I'm not looking forward to this. The Hobbit film trilogy had some fantastic moments but was bloated with invented scenes that didn't come from Tolkien but were invented to pad out the running time of three movies. Given that the trilogy's main problem was all the added on scenes, having an entire movie of invented scenes (given that Tolkien only sketched out the outline of events) does not bode well.
To be honest I think Tolkien didn't really think too much about ethnic minorities. The Britain that he grew up was not very ethnically diverse and it's probable he imagined his characters as having a similar background to him (which most authors do). Modern adaptations should therefore be free to cast from whatever background they please.
It's also important to remember that Amazon aren't a particularly experienced studio. I've read a number of articles where various sources hint that the top executives don't really know what they're doing.
Also, there will be an adaptation of The Silmarillion eventually, either the estate will part with the rights or the copyright will eventually expire. Only 70 years to wait!
True, but I came to Rings of Power with an open mind, determined to judge it on its own merits. The further into the season I got the less I enjoyed each episode.
My main point of difference with the author of Forbes article is on Morfydd Clark, I thought she was very good as Galadriel. However, if you're not particularly interested in Galadriel then the story doesn't have much to offer given its so centred on her.
I spotted this article earlier and it pretty much sums up my thoughts (with a few differences here and there) about the first season. I doubt I'll bother watching the second.
The only thing new about this is the illustrations, otherwise it's just already published material packaged into a book to try and generate sales. It's a tactic the Tolkien Estate's gone with increasingly in recent years.
Hobbits weren't gone and Dwarves were declining, but yes Elves and Orcs disappear in the Fourth Age.
I don't think the Noldor exiles were allowed to dwell permanently in Aman, but had to live on Tol Eressëa with visiting rights to Aman. Bilbo and Frodo possibly had the same arrangement.
Tolkien was a bit vague about the fate of the Dwarves, implying they slowly dwindled away as the fourth age progressed. We know that Durin VII led the Dwarves back to Khazad-dûm, but it's likely not all the Dwarves went with him. Eventually Erebor probably became deserted, yes.
Also the Fourth Age is not the dominion of Elves, that was the First and to a lesser degree Second Ages. Tolkien was very specific about their fate; those that did not sail for the Undying Lands ended up fading away.
Tolkien didn't like allegory so I don't really agree with the above.
It's not really something that Tolkien went into in huge detail other than through the text of The Lord of the Rings and in the Rings of Power essay. Nothing really jumps out at me from those about how the Ring empowered people, although he might have gone into more detail in one of his letters, I can't remember off the top of my head.
Tolkien doesn't really write much about the Red Mountains other than that they exist. I'm not even sure he ever explicitly states that Dwarves lived there, just implies it in essays about them.
I don't remember that stuff about Ekkaia, but the rest of it is from the Akallabêth in The Silmarillion.
It's in one of Tolkien's letters: "I think that in fact the Entwives have disappeared for good, being destroyed with their gardens in the War of the Last Alliance."
I'd suggest Unfinished Tales as well, there's a lot of lore in that.
It's nice to think that, but sadly Tolkien indicated that he felt the Entwives were all dead.
With the Hobbit films in particular the most annoying thing is 1 book, 3 movies.
2 movies they could have gotten away with, but 3? Nope. It's like Bilbo says in Fellowship; 'butter spread over too much bread'.
All those damn Elves that show up at Helm's Deep. When they all end up dead I always find it difficult not to be glad. They have zero business being there.
It would have if Smaug had sensed their approach.
I wanted to add a note about names and numbering on the wiki. It's a minor point yes, but given the number of people in the legendarium who are numbered, is an important point to remember when editing the wiki.
Tolkien exclusively used English numbering tradition, which differs from American numbering traditions as follows:
A number is usually not assigned to the name of anyone other than a King (or a Thain)
Numbers go after the first name, so Ferumbras III Took, not Ferumbras Took III
People who are the 'Ist' are not numbered as such until there is a II. For examples see Kings Araphor or Arvegil.