The New Hobbit Hole

[JenB]

Ohh, Rickman would have been perfect for Denethor! He's a great actor - I love him. Of course I've only seen him in Sense and Sensibility, Galaxy Quest, and Harry Potter but he was great in all of them. He was one of the few really bright spots in the Potter movie, and I'll never forget him as Colonel Brandon. I could see him as Denethor, last (as he sees it) of a noble line, now presiding over the destruction of the world, going sadly and grandly to the grave...

[Penny1]

Re: The Oscars...

I read a short "interview" with PJ and Fran on imladris.net, and it made me feel a lot better about the whole Oscars business. Like many of you, I don't expect LotR to take the major awards except for supporting actor, though I do expect technical awards. But in reading the interview, they were saying that while they were hoping for enough box office success to continue with the other movies, they were completely surprised by the critical praise the movie received. Much as I would love to see them take the top honors, and much as I believe they all deserve it for the quality of every aspect of the movie (especially the performances), I won't be devastated if they don't. I think they're all just thrilled and surprised to have received the nominations.

Now...if neither Viggo nor Elijah get nominated for at least one of the upcoming movies, I will be very upset. That's assuming they didn't suddenly lose all of their talent and focus between filming the first movie and filming the other two. ;)

[DonnerT]

Then you're saying you play favorites with your kids and are insane, intent on committing suicide in a dramatic way because you're depressed and convinced you're fighting a losing battle?

---

A stern, cold, man even though I tear up throughout the book.

[DonnerT]

How about a ring wraith or the Nazgul King?

[carton253]

No... not until you audition...

[DonnerT]

Ok I give up. Don't have the time anyway.

[ksen]

You should check out Costner's Robin Hood. Rickman plays the Sheriff of Nottingham and does an outstanding job. Wasn't he in the first Die Hard as well?

-ksen

[DonnerT]

Why did you clip Baywinds mane?

[JenB]

I forgot that he was in Die Hard... right, the terrorist. He was great there, too, even if he did get knocked off by Bruce Willis.

[DonnerT]

Bilbo time,,,,,later.

[ksen]

Rickman does a masterful job playing the criminal mastermind, surrounded by idiots. ;^)

-ksen

[osagebowman]

Can't say for sure, I think it was a great combination of digital arrows and deft hand work, with just a bit of tweaking on the film speed. It was magical, however Jackson et al did it.

[TigerTale]

Do you have any good book suggestions for someone of the [fundamental] Christian persuasion?

I suggest you take a look at A Landscape With Dragons: The Battle for Your Child's Mind by Michael O'Brien. Interestingly, Amazon also lists Landscape With Dragons; Christian and Pagan Imagination in Children's Literature, by the same author. It seems that only the first one has descriptive text accompanying it on Amazon. I have not read either one myself, but O'Brien is supposed to list recommended works of fantasy. I'm sure the list is in the first book, I don't know about the second.

You may also be interested in Christian Mythmakers : C. S. Lewis, Madeleine L'Engle, J. R. R. Tolkien, George MacDonald, G. K. Chesterton & Others by Rolland Hein. I have also not read this, but I saw it in Borders once, and it appears to be an overview of well-known Christian fantasy authors.

It would be best if I were recommending sources with which I am personally familiar, but I thought you might find the suggestions helpful.

You might also want to review the article Good Fantasy & Bad Fantasy from the evangelical Christian Research Institute.

[JenB]

The "Good fantasy/Bad fantasy" article you linked was very interesting but sort of lacking in recommendations. I wish I could list more positive recommendations, but it's easier to identify 'bad' books than good ones, particularly since I don't knew everyone's position on fantasy.

For instance, I read Harry Potter, Susan Cooper's Dark is Rising, and Ursula LeGuin's Earthsea, all of which have been condemned by some Christians I know. On the other hand I myself think certain series (Donaldson's Thomas Covenant, Pullman's His Dark Materials) are completely unsuitable for Christian children, and maybe even for adults. I know Christians who read Stephen King and Anne Rice, and others who ban Mary Poppins from their homes. Everyone must strike his own balance.

Heck, if I attended a Christian college I'd probably be hauled off and burned with my own books; I read stuff by atheists, Buddhists, pagans and weirdoes. I think there's a definite difference between "bad becase it's not Christian" and "bad because it attacks Christianity". Oh, let's ditch this conversation and read Tolkien... at least until the "Tolkien was an evil idolater" people show up!

[ksen]

Thank you very much.

-ksen

[HairOfTheDog]

I didn't clip Bay's mane, and I guess he wasn't moving quite fast enough for it to fly... it lays flat on the other side. He still has a mane!

[carton253]

He's a beautiful horse. Have you ever read any Dick Francis mysteries? I think you would enjoy them very much. They saved my life when I lived in Bangkok.

[carton253]

We are closing in on 500...

[carton253]

I must have it since it is precious to me...

[HairOfTheDog]

No I haven't, but I will make a note of the name... Are there horses in them?