Posted on 01/27/2002 6:18:35 PM PST by John Farson
It does seem that at least emotionally Bilbo did give it up--doesn't Gandalf refer to that later as he's talking to Frodo? That Bilbo had to give it up willingly, because to actually take it from him would have "broken his mind."
You are totally right about Bilbo giving it up voluntarily... but not without a struggle. I think that struggle would have just gotten harder and harder over the years.
But with repeated viewings of the movie, I very soon came to appreciate how perfectly the music complements and enhances.
Dan
I do still wonder about Frodo's fatalism throughout the last 2/3 of the story...he really figures it's a suicide mission, I think. And for good reason, I suppose. It makes Sam's determination to go with him particularly touching, even though Sam never really thought past the matters at hand.
Anyway, I'm going to give a listen to it again tonight. Could you hum that theme for me again so I'll know exactly what's not there. LOL
It was my humming that brought it across for you, wasn't it?
Dan
I liked the way they did that--they never really said anything, but Ian Holm so wonderfully portrayed what Gandalf described in the book as "he felt better immediately" (quoting from memory, so apologies if I've not quoted it quite right).
It's similar in Rivendell, when Frodo gives that relieved sigh when he's presented the ring to the Council. It's particularly poignant, knowing that he will have to take it up again.
The reason I like your speculations and ideas is that you are attached and passionate. It makes for an interesting discussion that causes me to be the better for them. So keep speculating! And keep being passionate! (It's easy to be passionate about these characters since Tolkien gave them so much "life")
daa-daaa, da-da-da-da-da-da-daa daaa...
daa-daaa, da-da-da-da-da-daaaa...
(Higher key)
daa-daaa, da-da-da-da-da-da-daa daaa
daa-daaa, da-da-da-da-da-daaaa
Dan
(— smart-apple!)
I had the option of bringing the baby over to their house and then bringing him home afterward, but that would have been 1am by that time...too late to be out with a little one, in my opinion. We don't do babysitters. The kids either come with us, or my parents watch them (very rare).
I'm a little disappointed, but hopefully it will still be at the IMax when my hubby gets back...then we can go.
However, going with these people gave me some interesting insights. First off, what Tolkien geeks like us find funny is very different from what non-Hobbits like. We like little in-jokes, references to "that business with the dragon" and ironies. They like Gandalf whacking his head on Bilbo's ceiling.
Second, those bits with the Shire - happy bits that I think we all love, they tend to find dull. They're waiting for the action, and we, knowing what's coming, want to hold on to the peace and beauty for a bit longer.
Also, I think not knowing instantly what certain places are might be confusing. Mordor, Minas Tirith, and Isengard are so familiar to us, that even if we'd never seen a picture of them, we'd have recognized them the instant they appeared. The non-Tolkien fan doesn't have a clue why Gandalf is riding to this big city, or why there's fiery mountains so nearby. We know an Elf from a Dwarf, from a Hobbit from a Human from an Uruk-Hai. They don't, and it shows.
That's why Legolas comes off as Mr. Stating the Bloody Obvious sometimes - it's not obvious to casual viewers, and someone has to tell them. The movie is brilliant - it has the necessary bits of "tell the ignorant what this is", but it also has so many things that only lovers of Tolkien can get. Sometimes the compromises between the two are satisfactory to nobody, but most of the time, it's perfect.
Things I noted this time:
Saruman has perfect grammar. It suits him, but he goes to great length to avoid ending a sentence with a preposition, and he says things like "Whom do you serve?".
I think there are some continuity errors with the Ring as Frodo and Gandalf are drinking tea and it's sitting on the table. It seems to move around a bit.
At Weathertop, the Ring says several things. The first, I'm pretty sure, is 'Precious'. (It says this again at least once but I'm not sure where.) The second sounds like 'ashi nazg' - close to the Mordorish for 'One Ring'. I'm not sure what the third thing it says is. Or maybe the Ringwraith says the last sentence in Black Speech.
Galadriel was more annoying than usual this time - she gives Frodo very little comfort with that whole "To bear a Ring of Power is to be alone" speech. I'm about ready to root for the Orcs to kill her. No wonder Celeborn's an idiot, you'd act like Al Gore too if you were married to the movie Galadriel.
Anyway, it's still so great. None of the people I went with were particularly impressed, but what do I care? I got to see LotR again!
So glad you got to see it again, Jen! Bummer about the audience, though. I wonder if the unschooled viewers are coming out more now in response to the Oscar noms and ads, or if the audience have been like this all along...
I think our audience at the Cinerama the other day was pretty good, maybe I should be counting my blessings, lol.
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