It's been 20 years since Lord of the Rings hit the big screen and the fantasy based production was one of the biggest for its time. With a production cost of over $US280million for three films it sounds like a relatively low cost when compared to current films, and it is. Lord of the Rings focused on show casing New Zealand's natural beauty rather than CGI, all 3 films were filmed together and believe it or not. At the time of production there weren't all that many big names in the film despite today being house hold names.
The film went onto make close to $US1Billion at the box office and has become a house hold name, some what a right of passage for the younger generations.
Beyond the box office smash Lord of the Rings has contributed to the annual growth of GDP and tourism to New Zealand. New Zealand tourism reported in the first year of completion of the film the tourism industry surged by 40%.
New Zealand has maintained the Lord of the Rings set for the past 10 years as international tourists flock to the location. The country has really taken it on board with the New Zealand offical customs stamp saying "Welcome to Middle Earth"
Controversial Opinion
Hold onto your hats because I'm about to rock the boat, where I concede that Lord of the Rings is a good film I'm of the opinion that it's adaptation from the books was a massive failure.
I read the books and loved them, they were filled with magical battles, quests and events that didn't even make it to the big screen. As most cases the story was completely rewritten and we ended up with a dumbed down version with bugger all of the awesomeness of the book. Characters were completely nurfed. Gondolf the White? More like Gandolf the weak.
I honestly felt ripped off sitting through the 3 movies, but once you start you have to finish it and who wouldn't support our cousins in New Zealand (true story NZ was once a state of Australia, good move leaving anyone seen the state of our politicians lately? Our capital has become a rape dungeon).
I really feel New Zealand is to blame for keeping this fantasy flop alive. After all it is one of the highest intergenerational tourism trips taken with grandparents, parents and children arriving to New Zealand in droves to see "middle earth". The biggest cohort from North America.
Redemption of flop?
Not to fear though, Amazon is currently working on a T.V Series that will reignite our passion for the series with a whopping spend on $US130m per episode. Production was halted due to COVID but I am looking forward to the release of a new era of Lord of the Rings. I find the explosion of big budget T.V series a new age of film.
Something cable companies should have been doing in previous years but failed to do so. Imagine charging an arm and a leg for cable T.V and then providing nothing back to the industry just sucking up all those fees as corporate profits.
No wonder why cable T.V companies are failing to retain viewers, ain't no one got time to hear skynews political opinion. We hear it all the time from people around us.
Fuck politics, when I sit down infront of the T.V I want to be transported to magical lands filled with fantasy and so far from reality that what's presented to me looks like a dream.
I don't need to know whose doing what and whose outraged about who said what. Spend an hour with my kids, if you're not outraged by what they say you ain't hard enough to live.
So shut down the boomerTV and gimmie what I want or I won't buy it.
Well done New Zealand, may you continue to prosper and earn your keep. Middle Earth is a destination that everyone should see at least once in their lives.
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It's a very cool movie
Like Godfather the more time passes the more wonderful
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A cult classic, I agree on that part. As if it is a right of passage for many. 🤣 the new generations star wars perhaps 🤣
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To be honest, I also want to visit NZ just to see Middle Earth and yeah you're right the story is completeky rewritten.
It would be a great holiday destination. I want to go, my wife has been but I haven't. Perhaps one day I will get to go
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I felt the same, after reading all three books I watched the movies and my first thought was: you guys have not grasped any meaning of the books....
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I know right! Not sure why they don't just rename the films and have them "inspired by insert book name"
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Wow I had no idea that the movie had brought that much tourism to new Zealand but good for them on that.
I mean who wouldn't want to visit middle Earth.
I do agree tho the movies Botha Hobbit and Lord of the rings for so much good taken out. maybe the tv show show it all as they have endless season to do all the story
I agree, fingers crossed and let's hope we see some awesomeness from Amazon!
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It's been 10 years since Lord of the Rings hit the big screen
20 years ! lol...time flies..
Sorry, gingers are too fat! Lol thanks for the pick up.
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It is amazing what Cinema can do going far beyond big screens.
Some friends of mine have already had the opportunity to visit this place and as they are fans of movies / books, it was an incredible experience for them.
Thats really cool, I've had a lot of friends visit new Zealand and they tell me it's an awesome place too and with alot of fun things to do.
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