Well, the followers of the book are a bit fanatical - a bit like Christopher Lee who reads it once every year. They do say that it is the second most read book in the world, which is interesting. They said the Bible is the most read book but I’m not sure about that. I think the Koran is probably more read than the Bible. I think people lie about the Bible. I think they lie about “Lord of the Rings,” too. I think it’s the second most bought book. But I don’t think everyone who has bought it has read it. It’s a pretty hard read, really. It’s pretty dense. A lot of it should have ended up on the editing floor really. He was an amateur writer and he needed an editor. And he refused an editor so…
What would you have taken out?
The whimsy and the tangents and things that went nowhere. They were brilliantly written and would obviously merit staying there from a literary point of view. But just generally, there’s far too many false trails and stuff like that. It needs an editor and that’s what the films do, to be honest. They squeeze it in a bit.
What about the extended versions of the films?
That’s interesting because some people say, and I do have a disagreement with them, some people say that’s where the films will be remembered. And I don’t think so, although I do think that’s where the films actually are. Unfortunately, the films as people will remember it will be the films as they were at the theaters. The ones they paid to go see with lots of other people. To watch it at home with a cat in your lap is kind of just not being there with it. That may be the one that lives longest because it’s there in your house. You’ll definitely refer back to it more than you’d actually go out to the cinema.
Do you think those added scenes in the extended movies could be considered unnecessary tangents?
No, no, no. No, not at all. The luxury of the length of a DVD is a luxury that’s not necessarily available to you for a theatrical release. There’s more on the DVD because there’s no time restraints. It’s a shame really because Pete shot massive amounts more than he could ever wish to use. He just wanted to shoot more because that’s the way he works, so he can get a lot of variety and alternatives. He can take a variety of routes through the film and still end up with the same feel of the film, but taken different routes. He wanted to have that luxury and that meant there was an awful lot of stuff that was really valuable that he would have liked in the movie, but you’re making a movie for the theater. There are constraints.
What’s next for you?
I’m working on a couple of projects. I did a film called “Wimbledon,” with Kirsten Dunst and Paul Bettany. I did a small budget film called “The Boys from County Clare,” which probably won’t come out until next year on St. Patrick’s Day. It’s an Irish film.
Who do play in “Wimbledon?”
I play Paul Bettany’s dad. It’s not a huge part, but it’s quite fun. When you first meet the family, the parents have gotten into an argument, and during the course of the film and his success at Wimbledon, they begin to realize that there is something else going on in their lives. The son draws the family back together again. It’s quite simplistic. The whole film is quite simple tale but it’s beautifully done. Richard Loncraine, the director, is a long term friend of mine who has done some amazing stuff with it. The tennis match, the final, what he’s done in that is just amazing.
Additional “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” Press Junket Interviews:
Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, John Rhys-Davies, David Wenham/John Noble, and Richard Taylor/Barrie M. Osborne
“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” Premiere Coverage:
Orlando Bloom/Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Elijah Wood/Ian McKellen, Dominic Monaghan, David Wenham/John Noble, John Rhys Davies/Bernard Hill, and Peter Jackson/Richard Taylor
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"Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” Photo Gallery
"Return of the King” Trailer, Credits, Soundtrack Info and Movie News
