J.R.R. Tolkien biopic

[DKDetective]

And yet, the Silmarillion was actually more important to Tolkien than Lord of the Rings, it was even more heavily influenced by his experiences than LOTR, and he was actually writing it during WWI, when this film takes place, as opposed to LOTR. And I’ve seen now the teaser, the set pics, and the IMDB: all of which highlight LOTR, not the Silmarillion at all. Since it’s a film about Tolkien, not the Lord of the Rings, I don’t see why it can’t at least try to be accurate.

It doesn't matter what was most important to Tolkien. The simple fact is that the Long of the Rings is his most cultural influential and resonant work and, frankly, like any other biopic, that is where a main focus should be. Also, as much as I love the Silmarillion, to state like gospel, that is it is Tolkien's magnum opus is ridiculous. It was unfinished. The version we got was never signed off on by Tolkien himself. It was Christopher's attempt to put together the best of what was left behind by his Dad after his death. We don't even know if the published version is remotely like what Tolkien wanted. Who knows how much longer Tolkien would have fiddled around with it if he lived longer.

The Lord of the Rings is easily Tolkien's greatest completed, published work. It doesn't get ranked high among the list of 20th century novels for no reason. It isn't the basis for most modern fantasy western fantasy literature for no reason. I say all of this as someone who has read The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales, and the 12-volume History of Middle Earth. I get the love for Tolkien's other works and the desire to preach for casual fans to look beyond LOTR, but objectively speaking LOTR should have the foremost position in any discussion of Tolkien's works. To say otherwise is simply near-sighted nerdblindness... A failure to see the forest for the trees.

 

[THORin]

Also, as much as I love the Silmarillion, to state like gospel, that is it is Tolkien's magnum opus is ridiculous. It was unfinished. The version we got was never signed off on by Tolkien himself. It was Christopher's attempt to put together the best of what was left behind by his Dad after his death. We don't even know if the published version is remotely like what Tolkien wanted. Who knows how much longer Tolkien would have fiddled around with it if he lived longer.

But this proves my point, you know: he was literally working on The Silmarillion until the day he died. It was the mythology he wanted to leave behind for England. To say the Lord of the Rings is more important is to miss what Tolkien was aiming to achieve, IMO: he was trying to craft a uniquely British mythology, and that was the Silmarillion. He wanted to publish it in the 1940s, alongside LOTR, but knew his publisher would never do it.

I don’t even know what nerdblindness is, but I’m just stating what I know: the Silmarillion was more important to Tolkien, and as such, a movie purporting to illuminate key elements of his life, set at the time he was first crafting the Silmarillion, should at least address that. Why make a movie about him that’s ignores the very thing he was trying to accomplish?

 

[Abudefduf]

As a huge Tolkien fan I feel like I should be more excited for this, but honestly I don't really care.

 

[DarkKnight88]

Why make a movie about him that’s ignores the very thing he was trying to accomplish?

That's a lot of assumption based on a teaser made to get regular folk in the theatre.

 

[THORin]

That's a lot of assumption based on a teaser made to get regular folk in the theatre.

Based on a teaser, based on the EW pics, based on the IMDB...I’m not saying it’s impossible that this film does touch on the Silmarillion, but so far it seems somewhat unclear if it actually does.

 

[OutOfBoose]

The teaser made me interested in this.

 

[Deck Rickard]

I feel like the comments that this will completely ignore the Silmarillion are premature. We don’t know that. It will probably lean harder on the LOTR and Hobbit stuff (and it makes perfect sense that’s what they’d use in the marketing), but I don’t think one teaser is enough to conclude that Tolkien’s other works won’t be present in the film.

 

[Pennywise]

 

[Deck Rickard]

Looks great.

 

[THORin]

I don't want to admit this, but...that second trailer looks great. I got goosebumps watching it, and then I watched it three more times.

 

[jolldan]

I can't wait for this, one of the greatest storytellers ever imo.

 

[HammerDown]

Good trailer. Looks interesting and well done.

 

[terry78]

Whatchu Tolkien about?

 

[Pennywise]

Pretty excited to see this movie with my friend, who's an even bigger fan of Tolkien.

Great trailer!

 

[OutOfBoose]

I liked both trailers.

 

[Deck Rickard]

I hope this does well for Hoult. He's always been very good, but I feel like he sort of flies under the radar for whatever reason.

 

[terry78]

I've always found his face kind of punchable, but I give credit where due.

 

[Pennywise]

I liked both trailers.

Same!

 

[Persona]

I don't want to admit this, but...that second trailer looks great. I got goosebumps watching it, and then I watched it three more times.

It's a very solid director and I like the leads they cast. It should be decent, at least.

 

[THORin]

It's a very solid director and I like the leads they cast. It should be decent, at least.

Yeah, I don't even like Nicholas Hoult, but this does look really...really good.

 

[THORin]

Can't wait to see this! It's only a little ways away now.

 

[terry78]

I find it hilarious that Disney now technically owns this story.

 

[henzINNIT]

Actually, it will be sacrilegious, because it’s clearly going to ignore the Silmarillion, his greatest achievement, in favor of Lord of the Rings.

The Silmarillion rights are locked up tight in the Tolkien estate, who are already disapproving of this film. I would imagine it is off limits. That said, there is a far bigger reason to object to this film and its intentions:

Tolkien famously despised allegory. Pretty safe to say he would hate this film with a passion.

 

[DarkKnight88]

Reviews not great so far unfortunately.

Tolkien (2019)

 

[THORin]

Reviews not great so far unfortunately.

Tolkien (2019)

Only 27 counted so far though. Hopefully it ends up with a higher score.