The Hobbit Hole III - Journey to the Cross-roads!

[HairOfTheDog]

Welcome to The Hobbit Hole!

Journey to the Cross-roads
The Two Towers Edition

Come on! Come in! -if you would like to have some seedcakes and a pint and relax a while. (If it is a special occasion, we still have a few bottles of the old wineyards left!)

Our first thread ( New Zealander builds Hobbit hole ) reached 4,100 posts, and we thought that was big. Our second thread (The New Hobbit Hole ) held us for over 48,000 posts, and we loved it dearly. We talked about moving to a new thread for the last 38,000 posts, but we are really slow to muster! Finally, the time has come. Tomorrow (at 12:01 am, to be precise!) The Two Towers comes out, and we start a new chapter.

[carton253]

Well... even when Gollum leads them to Shelob I am not disgusted. I don't approve so Gollum doesn't get a free pass from me. But, 500 years of torment leads to that decision... and remember when Frodo was intent on going through the Black Gates and Smeagol's... cry of "Please... he will takes the precious... (tears form in Smeagol's eyes) he will takes the precious." That is torment of the first kind.

So, Smeagol is a wretch of his own making at first then overcome by the ring. I have nothing but pity for him. He's ruined... and the only thing we have left is the glimmer of Smeagol who wants to be free but cannot.

[RMDupree]

I know - I just had to go and ruin it, didn't I?

It really wasn't SPAM. Just a one post thing that slipped through. It won't happen again. I will be the epitome of restraint. A shining example to all Hole Dwellers. A monument of goodness and light. A testiment to a SPAM-free life.

I hope this gets me out of trouble.

[My back yard]

Well, you assign every bit of discipline you have to it. And from your writing I believe you have a lot. It is only a mere few years, but the rewards will pay a foundation for your entire life, and your children's life as well. Egggghh, I apologize for the lecture.

[RMDupree]

The desperate way that Smeagol clings to Frodo, tugging at the cloak, his earnest expression. It truly stirs the deepest pity, doesn't it?

I guess when you look at the fact that Gollum has been in charge for most of the 500 years, it is truly amazing that there is any Smeagol left at all.

[carton253]

Thank you... If I'm not dead from fatigue after my bachelor's... I am going to try for the Masters/PHD degree.

You didn't lecture... you encouraged, and I will take it as such.

[2Jedismom]

Oh don't mind me, I always get cranky when I'm HUNGRY..

Hint hint

[Overtaxed]

Well I don't usually hold with foreign food, but this lembas is all right...just needs more fiber.

[My back yard]

Here's a suggestion for the Bilbo's map. In the time that passed between Bilbo finishing his book and the scene where Faramir lays out the map the book has spread in popularity across all of Middle Earth, and his documenting of the area in map form has become the standard for all who are traveling.

[2Jedismom]

I really liked that part!

[My back yard]

Wanted to let you guys know - while we were standing in line for over an hour last night, my daughter and I had plenty of time to discuss some of the posts here by you two that I have sent her in e-mail. It was funny. You had to be there, but, the people around us had to wonder who we were talking about???? by your screennames. lol

Also, her husband (a great guy, otherwise) knows nor cares anything about the books or the movies. He was with us, ugh, and when he would 'drop eaves' of our conversation then ask questions like - who is Boromir? we would be embarrassed and pretend we didn't know him. lol

[RMDupree]

Oooohhh, right. It's lunch (or elevenses for some).

How about some lovely baked 'taters (PO-TA-TOES, fry em up, put em in a stew, LOL!) loaded with everything and several racks of BBQ baby back ribs. I've got a few ribeye steaks on the grill - there are some chicken breasts on as well for those who prefer white meat.

Corn on the cob, fresh salad and I still have some leftover mushrooms from breakfast. ENJOY!

[HairOfTheDog]

Good morning all! - I have a grind I have to get back to today! A bit of work, and then some Christmas shopping!

One of these times I need to bring a notepad to the movie so I can jot down thoughts about the first half of the movie before it gets swallowed by the second half!

I think it is interesting how we are split about 50-50 on Faramir. I like how he came out, I too thought he was at first harsh in the book, and why wouldn't he be? He has no knowledge or allegiance to Frodo's cause, only his own. And yet I saw quiet wisdom in him in the film... He didn't talk too much like Boromir did. He was thinking. And I do think he turned from the combination of seeing Gollum, Sams confrontation directly with Faramir, and the spectacle of the Nazgul and Frodo's trance, and then finally, Sam's speech. I didn't need Sam's speech, but perhaps others did. I haven't heard a lot of complaints about it, and it is trumpeted as a fine moment in many of the reviews, so I will withhold judgment for a few more views.

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

Good morning everyone...

Everyone recovered from the midnight shows?

Rose and I talked about movie-Faramir this morning while I was driving her into work. She hasn't read the books so her opinion was based entirely on the movie. She said she got that Faramir was conflicted, and not as weak as his brother, since he didn't give into the Ring's influence entirely. Since that is the basis of his character, I guess the movie got it right to that extent. I just wish PJ had stuck closer to the book in that regard... I still think the way it was done denigrated Faramir's character. (grumble, grumble)

Anyway, have a good day all!

[HairOfTheDog]

LOL! I know.... It is hard to talk about each other anywhere else and not sound really silly.... Your name doesn't help either. "I agree with My back yard" or "Well, My back yard said..." doesn't sound any better!

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, I still have trouble with the map... A company of men in the woods wouldn't be carrying a map of all of middle earth, but a topographical map with detail needed for getting around Gondor, or a specific part of Gondor. One could not navigate with that map. It was a bit like walking around in my woods here with a map of North America. Heh. It is but a little thing I noticed... heh.

[RMDupree]

I go through the same thing!

When we were watching FoTR in chat the other night, I was telling Glen that I was "talking to Hair and Overtaxed". He had a puzzled expression and said "Who?!" LOL!

And I go on and on about, "Oh 2J said this and Corin said that, and oh how funny how Lil'freeper bashes g'nad and I can't wait to see ksen and Sam Cree on the 25th!" Oh, and of course, the ever popular, "I've got to get to the Hobbit Hole and see my friends." It's no wonder that I get funny looks from my family. They just don't understand how a person can be so attached to people they've never met in person or even heard their voices. Let alone, not even know their "real names". *grin*

[ksen]

What are your thoughts on this Trent Lott thing?

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

I liked him, but I couldn't help thinking of Don Knotts.

Yup, I can see the resemblance. I wonder if they used Don Knotts as a model for the CGI? I'm still marvelling at that, by the way... it was hard to take my eyes off of Gollum/Smeagol when he was on screen.

[ksen]

Hello, my name is Kevin.

I am a Hobbit Holer.

AND PROUD OF IT!!!!!

;^)

[HairOfTheDog]

The idea that Faramir didn't SAY how he knew Boromir was dead is something people might wonder about, but it isn't so much a hole in the plot as it is one of those things that was unexplained... something else that might have happened off-screen. Leaving something unexplained doesn't help the newbie, but it doesn't hurt those who know... Frodo didn't ask how he knew, so he didn't say. I bet the conversation was scripted, and I bet it makes the extended cut.