Tolkien’s son’s verdict on the Lord of the Rings movies may surprise you

Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films are widely praised as some of the greatest movie adaptations ever made, except according to Christopher Tolkien, son of J.R.R. Tolkien.

The brilliance of the Lord of the Rings trilogy lies not in its strict adherence to every detail of Tolkien’s vast source material, but in its ability to capture the essence of his world and deliver the message of the story through sensible and economical storytelling choices.

Despite this, significant alterations were still made. One notable change was the complete removal of Tom Bombadil, and the Barrow-wights were also absent – a discrepancy that Rings of Power has since corrected.

Despite the criticism towards Amazon’s series for ‘betraying’ Tolkien and its perceived inferiority compared to the movies, it is important to note that his late son had a strong dislike for the films.

Despite expressing doubts about the possibility of a LOTR movie adaptation in 2001, Christopher Tolkien later took legal action against New Line Cinema in 2008, claiming his estate was owed more than $100 million in royalties. The two parties ultimately reached a settlement in 2009.

In a 2012 interview with Le Monde, he was candid in his criticism of the film adaptation. He expressed disappointment that the book had been stripped down to appeal to a younger audience and predicted that The Hobbit would suffer the same fate.

Despite his immense popularity, Tolkien’s work has been distorted by the absurdity of the times and his own fame. The disconnection between the original beauty and seriousness of his work and its current state is something I struggle to comprehend.

“The level of commercialization completely diminishes the aesthetic and philosophical significance of this creation. I can see only one solution: to avert my gaze.”

If you are uncertain about the placement of Rings of Power in the Lord of the Rings timeline, we have you covered. Check out our guides on the origins of Morgoth and Forodwaith as well.