New Zealander builds Hobbit hole

Ananova / The Evening Post ^ | 1/26/02

[John Farson]

New Zealander builds Hobbit hole A New Zealand man has built a Hobbit house. Carl Gifford, a stonemason from Wellington, says he used a 10-tonne digger to make the hole. He's put rocks either side of the front door and plans to install a chimney and lantern on top. He told the Evening Post he was embarrassed as he was constructing the home. He said: "I must admit I was hiding as the cars were driving past. I thought, 'These people think I'm an idiot'." The house is part of a series of stonework mounds, designs and sculptures dotted around his land. "I'm just having a bit of fun. Things that were built by those ancient people like caves have always fascinated me."

[BibChr]

Notice that it is full daylight during that shot, and Gollum detests sunlight, and even moonlight for that matter. I doubt he would be in such an exposed place in the daytime

My very thought. And Jackson's pretty darned good on not messing up details like that — though such a subtle foreshadowing would be cool, at that point in the movie! But a "floting log" could have accomplished that, and would have been true to the book.

Dan

[2Jedismom]

It's the same with me, after seeing this movie! I would love to come to NZ and look around now!

[HairOfTheDog]

RE: Old missile silos... I have been in one. There are abandoned missile silos in Eastern Washington where I went to college. And one of the fun activities we enjoyed when we had drank ourselves into questionable judgement was sneaking into them at night. They are enormous!! Tunnels everywhere and the huge cavern where the missiles themselves were stored. The one we could get into was inhabited by thousands of bats.

A few of them here have been purchsed and turned into homes.

[HairOfTheDog]

I cheated and went Saturday night.... But I felt you would not be upset ;~D

[BibChr]

You know, I love watching a movie around folks like that, when it's heartfelt and doesn't drown out the dialogue; it's so pure. My wife was sitting next to a lady who was really into it, and really anxious: she'd sort of "tent" her fingers and tap them together worriedly during tense scenes and, if I recall correctly, even covered her eyes once or twice.

I've no patience with "rudeness"; but on the other hand, I feel like most of the audiences I'm with are "too white." By that I mean they're too uptight, too self-conscious, too snooty to let themselves go and share a good movie experience together out-loud.

Like the first couple of times I saw it, when Aragorn lops off a particular head (you know which I mean), spontaneous applause broke out -- but it was restrained and brief, and I've not heard it the last 4-5 showings. No applause at the end of the movie.

Dan

[2Jedismom]

Oh! I almost went Sat. night, but I wanted to take my son with me and it would be too late for him to sit up.

[2Jedismom]

Matthew and I applauded when Elrond presented the Fellowship. Nobody else did, but that's ok, there were only 10 other people watching it.

[HairOfTheDog]

RE: Thread policing: I scanned that thread, did anyone complain about the Tolkien threads? I was wondering if they would, but didn't see it.

I did notice that JimRob did not mention them in his "don'ts" and I think he would have said so if he minded them. There are enough of them to have been noticed.

[HairOfTheDog]

spontaneous applause broke out

I had those real "active audiences" on a couple of the viewings... including this last one that included the squealer next to me. Applause at the off-heading, and at the end. At other viewings the audience was silent. I have only had to PFFFFFFT! at one "talker", and he took it seriously and never made another peep. (you should hear my Pfffft! - all dogs and teeanagers obey)

[Ditter]

Do it! NZ is fabulous!

[BibChr]

I haven't seen the smoke, but I've heard the suggestion that it's Black Riders.

Dan

[BibChr]

We'll have to go together sometime, you and your spouse and Jedis, me and mine and mine!

Dan

[Rebelbase]

My impression was if it is'nt politics, then its either "trash" or "religion", both of which were "banned". Selective enforcement....Its not what you know, its who you know!

[HairOfTheDog]

I didn't read that either trash or religion were "banned" by JimRob. I think the intent of the thread was to ask for a little restraint and good judgement (and manners). but I understand that others may take an idea and run with it.

[Cyber Liberty]

I did notice that JimRob did not mention them in his "don'ts"...

Give the wannabes time. If threads about who's attending CPAC raise their ire, then nothing's really safe. To them.

[Samwise]

I've been reading these books for 30 years and when I was in high school, I figured out the elvish language.

LOL. We wrote notes to each other using the runes. The teachers would read aloud any notes they found, to embarrass the students. I'll never forget my English teacher just shaking his head and handing a note back to me.

[muleskinner]

...Once was enough for me.

by Ditter

Understandable, coming from the host of "SPROCKETS".

[Ditter]

"SPROCKETS"????? 'splain yer self mule.

[2Jedismom]

Where were you when I was in school? (I graduated in '81). I could of used a friend like you! Needless to say, a bookworm like me that had nothing else to do but learn runes could have used a few friends!

[2Jedismom]

Seven times now! We're even! But you still have time in your time zone to go see it!

Tonight was Tiger Cub night and my husband took both boys with him. I had the evening to myself so I went by myself and saw it again.

It was fabulous.