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The New Hobbit Hole

Posted on 03/14/2002 5:07:26 AM PST by HairOfTheDog

Welcome to The New Hobbit Hole

Concerning Hobbits

The New Hobbit Chronicles

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.


TOPICS: Books/Literature; Chit/Chat; Poetry; TV/Movies; The Hobbit Hole
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To: Bear_in_RoseBear
Good morning!

I have made progress by getting the kitchen cleaned up, now to focus on the living room and the place will be fit for company!

I will be doing as much of the marathon as my brother can stand today too!
18,101 posted on 08/11/2002 10:40:21 AM PDT by HairOfTheDog
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To: Bear_in_RoseBear
Taking a break from mowing. It's very hot, but not as hot as it could be...only about 90 degrees.
18,102 posted on 08/11/2002 10:51:54 AM PDT by 2Jedismom
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To: HairOfTheDog; Overtaxed
It was probably sent to him by an auntie he has over in the old country. She send them every year, sweet lady.

See we really are all alike. Some cultures send fruitcake...

18,103 posted on 08/11/2002 11:25:18 AM PDT by Corin Stormhands
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To: JenB; 2Jedismom
I was gonna say, no, that's not boring - but you're right, it is.

Some days, I take great comfort in "boring."

18,104 posted on 08/11/2002 11:28:14 AM PDT by Corin Stormhands
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To: Corin Stormhands
You know, though...I would have really enjoyed taking the kids in one of those Sportages. It would have been great to drive through town with the top off and the wind blowing through their (scant) hair. It would have been a taste of something they've never experienced before! LOL

I seriously dreamed of it before we got there and then the guy wouldn't show it to us. Actually said "Oh, you don't want that...not enough room."
18,105 posted on 08/11/2002 1:00:23 PM PDT by 2Jedismom
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To: ecurbh
...Diamondbacks vs Florida.

I thought you said it was a major-league game. ;^)

18,106 posted on 08/11/2002 1:41:25 PM PDT by ksen
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To: WFTR
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the movie with us. It reminded me of the old adage, "Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it." ;^)

I think some jumped on you a little too harshly, after all, you were invited to post your objections. I understand where you are coming from, but I don't get to the same place you got to.

I think Jackson did an excellent job translating Tolkien's vision to the big screen. He also did it in such a way as to draw in people who had not been exposed to JRRT's work and would have gone their whole lives missing out on one of life's more pleasant experiences.

Before this movie my wife had no interest in things Tolkien. We saw the movie about 8 or 9 times in the theatre together. She has read through the whole trilogy in about a week and a half. That is amazing to me because my wife is not a big reader, nevermind a reader of fantasy.

I will always be indebted to PJ for opening this world up for my wife to enjoy, so that we can now enjoy it together.
18,107 posted on 08/11/2002 1:59:02 PM PDT by ksen
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To: ksen
I think some jumped on you a little too harshly, after all, you were invited to post your objections.

Where? I missed that part and have been wondering about it...

18,108 posted on 08/11/2002 2:01:00 PM PDT by 2Jedismom
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To: 2Jedismom; WFTR; HairOfTheDog
Where?

Over on the Green Dragon thread. Hair and I invited WFTR to post his objections over here.

18,109 posted on 08/11/2002 2:03:50 PM PDT by ksen
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To: ksen
Ohhhhh! Well, that explains a lot. Did anyone warn us that a virtual stranger might come and do this in our Hole? I was taken aback.

I might have missed the warning, so that's why I ask...I have been known to miss a thing now and then on the thread, though I try not to!

Not that we had to have a warning...but it did take me by surprise that a person from seemly nowhere, that I don't recall every hearing from before in the Hole would come in and lay out thirty complaints!
18,110 posted on 08/11/2002 2:08:27 PM PDT by 2Jedismom
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To: 2Jedismom; HairOfTheDog; WFTR
...it did take me by surprise that a person from seemly nowhere, that I don't recall every hearing from before in the Hole would come in and lay out thirty complaints!

I didn't think to come over and warn you folks, sorry. WFTR said that he had finally watched the movie and had a list of about 10 items that he "hated." I think I made the first invite because I wanted to hear what he had to say and I thought Hair would appreciate that discussion over on this thread rather than at the Green Dragon.

I was actually quite surprised at the contents of WFTR's list and then again at the reaction it evoked from our normally laid back hobbity types.

If I invite someone over to share a controversial point of view again I will give you all a fair warning.

18,111 posted on 08/11/2002 2:24:42 PM PDT by ksen
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To: ksen
Thanks for your comments. I'm still disappointed in the movie, but at least this way I won't have to pay to see the next two installments. I'm still recovering from something, and I'm happy not to think about it anymore.
18,112 posted on 08/11/2002 3:22:00 PM PDT by WFTR
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To: ksen; HairOfTheDog; 2Jedismom; WFTR; Corin Stormhands
I was actually quite surprised at the contents of WFTR's list and then again at the reaction it evoked from our normally laid back hobbity types.

If I invite someone over to share a controversial point of view again I will give you all a fair warning.

Hehehe....yes. Be careful what you wish for. But you have to admire WFTR for taking us at our word. I believe Hair and Corin were positively flapped! (and I was waiting for 2JM to start flapping)

ksen, next time request the hate list in smaller sections so we don't feel so blitzed.

18,113 posted on 08/11/2002 3:29:56 PM PDT by Overtaxed
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To: Overtaxed; WFTR; HairOfTheDog; Lucius Cornelius Sulla; 2Jedismom; ksen; g'nad
I believe Hair and Corin were positively flapped!

A dwarf is never "flapped!"

I, quite frankly, think this whole thing with WFTR's comments has been blown out of proportion. I'm sure WFTR is a nice guy, and he does some good work on his web site. I, along with most of the posters here, happen to disagree with his assessment of the movie.

I never felt his comments were "personal." I was never "flapped." And I saw the invitation over at The Green Dragon and actually made it a point to make sure I caught his post over here.

I have no problem with folks who don't like the movie (or even the book - horrors). Like I said, that's a matter of opinion and theirs is wrong...

But I read the list and, while I can only assume he didn't mean it this way, it read like "This is what is wrong with the movie and you guys are stoopid if you can't see it..."

I saw lots of things that were different in the movie. But I didn't let that stop my enjoyment. And it apparently didn't stop it for anyone else here. But that's why I thought the list of 30 was picking at nits.

It's off to Took's Corner for me...

18,114 posted on 08/11/2002 4:02:21 PM PDT by Corin Stormhands
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To: Corin Stormhands
My apologies Master Dwarf! :)

Some on his list I thought were rather ...ahem... "minor" points and I let them pass while a few of them I actually agreed with. I guess I'm just not enough of a purist or am enough of a realist to accept the fact that the movie can't be just like the book.

Have some watermelon (water "mellon"? nyuck, nyuck, nyuck!) I'm all out of wings!

18,115 posted on 08/11/2002 4:09:17 PM PDT by Overtaxed
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To: Overtaxed
I'm all out of wings!

Out of wings? NOoooooooooooooo!

18,116 posted on 08/11/2002 4:16:55 PM PDT by Corin Stormhands
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To: Corin Stormhands
Hehehe...But I did have potato skins with sour cream and red meat "off" the bone (ribeyes). I think I need to go on the Patooie diet! Well...Mediterranean diet at least. I'm making gnocchi out of the potato innards.
18,117 posted on 08/11/2002 4:24:52 PM PDT by Overtaxed
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To: Overtaxed
Hey you get wine with the Mediterranean diet...
18,118 posted on 08/11/2002 4:28:14 PM PDT by Corin Stormhands
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To: Corin Stormhands
Yeah. I'll have to trade the pints for Winyards. Guess that means I have to finish that six pack soon.
18,119 posted on 08/11/2002 4:29:56 PM PDT by Overtaxed
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To: Overtaxed
Guess that means I have to finish that six pack soon. Or switch to a nice Greek Beer!
18,120 posted on 08/11/2002 4:49:29 PM PDT by Corin Stormhands
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