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.
From the vantage of a Norfolk pine, three scan the horizon for a ship. Photograph by David Hiser
We had 2 of those things in our backyard at a previous house. They are pretty huge. I believe Hurricane Andrew took them both out, though.
Several interesting articles/images/video have been posted on TORN, and a few more videos have been posted on War Of The Ring.
First, since charges of racism have been brought up, yet again, TORN is pointing out an earlier article by one of their writers that deals with the subject.
Now, on with the good stuff:
There is a video link on TORN that contains a relatively short montage of scenes, most of them are included in other previews, BUT at the very end is a short clip that I haven't seen in any preview clips, Frodo's encounter with Eomer. You might find it interesting: http://img-nex.theonering.net/movies/ttt_nrk.mov
War Of The Ring Videos:
E! News interview with Elijah Wood
Small teaser trailer which aired on Comedy Central
TORN has also posted image scans of Starlog magazine's articles about The Two Towers:
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They have also posted an article from the British Film Website, Empire Online about The Return Of The King. Since it is a short article I will post it here:
You can bet your broadsword there are minor spoilers ahead, so if you'd rather not know anything about Return of The King, leave now.The Two Towers is almost upon us, which, while inordinately exciting, means that there's another twelve months until the saga is finally concluded with Return of The King. Luckily for us, Peter Jackson has a few choice morsels to share about the final film, and share he did in The Mail on Sunday yesterday.
Promising to be the most spectacular of the three films, Jackson has had to pull out all the stops for the climax, including the enhancement of the film's principal villain, the dark lord Sauron. "The Sauron in the books is sketchy at best, which makes it hard to turn him into a screen villain," says Jackson. "But imagine not really seeing Darth Vader for all three Star Wars films. You just can't do it." It's fair to say that the dark lord will have an increased presence in Jackson's adaptation, rather than being restricted to his role so far, that of a disembodied eye, but the question plaguing Jackson and his crew has been how best to represent the lord of Mordor? "You can't reduce him to being a big guy striding around in black armour, but he cannot be limited to a flaming eye, either."
Sauron's henchman, the Mouth of Sauron, will also make his debut in the third film, bedecked in a large helmet that conceals all of his face except his nose and decomposing jaws. Likewise, we'll be introduced to Boromir's father, Denethor, the Steward of Gondor, played by John Noble. ""Denethor resents never being king, and Boromir inherited that bitterness," says Noble. "It's what led Boromir to try to steal the Ring in the first film. It is my job to show the humanity of the man, he is literally driven mad by grief and fear."
What we can take for granted is that the action set-pieces, which have multiplied in scope from part one to part two, will reach an all-time high with the final leg of the tale. Jackson promises bigger and better battles that will make the fight for Helm's Deep look like a minor barny down the Rat & Parrot. "The battles will be the biggest you have ever seen," says Jackson of the third film. "We have a piece of software that allows us to have 200,000 computer-generated extras fight each other. You simply press a button, sit back and watch these enormous battles unfold before your eyes."
The final scene of the film, which takes place across the landscape of the Grey Havens is tipped by the director to be his favourite of all three films, the high point of the story and what everything has been working towards. "To me, it's a culmination of the entire story," he says." It represents what it is to give and what it is to lose. That scene is probably the most powerful part of the entire film."
Another year to wait? It is a cruel world indeed.
TTT is two weeks away! Wahooo.
Also, I think I disagree with this statement from the article you posted:
""Denethor resents never being king, and Boromir inherited that bitterness," says Noble. "It's what led Boromir to try to steal the Ring in the first film."
I had the distinct impression (which could very well be wrong) that of the two brothers Faramir was by far the more capable leader and would be the better Steward. This resentment is why Denethor sends him out on dangerous errands and such and why Boromir is so eager to do something to eclipse his brother. Hence the lure of the ring to Boromir.
Yawn....zzz...snort...uh...good morning...grumble, grumble, grumble....
"It" went until after midnight for the second night in a row. Last night was the first with the orchestra, so everything changed again...
But I'm just whiney 'cause I'm tired. Tonight is the dress rehearsal with the full audience. Even if things go wrong they won't stop and start tonight unless it's major. With any luck I should be home by 10:00 p.m. tonight. And by Friday things will be busy, but running smoothly.
Always works that way. Always have to remind myself that this is the ugly week.
Have I missed breakfast?
I understand that. My dad died when I was in college. When I came home after a very rough fall quarter (we had an extended Christmas break - five weeks), I just needed to rest. Then I find out my aunt (dad's sister) had decided it was too much trouble for the family to eat together on Christmas day and that we'd just have a dinner at a community center on Christmas Eve.
I threw a fit and my mom hosted the family at our house. It's my last really good Christmas memory with my dad's extended family.
Consider this your safe place. We're the family members you don't have to worry about offending. You can tell us anything.
And when you're back out there in the marketplace this will be a distant memory.
Have I missed breakfast?
Nope, you're just in time.
Fried eggs and bacon, sausage patties and hash browns. I've made a stack of french toast with maple syrup for those who want some, and there's plenty of hot, strong coffee (from my new coffee pot) and fresh orange juice to wash it down with.
Welcome to The Hobbit Hole Kevin. Let me just review a few of our rules.
1. You'll need to read through all of the previous 45,000+ posts to be able to stay on topic. There will be a test.
2. Remember that you must at all times show respect to the dwarves in deference to their bravery, their craftsmanship and their incredible good looks. (where is Stinky?)
3. No double posting or "spamming" is allowed and you should avoid at all costs posts ending in two or more zeros. Those belong to the dwarves.
Welcome Home!
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