The Idiot of the Week Award goes to the Mensa candidate behind this petition at Petition Online. The genius is demanding that the upcoming Two Towers sequel to The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring be renamed.Quoth the idiot: “Those of us who have seen The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring know what an amazing director Peter Jackson is. When I learned that there apparently [emphasis mine] was to be a sequel, I was overjoyed. However, Peter Jackson has decided to tastelessly name the sequel ‘The Two Towers’. The title is clearly meant to refer to the attacks on the World Trade Center. In this post-September 11 world, it is unforgiveable that this should be allowed to happen. The idea is both offensive and morally repugnant. Hopefully, when Peter Jackson and, more importantly, New Line Cinema see the number of signatures on this petition, the title will be changed to something a little more sensitive.”
Even Petition Online itself is agog, adding a disclaimer preceding the petition. “Please Note: The Two Towers is the title of the JRR Tolkien book originally published in 1954, the second book of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The title was thus established some 47 years prior to the attacks on the World Trade Center towers.” (Which were called the Twin Towers, anyway.)
Good for them. Shame on the petitioner. A quick visit to a bookstore would have saved him from looking like a fool. [1:13 PM]
Postscript
My compliments to Paul Shrug, who responded to the above the petition. ‘I, too, was galled, shocked and disoriented upon learning of the cynically crass title of Mr. Jackson’s new film. I would also like to start a petition to rename Steven Spielberg’s ‘Minority Report’ because of its blatant insult to people of color. Also, the upcoming film ‘About A Boy’ is a clear endorsement of pedophilia. I am also deeply troubled at the subtitle of the new ‘Star Wars’ installment, ‘Attack of the Clones’. This scandalous title is a none-too-subtle implication that scientifically duplicated humans or other animals are violent and hostile in nature — clearly an affront to copied citizens everywhere. As an avid filmgoer, I shall shed many tears until these senseless titles cease.’
