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.
March: The Two Towers fan trailer attached to The Fellowship of the Rings in theatres.
May: The Two Towers teaser trailer released in theaters nationwide. - still waiting for news of this one! - hair
August 6: Theatrical release of The Fellowship of the Ring reaches stores in DVD/VHS, with DVD format featuring Houghton Mifflin video.
September: The Two Towers theatrical trailer in theaters nationwide. - Looks like I will have to see TWO summer films! - hair
SEPTEMBER: New "Two Towers" teaser trailer and poster in theatres - Eeek - is this a different trailer than the above?! - hair
3 Vol. LOTR MTI PA Boxed Set w/new movie art and new ISBNs / $3521-copy Mixed Floor Display w/Novels PA / $300
The Annotated Hobbit (Ships 8/8) CL / $28
JRR Tolkien Author of the Century by Tom Shippey (ships Aug) PA $13
OCTOBER: LOTR: Three vol edition illustrated by Alan Lee Boxed Set - May have to buy this one! - hair
NOVEMBER: "Fellowship: DVD/VHS
Major licensee merchandise for "Two Towers" on saleNational consumer contest (doesn't explain this either!)
National Laydown Nov 6th - Two Towers visual companion - The Making of The Lord of the Rings
20-copy Mixed Floor Display with Film books
Two Towers Photo Guide
16-Copy Counter Display with film books
November 12: Extended version of The Fellowship of the Ring released on DVD/VHS.
December 18: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers opens in theaters nationwide.
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Dan. I hope you get to see it on a bigger screen. I will probably try to catch it at the Cinerama because I heard they had Digital Projection capabilities--would like to see what the difference is.
Ewan and Christopher were terrific, weren't they?
Penny I agree with you about Star Wars. Anakin's a dope, no self-respecting woman should put up with him. McGregor and Lee were the best part of that movie. Ewan seemed very good in the role of Kenobi and of course Christopher's a great actor. It's no LotR but hey, it's decent for what it is.
I like the Padme character better and better though, which is what gives this growing sense of dread for what will come of the decision she made. And that's the mark of a story that at least that far is working for me: it has me involved and, to some degree, caring.
We're going to a larger screen, better sound, this afternoon!
Dan
OCTOBER: LOTR: Three vol edition illustrated by Alan Lee Boxed Set - May have to buy this one! - hair
I've seen this in the shops a few years back, they must be a reprinting it. It's amazing, the books are hardback, A4 size, and every tenth page or so is a full color plate with a beautiful illustration by Alan Lee ( even though I prefer John Howe ). The three books are in a slide in open front case type of thing. Looks like an heirloom, the kind of thing you'd look forward to giving to your grandkids one day. The price was about $100 when I saw it last a few years back.
Me either! Oh my stars! Only 212 days to go!!
perhaps it would make good subject matter for Christmas hinting since I will be snapping up the extended DVD before it could be considered a good present idea! New thread just posted by sorcery. Heady and long article. Wore me out. Check it out all, and if you have the energy, we can talk about it! Pinged ecurbh... Will let him ping the ringers if he shows up at all with all this overtime he is working. Penny, don't you have an old copy of his ping list? I hate to use the Green Dragon list for anything but Green Dragon posts.
Both rings were round, and there the resemblance ceases: Tolkien, Wagner, Nationalism, and Modernity
I fixed a typo in sorcery's title...
Not only did I see that story, but the night before I saw it I had a "dream" where I got to see a special preview, but had to promise Peter Jackson to never leak what I had seen! Coincidence? - Or vision?
LOL! Can you remember what it looked like from the dream? ;-)
We have only briefly gotten in minor tizzes over the rumored changes to come. Nothing heated like the "Do Balrogs have wings?" or Tom Bombadil stuff. I guess we don't know enough yet, except about the vague rumor that the scouring of the Shire is either different or eliminated, and we really can't argue about that very well until next year!
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