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Why not the movie rights?
insomniac189
Member Posts: 8
While reading some posts on another topic a thought occurred to me. Is there a bigger reason why the movie rights were not obtained along with the Tolkien book rights? Has anybody heard if Peter Jackson and co. will be bringing their own MMO based on this lore to the marketplace, and if so , is that why the lifetime subscriptions were offered? I sure hope not since I paid for life and wouldn't want a better version of the same story offered up. Thanks in advance for your opinions and/or information!
![http://lotrosigs.level3.turbine.com/0420800000004bfc4/signature.png]Corneelius[/charsig]](http://lotrosigs.level3.turbine.com/0420800000004bfc4/signature.png]Corneelius[/charsig]){kind=link}
Comments
I've wondered the same thing but never did stumble across any official information. LOTRO did borrow a few visuals from the movies here and there, such as the graphic of the One Ring, etc. but that's about it. It's possible that EA has exclusive videogame rights with New Line Cinemas so Turbine had to get their license from Tolkien Enterprises.
Okay here is the deal. New line cinimas gave EA the rights to make video games from the license they got for the movies. Peter jackson has nothing to do with the license he was just the director of the movies.
Turbine is the only company that was given a license to make a MMO based off of the books. I wouldn't count on any other MMO's being made about middle earth as long as turbine has the license.
The movie license has nothing to do with turbines license. As a matter of fact turbine is restricted from using anything from the movies.
It's kind of a mixed blessing that Turbine got the rights. On one hand, they actually made the game and shipped it out, unlike the predecessors. On the other hand, Turbine has the rights now and we'll probably never see another LotRO MMO. I'm think that's right.
That is right. Turbine is the only company that has the rights to make a MMO based off of the books. I do believe that was part of the license agreement. I don't see why that is a bad thing. Since they have put out a quality MMO that they are adding too at a bi monthly rate.
The other part to this is that Turbine wanted to stay as close to the Lore as possible. The movies wanted to do the same but we all know that there was some artistic license to be had. I'm glad that Turbine was able to keep to the books and pick and chose what from the movies they wanted to use. Makes reading the books that much more a part of the game than just watching the movies.
Strayious (Master BH retired, Shadowfire)
Grimnal - LOTRO Gladden
But at the same time it would be nice to have the movie's visuals in the game since that's what we've seen, not read. Book 11 is introducing a Gollum NPC. Wouldn't it be cool to have NPC voiceovers done by Andy Serkis, the actor who played and voiced Gollum in the movies?
Though that would be cool. New line cinemas has anything that has to do with the movies, voices, actors copy righted. So turbine can't use anything from the movies without new line cinemas approval. And they already gave the rights to EA to make video games from the movies. I am sure that EA requested they were the only ones who could use anything from the movies.
Legolas has blonde hair.
Aragorn looks a little like Viggo Mortensen.
Take a look at Frodo's appearance.
It's also as if Howard Shore worked on the orchestral score.
They've been inspired by the movies already, despite a lack of license.
Have you ever read the books. Legolas is blonde haired in the books also and that was before the movies. How do you think they came up with his hair color? Aragorn looks nothing like the actor from the movies in the game. Nor does frodo.
Peter Jackson took his cues from the animated version of Lord of the Rings, which is why a few characters look alike.
But if anything, the music is a dead giveaway.
Oh, and look at the Orcs. Their designs reflect what was in the movies ALOT.
In the game legolas hair is not peroxide blonde like the movies. Turbine has stated they can' t use any inspiration from the movies. I believe they haven't either. You can look at things and analyz them all you want and you can find reason to support any conclusion you come up with.
My point is anyone can see whatever they want in anything if they look hard enough. Heck it was a very popular believe that LOTR was based off of world war 2. People came up with comparisons to support their believes. Then tolkien squashed all of them when he told the world why he created the books. Guess what they had nothing to do with WW2.
In the game legolas hair is not peroxide blonde like the movies. Turbine has stated they can' t use any inspiration from the movies. I believe they haven't either. You can look at things and analyz them all you want and you can find reason to support any conclusion you come up with.
My point is anyone can see whatever they want in anything if they look hard enough. Heck it was a very popular believe that LOTR was based off of world war 2. People came up with comparisons to support their believes. Then tolkien squashed all of them when he told the world why he created the books. Guess what they had nothing to do with WW2.
Why the hell would I grasp at straws considering that I love both the game, the movies, and the books that inspired both?
Ok, so tell me: If the artists were not at all inspired by the films whatsoever, explain the oh so "coincidental" fact that they look similar to what was in them. Because if they weren't, I can tell you right now, we'd be seeing Orcs more reminiscent of Warhammer and D&D, only because there was no authentic visualization on Tolkien's part, and Orcs had taken on that greenish, chubby-cheek, long-tusked look modelled after the D&D explosion.
I have the LOTRO box in front of me right at this very moment. The CG rendered hobbit has a facecut vaguely like Elijah Wood; The "Man" has facial features that mimic Viggo Mortensen's Aragorn; and oh my god the Elf woman looks a helluva lot like Liv Tyler. And these similarities are emphasized even more because the dwarf is the only one that seems inspired by Warhammer or something else.
Did I mention the Eye of Sauron is almost taken straight out of the movie trilogy? You know, the one that Peter Jackson envisioned only because he had misinterpreted what Tolkien had written? It doesn't matter though, it's so iconic and famous that Turbine has only got to use it!
When Turbine states that they can't use anything from the movies, it means they can't grab the "Fellowship of the Ring" soundtrack from their local music store and slap it into their game. They can't use Ian McKellen's (Gandalf) dialogue as narration for their epic cutscenes. That's what licensing is all about.
Now why would Turbine lean towards some LotR film reference? Familiarity with the general population. Increased sales. It would have been stupid not to ride on some of the films' success.
That is not to say Turbine didn't do anything of their own; they did. The game has its own distinct art style to it. It's a bit more fantasy-esque than the film adaptations.
Now it's my turn to ask: Have you read any of the books? Have you researched Tolkien? Because when you mentioned that WW2 'fact', I found it amusing. The Lord of the Rings was first published in 1937, two years before the war. He began the history of Middle Earth decades before that, just after the First World War. And yeah, he was inspired by his experience in WWI -- Sam Gamgee is a reflection of that, and I can give you a direct quote from Tolkien if you really really need it for absolute proof.
In the game legolas hair is not peroxide blonde like the movies. Turbine has stated they can' t use any inspiration from the movies. I believe they haven't either. You can look at things and analyz them all you want and you can find reason to support any conclusion you come up with.
My point is anyone can see whatever they want in anything if they look hard enough. Heck it was a very popular believe that LOTR was based off of world war 2. People came up with comparisons to support their believes. Then tolkien squashed all of them when he told the world why he created the books. Guess what they had nothing to do with WW2.
Why the hell would I grasp at straws considering that I love both the game, the movies, and the books that inspired both?
Ok, so tell me: If the artists were not at all inspired by the films whatsoever, explain the oh so "coincidental" fact that they look similar to what was in them. Because if they weren't, I can tell you right now, we'd be seeing Orcs more reminiscent of Warhammer and D&D, only because there was no authentic visualization on Tolkien's part, and Orcs had taken on that greenish, chubby-cheek, long-tusked look modelled after the D&D explosion.
I have the LOTRO box in front of me right at this very moment. The CG rendered hobbit has a facecut vaguely like Elijah Wood; The "Man" has facial features that mimic Viggo Mortensen's Aragorn; and oh my god the Elf woman looks a helluva lot like Liv Tyler. And these similarities are emphasized even more because the dwarf is the only one that seems inspired by Warhammer or something else.
Did I mention the Eye of Sauron is almost taken straight out of the movie trilogy? You know, the one that Peter Jackson envisioned only because he had misinterpreted what Tolkien had written? It doesn't matter though, it's so iconic and famous that Turbine has only got to use it!
When Turbine states that they can't use anything from the movies, it means they can't grab the "Fellowship of the Ring" soundtrack from their local music store and slap it into their game. They can't use Ian McKellen's (Gandalf) dialogue as narration for their epic cutscenes. That's what licensing is all about.
Now why would Turbine lean towards some LotR film reference? Familiarity with the general population. Increased sales. It would have been stupid not to ride on some of the films' success.
That is not to say Turbine didn't do anything of their own; they did. The game has its own distinct art style to it. It's a bit more fantasy-esque than the film adaptations.
Now it's my turn to ask: Have you read any of the books? Have you researched Tolkien? Because when you mentioned that WW2 'fact', I found it amusing. The Lord of the Rings was first published in 1937, two years before the war. He began the history of Middle Earth decades before that, just after the First World War. And yeah, he was inspired by his experience in WWI -- Sam Gamgee is a reflection of that, and I can give you a direct quote from Tolkien if you really really need it for absolute proof.
I have read the books a dozen times over the last 25+ years. I know all about how and when tolkien started the silmarillion in the trenches during WW1. The WW2 reference was to show that if a person wanted to they could draw conclusions for support any theory they have.The artist i speak of created their art of middle earth way before the movies were thought of or came to be. My point here was that turbine drew upon thier work as did the movies that is were the similarities come into play. I am sorry but frodo in the game looks nothing like elijah woods. Nor does aragorn look like the actor who played him in the movies.
You can find similarities and say this looks alot like that in almost anything. I just don't see were the movies had that big of a impact on the game. The eye of sauron i will give you. Tolkien never described what the eye looked like. I will also admit that the movies will shade things some but not in a huge way like you are saying. Any one who has seen the movies will have them in mind when they play the game.
All humans have a similar look to them. We all have characteristics that are similar. Just cause an artists draws a hobbit and it has similaritys to elijah woods doesn't meen said artist sat there with elijah woods picture and drew his hobbit. Same with his drawing of a man. Though there are similarities does not meen that they look just like movie characters.
You don't need to quote anything from tolkien. I know that he first started the books as a childrens story for his kids. That is the reason the hobbit is written the way it is. He also wrote the books as a mythos for england cause england had no mythos. Regardless of what you think and what i think. I do not see us agreeing upon this subject. Cause i do not see what you see or think of the results the way you do.
Yeah, see the thing is, I'm not even trying to make comparisons. They just appeared. I too read the books before the movies, and I already had my mind made up as to how the world looked, how each character looked, and so on and so forth. The films have not dampened my original vision in any single way, although I appreciate them. Yet the style of LOTRO reflects the style seen in the films.
And if you're talking about Alan Lee or the other guy, please, of course their previous artwork on Lord of the Rings is injected and elaborated upon in the films. It's not as if the movie trilogy brought about it's own style from thin air, and it's not as if New Line and Jackson hired them onboard to create a totally different look when they were hired based on their previous work. Oh, and just so you don't think I'm trying to make the movie look like the be all and end all -- the New Line trilogy itself was inspired by dozens of other interpretations of Tolkien's work.
Perhaps the reason why those two characters look nothing alike is because they're not detailed enough for you. And I wasn't talking about the in-game models, I was talking about the CG models, who are apparently neither Frodo or Aragorn. They're on the retail box. Go take a look.
Look you don't have to go into some intense monologue about how humans think. I already take and have a deep interest in Psychology and Anthropology, thankyou very much. So yeah, I know where I stand in terms of what I'm seeing. You don't need to worry about that at all.
But at the same time it would also seem like you wouldn't know how humans think either. You told me that the artists wouldn't have to knock of Elijah's face. Key words are: wouldn't have to. But take a look at the development line on the game: Turbine started working on the project in 2003, at the height of LotR fever. I would not doubt for one second that one of the artists took a look at all the films and felt inspired by them. We are products of our time, and that just cannot be stressed enough if you're an artist of any kind (personally, I find it hard myself to get out of this idea that having a 'badass' protagonist is cool, being a writer/director).
It's good that you know that information about Tolkien. You can also find that in the inside cover of almost any edition of Lord of the Rings.
But yeah, we'll probably never see eye to eye. So if you don't want to continue, don't reply. Because I can go on, and on, and on.
I was in no way trying to tell you how people think. You my friend are reading to much into what i post. I was just stating that it is very easy for people to draw conclusions and to see what they want to see. You started with the comparisons in your first post. Though i am sure you will state you didn't. But from what i saw in your post you were comparing.
Not everything i stated about tolkien and why he wrote the books can be found in a book cover. I am no expert on him and never claimed to be. I said that the movies will shade the game and influence it in some ways but not in huge ways. I beginning to think you like to argue just to lecture people and show how smart you think you are. Well for me this conversation is over. Go ahead and reply. I won't be replying to your anymore.
We see things differantly and i accept that we do. I have stated my points and i am done. Have a goodlife.
Its a very good thing the game has book license instead of movie as we all know comparing the books with the jackson's king kong style movies is like comparing original texas chainsaw massacre with the remake from 2003.
REALITY CHECK
But yeah, Turbine would have been severely cut back in what they can do.
Yeah, see the thing is, I'm not even trying to make comparisons. They just appeared. I too read the books before the movies, and I already had my mind made up as to how the world looked, how each character looked, and so on and so forth. The films have not dampened my original vision in any single way, although I appreciate them. Yet the style of LOTRO reflects the style seen in the films.
And if you're talking about Alan Lee or the other guy, please, of course their previous artwork on Lord of the Rings is injected and elaborated upon in the films. It's not as if the movie trilogy brought about it's own style from thin air, and it's not as if New Line and Jackson hired them onboard to create a totally different look when they were hired based on their previous work. Oh, and just so you don't think I'm trying to make the movie look like the be all and end all -- the New Line trilogy itself was inspired by dozens of other interpretations of Tolkien's work.
Perhaps the reason why those two characters look nothing alike is because they're not detailed enough for you. And I wasn't talking about the in-game models, I was talking about the CG models, who are apparently neither Frodo or Aragorn. They're on the retail box. Go take a look.
Look you don't have to go into some intense monologue about how humans think. I already take and have a deep interest in Psychology and Anthropology, thankyou very much. So yeah, I know where I stand in terms of what I'm seeing. You don't need to worry about that at all.
But at the same time it would also seem like you wouldn't know how humans think either. You told me that the artists wouldn't have to knock of Elijah's face. Key words are: wouldn't have to. But take a look at the development line on the game: Turbine started working on the project in 2003, at the height of LotR fever. I would not doubt for one second that one of the artists took a look at all the films and felt inspired by them. We are products of our time, and that just cannot be stressed enough if you're an artist of any kind (personally, I find it hard myself to get out of this idea that having a 'badass' protagonist is cool, being a writer/director).
It's good that you know that information about Tolkien. You can also find that in the inside cover of almost any edition of Lord of the Rings.
But yeah, we'll probably never see eye to eye. So if you don't want to continue, don't reply. Because I can go on, and on, and on.
Wow. Why with all the arrogant quips, dismissive comments, cheap shots and low blows... as pointed out in yellow?
Who deemed you the ultimate authority on all that is Tolkien and LoTR to cop such a pompous attitude? Is that the only way you know how to respond to someone who disagrees with you?
Your interpretation of things is no more right or wrong than his, or anyone else's. Just as he stated, you are grasping at straws with the whole "Legolas has blonde hair" thing. That's a fair observation, based on your come-back; the whole "it describes his hair as being golden blonde, which to me doesn't mean bleached blonde" (to paraphrase). Again... your interpretation. Since Tolkien didn't leave behind any kind of absolute portraits depicting exactly what everyone/everything looked like, all *anyone* has to go on is their interpretation of what he describes. Your interpretation is not superior to anyone else's.
And at the end of the day - does it really freaking matter?
Seriously... get over yourself and learn some tolerance of differing opinions.
and the cash shop selling asphalt..." - Mimzel on F2P/Cash Shops
But yeah, Turbine would have been severely cut back in what they can do.
Actually, .... they were that bad. And I have an ultimate right to ultra objectively evaluate them.
REALITY CHECK
Yeah, see the thing is, I'm not even trying to make comparisons. They just appeared. I too read the books before the movies, and I already had my mind made up as to how the world looked, how each character looked, and so on and so forth. The films have not dampened my original vision in any single way, although I appreciate them. Yet the style of LOTRO reflects the style seen in the films.
And if you're talking about Alan Lee or the other guy, please, of course their previous artwork on Lord of the Rings is injected and elaborated upon in the films. It's not as if the movie trilogy brought about it's own style from thin air, and it's not as if New Line and Jackson hired them onboard to create a totally different look when they were hired based on their previous work. Oh, and just so you don't think I'm trying to make the movie look like the be all and end all -- the New Line trilogy itself was inspired by dozens of other interpretations of Tolkien's work.
Perhaps the reason why those two characters look nothing alike is because they're not detailed enough for you. And I wasn't talking about the in-game models, I was talking about the CG models, who are apparently neither Frodo or Aragorn. They're on the retail box. Go take a look.
Look you don't have to go into some intense monologue about how humans think. I already take and have a deep interest in Psychology and Anthropology, thankyou very much. So yeah, I know where I stand in terms of what I'm seeing. You don't need to worry about that at all.
But at the same time it would also seem like you wouldn't know how humans think either. You told me that the artists wouldn't have to knock of Elijah's face. Key words are: wouldn't have to. But take a look at the development line on the game: Turbine started working on the project in 2003, at the height of LotR fever. I would not doubt for one second that one of the artists took a look at all the films and felt inspired by them. We are products of our time, and that just cannot be stressed enough if you're an artist of any kind (personally, I find it hard myself to get out of this idea that having a 'badass' protagonist is cool, being a writer/director).
It's good that you know that information about Tolkien. You can also find that in the inside cover of almost any edition of Lord of the Rings.
But yeah, we'll probably never see eye to eye. So if you don't want to continue, don't reply. Because I can go on, and on, and on.
Wow. Why with all the arrogant quips, dismissive comments, cheap shots and low blows... as pointed out in yellow?
Who deemed you the ultimate authority on all that is Tolkien and LoTR to cop such a pompous attitude? Is that the only way you know how to respond to someone who disagrees with you?
Your interpretation of things is no more right or wrong than his, or anyone else's.
Seriously... get over yourself.
System Wars mentality. Check out that forum at GameSpot. You'll see where I got it from lol. It only comes up when I'm simultaneously posting on both forums :P.
By the way the first highlighted thing wasn't aimed at him/her.
As for who deemed me the ultimate authority on everything Tolkien: no one did. However, I did feel a little bit special when Ms. Walsh told me I knew my stuff
.
Sorry if I offended anyone, but yeah. I'm an NZer, we're not generally known for our arrogance
. In fact, I hate arrogance on anything non-SW. But young gamers against young gamers? The attitude is like this: 
.
As for that bit highlighted in red: I despise political correctness. I'm sorry, but I hate it. Grindalyx is probably more right than I am concerning the games and the movies, and I'd rather that be so, than both of us considered equally at wrong.
Political correctness. The bane of society
.
Yeah, see the thing is, I'm not even trying to make comparisons. They just appeared. I too read the books before the movies, and I already had my mind made up as to how the world looked, how each character looked, and so on and so forth. The films have not dampened my original vision in any single way, although I appreciate them. Yet the style of LOTRO reflects the style seen in the films.
And if you're talking about Alan Lee or the other guy, please, of course their previous artwork on Lord of the Rings is injected and elaborated upon in the films. It's not as if the movie trilogy brought about it's own style from thin air, and it's not as if New Line and Jackson hired them onboard to create a totally different look when they were hired based on their previous work. Oh, and just so you don't think I'm trying to make the movie look like the be all and end all -- the New Line trilogy itself was inspired by dozens of other interpretations of Tolkien's work.
Perhaps the reason why those two characters look nothing alike is because they're not detailed enough for you. And I wasn't talking about the in-game models, I was talking about the CG models, who are apparently neither Frodo or Aragorn. They're on the retail box. Go take a look.
Look you don't have to go into some intense monologue about how humans think. I already take and have a deep interest in Psychology and Anthropology, thankyou very much. So yeah, I know where I stand in terms of what I'm seeing. You don't need to worry about that at all.
But at the same time it would also seem like you wouldn't know how humans think either. You told me that the artists wouldn't have to knock of Elijah's face. Key words are: wouldn't have to. But take a look at the development line on the game: Turbine started working on the project in 2003, at the height of LotR fever. I would not doubt for one second that one of the artists took a look at all the films and felt inspired by them. We are products of our time, and that just cannot be stressed enough if you're an artist of any kind (personally, I find it hard myself to get out of this idea that having a 'badass' protagonist is cool, being a writer/director).
It's good that you know that information about Tolkien. You can also find that in the inside cover of almost any edition of Lord of the Rings.
But yeah, we'll probably never see eye to eye. So if you don't want to continue, don't reply. Because I can go on, and on, and on.
Wow. Why with all the arrogant quips, dismissive comments, cheap shots and low blows... as pointed out in yellow?
Who deemed you the ultimate authority on all that is Tolkien and LoTR to cop such a pompous attitude? Is that the only way you know how to respond to someone who disagrees with you?
Your interpretation of things is no more right or wrong than his, or anyone else's.
Seriously... get over yourself.
System Wars mentality. Check out that forum at GameSpot. You'll see where I got it from lol. It only comes up when I'm simultaneously posting on both forums :P.
By the way the first highlighted thing wasn't aimed at him/her.
As for who deemed me the ultimate authority on everything Tolkien: no one did. However, I did feel a little bit special when Ms. Walsh told me I knew my stuff
.
Sorry if I offended anyone, but yeah. I'm an NZer, we're not generally known for our arrogance
. In fact, I hate arrogance on anything non-SW. But young gamers against young gamers? The attitude is like this: 
.
As for that bit highlighted in red: I despise political correctness. I'm sorry, but I hate it. Grindalyx is probably more right than I am concerning the games and the movies, and I'd rather that be so, than both of us considered equally at wrong.
Political correctness. The bane of society
.
There's nothing "PC" about the statement you highlighted in red. It's common-sense; acknowledging that in the absence of an absolute answer by the only person who knew for sure (ie. Tolkien), no one's interpretation is any more right than anyone else's.
Now, if Legolas had been depicted as having bright strawberry red hair in the story... okay... we'd have something to work with there.
and the cash shop selling asphalt..." - Mimzel on F2P/Cash Shops
We weren't just talking about Legolas's hair mate.
It was about the whole movie influence in general.
Raven
This is a great game!
I don't care where they got their ideas from. I'm just glad they are doing what it is they are doing!
We weren't just talking about Legolas's hair mate.
It was about the whole movie influence in general.
Legolas' hair color was brought up as a specific example of the topic in general, which I cited in my commentary, also as an example.
And my response was more aimed at calling you out for your overall unnecessarily dismissive/arrogant tone at someone who disagreed with your opinion on something.
Personally I don't care if they got their inspiration from the Ralph Bakshi version of the story. I enjoy the game regardless. I just can't stand seeing people taking condescending tones with others over a difference of opinion.
and the cash shop selling asphalt..." - Mimzel on F2P/Cash Shops