G-ddammit, people, I want to talk about the Lord of the Rings. I want to talk about the book of the Fellowship of the Ring, and I want to talk about the movie. I want you to tell me what you've heard about the movie, what your expectations are, when you're planning to see it, how excited you are, what you're dreading, what you're salivating about...your general disposition towards the film. I want to know your favorite character(s) and your favorite scene(s). I want to hear your theories concerning the origin of Tom Bombadil. Expound at will, and spoil away. Semillama, you go first, since I know you can.

Dammit, I want to go first. I am hanging out for the movie. Not just because it was shot in New Zealand and I want to play 'Count the Shortland Street (bad drama) Stars', but because they (the tv stations and news networks) keep tempting us with the most amazing looking scenes. My friend Jemma in Wellington worked for the company who did the special effects, and she got to see all that they had shot on her first two days. She also got to go drinking with the stars, who she said, were really down to earth. I loved the books - Mum had special editions, but they seem to have vanished. So we are both waiting, and hoping I win the competition off tv to go the premiere. Oh and for the first week, they are trying to rename Wellington to Middle Earth.

Moonit, you know I am jealous. So, girl, if you loved the books, what did you love? Whom did you love? What parts?

So, you know...old T. Bombadil is the most interesting to me. Who is he? Where did he come from? Outside? I thought this was an intriguing theory.

I loved when he would dance those Irish dances with his arms down at his sides and his feet flailing wildly with his troupe all around him and that really hot redheaded chick would mimic all his moves and by the end they'd all be exhausted from dancing so wildly and not using their arms to balance themselves and Piggy's glasses get broken in all the hooplah and then Bilbo lights them all some pipeweed and they all have a good liedown.

I went to BK today and bought me a little figurine of Sam with a light-up cook fire and a light up goblet. My favorite characters have always been Legolas and Gimli. In FOTR, I liked the Moria sequence the best. As far as the movie goes, I have been following it very closely and am damn impressed with the dedication of Peter Jackson. This trilogy of movies is going to be classic. The cast looks great, the settings are spectacular and the special effects are very impressive, in that they aren't obvious CGI like in Phantom Menace, for example. I can't wait to see the Balrog and Gollum (both CGI). The orcs look great. I can't wait to hear the accents and hear Elvish. Forget Harry Potter, this one has real vision. how's that?

BTW, I don't like that theory. Airtight my ass. It's a weak explanation - why would the Witch-King help the ring bearer at all? I think Bombadil may have been one of the Eldar. I'd have to go back and read the Silmarillon again though to guess who he is, though.

It's been to long since I've read any Tolkien. I'll have to start again.

Spider, you are one sad puppy if you are still reading that tolkene trash after the age of 10. fairies and ghosties and ufos are all nonsense. get real there is a whole world out there geek.

coming from someone who praises the book Lost Souls.

I have to say that at the age of 10 I found the Tolkein books difficult to read. I wasn't able to get into them. Now, I love something that is entertaining. It doesn't have to be realistic. I have enough realism in my life. I want something that is going to take me to another place and another time. These books sound great, although I am not too familiar with the stories, and with a cast like that I can't wait to see the movie. If the fact that I want to escape the "whole world out there" makes me a geek, so be it. I don't care about that. I just want entertainment. This movie looks like it will provide just that. I saw the movie "Lost Souls". It was interesting, but dull and the ending sucked. Oh no, the devil is real, kill the man so the devil won't incarnate his body. Yipee. I think that there is nothing wrong with escaping reality in a book or a movie. That is what makes them different. If everything were about the real world it would get damned boring damned fast.

and has the grammatical abilities of a retarded guinea fowl. Spider, wann come to columbus and catch that flick? I just saw the Fox special on the films, with a sneak preview of the Moria scene in Balin's Tomb - ohhh yeeaaah. The special would have been lame, as it was clearly aimed at illiterates like those certain folks who have nothing intelligent to add to conversations but probably feel they're a real wit (tupelohoney), but even with the cheeseball narrator it rocked. Orlando Bloom has a mohawk!

And, another thing Bombadil could be is a Maia. Too bad he's not in the film.

i think bombadil is illūvatar. the wraith king was the leader of the nazgūl, who were men corrupted by the nine rings of sauron. tom said he was there before the dark lord came from outside. i think that means before melkor arrived to corrupt his creations. i think he's like an avatar of illūvatar, chillin' in the old forest with his fly girlie, goldberry. peace out.

dorks

Dave, that is a fascinating theory. Let me look into it further. Too bad he's not in the film, indeed. Do you know if the barrow-wights will be? I think Orlando Bloom will make a smashing Legolas.

Didn't Tolkien write a poem about Tom Bombadil that was published outside of the Lord of The Rings?

dang. i meant witch king. this site is pretty cool unless you're patrick.

yeah, the watcher. it was some crappy, forgettable poetry junk. the stupidest, most annoying part of tolkein's stories are all the lame songs and poems. i just skipped over that shit.

blah blah blah I wrestled a snake last night. I am the witch queen.

i hope it was satisfying.

danny bonaduce would have made a smashing bomdadil.

DANNY BONADUCE!!!

Will you stop with that Danny Bonaduce stuff, ya fag.

never!

My friend Ged has a ticket to the first show in chch. bastard.

Advance tickets aren't on sale here until the 5th. I am debating how many to buy, as I am unsure who would want to go. Not liek I can count on a date, so maybe I should ask around.

I've had so many copies of Tolkein's Ring Cycle over the years it isn't funny...had an old hardcover edition for the longest time(sold it to an antiquarian when I was unemployed--didn't get paid much for it, either). Funny thing is I've been struggling to get through FELLOWSHIP off and on since I was, like, 12....picked it up again a week ago and I think I'm finally succeeding. So far I think Tom Bombadill MIGHT be the most intriguing character----so he won't be in the movie???? Figures. Almost jumped the gun yesterday and bought THE TWO TOWERS.....don't really wanna, tho, 'til I'm done w/FELLOWSHIP.... Visited the LOTR movie site and found it real interesting that they credit an actor as playing Gollum but won't show any kind of a picture... Of course, Gollum, outside flashback, really doesn't play into FELLOWSHIP at all, does he?

yeah, he's in there.

Yeah, he's definently in there. Tom Bombadil is one of my favourite characters. Are they really cutting him out? Those facists. They don't sell advance tickets here, although I have seem mummies and daddies duking it out over Harry Potter tickets recently.

I read The Hobbit and the LOTR series back in elementary school. I read them again last summer. I also read The Silmarillon and Unfinished Tales. I am currently reading The Lost Tales 1. I plan on reading all the rest of the history of Middle Earth, and may get it done sometime before my first child is born. Which means within 10 years or so. LS

The reason they don't show Gollum is that his appearance is a secret - he's CGI. The actor provides the voice. The balrog is CGI and I hear it's scary and so right on. 17 days!

Supposedly there's a big debate over whether or not the Balrog should have wings. But in the book, when Gandolf fights the Balrog, the book itself says it has wings. So what gives? Have you heard Gollum's voice in the preview? Excellent. (You can download the previews here -- http://www.theonering.net .)

"Supposedly there's a big debate over whether or not the Balrog should have wings. But in the book, when Gandolf fights the Balrog, the book itself says it has wings. So what gives?" my fucking god. I don't know who is a bitchier bunch...the Star Wars fanatics or you guys. Dave what is equally disturbing is your knowabouts of such a picture. the mantits..

Hey, d00d, I did not say that I was a participant in that debate, only that I was aware of its existence.

To watch the making or to not watch the making. That is the question...

Don't watch, then the movie won't be suspenseful. My impression of the balrog was more amorphous, like it could have wings...or not...does it really matter?

I don't remember references to it having wings. I could have forgotten though. I think that if they don't have wings on it when it should, I shall be pissed, but I'll get over it. LS

"The Balrog made no answer. The fire in it seemed to die, but the darkness grew. It stepped forward slowly on to the bridge, and suddenly it drew itself up to a great height, and its wings were spread from wall to wall" --p.429 in my edition. Ha!

Well. Then they should put them in the movie. If not, they fucked up. LS

Whatever. from what I have seen so far, there are no worries and should be no letdowns. Peter jackson is to be commended. 16 days! any sorabjites that want to come to columbus and watch it with me, let me know and i will buy your ticket.

You tempt me.

I'd drive, though.

My recollection of the Ralph Bakshi version is that the Balrog had wings....the Balrog, actually, was the best part of the Bakshi version, for my money...

Except for the bunny slippers it was wearing. Tom Bombadil was actually just another avatar of "Bob". There, glad to get that off my chest.

here ya go kiddies my 2 cents

Got tickets for a special screening put on by the social club at work on Dec 23rd. Only NZ$5 (about US$2) including popcorn and cola. Can't wait. Just have to decide who to invite on the two extra tickets I got - any offers? Apparently they sold all 197 seats in two days = a social club record. Shame they aren't doing a Harry Potter night too, but at this time of year there's so much going on! I saw some nice pics of the sets for hobbiton, edoras, etc on Scoop.co.nz, and stuff.co.nz has a long story about the technology and sfx programme for the next two movies under the infotech link (sorry, too lazy to link it).

NZA there must be 2 losers somewhere who wanna see that dreck. Theres plenty on here most nights.

CHUPACABRA!

Speaking of bunny slippers.... I kidnapped the slippers from the girl down the hall. You know, the one that I am interested in. They are bunnies. I sent her a ransom note last nite. I don't know what kind of demands I can make of her. I'm a nice guy. I'm also having flashbacks from when Nate and Marc kidnapped my bear that a girlfriend had gave me. I got similar notes. LS

NZA! Two tickets? you could auction them on trade me!!!!

Maybe you could suggest she use her powder puff to powder your puff?

Hey, I want to talk about the Lord of the Rings some more. I just finished "The Two Towers" a few minutes ago...it was a slow day today. Anyway, I was surprised to find myself quite moved by a scene at the near end -- Sam, Frodo, and Gollum climb up the long stairway to the secret entrance to the mountain, and Frodo falls asleep with his head in Sam's lap, and Gollum comes upon the two of them sleeping and has his strange reaction. I liked that a lot. That may be my favorite part in the whole story.

Yeah, That part really demonstrated how much tolkien had everything thought out and how much effort he put into each character's motivation. A lot of people dismiss the LOTR as literature because of it's genre but it really does stand out as among the absolute best of the 20th century. Plus - 12 days!!!!!!

So who's seen it?? Not me. :( I have to wait till this weekend (Sunday?!) to see it with my brother and our friends. I think my brother saw it last night, though, the wretch. People at work say it kicks the ass of everything. I'm dying. 3 more days.

That movie fuckin' rocked. It was loooooooong, too. Why wait? Just go see it tonight. :)

I have to wait until friends get here on the 25th to see it. I think I'll just hide at home and not pass the movie theatre...it would be too tempting. Tell me, how good do you think the casting was? Because everyone looked very odd in the previews, and I'm getting rather concerned.

I think I am going this weekend. I hope. Seen heaps on interviews with Peter Jackson... and we even ran a LOTR special - 4 colour pages of pics and an article as a pull out and keep thing last wed.

I can't see it tonight - I have to make cookies. And tomorrow night I'm going home, and no one will be around to see it with me, except my dad, who doesn't want to see it. And Saturday, my brother will be busy with his band, and my friends won't have come home yet. Sunday it will have to be.

Saw it... Good... Ass numb.

Hot damn, go see it by yourself. I never understand people not going to see movies just because there's no one else to see them with. Do you not go to the grocery store if there's no one to go with ye? Naw! So go to the frikkin' movie. The casting was superb, Platypus. Acting was top notch. Every actor fit their character very well without overdoing it. In fact, most of the movie was like that. It was very intense, but was never overdone. There were so many parts that could have been cliche but weren't because of the flawless execution. So many elements went to the edge of being "too much," but none of them went too far, so the net effect was a very powerful movie. I'm definately going to see this movie multiple times in the theater.

I couldn't go by myself - I want someone I know with me so I can share the enjoyment with them. Plus, I'd feel like an idiot waiting in line by myself. I'll just wait.

Spider, Go. I always go by myself. My wife no longer goes out except to the doctors. It's not that bad. Just find a good seat. Sit back. And, let yourself be drawn into the movie. It's even better than a big screen TV.

I actually bought a ticket from movietickets.com so I could have a ticket in hand before hitting the theatre tonight. I am going an hour early just in case. I will probably see it multiple times just this holiday week. I am going by myself tonight so my first time will be in a good theatre.

I need someone to go with in case I cry.

I'm gonna try to catch it this afternoon.... Finally finished reading FELLOWSHIP....DAMN, what a dense tome!!!!!!!! It never really struck me before about Tolkein's way of handling a scene----his descriptive power is great inasfar as creating some really ominous and frightening imagery.... Well....I'm off to see the Wizard.....

this is something i remember reading. it's about tolkien at oxford university. "Not Tolkien, either, but then he was an appalling lecturer. He spoke unclearly and slurred the important words, then he'd write the on the blackboard but keep standing between them and us, then wipe them off before he turned round." - kingsley amis

This will offend, but my honest opinion is that Lord of the Rings is for nerds who want to appear literate. Always has been, always will be.

droopy... sounds like a true genious. Seriously. It's the oddballs who are the smart ones. Too bad I'm only half odd. LS

Droopy is the bomb,are you half-assed?

I think, toradorable J, that LS was merely referring to Droopy's comment re Tolkein. However, you are right. Droopy is the H & the A bombs mixed together with some extra plutonium on top for good measure.

i hate it when you ass kiss cat. your better suited for the sultry and surly.

But Droopy's ass is so kissable. Can't I even have a little peck, a flick of the tongue, a tiny nibble?

MY GOD YOU'RE SO SO SO SO SLUTTYYYYYY!!!!!!

:-ß

I'm slutty putty for the right bloke.

droop you got me on that emoticon sir. is that a pair of eyes, nose, and a pair of nuts in your mouth? you've shattered the myth cat. universal sluttiness was imperative. danggitt

"Slutty Putty"----I like that!!!!! Someone needs to market it----I'd sure as hell buy some!

HOW MANY PAGES ARE IN THE LORD OF THE RINGS THE TWO TOWERS BOOK!!!! TELL ME PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you missin some

um, go look. spaz.

6 MORE DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!! Well, until the extended DVD of The Two Towers....... But I have to wait until after we move before I get it. It would be wrong of me to buy it while I am out here in. Did you realize that DVDs are cheaper on the day they are released then a week later? I got the two towers for $14.99 the day it was released, and it was $18.99 a week later. T3 is $15.99 at Besty Buy right now, and next week it will be $19.99. what, 31 days until ROTK?

something like that. yowza!

3...31 days?? AAAaaaaahhhh.

After all this time The Hobit is coming out as three movies? I recently started rereading Tolkein's works. I haven't picked up the LOTR yet. But, I have read Lost Tales, The Silmarillon, and The Hobit. I'm really surprised that I'm not that impressed with the Hobit. There just seems to be something lacking from that work. I just can't put my finger on exactly what it is.

A b.