embarassing charge at the end of Helms Deep. The list could fill a page.

      Total, utter, crap.

      TWW

      --
      "Encyclopedia" is to "Wikipedia" what "Library" is to "Some people at a bus stop"
    6. Re:They started screwing the plot up in Fellowship by Maul · · Score: 1

      Something interesting, however, is that many of the people I know who have never read the books think that Two Towers was a better movie than Fellowship.

      I like both movies, personally. Two Towers had worse plot deviations, but it was still a good movie. Not as good as Fellowship, though. The Arwen/Aragorn was probably the biggest downplay, and they went a little too far with Gimli being comic relief. The edititing and timing of scenes felt a bit strange at times, but I can't see how one could do it differently and still keep the movie under 3 hours. Hopefully the "Extended" DVD edition fixes some of these things.

      Naturally, the movies can NOT compare with the books. Just about everyone knew this before hand.
      I think the MAJOR critiques of Two Towers is that there are quite a few differences.

      I find that it is easier to enjoy the LOTR movies if you aren't comparing everything to the books all the time... something understandibly hard for hard core LOTR fans to do.

      Even so, I don't think I'd mind if this article were real. If a four month delay meant that Return of the King would be as close to the book as possible, and it would make a better movie... I'd have no problem with it.

      --

      "You spoony bard!" -Tellah

    7. Re:They started screwing the plot up in Fellowship by drinkypoo · · Score: 1
      This argument has been done to death. I think you're both on crack. The previous poster says he doubts jackson would have butchered the story if he'd read tolkien's other works. (I agree that he butchered it, but only in the case of Faramir's Boromirness and dragging Frodo to some place he doesn't belong.) You say that making a movie is inherently different, thus Jackson was justified, but that is poppycock. an interesting story is interesting whether it's a movie or a book. the difference is pacing, not the story. You make the same mistake Jackson made.

      The fact is that Tolkein gave Middle Earth a "historical" treatment inside which he is consistent. We take the books as canon, which they are. Changing the story (not just leaving out some events, but actually changing the nature of a man) is being untrue to the story. We expect events to happen a certain way and for the movie to show us those events, and when they are changed, the story is different. It is, quite simply, a different story.

      I don't mind when one character gets what seems like a disproportionate amount of screen time. What I mind is when they completely alter events, going places they should not be because they significantly alter the plot, and changing a character which people loved for his character. THAT is what Jackson did wrong, and that is what will stop me from seeing any further Jackson adaptations on their release date. In the future I'll be downloading or waiting for rental, because I know he won't take them as seriously as I will. While I might be in a minority, those of us who grew up "in" Middle Earth (our imaginations were there, anyway) surely must all feel betrayal at what was done to what may be the most pervasive epic of our time, in any genre.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    8. Re:They started screwing the plot up in Fellowship by Rakarra · · Score: 1
      but I don't think it was necessary to have Faramir succumb

      I got the impression that he didn't succumb. It's a little interesting, if you watch his character in the movie, at no point does he fall to the power of the ring, certainly not falling in the same manner as Boromir. The ring didn't corrupt him, he simply felt it would better serve Gondor if it were in Minas Tirith. He did not understand the way it could corrupt those around it, and he decided not to take the ring (as the ring may have wanted, and as the narrator suggested would ensure its triumph), but to bring it to his father who would decide what to do with it. A small distinction, but an important one.

    9. Re:They started screwing the plot up in Fellowship by WNight · · Score: 1

      He sees the central story of the books as the way that no one in Middle Earth can resist the ring, and added the scene of Aragorn being tempted to take the ring.

      Well, who can? Other than Bombadil?

      People are so upset that Aragorn and Faramir show *any* temptation to take the ring, but this seems reasonable. Both Aragorn and Faramir are smart enough to not take the ring, but that doesn't mean they don't feel its pull. Hell, if Faramir really was so immune to it, why don't they give him the ring and make him destroy it?

      The book had thirty or so pages of Frodo and Faramir discussing things. We see that Faramir knows a lot about the ring. In the movie we don't see his reasoning behind not desiring the ring, it would appear to be because he's immune to it (not because he's smart enough not to get close to it). So it's shown as him not ripping it away from Frodo, but by him deciding that he can't make this decision alone. But, as he sees (and we see him see) the immediate danger of the ring, he decides to let it go completely (it was still in his grasp). How is this not a strong thing? Where in here does he appear to be Boromir? Boromir tried to take the ring directly, Faramir didn't.

      For example, all that absurdity with the Aragorn/Arwen story that was introduced in TTT

      Instead of Jackson barely hinting at a relationship in the first movie, then having one in the third, he builds it slowly. Arwen wasn't actually in the second movie timeline, it was all flashbacks to explain why Aragorn doesn't run off with Eowyn. And, it's a way to explain the sacrifice Arwen makes in staying. I think changing the presentation is perfectly reasonable, especially because it's really only the presentation that changes, they didn't add a love interest or anything. This just keeps it from feeling like an afterthought tacked on at the end.

      Showing Arwen rescuing Frodo was a good idea, imho, because it makes her appear useful, not just a simpering love interest. You must assume that Aragorn saw something in her, so show the viewer. Otherwise you've really got to wonder why he doesn't go to Eowyn.

      My big complaint was taking Frodo's fight away on Weathertop. He wasn't very effective, but at least he didn't fall down and backpedal away. He seemed too ineffectual.

    10. Re:They started screwing the plot up in Fellowship by Feanturi · · Score: 1

      While I might be in a minority, those of us who grew up "in" Middle Earth (our imaginations were there, anyway) surely must all feel betrayal at what was done to what may be the most pervasive epic of our time, in any genre.

      Betrayal, perhaps, but opportunity as well. I grew up in ME too, but I've pretty much gotten over the movies. I'll be at the theatre to catch RotK and I'll buy the subsequent DVD because the eye-candy is just too nice. I saw some pretty cool stuff in my head reading the works, but it's sure great to have it plastered in front of your eyes while your brain is free to do more with it.
      But the big bonus is this: My girlfriend has never read the books, and has enjoyed the movies immensely. This means I get to rattle on and on about what the real story is, and further back into history. I've told her about the Ainulindale, Beren and Luthien, Numenor, etc.. Rapt audience as far as I can tell, it's awesome.

    11. Re:They started screwing the plot up in Fellowship by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So lemme get this straight, you believe he doesn't understand the books because there were some wargs where there shouldn't be? Maybe it's you who who doesn't understand, 'because as many things you could claim the point of LotR to be, I don't think wargs is it..

    12. Re:They started screwing the plot up in Fellowship by nagora · · Score: 1
      So lemme get this straight, you believe he doesn't understand the books because there were some wargs where there shouldn't be?

      No, Jackson doesn't understand film-making because of the Wargs; he doesn't understand LotR because of his mangling of characters like Elrond and indeed the other elves. Of the many things you could claim the point of LotT to be, the elves are high on the list.

      TWW

      --
      "Encyclopedia" is to "Wikipedia" what "Library" is to "Some people at a bus stop"
  70. Actually... by geekwench · · Score: 1
    ...it wasn't /.'s joke, it was New Line Cinema's.

    I had their press release figured for a hoax from the moment I heard about it this morning. If Peter Jackson found the usual round of chat-shows and other promotional tomfoolery to be disruptive to post-production, how much more so would the ensuing brouhaha be? Imaging several thousand outraged fans, still smarting from plot changes in The Two Towers, descending on Wellywood; camping on his doorstep, saying "Mr. Jackson? We'd like a word with you..."

    Now, as for the rest of your post; take a deep breath, okay? In any online group as large as /., there are going to be duplicate posts; simply because we're all geeks here, and we're drawing from a relatively finite pool of things that appeal to us. Also, news releases get recycled and updated, and maybe somebody didn't see the article the first time around.
    Spelling mistakes happen even to the best of us; one of the most brilliant people I know is horribly dyslexic. Spellcheckers are obviously of no use to him, but it doesn't mean that he's any less intelligent for it. Some people simply need their editors to come in the form of peripheral wetware (like a spouse), that's all. And some people are adept speakers, but can't manage to intelligibly express themselves in a visual forum if their lives depended on it.

    Annoying? Yes, mildly. But certainly not worth getting your knickers in quite so tight a twist as you've managed. This is supposed to be - at some level, anyway - fun, remember? ;-)

    --
    Doing my level best to piss off the religious right wing...
  71. Yes, Yes, YES! by clausiam · · Score: 1

    Exactly how I felt. First the whole varg scene and Aragorn falling over the cliff was bad but forgivable. Then the elves coming to Helms deep was worse but you know - artistic freedom and all. But Faramir bringing Frodo to Osgiliath and letting a Ring wraith spot him and the ring, letting Frodo almost give the wraith the ring and then send him on his way again. WHAT WAS HE THINKING!

  72. Re: ROTK by TeknoHog · · Score: 1

    No, I was thinking of a rootkit.

    --
    Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.
  73. Dead Alive Part 2 by jetkust · · Score: 1

    Comming in Summer 2005! One billion gallons of blood are said to be used for the film's special effects (This is at least a thousand gallons more than the first one). Peter Jackson's dreams to take this classic and turn it into a trilogy have finally come real.

  74. best homoerotic thriller of all time by brysnot · · Score: 1

    Phew! I sure am glad that it isn't getting pushed back. I can use a good 3 hour nap.

  75. Momentum by Futaba-chan · · Score: 1
    at many points in the story Gandalf or Elrond or whomever will completely stop the action and retell some part of Middle Earth history, which, while it throws some light on the story, would absolutely completely kill the momentum in a movie.

    You mean like the scene in TTT where Elrond and Galadriel really do completely stop the action to retell the previous movie and a half?

  76. Ah, good, by Doctor+Hu · · Score: 1

    that will give time to include the appendices.

  77. the appendices and the ents by ohhmyhead · · Score: 1

    "all that absurdity with the Aragorn/Arwen story that was introduced in TTT is the direct result of expanding the role of Arwen in Fellowship--the changes made it a plot necessity to expand the Arwen story in TTT"

    people keep complaining about this, but there really wasn't THAT much that was added to the story. if you read the appendices (at the end of rotk) you'd know that there's a lot of arwen/aragorn storyline there from before and after the novels. sure, some of it was modified, but they really didn't make that much up. there is text about elrond speaking with aragorn, about arwen being torn by the decision she must make, and about arwen dwindling after aragorn's death.

    the biggest things i was upset about were faramir and the ents. yes, the ents! i thought the visual and sound effects for them were great, but they totally changed their characters.

    1. first of all, in the book treebeard doesn't run off with the hobbits, squeezing them and yelling about how he thinks they are orcs. he says "if i had seen you, before i heard your voices -- i liked them: nice little voices... i should have just trodden on you, taking you for little orcs, and found out my mistake afterwards," and the three go on to have a nice conversation driven by curiosity.

    2. in the movie the hobbits have to trick the ents into finding out about saruman's murder of the trees, and then the ents go into a rage, changing their mind from their decision at the entmoot.

    my problem with these two points is that tolkien wrote the ents as very conscientious, very thoughtful creatures, who aren't quick to action. they are very knowledgeable, they knew that saruman had been cutting down trees, and took that into their decision at the entmoot, when (in the novel) they decided it was appropriate to take action. pj made them the exact opposite of what tolkien intended: hasty!

    given the current situation in the world today, this is a horrible time to be twisting these carefully deliberating characters into spontaneously violent beasts. this is exactly the time we need careful thought, and good examples of this.

    --
    porting code from csound to supercollider in high heels.
  78. ROTK in may? by xot · · Score: 1

    it'll release in 2005 in my country then.(india) so i see two towers once everyweek till then.

    --
    Lord of the Binges.