[dwndrgn]

I'm not sure I understood their goals in the research and actually what they found out. Mostly the article told me things that as a fantasy fan, I already know. And why did they use the third film? That seems rather odd. I would think you'd have to use all three for any real conclusions to be made.

Sure, I re-read many books. I re-read series before reading the latest. I re-read books before the movie comes out. There isn't anything terribly special in that. I want to be reminded of the story's details. Sure I know all the big 'notes' of the story, plot and characters. Re-reading just gives you a chance to revisit the 'melodies' underlying the big 'notes' before moving on. Much like studying your own notes the night before a test. As well as finding little tidbits you may not have noticed the first time around.

Why should the film find fans in countries such as Columbia and others not similar in makeup to the Western European slanted story? Because it is different. Unlike their own. And, like most fantasy, has underlying basic truths and moral judgements any human can relate to. Friends helping friends in need. Making personal sacrifices for a greater good. These types of things are universal and any human can relate, to some extent.

I'm sorry but I find this type of research to be not only lazy and superficial, but self-serving as well. If they truly wanted to research the effect of fantasy as a whole, they should have included more films, books and series. Get a broader scope to fully understand what their conclusions mean. The fact that they used probably one of the most widely recognized fantasy stories and then used only a portion of the hugely anticipated subsequent film tells me they started with a conclusion and worked to fill it.

Now I'm annoyed and want someone to underwrite a study of my own. Show these people what real research is about. Hmph!