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.
Welcome to the Hobbit Hole htur_75! I will let HairOfTheDog know to add you to the ping list for the Green Dragon Inn reading group.
It is indeed a wonderful movie, to stand up to so much re-watching, re-hashing, and analysis. Still teared me up on fifteenth viewing. And when the music changes preparatory to the previews -- fuggedaboudit!
Dan
A bit tired - stayed up too late last night. Is there Daylight Savings Time in the Shire? All my schedules are out of whack and I'm running late for everything. Oh well, at least I'm more in synch with Kitty's schedule!
I was going to post an update yesterday, but I had to do my taxes, and got too depressed. I had to pay more money. Not only no refund but had to write a big ole check too. I made it out to "Blood Sucking Leeches" you thing they will cash it? Still blinking.
Anyway, I've started reading FOTR to myself again. I was struck more than ever by how closely PJ stuck to Tolkien's words during the party and when Bilbo departs! It's word for word in most parts. I can just see it. Like when Bilbo says "I want to see mountains again, Gandalf--mountains;" and the discussion between Bilbo and Gandalf about him leaving the Ring to Frodo. I think that is what I am most grateful to PJ for...sticking so closely to the words that I've loved so long. It's like he realized that Mr. Tolkien was "the best" at saying what he wanted to have said and by using them almost unaltered in the script, he acknowledged it publicly.
Gosh, I'm pretty gabby this morning.
I haven't gotten over last year's taxes yet. I'm sure the only time there were taxes in the Shire was during Sharkey's reign.
I know the BBC did a version that is supposed to be very good. It's in our church library. I have never seen it, though.
I read the Narnia series when I was a teenager and liked them, but it just goes to show that I'm not a big fantasy reader. There were good but I had no desire to re-read them.
Tolkien is truly a big exception for me. I never get tired of reading The LOTR and can pick up a book and begin reading anywhere in it and enjoy it. No other fantasy story (or any other genre for that matter) appeals to me like LOTR.
I like Watership Down a lot, though.
Most books I read are quick paperbacks that I enjoy for a moment and then get tossed into the Goodwill bin or donated to the church or passed along to my mom. If I keep something, then you know I liked it a lot! Remember, my LOTR books are from the mid-70s! ;-)
Did you ever get your Two Towers back? Did you see Merry and Pippin on the front?
Did you see where a poster on the time machine thread said he would use the time machine to go back to the original constitutional convention and give the founders a heads up on what was coming?
Anyway, I recommend Narnia. Aren't your boys really too little for Watership Down? But if you personally like that story, you might like Tailchaser's Song, by Tad Williams. It's like Watership Down, only with cats. Cat fans will also like that story.
The pointing guy is the director of the films, Peter Jackson (known affectionately as PJ).
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