archives :: Tolkien
when genres collide
ELENDIL THE TALL, son of Amandil, Lord of Andúnië, became leader of the Faithful upon his father's desperate mission to the uttermost West. In seven ships the remnant fled the wrack of Númenór, and were cast upon the shores of... [read more]
Viggo who?
Can't say as I've ever heard of him… Kidding, of course: although last week—and not for the first time—I deeply, deeply wished that Peter Jackson had been able to convince Daniel Day-Lewis to play Aragorn. Mortensen is such a piss-headed... [read more]
a legend, reconsidered
It is said that once, when Boromir and Faramir were young boys, Faramir beaned his elder brother with a helm so hard that--in Ioreth's words--Boromir was thereafter "slower than treacle in midwinter". Faramir never forgave himself. [read more]
King Arthur lives?
[Repost from 9 July 2004—because burning through a light fever isn't conducive to writing new stuff, and because there just hasn't been enough Tolkien-blogging around here.] Last week at Tech Central Station, Kenneth Silber offered thoughts on the Once and... [read more]
scary monsters
The fantasy and horror/fantasy genres almost invariably feature heroes (or just protagonists) combatting some kind of personified evil. I rather arbitrarily draw a distinction between horror/fantasy and straight horror in terms of story resolution: if the protagonists win an unambiguous... [read more]
in memoriam
Bilbo Baggins called it a party, but it was really a variety of entertainments rolled into one. Practically everyone living near was invited. A very few were overlooked by accident, but as they turned up the all same, that did... [read more]
complete and utter geekery
Suddenly as the sun plunged into cloud they heard the hideous cries of Orcs, and saw them issuing from the Forest and moving down the slopes, yelling their war-cries. In the dimmed light their number could only be guessed, but... [read more]
and now...idiots
The wankers of Indymedia strike again. I don't imagine that it was the intention of the director or the producers of the Lord of the Rings films to paint a racist stereotypical tapestry over what could be described as a... [read more]
Inkling heaven
Via TORn comes news that New Zealand is no longer just Middle-earth: it is now officially also Narnia. After almost a year of negotiations New Zealand has secured the multimillion-dollar Hollywood movie The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Work... [read more]
perhaps a bit harsh
The Return of the King continues to pull in astonishing reviews, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 97%. But not everyone is pleased. Consider the Weekly Standard's Jonathan V. Last, for instance. Some of his points seem well taken—although I... [read more]
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... [read more]
Ott lands a scoop
A Scrappleface exclusive: Asked how he's dealing with the withering criticism from Tolkien fans, Mr. Jackson bristled: “I can't live my life trying to satisfy the purists. What do these people want? We spent months shooting that car chase, and... [read more]
Return of the King countdown: final day
Frodo went aboard; and the sails were drawn up, and the wind blew, and slowly the ship slipped away down the long grey firth; and the light of the glass of Galadriel that Frodo bore glimmered and was lost.... [read more]
Return of the King countdown: two days
At the outset of this mini-series, I promised no heavy spoilers. Well, here's one anyway: the good guys win. To see how they win, go see the movie. Or better yet: read the book. And before the Sun had fallen... [read more]
Return of the King countdown: three days
In rode the Lord of the Nazgûl. A great black shape against the fires he loomed up, grown to a vast menace of despair. In rode the Lord of the Nazgûl, under the archway that no enemy had ever passed,... [read more]
Return of the King countdown: four days
But at that same moment there was a flash, as if lightning had sprung from the earth beneath the City. For a searing second it stood dazzling far off in black and white, its topmost tower like a glittering needle;... [read more]
Return of the King countdown: five days
Gandalf passed now into the wide land beyond the Rammas Echor. So the men of Gondor called the out-wall that they had built with great labour, after Ithilien fell under the shadow of their Enemy. For ten leagues or more... [read more]
Return of the King countdown: six days
When they were some fifty paces off, Éomer cried in a loud voice: “Halt! Halt! Who rides in Rohan?” The pursuers brought their steeds to a sudden stand. A silence followed; and then in the moonlight, a horseman could... [read more]
Return of the King countdown: seven days
Gollum looked at them. A strange expression passed over his lean and hungry face. The gleam faded from his eyes, and they went dim and grey, old and tired. A spasm of pain seemed to twist him, and he turned... [read more]
Return of the King countdown: intro
No, it's not a Romantic-era depiction of Charlemagne defeating the Saracens, or anything else of that genre: it's this site's favorite whipping-boy, Viggo Mortensen, in his role as Aragorn II, Isildur's heir, Elessar Telcontar, King of Arnor and Gondor... [read more]
thanksgiving wrapup
What I am thankful for: good friends. The fair Samantha and I spent a relaxing few days in Minneapolis with Dean and Jodi, friends from my days at the University of Rochester. And a good time was had by all,... [read more]
more Jonah-blogging
Some guys—in this case Jonah Goldberg—have all the fun. It's official. Tomorrrow afternoon I will be interviewed for a mini-documentary on the Lord of the Rings which — I'm told — will eventually find its way on to the Return... [read more]
is mithril yttrium silver?
TORn's Green Books presents the latest in an occasional series on the science of Middle-earth. I actually learned a little something about metallurgy: It so happens that there is a class of chemical compounds called “intermetallics.” Like alloys, intermetallics consist... [read more]
ach! my eyes!
Boromir as St. Sebastian? Aragorn as a gaunt Russian cross-dresser? Tolkien Online presents what is possibly the Worst Tolkien-themed Art Ever.... [read more]
the anti-Viggo
Welsh actor John Rhys-Davies has been a favorite of mine since his portrayal of Sallah in Raiders of the Lost Ark. I've recently discovered a few more reasons to appreciate him, however. In July he and Sean Astin were guests... [read more]
about andúnië
Just in case you have a burning desire to know how the name of this website is pronounced (as I'm sure all four of our readers do), some instruction may be found here, along with a newly expanded discussion of... [read more]
