Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

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
KEYWORDS: 2jmbombadil; allyourprecious; balroghotwings; bearspamandeggs; blowitoutyershorts; breecheese; buffdragons; cartonofspam; cherofthedog; closetsneakers; corinhonestsnaig; corinspamfunkle; corinspamhands; depraveddwarves; dwarfdeodorant; dwarfdiapers; dwarfgaloshes; dwarfkingcorinspam; dwarfspamwiches; dwarftossing; elffriends; elfspam; elvesruleforever; elvishfootfetish; emoryuniversity; endlesschitchat; foolofatook; frododigspipeweed; funklestormhands; fuzzycritters; giddygnadspam; girlyarmor; gnadbelchspam; gnaddwarfhunk; gnadspam; gnadthreadkiller; gollumthegreat; gondorianspamogram; goodbyeoldhole; greeneggsandspam; hobbitschmobbit; holediggingwomen; hotdogsmartypants; itcomesinpints; itsourhagspam; itsourspamnow; jenbneinerspam; jenmcsspam; keeblerelves; khazaddumdedumdum; ksenlovesspam; ksenshamelessspam; ksensneakspam; ksenspamaddict; latenightfunklators; lilspammer; lordoftherings; lordofthespam; lorenahobbit; menareweak; michaeldobbs; midgetporn; namariejensneak; nanowrimosneak; oblivionspam; orclust; otdefunklator; oversneakspamtax; pints; pippintook; pointyelfshoes; politerosespam; precious; preciousparty; preciousspam; rightwingpsychospam; rightwingspamsneak; rightwingsuperspam; rmdbreakfastspam; rmdlembasspam; rmdospam; rosiespamangel; ruthlesssnootyelves; rwrfannyspam; samwisethebrave; scottish; seamusspamfist; sissyelves; skivielessgondorian; smeagingsneakol; smeagolthesupreme; sneakingspam; sneakle; sneakping; sneakses; sneaktaxoverspam; snoots; snowpants; spameggssausagespam; spamfreesneaking; spamisnotprecious; spamminghair; squarehandspampants; stormsneakspamhands; stormspamsneakpants; superstarsmeagol; teasedhair; threadvandals; toking; tolkien; tricksesthieveses; twerentbear; twopantsdupree; velveeeeeeeta; weescarves; whistlinghobbits
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 321-340341-360361-380 ... 48,321-48,323 next last
To: ksen
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.

I thought that was a very interesting dramatic choice to make. I think you're daughter is right, it's definitely that Frodo is slowly becoming a wraith himself. In fact, the most dramatic Frodo-screeching moment comes just after Aragorn says, "He's passing into the shadow world...he'll soon become a wraith like them." The wraiths howl and screech, and he sort-of screeches in response. Perhaps Frodo's answering screech added a little extra impetus to Aragorn and Sam looking for the athelas plant--it was pretty scary that Aragorn left them a bit defenseless at that moment while he went off looking for the herb. It brings out just how perilous Frodo's situation really was, that worse than being killed or injured by the Nazgul that lurked seemingly all around them would be losing Frodo to that shadow world--losing his very soul.

I think the same connection is illustrated when Frodo almost dies after the Nazgul are "drowned." It's almost as if he drowns himself--it really brings out that connection that he has with them, and it's quite frightening. I have a feeling this connection will come back in at least the final movie if not TTT, it will be interesting to see how they handle that.

341 posted on 03/18/2002 9:41:42 AM PST by Penny1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 334 | View Replies]

To: carton253
I am a very big fan of subtle acting, and ITA about that moment with Frodo on the beach. There are lots of little moments like that, and I think Viggo is very similar in his acting style. The other thing I notice about the principle actors in this movie is how good they are in the background. When other people are talking, even when the camera is focused on another character, they are always intensely involved in the scene and in what the other characters are doing or saying. It provides a lot more depth to the characters and to the richness of the story and highlights the relationships as well.

Some of my favorite character/acting moments happen when the person isn't saying a word.

342 posted on 03/18/2002 9:47:44 AM PST by Penny1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 338 | View Replies]

To: carton253
I am pretty much an unemotional movie viewer- I don't really care for 'emotional' movies. Flicks like Die Hard are my favorites, not tearjerkers. I'm the obnoxious teen in the back row who makes the "If you kill him, they will come" comments during the "mega-funeral-with-mourners-coming-for-miles-to-remember-the-boy-with-cancer-who-died-saving-a-puppy" scenes.

However... I have come out of LotR with red-rimmed eyes, crying for a character who I don't care for that much and am more likely to accuse than to praise. I've wept for Gandalf, even though I know the story inside out. And Sam's devotion to Frodo leaves me crying almost every time.

That's what I call a movie that deserves Oscar nominations, acclaim, and all my spare cash. Wonder whether there's a chance of seeing it this week?

343 posted on 03/18/2002 9:52:39 AM PST by JenB
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 340 | View Replies]

To: JenB
Wonder whether there's a chance of seeing it this week?

Hehehe...there's always a chance...where there's a will there's a way. ;)

I CAN'T WAIT till the DVD comes out and we can all watch it and chat online together!!!!

344 posted on 03/18/2002 9:55:43 AM PST by Penny1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 343 | View Replies]

To: Penny1
Hi Penny! How are you? Missed chatting with you this weekend!

Ohh, our DVD night is gonna be so fun. We have to decide, though, watch the short version or wait for the expanded director's cut?

345 posted on 03/18/2002 10:00:57 AM PST by JenB
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 344 | View Replies]

To: JenB
Decisions! Decisions! :)
346 posted on 03/18/2002 10:01:45 AM PST by Overtaxed
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 345 | View Replies]

To: JenB
I don't know about anyone else, but I'm sure not going to want to wait... ;)

But then, I'm certainly not the most patient person on the planet either. Even if you don't want to buy the theatrical version, those who don't buy it could still rent it.

:)

I missed chatting with everyone too! I feel like I missed all kinds of good conversation, but I did have fun watching my nephew play in the snow so I guess it's a fair trade. ;) Glad to be back though, will we be chatting tonight?

347 posted on 03/18/2002 10:06:48 AM PST by Penny1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 345 | View Replies]

To: Penny1
I hope so... I have a math test at 6, and then have a meeting until nearly 9, but after that I'll be around. (Eastern time zone, which makes things easier since most of us are on Pacific time and will be eating dinner while I'm slogging away at equations).
348 posted on 03/18/2002 10:13:51 AM PST by JenB
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 347 | View Replies]

To: JenB
I'm getting both. The DVD comes out in July/August... and the Director's cut right before the 2nd movie. (that's the latest I heard).

Okay, first of all, I have to get a DVD player.

349 posted on 03/18/2002 11:00:07 AM PST by carton253
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 345 | View Replies]

To: carton253
I have a DVD player built into my computer. Of course, watching the DVD and chatting at the same time would be a challenge...
350 posted on 03/18/2002 11:11:08 AM PST by JenB
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 349 | View Replies]

To: JenB
Wow! I need to buy a new computer since my laptop died. I want to get one that does everything (sounds like your computer does that).

Hopefully, I can get one around July.

351 posted on 03/18/2002 11:20:00 AM PST by carton253
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 350 | View Replies]

To: HairOfTheDog
I think Lucius just said something naughty!

Only if one has a 'naughty' mind, heh, heh!

352 posted on 03/18/2002 12:28:19 PM PST by Lucius Cornelius Sulla
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 322 | View Replies]

To: Lucius Cornelius Sulla
I watched his opening monologue, hoping for some LotR references, and decided I couldn't stomach it enough to watch the rest of the show.

I'm glad to know I didn't miss anything LotR-related.

353 posted on 03/18/2002 12:33:08 PM PST by Penny1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 313 | View Replies]

To: Lucius Cornelius Sulla;JenB
Who me? Guilty - very naughty indeed!

Hey - Jen - That pic is back up - scroll up!

354 posted on 03/18/2002 12:35:04 PM PST by HairOfTheDog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 352 | View Replies]

To: carton253
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.

Yes McFadden's playing of The Bruce, someone who wants to do right, but is sent by his twisted father (what an evil man), down a path of betrayal, but is forgiven, and eventually redeems himself, William Wallace, and Scotland in the final scene is spellbinding.

355 posted on 03/18/2002 12:36:08 PM PST by Lucius Cornelius Sulla
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 340 | View Replies]

To: HairOfTheDog; JenB; Penny1
I'm home! Now I'll have to sit and read up on all you have been talking about! I'll do it tonight.
356 posted on 03/18/2002 1:57:52 PM PST by 2Jedismom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 354 | View Replies]

To: 2Jedismom
Welcome home! I've been thinking about you...hope you and your family are doing okay.

Awfully nice to have you back!

357 posted on 03/18/2002 2:13:11 PM PST by Penny1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 356 | View Replies]

To: carton253
Yes and Yes on the Aragorn & the Legolas scenes. I LOVE the part where he shoots the 3 arrows.

One of my favorite parts is a very small one; the very first close-up of Frodo's face, as Gandalf is arriving. Just the total innocence & the shine of youth; which of course dims as the movie progresses. But that first shot of him is precious.

I can't wait for Sunday night; I NEVER watch the Academy Awards but I will this year! Can't wait to hear Enya sing "May it Be". I'm listening to it now.:)

358 posted on 03/18/2002 2:17:25 PM PST by MozartLover
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 338 | View Replies]

To: 2Jedismom
Welcome Back!

I have been thinking about you... I hope you and your husband are doing as well as can be.

359 posted on 03/18/2002 2:45:48 PM PST by HairOfTheDog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 356 | View Replies]

To: MozartLover
Would you like to join our hobbity Yahoo egroup?... we are planning to use the chat room there to share comments about the Oscars easier than posting here... FReepmail me for instructions if you would like to... We will likely be monitoring the usual live thread the ladies put up here too...
360 posted on 03/18/2002 2:49:42 PM PST by HairOfTheDog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 358 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 321-340341-360361-380 ... 48,321-48,323 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson