more Rhys-Davies

Back in October, when this blog was so very young, I posted this on John Rhys-Davies, actor, gentleman, and anti-idiotarian. He continues to impress; and considering the political orientation of certain of his LotR costars, these comments at an official press junket are particularly noteworthy. (Link via lgf.)

“I think that Tolkien says that some generations will be challenged,” said Rhys-Davies, “and if they do not rise to meet that challenge, they will lose their civilization. That does have a real resonance with me.”

Pointing a finger at the media, Rhys-Davies went on, “What is unconscionable is that too many of your fellow journalists do not understand how precarious Western civilization is, and what a jewel it is… The abolition of slavery comes from Western democracy. True democracy comes from our Greco-Judeo-Christian Western experience. If we lose these things, then this is a catastrophe for the world.” …

“There is a change happening in the very complexion of Western civilization in Europe that we should think about at least and argue about. If it just means the replacement of one genetic stock with another genetic stock, that doesn’t matter too much. But if it involves the replacement of Western civilization with a different civilization with different cultural values, then it is something we really ought to discuss — because, g**dammit, I am for dead-white-male culture!”

On a related front, I did see The Movie last night. And no, I'm not going to write a review—at least not now, with fifty-odd exams calling to be graded. (Perhaps after Christmas, when I've had time for another viewing.)

Initial reaction: 8.5/10. Visually stunning, and the acting—at least from the characters we know from the first two films—is very good. But Peter Jackson simply cannot handle subtlety; when things require a light touch he all too often brings a jackhammer. And the departures from Tolkien's text are usually jarring.

But I nonetheless hope that come spring he carries home armloads of Oscar gold. As Bruce Campbell might say: Gimme some sugar “Hail to the King, baby!”

UPDATE. A longer transcript of JRD's comments at the press junket Is here. More on politics and the war, more on Gimli as a character, and a very funny bit on how PJ's trilogy might be interpreted as a “homoerotic masterpiece.” (Hate to say it, but he almost has a case.)

UPDATE 2. Okay, this post is descending rapidly, but anyways…Andrew Sullivan links to the same transcript, praises Rhys-Davies, and then has this to say about Viggo Mortensen: “Cute, but dumb as a post.” (via Instapundit)