[Review of] The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring

Home Theater Forum ^ | 28 Nov 2001 | "Ron & Chris"

[Mudboy Slim]

Backatcha Bump, my FRiend, and thanks fer the great FReepMail...it means a lot.

FReegards...MUD

[Mudboy Slim]

Love yer Screen Name, Newbie...MUD

[sneakers]

Re #90: To MarkWar I would say - "Me thinks thou dost protest too much!"

[Heyworth]

There is much discussion about Tom and just what he is. Check out..http://tolkien.slimy.com/essays/Bombadil.html

[Kermit the Frog Does theWatusi]

bump

[US_MilitaryRules]

Just burned me a copy! Nice sounds!

[LoneGreenEyeshade]

the elimination of Tom Bombadil

OH NO!!!!!!!!!!

In response to "Who would I be?" on the Thread "We are all hobbits now", I wrote:

"Well if I can't have fire, (Arien) then how about water. I think I'd choose Goldberry, river daughter of the Old Forest, married to Tom Bombadil, and probably a decendent Maia (like Arien):

Golden-haired... I am

Concerned with the natural world of forest and stream... my hobby is to photograph the same

aside her husband, rescuer of the Hobbits during the Quest of the Ring.... on my own quest for justice, as you know

An Elf-queen in her radiance, flowers in her hair, garments of silver and gold, shoes that shimmered...nothing finer than silks and cashmere and a little glittering Angel dust for those special ocassions

Sings like a bird...How I wish to sing those love songs

Husband Tom: powerful and eccentric and merry....ah yes, strength with a sense of adventure and he'd make me laugh

He was always singing....love songs no doubt

His power was absolute, no evil could touch him...safe and true."

NOW I AM IN MOURNING!!!!!

[US_MilitaryRules]

My experience was in 10th grade in an english fantasy class. Started reading the hobbit and was done in three days. I still had the rest of the quarter to read it! So I read it again. Then as a junior, 11th grade, I had to read The Fellowship. Well I thought I might as well buy the trilogy. That was 1976-77. Can't wait for the movie and DVD later. Strider and Gandalf are my favorites.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

Cirdan was the lord of the Grey Havens and indeed he was given a ring by Celembrimbor, but Cirdan then gave it to Gandalf. In the War if the Rings they were held by Elrond, Galadriel, and Gandalf, but Cirdan was given one.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

Did you ever reveal your choice of who you would be?

[Samwise]

Uhhhh, would everyone please send "go into labor" vibes my way so that I don't miss the opening of this movie? Thanks.

I don't know you, so I may be misreading your message. Are you about to deliver? If not, my apologies. If so, and you are anxious to deliver, I swear Italian food does something. Italian worked for a friend. My sister's lasgana worked for me. My Italian roast beef worked for a friend. Coincidence? Probably. But if you get desperate, let me know. I'll send you a recipe. Good luck.

[Samwise]

I started reading in my dorm room in...Friday morning about 9 or 10 AM, I finished. I had LIVED in Middle Earth for almost four days. It had become more real than reality.

Wow! Freshman year. Girl's dorm. Other than that, it's deja vu all over again.

[John Farson]

bump

[BradyLS]

I just hope the Balrog isn't some gigantic, conventional, bat-winged monstrosity. The Balrog was a demon whose imposing presence made it seem much larger than it really was. Tolkien described it as a having a "man-shape" and "wings of shadow."

A demon of might and power is how the word Balrog (Valarouko) ultimately translates in Tolkien's invented languages. Too many artists render the Balrog as some towering, bat-winged, dragon-like figure on two legs and wielding a sword.

Everytime I watch Forbidden Planet and watch the arrival of the Id Monster, I think, "THAT is how the Balrog should make its entrance." The Balrog makes even the orcs tremble with fear.

Were I the monster-maker, the Balrog would be an almost ethereal creature wreathed in smoke and fire. Constantly curling and changing shape like licking flames. One moment it appears solid. In another it appears insubstantial. It's eyes would be like smoldering coals one second brighten like kindling embers the next. Its wings of shadow would spread and fade and assume other menacing shapes and forms. It would appear to be almost otherworldy.

But as long as it's frightening and not too conventional, I'll be pleased. Really anxious to see how the books are treated.

[slhill]

Very good! ;^)

[slhill]

OK, and I said that I didn't know. I wondered *why* you were asking. Why *were* you asking? As I said in my original question, boycotts are tactics used by all sorts of communities, so I wouldn't be surprised if either scenario were true. I was just interested in finding out what Freepers thought, and for some reason, I guessed I'd find more people prepared to boycott because of McKellen's views here than Tolkein's... ;^) That's not a value judgement--I haven't said that I think that boycotts in general or this type of boycott in particular are good or bad things.

Anyway, thanks to everyone who responded with their own perspectives.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

I'm with you - Tom fascinates me as well. He's a symbol of hope - living proof that the damn ring isn't all-powerful. He's shacking up with a hottie to boot; but most of all, remember that after all the evil stuff is over, once the battle's been won, Gandalf didn't go to Disneyland. First thing he did once he could relax was head off to Bambadil's to have what he called a very long talk.

Wonder what they chatted about...

[Eowyn-of-Rohan]

'76 was the year I read them first, too. Started with the Hobbit, and went right on through the Trilogy. Borrowed them from a housemate. It was the most transforming literary experience I have ever had. Strider and Gandalf are also my favorites--Strider is such a dashing, romantic figure (female perception, anyway). Gandalf stands alone. I fantasized also of the perfect, idyllic life of Golberry, and saw her as an archetype, a role model. Now I identify more with Eowyn.

[Eowyn-of-Rohan]

Wow. If that's the only kind of women you know I don't blame you for being bitter.

[Eowyn-of-Rohan]

I would prefer they cut entire characters rather than change them or rewrite them--It's much cleaner and historically accurate...It's like rewriting history. It is history...and we shouldn't rewrite it.

I so agree with you. Look what Disney did to Pocohontas!