http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/print.cgi?2002-04/19/12.30.film
9:00am ET, 19-April-02
Hill Reigns In Rings Sequels
Bernard Hill, who plays King Theoden in the second and third Lord of the Rings films, told SCI FI Wire that he feels the films make Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien's profound themes more accessible to audiences. "What's wonderful about the films is that, for all the depth [of the stories]--and the books are a bit profound indeed--I think people would get confused going that deep into books and that kind of literary area," Hill said in an interview. "What the films have done is taken the deep essences of the books and made them work and kept true to them, at the same time being true to the film process. So you go and watch a film and not a documentary about the books, which is a tricky line to follow. I think the second one is better than the first one, because it deals with the world of man, so you've got a lot of emotions the public will identify with more."
Hill explained how Theoden joins the men of the Fellowship. "They need him and his army to fight Saruman and Sauron, but he's under the influence of Saruman, so they have to wake him up and exorcise a spirit. That sets him off on a growth, [because] he's just given up. The kingdom is in disarray, everything's falling down, so he kind of builds himself up. He's full of self-doubt and insecurities and gradually pulls himself back together and becomes the fighting king he was before."
On bringing the literary character to life, Hill said, "I tried to stay as true to my character as everybody else did to theirs." The second Rings film, The Two Towers, opens in December, and the third film, The Return of the King, hits theaters in December 2003.
Whew! Got all the cooking done so I'm well-provisioned for the week ahead. Are you back from church, Penny?
Tolkien for Dummies? Seriously though, it is quite true. Hubby and the kid are both reading the Trilogy, and neither of them would have had it not been for the movie.
I'm sorry to hear (read?) that you are having health problems. I hope they are easily fixed and you're back in top form quickly.