AS Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit premieres, Tolkien’s easygoing fans are definitely not interested in picking holes in it.
Although JRR Tolkien has millions of devotees worldwide, they’re all very socially well-adjusted and too busy having sex with attractive partners to moan about tiny ‘inaccuracies’ in the new film.
36-year-old Julian Cook, who dressed as Gandalf to stand for hours in the crowd outside the premiere screening, said: “Like all fans, I am passionate about Middle Earth but also don’t see it as my personal property.
“I mean, I do like The Hobbit but at the end of the day it’s just another adventure story. When you think about it, these things are ten-a-penny.
“So I’d be fine if Peter Jackson’s film isn’t much like the book. For example if instead of being a dragon, Smaug was a massive horse.”
26-year-old Emma Bradford, who was dressed up as some sort of elf, said: “When I go to fantasy conventions, I find the people there are really good at keeping their hobby in perspective.
“You never get the sense that Middle Earth is an unhealthily big deal to them.
“There’s no way they’d ever sit in the audience of The Hobbit muttering ‘Bofur would never wear a jerkin like that’ in a smugly outraged voice, or tut at Ori the dwarf’s accent, then go home and write enraged messages on dozens of internet forums while crying.
“Personally I wouldn’t be bothered if Peter Jackson made Middle Earth into a spaceship. It’s only a couple of hours’ harmless escapism, so whatever.
“And it would be funny if they’ve changed Bilbo’s name to ‘Dildo’, because that is a good joke.”
