The New Hobbit Hole

[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

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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.

[Sam Cree]

That bloody cat story was ridiculous, Hair, but very funny.

I recommend getting the "Letters," reading them gave me insights into LOTR and Tolkien that I didn't know were there. Plus, they are entertaining reading.

[HairOfTheDog]

ridiculous, Hair, but very funny.

Heh. Doesn't get much better than that!

The cat had to have his tail amputated. The vet said there was not a rich enough blood supply to a cat's tail to heal well from infection. I said "I beg to differ about the amount of blood flow". heh.

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

The cat had to have his tail amputated

Poor kitty... how did he fare sans tail?

[HairOfTheDog]

He was fine! - just a bit stubby!

I am watching that "Page to Screen" special on Bravo. Tom Bombadil just died! - Couldn't fit him! Bummer.

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

I was wondering if he might have picked up a new nickname... "Stumpy", for instance.

Watching football here, missed the Bravo special. It was on before we got home, anyway.

[HairOfTheDog]

Look for it in your schedule... Bravo replays stuff over and over.

It is worth it for interviews that are new. They are not just re-using interview bits, this is new information! Haven't seen any spoiler footage yet that was not in the trailers.

[HairOfTheDog]

My room-mate thought his tail looked like a thumb. Not sure why! LOL!

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

I guess I'm odd. (Well, duh.)

I don't like seeing too many previews, not just because of spoilers... for me, it's like window shopping (I don't like window shopping, either.) What I'm fumbling around trying to say is, I don't like delayed gratification... I don't want to see bits and pieces, I want it all... and if I can't have it all yet, then I won't look at it until I can have it all.

Am I making any sense?

Sometimes it's hard to tell....

[HairOfTheDog]

I know you don't like spoilers! I was trying to tell you it was OK to watch because it didn't have spoiler footage! Ha!

It is about the first steps of making it really - From Page to Screen. They talked about the first 2-film screenplay written for Mirimax... The early decision to use Stuart Townsend for Aragorn, Elijah sending his audition tape.... that kind of stuff.

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

I guess I didn't explain it well... I don't like seeing too many previews, because they're not the movie. It's too frustrating to me, seeing the previews and interviews and background material, but not being able to see The Movie, yet. So, I'd just rather not see all the "lead up" material. It is easier for me to be patient, that way.

[SuziQ]

Sir SuziQ came downstairs and told me when it came on at 11pm EST here. I started taping about 2 minutes in to it. We'll watch it tomorrow.

[HairOfTheDog]

OK Bear! - I will not force you! LOL! - I am going to watch the last few minutes here and then go to bed!

Talk to you a bit in the morning before I leave. Tomorrow is the day of many errands. Taking a friend who had cataract surgery today in for a follow up appointment, because he isn't supposed to drive yet. Then we will go look at saddles!

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

OK, have a good night, and a good day tomorrow as well.

I'll be glad when I can post during the day, again... soon, I hope.

By the way, we're now thinking of going to The Movie the night of the 18th, 'cause we can go to a late showing if we have to... I'll most likely be off on the 19th, and Rose can take the day off if she needs to...

[ecurbh]

All in all, a great special with a few new slants on things. This is the first special I have seen that showed video footage of Tolkien - most of them use the same few photos.

My only complaint is that the music mix was too high, making it often difficult to hear what people were saying.

[ksen]

is the movie about Hitomi and Van and Allan?

Yes, it is about Hitomi being summoned to Gaia by Van's brother Dune (also known as Lord Fulkan). Hitomi ends up calling Escaflowne and Van uses it to defeat his brother's underling who has a similar suit of armor.

I won't tell you how the movie ends, in case you ever get a chance to see it.

[ksen]

Congratulations IOTN! Shoot for August 14, it is a VERY good day. ;^)

[Lil'freeper]

Mornin' all! Happy Tuesday. 8 days to go!

[Sam Cree]

Morning, Lil'freeper, Morning All

[Sam Cree]

So, the cat did not need its tail for balance, for all the precision jumping around that cats do?

[HairOfTheDog]

Good morning! - Here is something to do while we wait!

LoTR Crossword Puzzle