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
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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.
Here is the one I got: (Philips DVD Players)
DVDQ50AT
Ultra Slim Design
Philips makes your movies come to life with the DVDQ50AT DVD Player with Faroudja FLI2200 state-of-the-art Progressive Scan Technology. Its digitally sharp display has pixel by pixel film and video based motion interpolation with frame x frame 3:2 and 2:2 pulldown compensation. It has the ability to playback DVD Video, Video CD, and Audio CD, CD-R/RWs. In addition, this technologically advanced DVD Player is MP3-CD compatible. Its 5-disc Resume feature allows viewers to pick-up where they left off on their 5 most recently viewed DVD titles. For sharper, clearer sound it has Optical and Coaxial Audio Outputs with integrated AC-3 and DTS decoding.
Let me see if I can translate...
Philips makes your movies come to life with the DVDQ50AT DVD Player with Faroudja FLI2200 state-of-the-art progressive Scan Technology. Its digitally sharp display has pixel by pixel film and video based motion interpolation with frame x frame 3:2 and 2:2 pulldown compensation.
Translation: It makes a pretty-looking picture.
It has the ability to playback DVD Video, Video CD, and Audio CD, CD-R/RWs. In addition, this technologically advanced DVD Player is MP3-CD compatible.
Translation: It plays lots of formats.
Its 5-disc Resume feature allows viewers to pick-up where they left off on their 5 most recently viewed DVD titles.
Translation: It plays 5 discs, and remembers where you quit watching them.
For sharper, clearer sound it has Optical and Coaxial Audio Outputs with integrated AC-3 and DTS decoding.
Translation: It sounds real good.
And actually, it only has one disk slot, so I don't know how it remembers 5 disks and where I left off... Haven't gotten there on my RTFM yet! They had the multi-disk players, I just didn't see the point.
Hair, you just keep cramming them in till no more will fit...then use a hammer to drive in 1 more...pretty neat doohickie yuh got there...
In its first day of release, the FOTR DVD and VHS sales were at record highs. with 1.27 million copies. It stomped all over the previous record set by Harry Potter at 1.25. Distributors are seeing unprecedented demand for it, and the sales are expected to continue after its Tuesday release. Here's more.
So, are we tired hobbitses from watching our new DVDs all night?...Hmmm? grumble grumble grumble....
In a report from People News, Sean Connery was originally given the offer to play Gandalf in the trilogy, but turned it down, claiming he did not understand the script. "I didn't understand the script when they sent it to me. Bobbits? Hobbits?" states Connery. Read more.
Rocko et al: Yes, we experienced the "glitch." We ended up going back to the scene menu and moving on. Was the scene with Legolas at a distance? Like the outside of a house? I'm nearsighted enough to just have missed him. Or did we see him close up? Either way, it's good to know it's not a problem with our DVD.
SuziQ: We checked the library. It's on hold or checked out at all six of our county branches. But we'll keep trying. We don't leave until 8/17.
LCS: Can't help you with the DVD selection. We're slumming it and watching it on my son's Playstation II. There's a DVD purchase in the future, just not yet.
Having said that, it's a beautiful day here, but the heat returns this weekend. We could still use more rain. I'm almost finished re-reading The Two Towers (and I need to check in at the Green Dragon). Sam just whacked Gollum (yet not hard enough) and took off to find Frodo...hmmmm...wonder what will happen when I finish tonite?
Don't tell me okay?: 
Welcome to the Hobbit Hole.
Gollum is a key figure and an integral part of the story. I'm not sure I'd call him "the" major player...
Tell us Smeagol (carton), are you "the" major player? And what say the hobbitses?
Personally, I think Gimli is the central character...
I would tend to agree...
Without my murder of Deagol, no ring... therefore no adventure... you all would be watching reruns of Wagon Train and committing on how good the cows look.
Without me, Frodo WOULD HAVE NEVER MADE IT TO MOUNT DOOM So, chalk one up for Smeagol.
Without me, who would Sam talk to in The Two Towers... All Frodo can manage is... "The ring is so heavy..." Wimpy little hobbit. I carried it for years... never once complained about the weight.
Without me, there would be no laughs... because even if I'm evil, I'm funny.
Without me, Aragorn would have nevered learned that I told Sauron about Baggins... and Aragorn wouldn't share that with Gandalf who researched the ring and found out all about it...
So, am I a major player... absolutely. I contribute more to the story than silly old dwarves...
And without me, NOW LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY... The ring would have never been cast into Mt. Doom because FRODO COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT. The fact that I slipped and fell in is a moot point. The truth is the world was saved because of ME! SMEAGOL! SMEAGOL! SMEAGOL!
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