So who is actually excited by the new movie?

[Rían]

Originally Posted by GrayMouser

Forrest Gump (the author refused to allow them to use the sequel he had written, on the grounds that since they said the movie had failed to make any money he felt morally obliged to protect the studio from further loss.)

ROFL!!

[Varnafindë]

... beating them at their own game ...

[Niffiwan]

For what it's worth, Peter Jackson also had a falling-out with New Line because of Hollywood accounting. It's why they didn't want him to direct the Hobbit for a number of years.

[Willow Oran]

For all the good he has done, I don't think Christopher Tolkien should have that kind of power to shackle a beloved work many decades after publication. No artist should.

Agreed... but a work as extensive and long developed as Middle Earth is less the artist's child and more their soul - it's something that's grown up and aged as a part of them to the point where its presence in the back of their mind may color every thought they have.

It's possible that CT's memories of his father and his feelings about the work are nigh inseparable by this point, so one can hardly blame the man for feeling squicked out when he has to face that those works are now so subject to evolving through the opinions of the crowd.

It cannot, and should not, stop that evolution from happening, but everyone involved in creating the adaptations or even just playing with the world could probably stand to remember and respect that a bit more often, for every author, not just Tolkien.

[Coffeehouse]

While I certainly enjoyed watching the premiere, there were some parts of the movie, especially Radagast (nooooooooooooooooo!), which put me off.

I really like the soundtrack though, and have it on my Spotify now!