• The Enshittification Of Lord Of The Rings

    From Ubiquitous@weberm@polaris.net to rec.arts.tv,alt.fan.tolkien,rec.arts.books.tolkien on Sat Mar 28 08:20:00 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    We really are living in bizarro world at this point, with the news that Stephen Colbert is set to write a sequel to Peter Jackson's Lord of the
    Rings trilogy.

    https://youtu.be/uMYo4g65CMg?si=CaCy8IDxQypxrAZ1
    --
    Democrats and the liberal media hate President Trump more than they
    love this country.

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  • From The True Melissa@thetruemelissa@gmail.com to rec.arts.tv,alt.fan.tolkien,rec.arts.books.tolkien on Sat Mar 28 08:58:48 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    Verily, in article <10q8h1g$jdni$2@dont-email.me>, did
    weberm@polaris.net deliver unto us this message:
    We really are living in bizarro world at this point, with the news that Stephen Colbert is set to write a sequel to Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy.

    https://youtu.be/uMYo4g65CMg?si=CaCy8IDxQypxrAZ1


    I can't abide the Critical Drinker, but if this is true, that's nuts.
    The world doesn't need more Lord of the Rings, but if they must milk it, surely a master of fantasy would be a better choice.
    --
    The True Melissa - Canal Winchester - Ohio
    United States of America - North America - Earth
    Solar System - Milky Way - Local Group
    Virgo Cluster - Laniakea Supercluster - Cosmos
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  • From BTR1701@atropos@mac.com to alt.fan.tolkien,rec.arts.books.tolkien,rec.arts.tv on Sat Mar 28 17:52:27 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    On Mar 28, 2026 at 5:58:48 AM PDT, "The True Melissa" <thetruemelissa@gmail.com> wrote:

    Verily, in article <10q8h1g$jdni$2@dont-email.me>, did
    weberm@polaris.net deliver unto us this message:

    We really are living in bizarro world at this point, with the news that
    Stephen Colbert is set to write a sequel to Peter Jackson's Lord of the
    Rings trilogy.

    https://youtu.be/uMYo4g65CMg?si=CaCy8IDxQypxrAZ1

    I can't abide the Critical Drinker, but if this is true, that's nuts.
    The world doesn't need more Lord of the Rings, but if they must milk it, surely a master of fantasy would be a better choice.

    New Line Cinema has a "use it or lose it" clause in its rights contract with the Tolkien estate. If they don't keep making LOTR content, the rights revert back and their cash cow dies. So this is why every couple of years we get some LOTR slop that leave people asking, "Why, for the love of god?" (E.g., that anime disaster THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM from a couple years ago)

    And this is just more of the same. And yes, Colbert and his kid are writing
    it. It's not a sequel as the original post claimed. It's the Tom Bombadil chapters from FELLOWSHIP that Peter Jackson cut from the script to keep the movie from being four hours long instead of just two and change.


    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From The True Melissa@thetruemelissa@gmail.com to alt.fan.tolkien,rec.arts.books.tolkien,rec.arts.tv on Sat Mar 28 15:12:14 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    Verily, in article <10q94gr$qon8$1@dont-email.me>, did atropos@mac.com
    deliver unto us this message:
    And this is just more of the same. And yes, Colbert and his kid are writing it.

    Oh boy.


    It's not a sequel as the original post claimed. It's the Tom Bombadil chapters from FELLOWSHIP that Peter Jackson cut from the script to keep the movie from being four hours long instead of just two and change.

    That actually sounds like a good idea for extra content. Everyone loves
    Tom Bombadil, even though Tolkein himself said we were all making too
    much of him.

    Let's hope the Colberts pere and fil have the hidden chops to do it
    right.
    --
    The True Melissa - Canal Winchester - Ohio
    United States of America - North America - Earth
    Solar System - Milky Way - Local Group
    Virgo Cluster - Laniakea Supercluster - Cosmos
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Your Name@YourName@YourISP.com to rec.arts.books.tolkien,alt.fan.tolkien,rec.arts.tv on Sun Mar 29 11:05:23 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    On 2026-03-28 19:12:14 +0000, The True Melissa said:
    Verily, in article <10q94gr$qon8$1@dont-email.me>, did atropos@mac.com deliver unto us this message:

    And this is just more of the same. And yes, Colbert and his kid are writing >> it.

    Oh boy.


    It's not a sequel as the original post claimed. It's the Tom Bombadil
    chapters from FELLOWSHIP that Peter Jackson cut from the script to keep the >> movie from being four hours long instead of just two and change.

    That actually sounds like a good idea for extra content. Everyone loves
    Tom Bombadil, even though Tolkein himself said we were all making too
    much of him.

    Let's hope the Colberts pere and fil have the hidden chops to do it
    right.

    It's Hollyweird ... they never do anything "right". Some over-egoed
    idiot in charge always thinks they know better and makes silly changes.

    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Ubiquitous@weberm@polaris.net to rec.arts.books.tolkien,alt.fan.tolkien,rec.arts.tv on Sat Mar 28 21:07:26 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    In article <10q9jb3$10683$1@dont-email.me>, YourName@YourISP.com wrote:
    On 2026-03-28 19:12:14 +0000, The True Melissa said:
    Verily, in article <10q94gr$qon8$1@dont-email.me>, did atropos@mac.com
    deliver unto us this message:

    And this is just more of the same. And yes, Colbert and his kid are
    writing it. It's not a sequel as the original post claimed. It's the
    Tom Bombadil chapters from FELLOWSHIP that Peter Jackson cut from the
    script to keep the movie from being four hours long instead of just
    two and change.

    That actually sounds like a good idea for extra content. Everyone loves
    Tom Bombadil, even though Tolkein himself said we were all making too
    much of him.

    Let's hope the Colberts pere and fil have the hidden chops to do it
    right.

    It's Hollyweird ... they never do anything "right". Some over-egoed
    idiot in charge always thinks they know better and makes silly changes.

    Keep in mind Colbert's son is a nepo-baby who claims to have writing experience but in fact has done nothing.
    --
    Democrats and the liberal media hate President Trump more than they
    love this country.

    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From The Horny Goat@lcraver@home.ca to rec.arts.tv on Sat Mar 28 23:45:45 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    On Sat, 28 Mar 2026 17:52:27 -0000 (UTC), BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com>
    wrote:

    And this is just more of the same. And yes, Colbert and his kid are writing >it. It's not a sequel as the original post claimed. It's the Tom Bombadil >chapters from FELLOWSHIP that Peter Jackson cut from the script to keep the >movie from being four hours long instead of just two and change.

    I wouldn't mind a "Death of Saruman" piece though I understand it was
    shot for Peter Jackson's films but left on the cutting room floor.

    Given the scene was 1 wizard vs 300-400 hobbits it could be an
    expensive scene to shoot.
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Paul S Person@psperson@old.netcom.invalid to alt.fan.tolkien,rec.arts.books.tolkien,rec.arts.tv on Sun Mar 29 08:27:47 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    On Sat, 28 Mar 2026 17:52:27 -0000 (UTC), BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com>
    wrote:
    On Mar 28, 2026 at 5:58:48 AM PDT, "The True Melissa" ><thetruemelissa@gmail.com> wrote:

    Verily, in article <10q8h1g$jdni$2@dont-email.me>, did
    weberm@polaris.net deliver unto us this message:

    We really are living in bizarro world at this point, with the news that >>> Stephen Colbert is set to write a sequel to Peter Jackson's Lord of the >>> Rings trilogy.

    https://youtu.be/uMYo4g65CMg?si=CaCy8IDxQypxrAZ1

    I can't abide the Critical Drinker, but if this is true, that's nuts.
    The world doesn't need more Lord of the Rings, but if they must milk it,
    surely a master of fantasy would be a better choice.

    New Line Cinema has a "use it or lose it" clause in its rights contract with >the Tolkien estate. If they don't keep making LOTR content, the rights revert >back and their cash cow dies. So this is why every couple of years we get some >LOTR slop that leave people asking, "Why, for the love of god?" (E.g., that >anime disaster THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM from a couple years ago)
    Didn't see it. Deliberately.
    But, hey, at least they got the name right! Unlike the bozos on the
    special features disk for /The Two Towers/ who called them "Rohans".
    Just more proof that, however bad it is, it could /always/ be worse.
    --
    "Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
    Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
    Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Paul S Person@psperson@old.netcom.invalid to alt.fan.tolkien,rec.arts.books.tolkien,rec.arts.tv on Sun Mar 29 08:37:52 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    On Sat, 28 Mar 2026 15:12:14 -0400, The True Melissa
    <thetruemelissa@gmail.com> wrote:
    Verily, in article <10q94gr$qon8$1@dont-email.me>, did atropos@mac.com >deliver unto us this message:
    And this is just more of the same. And yes, Colbert and his kid are writing >> it.

    Oh boy.


    It's not a sequel as the original post claimed. It's the Tom Bombadil
    chapters from FELLOWSHIP that Peter Jackson cut from the script to keep the >> movie from being four hours long instead of just two and change.

    That actually sounds like a good idea for extra content. Everyone loves
    Tom Bombadil, even though Tolkein himself said we were all making too
    much of him.

    Let's hope the Colberts pere and fil have the hidden chops to do it
    right.
    But ... but ... but
    -- if they do it "right" in the sense of following JRRT's story, it
    will not agree with the other films, which tell PJ's version.
    -- if the do it "right" in the sense of being compatible with PJ's
    film, then it will not agree with JRRT's story
    It cannot be "right" in both senses.
    For example:
    -- in JRRT's story, the Hobbits obtain their swords from the
    Barrow-Wights barrow
    -- in PJ's story, the Hobbits obtain their swords from Aragorn, who (presumably) went to the nearest cache of Hobbit-sized swords and
    brought four back (one must imagine many such sites scattered
    throughout the North for this to work) to Weathertop
    So either they don't get their swords in the barrow, in which case the
    film will be missing an important scene from the book, or PJ's film is
    shown to be
    wrong! wrong! wrong!
    which, of course, it is in many ways.
    --
    "Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
    Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
    Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From The True Melissa@thetruemelissa@gmail.com to alt.fan.tolkien,rec.arts.books.tolkien,rec.arts.tv on Sun Mar 29 12:09:03 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    Verily, in article <6dhisk1cnsfuce3vbqt37c6gc020io9tsm@4ax.com>, did psperson@old.netcom.invalid deliver unto us this message:
    -- if they do it "right" in the sense of following JRRT's story, it
    will not agree with the other films, which tell PJ's version.
    -- if the do it "right" in the sense of being compatible with PJ's
    film, then it will not agree with JRRT's story

    It cannot be "right" in both senses.

    For example:
    -- in JRRT's story, the Hobbits obtain their swords from the
    Barrow-Wights barrow


    They're doing Tom Bombadil, apparently. None of that will be there. Tom Bombadil was left out of the trilogy, so it should be possible to do in
    the same continuity.
    --
    The True Melissa - Canal Winchester - Ohio
    United States of America - North America - Earth
    Solar System - Milky Way - Local Group
    Virgo Cluster - Laniakea Supercluster - Cosmos
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Rhino@no_offline_contact@example.com to rec.arts.tv,alt.fan.tolkien,rec.arts.books.tolkien on Sun Mar 29 12:33:34 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    On 2026-03-28 8:20 a.m., Ubiquitous wrote:
    We really are living in bizarro world at this point, with the news that Stephen Colbert is set to write a sequel to Peter Jackson's Lord of the
    Rings trilogy.

    https://youtu.be/uMYo4g65CMg?si=CaCy8IDxQypxrAZ1

    It would be vaguely interesting to see how Colbert tailors his script to
    make it an attack on Trump.
    --
    Rhino
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From The True Melissa@thetruemelissa@gmail.com to rec.arts.tv,alt.fan.tolkien,rec.arts.books.tolkien on Sun Mar 29 12:54:14 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    Verily, in article <10qbk8s$1m4uh$1@dont-email.me>, did no_offline_contact@example.com deliver unto us this message:

    On 2026-03-28 8:20 a.m., Ubiquitous wrote:
    We really are living in bizarro world at this point, with the news that Stephen Colbert is set to write a sequel to Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy.

    https://youtu.be/uMYo4g65CMg?si=CaCy8IDxQypxrAZ1

    It would be vaguely interesting to see how Colbert tailors his script to make it an attack on Trump.

    OMG, you're right. Tom Bombadil, leader of #NoKings, while also working
    toward the return of the true king.
    --
    The True Melissa - Canal Winchester - Ohio
    United States of America - North America - Earth
    Solar System - Milky Way - Local Group
    Virgo Cluster - Laniakea Supercluster - Cosmos
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From BTR1701@atropos@mac.com to rec.arts.tv on Sun Mar 29 18:10:25 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    On Mar 28, 2026 at 11:45:45 PM PDT, "The Horny Goat" <lcraver@home.ca> wrote:

    On Sat, 28 Mar 2026 17:52:27 -0000 (UTC), BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com>
    wrote:

    And this is just more of the same. And yes, Colbert and his kid are writing >> it. It's not a sequel as the original post claimed. It's the Tom Bombadil
    chapters from FELLOWSHIP that Peter Jackson cut from the script to keep the >> movie from being four hours long instead of just two and change.

    I wouldn't mind a "Death of Saruman" piece though I understand it was
    shot for Peter Jackson's films but left on the cutting room floor.

    It was restored for the special edition Blu-Ray.

    Given the scene was 1 wizard vs 300-400 hobbits it could be an
    expensive scene to shoot.



    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Ubiquitous@weberm@polaris.net to rec.arts.tv,alt.fan.tolkien,rec.arts.books.tolkien on Sun Mar 29 16:33:28 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    Rhino wrote:
    On 2026-03-28 8:20 a.m., Ubiquitous wrote:

    We really are living in bizarro world at this point, with the news
    that Stephen Colbert is set to write a sequel to Peter Jackson's
    Lord of the Rings trilogy.

    https://youtu.be/uMYo4g65CMg?si=CaCy8IDxQypxrAZ1

    It would be vaguely interesting to see how Colbert tailors his
    script to make it an attack on Trump.

    Not even vaguely interesting. He's been making weak attempts for
    decades.
    --
    Democrats and the liberal media hate President Trump more than they
    love this country.

    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Ubiquitous@weberm@polaris.net to alt.fan.tolkien,rec.arts.books.tolkien,rec.arts.tv on Sun Mar 29 20:09:02 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    In article <10q94gr$qon8$1@dont-email.me>, atropos@mac.com wrote:

    And this is just more of the same. And yes, Colbert and his kid are writing >it. It's not a sequel as the original post claimed. It's the Tom Bombadil >chapters from FELLOWSHIP that Peter Jackson cut from the script to keep the >movie from being four hours long instead of just two and change.

    Colbert is a "superfan", meaning he has memorized and can regurgitate a
    bunch of factoids. That's all. He doesn't understand it, he can't discuss
    it intelligently, and he despises everything Tolkien actually believed in. His "love" for it is superficial at best and more like a fetish, again, like many "fans".
    --
    Democrats and the liberal media hate President Trump more than they
    love this country.

    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Paul S Person@psperson@old.netcom.invalid to alt.fan.tolkien,rec.arts.books.tolkien,rec.arts.tv on Mon Mar 30 08:49:43 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    On Sun, 29 Mar 2026 12:09:03 -0400, The True Melissa
    <thetruemelissa@gmail.com> wrote:
    Verily, in article <6dhisk1cnsfuce3vbqt37c6gc020io9tsm@4ax.com>, did >psperson@old.netcom.invalid deliver unto us this message:
    -- if they do it "right" in the sense of following JRRT's story, it
    will not agree with the other films, which tell PJ's version.
    -- if the do it "right" in the sense of being compatible with PJ's
    film, then it will not agree with JRRT's story

    It cannot be "right" in both senses.

    For example:
    -- in JRRT's story, the Hobbits obtain their swords from the
    Barrow-Wights barrow


    They're doing Tom Bombadil, apparently. None of that will be there. Tom >Bombadil was left out of the trilogy, so it should be possible to do in
    the same continuity.
    Made me look.
    Since the stated scope includes Ch 8, all of that should be in there.
    The difference needs a bit of an update:
    -- in JRRT's story, Tom Bombadil gives them the swords while inside
    the barrow
    -- in PJ' story, as noted above, Aragorn gives them the swords at
    Weathertop, getting them from PJ-only-knows where (if PJ actually
    knows or cares)
    So both /where/ they get them and /who gave them to them/ differs.
    Also note that this /is/ part of Tom Bombadil's appearence in the
    story (as told by JRRT).
    The same quandry exists:
    if it follows JRRT's story, it contradicts PJ's.
    If it follow PJ's story, it contradicts JRRT's.
    And it does so regardless of the quality of the film: regardless of
    budget, regardless of cast, regardless of screenplay, regardless of
    director, regardless of how received.
    --
    "Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
    Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
    Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Paul S Person@psperson@old.netcom.invalid to alt.fan.tolkien,rec.arts.books.tolkien,rec.arts.tv on Mon Mar 30 08:51:22 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    On Sun, 29 Mar 2026 20:09:02 -0400, Ubiquitous <weberm@polaris.net>
    wrote:
    In article <10q94gr$qon8$1@dont-email.me>, atropos@mac.com wrote:

    And this is just more of the same. And yes, Colbert and his kid are writing >>it. It's not a sequel as the original post claimed. It's the Tom Bombadil >>chapters from FELLOWSHIP that Peter Jackson cut from the script to keep the >>movie from being four hours long instead of just two and change.

    Colbert is a "superfan", meaning he has memorized and can regurgitate a >bunch of factoids. That's all. He doesn't understand it, he can't discuss
    it intelligently, and he despises everything Tolkien actually believed in.
    His "love" for it is superficial at best and more like a fetish, again, like >many "fans".
    I would say that "superficial at best and more like a fetish" is a characteristic of fans in general, not just fans of LOTR or JRRT.
    --
    "Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
    Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
    Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From The True Melissa@thetruemelissa@gmail.com to alt.fan.tolkien,rec.arts.books.tolkien,rec.arts.tv on Mon Mar 30 12:25:08 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    Verily, in article <g46lskp08gb84fm0i5m1hnss744tcfuu6p@4ax.com>, did psperson@old.netcom.invalid deliver unto us this message:
    The same quandry exists:
    if it follows JRRT's story, it contradicts PJ's.
    If it follow PJ's story, it contradicts JRRT's.


    What if it only tells Tom's backstory?

    That's what I'm imagining. We'll see his song acted out, not the hobbits walking along with him as he sings.

    I guess we'll all have to wait to find out.
    --
    The True Melissa - Canal Winchester - Ohio
    United States of America - North America - Earth
    Solar System - Milky Way - Local Group
    Virgo Cluster - Laniakea Supercluster - Cosmos
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2