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.
I think Lucius just said something naughty!
Re skipping the barf alert.... I did call it horrid after all! you were warned!
HULLO ALL! - Good Morning!
Sometimes I think that Tolkien set out to write one book and when he introduces Aragorn, the book changes in spite of his intention. I've had plays do that. I set out to write one play and when a character is introduced, the whole play changes.
Of course, I'm not Tolkien and it is my opinion... but the book changes so radically at Bree, it is just something I wonder. In the book he first set out to write Bombadil and Goldberry were great characters. In the book he ended up with they don't serve any purpose and contrasted against the other characters seem to be shallow and silly.
Though (and it only serves notice on his genius), he never forgets them and brings up Bombadil at the Council of Elrond and at the end of the book.
I agree. I just went and saw it for the fourth time, I know I’m just a piker compared to the rest of you ;^), and I just wanted to share a couple of observations.
The first one my daughter actually brought to my attention. After Frodo gets stabbed on Weathertop he is raced to a place where Strider tries to slow down the poison using the Asenath(?) weed. Anyway, during that part you can hear the Riders screeching in the background and Frodo lets out a holler as well. I thought he was just screeching with pain, but my daughter believes that he was answering the Riders, or calling them(?), since he was being slowly turned into a wraith because of his wound.
The second was that everytime I see the movie the more I like Boromir. His story is a very sad and tragic one. He is a noble man who would act with the utmost honor in any other situation, but the Ring works its deviltry on him and he succumbs.
There are many scenes that show Boromir’s “softer” side. The scenes that immediately come to mind are: 1) where he is training Merry & Pippin in how to sword fight; 2) in the mines of Moria, when Balin’s tomb is discovered and Gandalf is reading from the book he found, it is Boromir that comes up behind Gimli and lays a comforting hand on Gimli’s shoulder; and 3) Boromir’s bravery in attempting to defend Merry & Pippin, he has taken two arrows already is on his knees for what should have been the last time, but he looks up and sees Merry & Pippin looking at him and he gathers the strength to take out another few dozen orcs in a futile attempt to save them. (Wow, I got a little misty-eyed just typing that)
Anyway, that’s what I wanted to share with you all.
BTW, where is this TT trailer that I have heard rumored about? I waited until the end of the credits on Saturday night, and nothing. ;^(
-ksen
I agree that I sympathize more with Boromir from the images in the film, than I did before the film.
TTT trailer - not out yet... latest rumors as to when it will be included are between the 22 and 29th of this month. I am sure you will hear us announce when it is actually out! According to the rumors, it will play as soon as the screen goes to black from Frodo and Sam's final scene... Before the credits... so no one should miss it.
Thanks for the update on the TT trailer. My daughter was telling me she cried four times. Once at Gandalf's "death", next at Boromir's death, then when Frodo pulls Sam into his boat and they start hugging, and finally at the final credits, from thinking about all the rest.
I told her that I cry at the closing credits too, because I want to see the next films and they have not been released yet! ;^)
-ksen
I'm hoping to see it again on Saturday; maybe I'll get to see the TT trailer.......
I remembered the "it comes in pint?" scene as well.
Even now after seeing it 8 times, the most stunning visual is Legolas. I am still amazed at how fast he fired those three shots. I don't think it was editing either. (Of course, if you don't have to aim it might make things go faster) And when he stuck the arrow in the Urak Hai's head and then shot it.
The whole fight between Aragorn and Lurtz. The first time I saw it, when Lurtz was going to fire point blank at Boromir (and even though I knew Boromir died) I kept saying "come on Aragorn.. come on Aragorn." When Aragorn comes flying into the scene and body slams Lurtz, I pumped my fist in response.
It really is a fabulous movie. Then the next couple of times I saw it, the more emotional scenes overwhelmed me.
The last time I saw it, I watched Frodo on the beach getting ready to leave the fellowship. What I love about Elijah Woods' acting is that it is so subtle. He is holding the ring and he hears Gandalf's face. The reaction of his face is sublime and wonderful...
I can see it again. I'm just waiting for the Two Towers trailer.
And yes, for the record, my favorite character is the angst-ridden Robert the Bruce. More for the fine acting job Angus McFadden did. In fact, I use his performance as a text book for my acting classes. Sort of like Angus 101.
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.