Posted on 07/16/2008 1:35:23 AM PDT by Oyarsa
Christopher Lee offers his voice for Smaug… won’t go back to NZ. July 13th, 2008 by Compa_Mighty
In a bittersweet note, forummer DiveTwin reports this note that appeared in Cinematical:
(Excerpt) Read more at theonering.net ...
> Lee isn’t interested in filming in New Zealand again because it is simply too far away, for too long of a time.
Oh well, we can do without him in New Zealand. I am certain there are plenty of talented, local voices who wouldn’t mind being Smaug.
Being in New Zealand is a privilege, not a right. Mr Lee doesn’t want to be here? Fine. We don’t want him, so we’re all happy aren’t we?
Give him a break, what is he like 90.
I guess if Gimli can do Treebeard’s voice then it’s only fair that Saruman do Smaug’s voice.
What the hell is wrong with you? The man seems to regret that he cannot go. This is not about some manufacture slight to you’re ego. He is 86 freaking years old! He does not want to travel half-way around the world and leave his local comforts for a place where he might never leave for a job he can do in a London studio.
Jeeze Louise! Talk about an inferiority complex!
Ok. Ok. I will happily travel to New Zealand. Where can I pick up my travel tickets and travel plan for the Triolgy film sites. ;)
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Christopher Lee role in which I haven’t enjoyed his performance to the max. :)
> Ok. Ok. I will happily travel to New Zealand. Where can I pick up my travel tickets and travel plan for the Triolgy film sites. ;)
(big grin!)
One of the local best-sellers, the Site Guide. Be prepared for a fair bit of travel, as the trilogy was shot all over the place in NZ. “Hobbitown” is in a place called Matamata, which is half-way between Auckland and Rotorua, about 1 1/2 drive either direction. It is a great place to start.
A fair bit of filming was done in and around Tongariro, which is south of Taupo, about 4 hrs drive from Auckland.
Most or all of the special effects would have been done at Weta Studios, which is in Wellington.
> He does not want to travel half-way around the world and leave his local comforts for a place where he might never leave for a job he can do in a London studio.
Precisely. Just another whinging Pom.
In the 1960s, they were filming "The Battle of Britain," and Lee auditioned for the role of a pilot, and was rejected.
"You're too big to be a pilot," the casting director told him.
Film of The Hobbit!! Yippieee!!
You say that being in New Zealand is a priviledge and not a right. That is true. However, going to New Zealand is a choice, and when health and age and time converge against you, and what is at stake is a voice role in a movie, then only a fool would opt to travel.
> You look at it as a snub to New Zealand .....I look at it as an old man being sensible in his last days.
I guess I do. In New Zealand we take a great deal of pride in our hospitality, and we show all of our guests a really, really good time, in the hopes that they will tell all their friends and especially come back and visit us again.
While he was here, Mr Lee would have been treated like Royalty. And make no mistake, the Lord of the Rings is a very big thing here: we *want* people from overseas to come visit, to see the filming sites, and to have a wonderful, unforgettable time. And to tell all their friends about it.
So with this article what happened? “Lee isn’t interested in filming in New Zealand again because it is simply too far away, for too long of a time.” And it is an article that is circulated on a LOTR fan site: the very place where potential NZ tourists might hang out. Thanks, Mr Lee. Sorry that visiting us was such a chore for you.
Think of it this way: pretend you live out in the countryside, a fair way off the beaten track. And you like to have guests, and your hospitality is legendary. How would you like one of your guests to go back home to the big city and tell everybody that they weren’t interested in visiting you again?
It’s bad manners at the very least.
Yes, it might not be sensible for him to travel to NZ in his latter days. But it was hardly necessary to burst into print about it.
You must realize that for a person of Mr. Lee’s years, in his condition of health, the possibility of acquiring a potentially fatal deep-vein thrombosis through a very long flight to NZ is quite real. He is wise not to want to risk his life. For elderly people, it’s also scary to leave their usual health-care facilities and providers (and I’m sure he has the best in Britain, not National Health guys). My own dear MIL hates to leave Florida to visit us here for just that reason and always wants us to go visit her instead, because she has to see her doctor so frequently.
So tell us, do you usually insult everybody who chooses not to visit your beautiful country? That would mean that you’d have to hate nearly six billion people.
> You must realize that for a person of Mr. Lee’s years, in his condition of health, the possibility of acquiring a potentially fatal deep-vein thrombosis through a very long flight to NZ is quite real.
Sure it is — NZ is about as far away from the UK as you can get.
> So tell us, do you usually insult everybody who chooses not to visit your beautiful country?
See #13, which explains the rationale of my viewpoint thoroughly. I don’t think it is an insulting viewpoint at all.
> That would mean that you’d have to hate nearly six billion people.
I don’t hate Mr Lee. However I do wish that our erstwhile guest hadn’t burst into print over his not being “interested” in returning. Even if he didn’t intend to return, there was no need for him to announce that.
That’s just plain bad manners.
HE’S 86!!! Weeping Jesus on the cross let it go! He’s not dissin New Zealand!
He’s saying “I’m frickin old! Every morning I wake up I’m surprised! I would rather die in my home with my family and things than in a hotel room!”.
Why in God’s name are you making this a personal issue? Are you guys THAT insecure?
> Why in God’s name are you making this a personal issue? Are you guys THAT insecure?
See #13 where I explain my viewpoint. I think that it is a very reasonably view to take.
...they weren't interested in visiting you again...BECAUSE THEY ARE ALMOST 90 AND PLAYING CHESS WITH DEATH! You left out the rest of the story pally.
It’s bad manners at the very least.
What is bad manners, and ingratitude as well by the way, is castigating a great man, who has played a significant role for the good of NZ, on a public website, for making a practical decision based on age and health that he probably wished he did not have to!
Yes, it might not be sensible for him to travel to NZ in his latter days. But it was hardly necessary to burst into print about it
Burst in print?
You're out of your mind. There is NOTHING in his statement the bears negatively on NZ in any way, shape, or form - unless your terminally paranoid.
ping
(whatever...)
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