Peter Jackson in Perspective: The Power Behind Cinema's the Lord of the Rings. a Look at Hollywood's Take on Tolkien's Epic Tale. by Greg Wright

Peter Jackson in Perspective: The Power Behind Cinema's The Lord of the Rings brings under one cover the dozens of essays and lectures that first began appearing on the website Hollywood Jesus in December of 2001. Since then, author Greg Wright (Tolkien in Perspective: Sifting the Gold from the Glitter, VMI 2003) has analyzed and anticipated the cinematic choices of director Peter Jackson with almost prophetic critical insight. He rightly attributes the success of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King to the power of film itself, the power of Jackson's artistry and the original power of J.R.R. Tolkien's literary masterwork-and in so doing provides an educational, entertaining and respectful look at the process of bringing a much-loved novel to the screen. Like a sculptor of words and ideas, Jackson has pared away pieces of Tolkien's fanstastic epic to reveal both the essence of Tolkien and something entirely new, something uniquely his own. The essays in this volume are an invaluable guide to understanding both Jackson and Tolkien. Editorial Reviews Review ...a thorough and insightful piece of work that should enrich anyone's understanding of both the films and the books. -- Jeffrey Overstreet, Looking Closer, December 2004 Many people can enjoy the films; not all can write about them with WrightÂ's expertise, clarity and insight. -- Cliff Vaughn, Ethics Daily, 12/14/04 Terrific and insightful. -- Steve Beard, Good News Magazine, Nov/Dec 2004 From the Publisher This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of The Lord of the Rings. As Tolkien set the standard for literary fantasy, Jackson has now set the standard for movies. Greg Wright explains how, and why. Like a sculptor of words and ideas, Jackson has pared away pieces of Tolkien's fanstastic epic to reveal both the essence of Tolkien and something entirely new, something uniquely his own. The essays in this volume are an invaluable guide to understanding both Jackson and Tolkien. From the Author I've enjoyed a unique privelege over the last five years. Yes, the Tolkien fan in me has thrilled to the anticipation of each of Peter Jackson's movies. And yes, the journalist that I am has been secretly thrilled at sitting down to chat with Pater Jackson, Viggo Mortensen and others of the cast and crew. But the most valuable opportunity of all has been the honor of being part of a wide-ranging dialogue on the significance of J.R.R. Tolkien's seminal epic fantasy -- and sharing that dialogue with some of the finest and most pleasant people in the world: Tolkien fans. This is a book for Tolkien fans, for movie fans, and for fans of good conversation. About the Author Greg is Senior Editor at HollywoodJesus.com and the author of Tolkien in Perspective: Sifting the Gold from the Glitter. Since January, 2000, Greg has written dozens of reviews and features related to The Lord of the Rings books and movies. His work on Tolkien has been translated into Spanish, German and Swedish. Greg is an ordained pastor and Instructor of English Literature at Puget Sound Christian College in Everett, Washington. He holds degrees in English Literature, Computer Science and Theology, and his study of Tolkien now stretches back over 25 years. Excerpt. ® Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. More than once, Peter Jackson has rather famously remarked, We made a real decision at the beginning that we werenÂ't going to introduce any new themes of our own into The Lord of the Rings. We wanted to make a film that was based on what Tolkien was passionate about. Talking directly with Jackson, Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh yields tremendous insight into what they feel Tolkien was passionate about. If Jackson, Boyens and Walsh are the cinematic guardians of the Spirit of Tolkien, as expressed in The Lord of the Rings, what is their take on that spirit? During the Academy Awards telecast in February 2004, and the Golden Globe awards, Fran Walsh made rather cryptic references to Cameron Duncan. In interviews conducted in tandem with Philippa Boyens in December 2003, she said: ItÂ's a curious thing weÂ've been going through this year. We lost a young and dear friend, a young boy, to cancer, and watching him face his mortality, at seventeen, and watching him come to terms with the knowledge of his impending death, and how he and his family dealt with that. We were part of that as we finished this film, and I felt very strongly that, in the film, death -- when Frodo crosses over -- that itÂ's not a negative thing. And I felt that for Cameron, too. Because he was so ravaged and ill, that it, you know, it freed him. And it released him. And I feel that in the film, too. I feel that something lifts from Frodo, when he turns and looks back at the Hobbits... And I really liked that the film shows it in that way. Because often itÂ's such a thing of fear, and dread, you know -- that in films itÂ's portrayed in that way, and yet there is another way to view it. And we saw it play out, you know, in our own lives with Cameron. And to see it in the film, too, I really liked that about the movie. Boyens added, ItÂ's definitely deliberately done. But what I loved is that Ian McKellen made you feel good about it. So obviously, death is one of the central issues in The Lord of the Rings. And Boyens and Walsh are certainly right that death is one of the things that Tolkien is writing about. It is part of that spirit of Tolkien. But itÂ's perhaps troublesome to consider JacksonÂ's assertion that they didnÂ't want to bring their own baggage to The Lord of the Rings, because even in connection to the subject of death Jackson doesnÂ't agree with Boyens or Fran Walsh, the mother of his children. If they canÂ't agree among themselves about such key issues, how can they agree about how to interpret and present TolkienÂ's ideas? Boyens and Walsh, though, tend to play off each other like peas in a pod in interviews. They will complete each otherÂ's ideas and thoughts, and appear completely in sync with the otherÂ's ideas and attitudes. Yet while the two of them can be very encouraged by the depiction of death in The Return of the King, Peter Jackson has very different things to say: We looked upon the ending, really, as being a metaphor for Frodo passing the shore, that he -- that you were ?fare-wellingÂ' somebody who was, who seemed to be dying. I mean, he was going to this blessed land, and he -- we do certainly feel that Tolkien regarded that as being a visualization of somebodyÂ's death. He said, well, you get on a ship and you sail out into the harbor, and farewell them into this light -- but itÂ's fairly obvious what Tolkien was really referring to. And we tried to honor that -- we tried to give it that sense of sadness. I feel itÂ's extremely poignant that Frodo is ultimately effectively killed at the end of the story; I mean, he does ultimately die in the film; he canÂ't live. And, yeah -- it just makes it very sad. ThatÂ's a very surprising comment from Peter Jackson. I doubt most audience members come away from The Return of the King thinking that Frodo is dead, and that his is some incredibly sad fate! . So where does this come from? How does Peter Jackson, as the maker of the film, view such a central element so differently from Boyens and Walsh? LetÂ's turn to Tolkien for some insight... From Section 7, The Spirit of Tolkien