Have the Lord of the Rings movies "spoiled" us?

[KenM]

I was thinking about this, are we now expecting every fantasy/sci fi movie that comes out to be as good with that high buget and prodution values?

 

[Ranger REG]

Not all future fantasy genre films. But when I have to pay $8-$12 for a showing, it comes with such expectation, unless I knew beforehand what the movie's premise is about it, like Shrek 2 (although I expect them to use the latest digital graphics, and a good story to top the first film).

Oftentimes, it is a wish that filmmakers take certain story or brand seriously, like the next D&D film.

 

[Dark Jezter]

I was thinking about this, are we now expecting every fantasy/sci fi movie that comes out to be as good with that high buget and prodution values?

Except the thing is, LotR didn't have an extremely high budget. The cost of making the entire trilogy was about $200 million. That may sound expensive, but keep in mind that movies like Waterworld and Titanic cost around that much to make, and they were only single movies.

I've even heard the LotR trilogy referred to as "The biggest low-budget movies of all time."

 

[KenM]

Accually, it was like $325 million, not $200.

 

[Umbran]

are we now expecting every fantasy/sci fi movie that comes out to be as good with that high buget and prodution values?

Well, as noted, the things cost only a bit over $100 million each to produce. But it's pretty clear that they came so cheaply because they were done in New Zealand, and benefitted form economy of scale.

The LotR movies did set a new high bar, yes. But I hardly think that everyone expects all future genre movies to match it, any more than everyone expects all dramas to match Casablanca.

 

[nikolai]

The LotR movies did set a new high bar, yes. But I hardly think that everyone expects all future genre movies to match it, any more than everyone expects all dramas to match Casablanca.

Umbran's right. And with the film's demonstration that there is money to be made in fantasy films, prepare for a lot of very bad fantasy movies to follow in LotRs wake. Not that this is a terrible thing, I wouldn't mind a revival of 80s style Sword & Sorcery.

There are lots of fantasy adaptations of children books coming. But there are adaptations of grown-up fantasy happening, there's a new Conan film in the works and Elric is being done with a budget of some $100 million. What's interesting is that these aren't going to be LotR clones, they'll have to be in their own distinctive style.

 

[Wombat]

I'm not sure what properties, science fiction or fantasy, would draw me into the theatre the same way LotR did; few stories are as grand and well-crafted just to begin with. Dune has the scope, but not the feeling of conclusion or of basic humanity. Foundation? What would a movie about theories of history really look like? I would like to see A Wizard of Earthsea done on the level of LotR, but what of the others in the series?

There are several books that make whopping great reads that I am not sure would translate as well to the screen; then again there are some books that make horrible reads that, under the right circumstances, might make darn fine movies.

I am willing to be surprised, but nothing in the loop of books-optioned-as-movies in sci fi or fantasy really grabs me.

 

[Ranger REG]

Well, as noted, the things cost only a bit over $100 million each to produce. But it's pretty clear that they came so cheaply because they were done in New Zealand, and benefitted form economy of scale.

I don't think it just have to do with the locations (areas in New Zealands), but also the management skills of Peter Jackson & Crew. I mean who would have think to set up a principal production shooting schedule that goes 14 consecutive months for all three films.[/quote]

The LotR movies did set a new high bar, yes. But I hardly think that everyone expects all future genre movies to match it, any more than everyone expects all dramas to match Casablanca.

I'm one of the few who have never seen Casablanca. All I can say is that LOTR have made a very big impression on me, as a fantasy genre film. I know other future productions of fantasy genre films may not match it, but at least they should learn some trade secrets from them. Even they had to learn from Lucasfilm on creating a pre-viz department.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

I think we have been spoiled...but there's nothing wrong with that. We can only hope that the people making fantasy movies enjoy what they're making and know a good amount about what they're making, because in the end...THAT is what made LotR so good.

 

[Umbran]

I don't think it just have to do with the locations (areas in New Zealands)

New Zealand has a lot to do with it. Locations cost money. Permits and insurance cost money. And every single person who worked on the film cost money. Every set constructor, makeup artist, and truck driver. And every single one of them costs less in New Zealand.

but also the management skills of Peter Jackson & Crew. I mean who would have think to set up a principal production shooting schedule that goes 14 consecutive months for all three films.

That's what I mean by "economy of scale" - savings through doing things big, instead of small. There's cost associated with starting up a production. If you do it as three separate startups, you pay that cost three times. Do it all once, you pay the cost once. You also gain some efficiency in hiring - to make three movies in a row, you don't hire three movies worth of people. You get to reuse more of your personnel and materials, and so on.