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Peter Jackson on how Tolkien stopped a Beatles LOTR film (2021)

bbc.com

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Re: Peter Jackson on how Tolkien stopped a Beatles LOTR film (2021)

#11

Post by ianbicking »

KineticLensman wrote: post #7
lchengify wrote: post #5

This only would have worked if it was animated. The 1977 Hobbit film which was produced for NBC [1] was a excellent adaptation, and Yellow Submarine is in the same style. I would argue Yellow Submarine also has many of the same themes, if not more absurdist than fantasy. Also fun fact I just realized you can stream Yellow Submarine for free on archive.org [2] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbit_(1977_film) […

> The 1977 Hobbit film which was produced for NBC [1] was a excellent adaptation I've not seen the 1977 Hobbit film, but I note that your reference [1] prominently says: "The Tolkien scholar Douglas A. Anderson called the adaptation "execrable"; the author Baird Searles called it an "abomination" and an attempt that had "failed miserably", regretting the quality of the animation and of the soundtrack, and the omissio…

The 1977 Hobbit has its issues, but having watched it recently I feel like it does well with capturing the vibe of the book, especially the first half (it does really fall apart later). I personally find Peter Jackson's version of the Hobbit unwatchable for the same reason... he takes the LOTR vibe and imposes it onto a much more innocent story.

Re: Peter Jackson on how Tolkien stopped a Beatles LOTR film (2021)

#12

Post by aiforecastthway »

KineticLensman wrote: post #7
lchengify wrote: post #5

This only would have worked if it was animated. The 1977 Hobbit film which was produced for NBC [1] was a excellent adaptation, and Yellow Submarine is in the same style. I would argue Yellow Submarine also has many of the same themes, if not more absurdist than fantasy. Also fun fact I just realized you can stream Yellow Submarine for free on archive.org [2] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbit_(1977_film) […

> The 1977 Hobbit film which was produced for NBC [1] was a excellent adaptation I've not seen the 1977 Hobbit film, but I note that your reference [1] prominently says: "The Tolkien scholar Douglas A. Anderson called the adaptation "execrable"; the author Baird Searles called it an "abomination" and an attempt that had "failed miserably", regretting the quality of the animation and of the soundtrack, and the omissio…

The thing that I like about the Hobbit 77 film is that it realizes the material is a child's fantasy book. It's a breath of fresh air in a our current era -- where VCs seem to understand that any attempt to profit off of the American taxpayer's defense spending requires some Tolkien reference in the company name.

The existence of the '77 animated adaptation is our last reminder that the Generals green-lighting all this spend are literally mid-witted man-children.

Re: Peter Jackson on how Tolkien stopped a Beatles LOTR film (2021)

#13

Post by [deleted] »

KineticLensman wrote: post #7
lchengify wrote: post #5

This only would have worked if it was animated. The 1977 Hobbit film which was produced for NBC [1] was a excellent adaptation, and Yellow Submarine is in the same style. I would argue Yellow Submarine also has many of the same themes, if not more absurdist than fantasy. Also fun fact I just realized you can stream Yellow Submarine for free on archive.org [2] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbit_(1977_film) […

> The 1977 Hobbit film which was produced for NBC [1] was a excellent adaptation I've not seen the 1977 Hobbit film, but I note that your reference [1] prominently says: "The Tolkien scholar Douglas A. Anderson called the adaptation "execrable"; the author Baird Searles called it an "abomination" and an attempt that had "failed miserably", regretting the quality of the animation and of the soundtrack, and the omissio…

[deleted]

Re: Peter Jackson on how Tolkien stopped a Beatles LOTR film (2021)

#14

Post by [deleted] »

karaterobot wrote: post #9

> "Ultimately, they couldn't get the rights from Tolkien, because he didn't like the idea of a pop group doing his story. So it got nixed by him. They tried to do it. There's no doubt about it. I'm a Beatles fan. Tolkien was right to be skeptical, it would have been terrible. No doubt in my mind: campy, perfunctory, self-mocking. Please recall how "nerd" material was treated before the 2000s, if you'd like some prece…

[deleted]

Re: Peter Jackson on how Tolkien stopped a Beatles LOTR film (2021)

#16

Post by jmbwell »

duxup wrote: post #10

Wish we knew what that even would have been like. Did they really imagine a 60s/70s stylized LOTR with more modern music? Had they gotten the rights, would it even have been made?

This was my question. The article mentioned the project was proposed by a producer. I gather the Beatles at the time were throwing money into all kinds of things that would go nowhere. I could see this as an earnest attempt to make the film, but also as an attempt to lock in access to the funding, rights to future works, who knows what else from a business perspective. Buying things just because it would be cool to have them. Let someone else figure out the details…

Re: Peter Jackson on how Tolkien stopped a Beatles LOTR film (2021)

#18

Post by VelesDude »

duxup wrote: post #10

Wish we knew what that even would have been like. Did they really imagine a 60s/70s stylized LOTR with more modern music? Had they gotten the rights, would it even have been made?

I wonder if they would have gone down the path of many bands in the late 60s and have those long spoken word poetry stretches. That said, thanks to things like that I do love how often you see Michael Moorecocks name popping up.

Re: Peter Jackson on how Tolkien stopped a Beatles LOTR film (2021)

#19

Post by [deleted] »

karaterobot wrote: post #9

> "Ultimately, they couldn't get the rights from Tolkien, because he didn't like the idea of a pop group doing his story. So it got nixed by him. They tried to do it. There's no doubt about it. I'm a Beatles fan. Tolkien was right to be skeptical, it would have been terrible. No doubt in my mind: campy, perfunctory, self-mocking. Please recall how "nerd" material was treated before the 2000s, if you'd like some prece…

[deleted]

Re: Peter Jackson on how Tolkien stopped a Beatles LOTR film (2021)

#20

Post by ghaff »

jl6 wrote: post #6
lchengify wrote: post #5

This only would have worked if it was animated. The 1977 Hobbit film which was produced for NBC [1] was a excellent adaptation, and Yellow Submarine is in the same style. I would argue Yellow Submarine also has many of the same themes, if not more absurdist than fantasy. Also fun fact I just realized you can stream Yellow Submarine for free on archive.org [2] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbit_(1977_film) […

How is that film just available for free like that?

Presumably because no one's made them take it down.
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