Posted on 03/14/2002 5:07:26 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
This is a continuation of the infamous thread New Zealander Builds Hobbit Hole originally posted on January 26, 2001 by John Farson, who at the time undoubtedly thought he had found a rather obscure article that would elicit a few replies and die out. Without knowing it, he became the founder of the Hobbit Hole. For reasons incomprehensible to some, the thread grew to over 4100 replies. It became the place for hobbits and friends of hobbits to chit chat and share LoTR news and views, hang out, and talk amongst ourselves in the comfort of familiar surroundings.
In keeping with the new posting guidelines, the thread idea is continuing here, as will the Green Dragon Inn, our more structured spin-off thread, as soon as we figure out how to move all the good discussion that has been had there. As for the Hobbit Hole, we will just start fresh, bringing only a few mathoms such as the picture above with us to make it feel like home, and perhaps a walk down memory lane:
Our discussion has been light:
It very well may be that a thread named "New Zealander builds Hobbit hole" will end up being the longest Tolkien thread of them all, with some of the best heartfelt content... Sorry John, but I would have rather it had been one with a more distinguished title!… post 252 - HairOfTheDog
However, I can still celebrate, with quiet dignity, the fact that what started as a laugh about some wacko in New Zealand has mutated and grown into a multifaceted discussion of the art, literature, and philosophy that is Tolkien. And now that I've managed to write the most pompous sentence of my entire life, I agree, Rosie… post 506 - JenB
Hah! I was number 1000!! (Elvish victory dance... wait, no; that would be too flitty) … post 1001 - BibChr
Real men don't have to be afraid of being flitty! Go for it. – post 1011 – HairOfTheDog
Seventeen years to research one mystical object seems a bit excessive… post 1007 - JenB
Okay...who's the wise guy who didn't renew Gandalf's research grant?… post 1024 – Overtaxed
To the very philosophical:
…Judas Iscariot obviously was a good man, or he wouldn't have been chosen to be one of the Apostles. He loved Jesus, like all of the Apostles, but he betrayed him. Yet without his betrayal, the Passion and Crucifixion would never have occurred, and mankind would not have been redeemed. So without his self-destruction infinite good would not have been accomplished. I certainly do not mean this to be irreverant but it seems to me that this describes the character of Gollum, in the scenes so movingly portrayed above… Lucius Cornelius Sulla
To fun but heartfelt debates about the integrity and worth of some of the characters…
…Anyone else notice how Boromir treats the hobbits? He's very fond of them but he seems to think of them as children - ruffling Frodo's hair, calls them all 'little ones'. He likes them, but I don't think he really respects them… post 1536 - JenB
Yes... Tolkien told us not to trust Boromir right off the bat when he began to laugh at Bilbo, until he realized that the Council obviously held this hobbit in high esteem. What a pompous dolt… post 1538 - HairOfTheDog
…I think almost every fault of his can be traced directly back to his blindness to anything spiritual or unseen. He considers the halflings as children, because that is what they look like. He considers the only hope of the ring to be in taking it and using it for a victory in the physical realm. He cannot see what the hobbits are truly made of, he cannot see the unseen hope of what the destruction of the ring might mean--the destruction of Sauron himself, and he cannot see the unseen danger that lies in the use of the ring itself… I just feel sorry for Boromir--he is like a blind but honorable man, trying to take the right path on the road but missing the right path entirely because he simply cannot see it… post 1548 - Penny1
Boromir isn't a jerk, he's a jock… post 2401 – Overtaxed
-----------------------------------------
Oh, I think by the time Frodo reaches the Cracks, he's not even himself anymore! I think he's not only on the brink of a dangerous place physically, he's on the brink of losing himself completely during the exchange with Gollum. But for some reason, the take-over isn't complete till he actually has to throw the Ring in. The person speaking to Gollum is not Frodo, but the "Wheel of Fire" that Sam sees. After the Ring is destroyed, Frodo not only comes back to himself, but comes back with the unbearable (to him) knowledge of what it's like to be completely without compassion. I think that's why it's so important to him to be compassionate in the Shire… post 2506 - 2Jedismom
…Regarding Frodo's compassion... it's a little too much at the end. Even Merry tells him that he's going to have to quit being so darn nice. But you're right. He's learned a lesson about evil that very few ever learn since it wasn't an external lesson but an internal one. (Those kinds of lessons have the greatest impact) Not only did he totally succumb to it, but he was rather ruthless to my little Smeagol… post 2516 - carton253
Well that Frodo was a big mean bully! (to Smeagol)… post 2519 – Overtaxed
So as you can see, everything JRR Tolkien (and Peter Jackson) is welcome here in our New Row, our soon-to-be familiar New Hobbit Hole…; philosophy, opinion, good talk and frequent silliness.
And what were they doing while he was reciting the poem? Were they preparing him for war? It was almost like a ritual! It was very very cool!
This was copied from a text version that I saved off-line… There used to be a link to it, but I can't remember where. This is really really funny so bear with it's length!
_______________________________________________Script for The Two Towers (wink wink ;~D)
[EDORAS - DAY - OUTSIDE - THEODRED'S FUNERAL]
THEODEN
Theodred, my son, my son.
EOMER
Sire, let me avenge your son. Let me hunt some orc.
(THEODEN stares vacantly at EOMER)
GRIMA
(whispers to THEODEN) Shya, right.
THEODEN
Nope, sorry.
EOMER
You're not the boss of me old man, I'm going.
EOWYN
I wanna come too!
(everyone but EOWYN laughs)
[PLAINS OF ROHAN - DAY - OUTSIDE]
ARAGORN
Look, one of the brooches Galadriel gave us in the deleted scenes on the DVD!
GIMLI
That's right! I think I fell in love with her, too!
(he holds the lock of her hair to his breast)
LEGOLAS
We're on the trail!
GIMLI
I can't run forever! I have stubby dwarf legs!
[PLAINS OF ROHAN/OUTSKIRTS OF FANGORN - SUNSET - OUTSIDE]
PIPPIN
I'm hungry!
MERRY
I'm tired!
PIPPIN
Are we there yet?
GRISHNAKH
Bet ant brrekfasst in Isengard, unnastan?
(EOMER and company gallop onto the scene)
EOMER
Ro-Ro-Rohirrim ho!
ORCS
Aw, nuts.
MERRY
(to PIPPIN) Let's am-scray!
[FANGORN FOREST - DAY - OUTSIDE]
MERRY and PIPPIN
Hey! Mr. tree! Don't step on us!
TREEBEARD
Hoom... Such interesting creatures. Want to come back to my place for a drink?
MERRY and PIPPIN
Uh... okay.
[EMYN MUIL - NIGHT - OUTSIDE]
(SAM is attacked by GOLLUM. SAM beats GOLLUM back with his frying pan)
FRODO
Sam! Leave him alone. Hey, Gollum, wanna come with us? I've got the ring.
GOLLUM
Calls us Smeagol, dammit.
[TREEBEARD'S PLACE - NIGHT - "INSIDE"]
TREEBEARD
...allala lumbar hom rumbatumbatoo walalalaaah. And that is how we say "yes". Well, one way we say "yes".
PIPPIN
(nudges MERRY awake)
Er, yes. That's *really* interesting, mr. tree.
MERRY
Crud, there's more of them coming.
ENTS
Hooooooooooooooooooom halala tralalaboomtië boomburumba hoooom...
(MERRY and PIPPIN begin to weep)
[PLAINS OF ROHAN - DAY - OUTSIDE]
(ARAGORN, LEGOLAS and GIMLI are still running. GIMLI is comically out of breath. EOMER and company ride upon them)
EOMER
Ho there! You're not with Saruman are you? Or even worse, that witch Galadriel?
GIMLI
Witch? Why I oughta...
ARAGORN
Calm down, Gimli. (to EOMER) We're hunting orc!
EOMER
Really? Me too! Just caught some a ways back.
ARAGORN
Did you happen to see any halflings with them?
EOMER
Nah, we just killed everything and burned the bodies. Not much time for looking.
ARAGORN
Thanks... that's very... reassuring.
EOMER
No problem. Hey, you guys want some horses? I'm already in deep with the king, so I figure what the hey.
ARAGORN
Thanks!
[DEAD MARSHES - NIGHT - OUTSIDE]
FRODO
Gollum, I see dead people.
GOLLUM
Calls us Smeagol, dammit.
SAM
Please, Frodo, let me kill him.
[FANGORN FOREST - NIGHT - OUTSIDE]
GIMLI
Look, it's Saruman!
ARAGORN
Run away!
GANDALF
No, you idiots, it's me, Gandalf!
LEGOLAS
I see you've done your laundry.
ARAGORN
You're alive! But how?
GANDALF
We fell for ages it seemed, plummeting through the inky darkness...
GIMLI
(rolls eyes) Here we go...
ARAGORN
Oh, hey, we've got to get these horses back to Theoden.
GANDALF
Theoden! I need to speak with him. I'll come with you and tell you on the way.
ARAGORN
Oh great. I mean, great!
[EDORAS - DAY - INSIDE]
GRIMA
(whining) Sire, don't listen to Gandalf. He's a big liar.
GANDALF
Nay Theoden-king, I beseech you, heed no more the venom of this worm's tongue!
THEODEN
I don't know who to believe anymore! Well, since I have no idea what Gandalf said, I guess I'll take his advice.
GANDALF
You heard him, hit the road ya bum.
THEODEN
Oh, so THAT's what you meant.
GRIMA
Sire!
THEODEN
Nope, sorry. My mind's been made up for me. Now scram before someone else changes it.
GRIMA
(leaving) You haven't seen the last of me, old man!
THEODEN
Well, I suppose I'll let Eomer go as well. And maybe I'll make him my heir while I'm at it... Anyway, let's all go hunt some orc!
(the ROHIRRIM cheer)
EOWYN
I wanna come too!
(everyone but EOWYN laughs)
ARAGORN
Cheer up, little lady.
EOWYN
I love you.
ARAGORN
Oh! Uh, I'm sorry. I'm already spoken for...
(he indicates the Ring of Barahir as a wedding band)
EOWYN
Everything makes me sad.
[ENTMOOT - DAY - OUTSIDE]
TREEBEARD
Wake up young hobbits! The ents have decided to march on Isengard! It's payback time...
PIPPIN
Where's Isengard?
MERRY
It's where Saruman lives, you tuber.
PIPPIN
Who- (realization dawns) Oh, I'm sorry mr. tree, we have a very important... party... to attend...
MERRY
It's not going to work, Pip.
[HELM'S DEEP - NIGHT - OUTSIDE]
(LEGOLAS and GIMLI are on the parapet of the wall killing orcs)
LEGOLAS
Thirty eight!
GIMLI
Thirty seven!
ARAGORN
Hey guys, do you really think keeping track of your body counts is an appropriate message to send to the kids?
(LEGOLAS and GIMLI stare at each other momentarily)
GIMLI
Thirty eight! Now we are tied!
LEGOLAS
Thirty nine! I'm better than you!
HAMA
The orcs have breached the wall! I die...
ARAGORN
Everyone hide!
[HELM'S DEEP - DAWN - INSIDE]
THEODEN
I'm tired of waiting! I will not sit here like a badger in a... thing you put badgers in! I'm going out there!
ARAGORN
Aw jeez. Come on people, I guess we have to go with him.
THEODEN
See! The orcs run! Into that forest that wasn't there yesterday...
ARAGORN
The trees appear to be eating the orcs.
LEGOLAS
And what a strange and gruesome picture it is.
GIMLI
It certainly gives one an appetite.
(everyone stares at GIMLI)
[ISENGARD - DAY - OUTSIDE]
(MERRY and PIPPIN are dancing. bouncing chaotically is more like it)
MERRY and PIPPIN
(singing) The faggots are reeking! Hurrah! Hurrah!
(GANDALF, THEODEN, ARAGORN, LEGOLAS, GIMLI, EOMER and several ROHIRRIM ride up)
GANDALF
What are you two doing?
PIPPIN
(grinning broadly) We have no idea.
GANDALF
(surveying the damage) I see. And what has happened here?
MERRY
The trees! The big scary trees! They came to life, er, no, they were alive, and they still are, but they came here, and they brought us with them, and then they tore everything to pieces. You don't want to make the trees mad, oh no. The eyes, the eyes...
GANDALF
I know that smell, Meriadoc.
MERRY
Huh? Oh, yeah. It seems Saruman had a private stash, ya know? Want some?
GANDALF
Perhaps later. For the moment, I have a pressing engagement with Saruman. Come!
PIPPIN
(watching the riders leave) Whatever. Hey, didn't he die?
MERRY
Come on. We'd better follow them so you can pick up the palantir.
[ORTHANC - DAY - OUTSIDE - FLOODED]
(SARUMAN appears on the balcony)
SARUMAN
Get off of my property, you damn kids! Look what you've done to my lawn!
GANDALF
Saruman! I strip you of your rank as head of the Order! I am now the White!
SARUMAN
Oh yeah smart*ss? I'd like to see you-
GRIMA
(from inside) I... can't... take it anymore!
(he pushes SARUMAN off of the balcony, impaling him on the RSWD)
(SARUMAN'S palantir rolls out of his hand to PIPPIN'S feet, who picks it up)
PIPPIN
Ooo... pretty!
GANDALF
Give me that you insufferable dolt!
PIPPIN
How come you didn't stay dead?
GANDALF
Come! We return to Rohan!
GIMLI
Back and forth, back and forth. All this riding is not good for a dwarf's hemorrhoids.
LEGOLAS
You sit behind me this time, Gimli.
PIPPIN
No really, I want to know. Why isn't he still dead?
[THE MORANNON - DAY - OUTSIDE]
FRODO
Look Sam, the front gate of Mordor, the Morannon.
GOLLUM
And on and on...
SAM
Please Frodo, let me kill that Smeagol.
GOLLUM
Calls us Gol- hrrr... Cruel tricksy masters... Fisssh... nice fisssh...
[CAMPSITE ON PLAINS OF ROHAN - NIGHT - OUTSIDE]
PIPPIN
I'm stealing that palantir.
MERRY
Are you actually growing more stupid as time passes? Do whatever you want, just leave me out of it. I'm going to bed.
(PIPPIN tickles the sleeping GANDALF'S nose with a feather. GANDALF swats his nose in his sleep and PIPPIN replaces the palantir with a rock. PIPPIN runs a safe distance away then looks deeply into the seeing stone)
EYE OF SAURON
EYE SEE YOU! YOU CANNOT HIDE!
PIPPIN
Yoink!
(PIPPIN drops the stone then falls stiffly backwards, comatose)
MERRY
Pippin! Pippin! Are you all right?
(GANDALF approaches, smirking)
GANDALF
What a simpleton. Well, I suppose I had better see that this does not happen again.
(ARAGORN approaches)
ARAGORN
What happened? I heard a shriek!
GANDALF
(hands the palantir to ARAGORN)
Here, you keep this. I'm going to take this delinquent to Minas Tirith.
ARAGORN
Wonderful! Can I help you pack?
(ARWEN rides up with several ELVES)
ARWEN
Hi sweetie! Ohmigod, dad totally flipped when I told him I was giving up my immortality for you. He said the only way he'd allow that was if you were the king of Gondor. I don't think he was really serious, but I took him up on it and had Narsil reforged for you so you could go reclaim the throne. You WILL be king for me, right sweetie?
ARAGORN
(trying to smile) Oh, uh, yeah, great.
ARWEN
And I'm also supposed to "remind" you about the Paths of the Dead.
(ARAGORN visibly sags)
ARAGORN
I have to do THAT, too?
ARWEN
Well of course, silly! How else are you going to be king? Here's your sword and a nice banner I sewed for you all by myself which I'm sure will be very special to you and dear to your heart always.
ARAGORN
Well, in the tradition of things having far too many names, I rename this sword Anduril. Now if you'll excuse me I need to go lie down and try not to kill myself.
[ITHILIEN FOREST - DAY - OUTSIDE]
(FRODO is asleep. GOLLUM is making various incoherent threatening grunts and hoots at SAM)
SAM
Why do you always have to be so weird? Be a dear and go find us some food, why don't you?
GOLLUM
(hisses violently)
Oh, yes my preciousss, yesss... we goes... we goes...
(crawls away muttering and snickering to himself, casting suspicious glances over his shoulder)
SAM
Crazy bugger. Don't know why we have to bring him along. (mocking) "Wanna come with us? I've got the ring."
(he continues to mutter to himself as several menacing figures emerge from the gloom)
SAM
Uh oh. Wake up, Frodo! We've got visitors.
FARAMIR
Ho there you silly little men! What are you doing in my forest?
FRODO
We, uh, we were... gathering herbs, right Sam?
SAM
Oh, yes, Ithilien's the only place to go this time of year for mugwump and, er, grickleberry.
FARAMIR
You boys had better come with me. Men, blindfold them!
[DUNHARROW - EARLY MORNING - INSIDE]
ARAGORN
Oh, this is so stupid.
(he looks into the palantir)
EYE OF SAURON
EYE SEE YOU! YOU CANNOT HIDE!
ARAGORN
Er, hello, yes. Just to let you know, I'm reclaiming the throne of Gondor, and I'm going to come kick-
(SAURON begins to chuckle)
ARAGORN
Hey, I'm not kidding! I've got the blade that cut off your finger here. They fixed it for me.
(SAURON begins laughing outright)
ARAGORN
Fine, then. I'm out of here. You'd just better watch your back, is all I'm saying.
SAURON
WAIT! DON'T GO! TELL ME MORE! OHO! OHO! THIS IS PRICELESS!
(ARAGORN puts the palantir down)
LEGOLAS
So how did it go?
ARAGORN
Oh. It went well. He's really shaking. Well, it's time to ride the Paths of the Dead.
GIMLI
And those would be exactly...
ARAGORN
A tunnel through the mountain, inhabited by the ghosts of a long dead army. No living thing has ever returned from those caves once the spirits moved in.
GIMLI
Then why would we go there? And how do you know what's there if no one's ever come back?
ARAGORN
Well, technically, that army owes my family a favor. I'm going to collect on that debt.
GIMLI
And are ghosts known for their good credit?
ARAGORN
Stop asking so many questions. You're giving me a headache. Let's go.
[HENNETH ANNUN - DAY - INSIDE]
FARAMIR
So you see! Even if your lies had not been so transparent I still would easily have been able to deduce that you had been traveling with my brother, Boromir
(FRODO begins to look apprehensive)
and that you carry the One Ring
(FRODO is getting panicky and steps backward)
and that my brother, sadly, is dead.
(FRODO stops, stunned)
FRODO
Dead?
FARAMIR
Yes, didn't you know? No matter, you need not fear that I shall try to take the ring as he did.
FRODO
How the hell do you know all of this?
FARAMIR
(taps his finger on the side of his nose)
I read the script. Well, I don't see any reason to keep you here any longer. You can go on your way. Oh, and take your slimy little friend with you, he's fouling up our pool.
SAM
I haven't been near your pool!
FRODO
He means Gollum, Sam.
[PATHS OF THE DEAD - SPOOKY - INSIDE]
GIMLI
Aragorn, how much further do you suppose it is to the exit? I do not like this place...
LEGOLAS
Ha! Who'd have thought it? A dwarf frightened of a cave!
GIMLI
If I weren't scared pantless right now I'd make you eat those words...
(a ghostly form looms out of the gloom near LEGOLAS)
LEGOLAS
Boo!
(the ghost drifts away. LEGOLAS laughs heartily)
LEGOLAS
(to GIMLI) Chicken.
ARAGORN
You can relax, Gimli. The exit is just ahead.
(the company exits into the night followed by a silent spectral army)
[MINAS TIRITH - DAWN - OUTSIDE]
(GANDALF and PIPPIN approach the city on SHADOWFAX)
GANDALF
Here we are, Pippin, Minas Tirith.
PIPPIN
So we're safe then?
GANDALF
Hardly! Any day now Sauron's forces will come swarming over the river.
PIPPIN
And the dangerous part is...?
GANDALF
(to himself) Why didn't I send someone else to take him?
PIPPIN
By the way, why *aren't* you dead?
[DUNHARROW - VERY CLOUDY DAY - INSIDE]
MERRY
Everyone left without me. I feel so useless.
THEODEN
You *are* a clever little thing! How would you like to be a Rider of Rohan?
MERRY
Are meals included?
THEODEN
But of course!
MERRY
All right, I'm in.
THEODEN
Prepare yourselves men, for tomorrow we ride to war!
MERRY
Oh that's right, there's fighting involved. Well, one can always hope for a quick death.
EOWYN
(to MERRY) psst. How do you like my clever disguise?
MERRY
You do have some issues, don't you.
[MORGUL VALE - CLOUDY NIGHT - OUTSIDE]
FRODO
Boy, look at the size of that army leaving Minas Morgul. I'd sure hate to be on the receiving end of that.
SAM
And I don't like the look of those clouds that have been pouring over the mountains these last few days.
FRODO
Still, we must go on. Where did you say this secret entrance was, Gollum?
GOLLUM
Calls- never minds. Rights here its is. In this pitch black webs covered hole. But nice masters musn't worry, no, nothing inside.
FRODO
Right then. Come along Sam. Are you coming Gollum?
GOLLUM
Nooo... we'll just waits outside and picks our precious off of your corpses later. mmm... Tasty corpseses...
FRODO
Very well. Goodbye then Gollum. You've been a great help.
[SHELOB'S LAIR - PERPETUAL DARKNESS - INSIDE]
SAM
Sure is dark in here. Wish we had some light.
GALADRIEL (V.O.)
Let it be a light for you in dark places.
FRODO
Of course.
(FRODO brings out the phial, which begins to glow)
SAM
A phial. What makes it glow so?
FRODO
Earendil.
SAM
If you say so.
(FRODO and SAM continue down the tunnel. In the shadows behind them we see SHELOB )
END
I'm still not over the preview. I've got to see it again!! I wish we could at least find some stills of it.
I am so excited. I would just love to be able to see some of the pictures from it, nice and slow so I could ponder them. Do you think PJ will put out another 30 minute special like he did with FOTR? I hope so!
I thought that after I saw the preview, I'd stop wringing my hands. Unfortunately, I'm doing it worse than before!
I just read through that script again... Really didn't read all of it when I posted it... just cut and pasted.... LMAO!
(Everyone BUT Eowyn laughs)
No really, I wanna know - why aren't you dead?
We saw it last night. Had a similar experience to some of you, asking uncomprehending box-office people whether the preview was attached. But still, you don't trust them, really, until the music changes...
Like you all, the three minutes went by like three seconds for Valerie and me. We gasped at Gandalf, we yelped with delight at Treebeard, were in awe at Helm's Deep, shuddered at Grima Wormtongue (how could that guy ever get a job in a royal court? was basically Valerie's good question; my reaction is just that I feel sorry for Brad Dourif almost always playing bad guys, he's such a good actor — but, dang, he does it so well!).
And we howled when it was over. I shouted, "More! Again!" Valerie said "Is it December yet?"
So, what's that about Arwen lying, looking dead? I heard some speculation that she, not Merry, strikes the Nazgul; hope it isn't so, hope she doesn't take Merry's or Eowyn's climactic place. Anyone know?
And to the writer above who hopes Aragorn isn't tempted by Eowyn: I don't TOTALLY agree. I'm such a dimwit that I confess that almost every time, on my first readings of LOTR, I expected Aragorn to end up with Eowyn. I mean, you hardly even hear of Arwen as you simply read the books. There are places between "I'm totally uninterested" and "Arwen? Arwen who?" Like, "I'm totally committed to another whom I totally love... but if there were two of me...."
Dan
Oh the debate will rage this year about Eowyn and the love triangle, the apparent near-death scene of Arwen! And we will not know for sure until Dec 18. The leaks will come, the theories, the conflicting reports, the appearance of controversial stills!
You think the deletion of Tom Bombadil and Glorfindel and the "do Balrogs have wings?" debate was interesting! - This is going to be even better. By next week I will have an opinion. Need to see it a few more times to get set in my ways!
I never react in this manner over ANYTHING, much less a movie, but I was literally shaking when that preview was over and was very upset that went so quick. I'm morally apposed to bootlegs but I'm gonna have to get over it in this case...if I find a bootleg of this, I'm getting it! (My little brother downloaded a bootleg for me of FOTR, and I feel bad about it...but that's not going to stop me from watching it...)
I wish I could just grab someone by the shoulders and tell them exactly what I thought...except I want to do it telepathically because I can't figure out how to put it into words. It took me 2-3 days to get the words out for FOTR...this is going to be worse.
I'm going to have a heart attack if I don't calm down. My cholesterol's already too high! ;-)
I heard some speculation that she, not Merry, strikes the Nazgul
No! Arwen already stole enough thunder from Frodo at the ford.
It could be a scene from ROTK... remember the stills of Arwen and Galadriel together? or the gift-giving scene in one of the trailers? Arwen will play a good maid in waiting and stop taking credit for the hobbits' heroic deeds...
(I have a hard time believing they'd rob Eowyn like that... and Eowyn and Arwen fighting together would be bizarre.)
Agreed. It had a highly cool half-tribal, half-medieval flavor to it.
Which makes sense. What Tolkien was shooting for with the Rohirrim was the feel of the early, recently-converted to Christianity Anglo-Saxons.
I don't think it comes up much in TTT, but it will be interesting to see how PJ manages to handle the anti-PC nature of the battles in ROTK. All of the Men on Sauron's side are described as at least swarthy, and lots of them are black. Meanwhile, all the good guys are white, and lots of them are blonde.
Ought to give the PC fanatics heart failure if PJ plays it straight.
This is the only factor that I think could cause LOTR to miss out on the 2004 Best Picture and Best Director awards.
It could be a scene from ROTK... remember the stills of Arwen and Galadriel together? or the gift-giving scene in one of the trailers? Arwen will play a good maid in waiting and stop taking credit for the hobbits' heroic deeds...
I suspect Arwen is going to replace Halbarad and possibly her brothers Elladan and Elrohir. This will have her bringing the banner to Aragorn. And since in the movie Aragorn was still carrying his old sword when he left Rivendell, she probably brings him the reforged Narsil, too.
There's no real reason (except geography) why she couldn't visit Lorien and her grandma on the way to Rohan. Maybe she crosses the Misty Mountains by one of the northern passes and comes down the Anduin valley. (Of course that would be crossing a high northern pass in the middle of winter. I've been there, done that, and it ain't easy!)
If my suspicion on this is correct, she should wind up riding with Aragorn on the Paths of the Dead and participating in the battles where they capture the Corsair fleet.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
