Here is someone at work who could actually write
Personally, I don't believe Tolkien himself would've said that about his works.
(Just read the foreword of LOTR to see what I mean.)
For me, the books were and always are a totally different beast than the movies.
I regard Mr. Jackson's attempt as a fully recognized artistic "version" of the books, but it is - for my personal taste - nowhere near the books.
The main point, which the movies don't transporet at all, but are always there in all of his works of Middle Earth, is the grief and deep, deep, deep sorrow of the High Elves that they have to leave Middle Earth behind. We simply cannot feel this kind of sorrow, because we are mortal beinhs. Elves, however, are basically immortal. So their sorrow is with them as long as they live - and that is basicaly forever.
The Loss of the Two Trees, the Loss of Beleriand, the Loss of the Silmarils, the Loss of Elrond about his brother, Elros, the Loss of Arwen, daughter of Elrond ... the list goes on forever.
So, their lives is spoiled forever. They might live in peace and harmony on their "blesses continent", but the fgrief and sorrow is always there, deep at heart.
Lothlorien acts like kind of a time capsule, keeping all that was dear to the High Elves in a perfect, peaceful form.
With the waning might of the ring responsible for this, the world turned grey for them. All colours, taste and hamonies - vanished. So, the world became dull for them. They decided to leave.
This is the deepest theme I can find in the novels. The loss, and the grief and sorrow over it. This isn't being shown in the movies at all.
To me, the movies are rather like a *very* well made "joyride". The pictures are great, but Mr. Jackson decided to put the "action" point of view rather into the foreground.
That's my personal impression.
I plan to read the other books as well, but they are not too easy to get here - and they are expensive.
But nevertheless : Even the Unfinished Tales are a great read !
From what I've learned and read, I think/believe the main reason to build up this world was for Tolkien the image of a phantastic world. In several early writings the picture appears of "a wind going like waves through the plants of a field", - a thing which i believe must struck him very, very deeply. What, if this hadn't been the wuind, but instead creatures we simply cannot see ? Fairies, Dwarves, Elves, Hobbits even ? What, if this world would be inhabited by sentinent, thinking beings which are similar to us humans, but never there at all ?
I have once tried to put this feeling into words - long before I read the "Unfinished Tales".
This poem was written rather for the music of a song called "Sitting Down here" by one "Lene Marlin".
Faeries In The Sunshine
Dedicated to the Tolkiens (Christopher & J.R.R.) and
the makers of The Dark Crystal.
Walking across the meadow,
I begin wondering...
Could it be,
That there is more than ONE Light ?
Could it be
That there is more than we can see ?
Could it be
That there is more than we imagine ?
Could it be
That there is more than we know ?
(And) Then,
I begin wondering, dreaming
Siting down,
Closing my eyes...
Dancing Faeries, Out of the Shadows,
Walking homewards, search for Truth,
Dancing Faeries, not seen in the sunlight,
At least not by human eyes...
Dancing Faeries, In the Shadows,
Hiding themselves before human sight,
Dancing Faeries, In the Shadows,
Forever dancing, out of human sight...
Opening my eyes, I see nothing but sunlight,
Green, green trees, providing me shadows,
But I can imagine glorious laughter,
At someone (,) who cannot see
them...
Closing my eyes again, I try to see,
The sunlight warms my face, but I look into the shadows
Trying to see them (only) with cclosed eyes
Maybe that's the only way...
(Well, and there are)
Dancing Faeries, Out in the Shadows,
Hiding themselves fro human sight,
Dancing Faeries, lurking around me,
Making unheard laughter, at someone who can't see...
(And there are)
Dancing Faeries, out (of) (there) in the shadows
Knowing that they cannot be seen,
Dancing Faeries, Out of the Shadows,
Mimicking a bird or a tree...
Dancing Faeries, In the Shadows,
Unwilling (yet) to let themselves to be seen,
We all know what they have been,
Dancing Faeries, Out of the Shadows,
Dancing and floating in the air,
Is there ever any chance to see them ?
Dancing Faeries in the Shadows
Unwilling to let themselves to be seen,
Dancing Faeries, in the Shadows,
Do we all know, what they have been ?
Dancing Faeries, In the Sunlight,
We won't ever see them there,
Dancing Faeries, In the Sunlight,
Do we really know how to see ?
[Fade.]
Additional verse.
Dancing Faeries Out in the Shadows
They do not allow themselves to be seen,
Dancing Faeries Out in the Shadows
Do we really look at what we can see ?
Dancing Faeries There in the Shadows
Laughing at the simple human side
Dancing Faeries There in the Shadows
Do we really know what we can see ?
Dancing Faeries Out in the Shadows
Enchantments of Lightning We cannot see
Dancing Faeries Out in the Shadows
(I guess) only a blind one really could see...
Dancing Faeries Out Of The Shadows
Their essence is unreachable for us
Dancing Faeries Out In The Shadows
They're living their own world distinct from us...
(C) Alrik Fassbauer