Who here are LOTR fans?

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I’m a major fan of lord of the rings. I have read the hobbit 3 times and the LOTR trilogy 4 times. Just last week I watched all of the movies right in a row. LOTR have alot of Biblical references in it. When Gandalf fell off the Ledge at Helm’s deep he fought the balrog. This symbolizes Jesus fighting with the temtations from the devil. Gandolf died and came back to the living. Like Jesus. At the end of the last movie, when Bilbo and Frodo were leaving on the ship, this designated after life. You can learn alot from the books
 
I am a big fan of LOTR too can´t get enough watching the dvd´s here. I found the 3rd movie best of all 3.

Emmy
 
I don’t really like number 2 but I like 1 and 3 about the same, but for different reasons.
 
I first read the LOR trilogy in High school in the late 70’s. Since that time, I have wanted to see a movie based upon the books. I had seen the animated versions, but always knew there was a hugely successful movie in there somewhere. My wife and kids were stunned at my reaction when I first heard that Peter Jackson would be allowed to make these movies. After seeing all of the movies (repeatedly), they now all know why I was so excited about this chance.

Although there are some aspects I do not like in Peter Jackson’s work (where he veers from Tolkien’s version), I can honestly say that I didn’t imagine that they would be made so wonderfully.

The Catholic similarities are there too, including:

There are sacraments not symbols. For their journey, Galadriel graciously bestows upon the Fellowship — a representation of the church — seven mystical gifts; no mere symbols these, but glimmering reflections of the Church’s seven sacraments — the conveying of spiritual grace through temporal rites. And at her Mirror, Galadriel derides the Reformers’ taunt of Eucharistic magic in the Mass when she says: “For this is what your folk would call magic, I believe; though I do not understand clearly what they mean; and they seem to use the same words for the deceits of the enemy.” (353)
There is a mystical Lady, like The Blessed Mother, who responds miraculously to pleas for help. The Lady is named Varda (or in Elvish, Elbereth or star-queen) and although she is never seen, she’s is described as holy and queenly; and when her name is invoked — "O Elbereth! Gilthoniel! — as Frodo and Sam do on occasion, miracles follow that protect the quest and defeat the present enemy.

These are just a few examples of Tolkien’s masterpiece that reflects his Catholic faith.
 
I am a total LOTR geek! 😃 Sometimes I think it scares my classmates. I enjoyed the movie and thought they were excellent even though they did lack so great scenes from the books. What irratates me the most is the stuff they add that didn’t happen. :mad: Last year I was able to write a 12 page paper for my college writing class over the christian imagery in LOTR. It was more fun than work to me! 😉
 
I too love LOTR. I’d suggest to those who haven’t already done so that you read the Silmarillion. This is a set of pre-LOTR tales written by Tolkein which give LOTR their richness, depth and seeming historicity. The first part of the book includes a retelling of the creation story (and the fall of the angels) which is second only to the bible’s telling of the creation (and in some ways gives it a run for it’s money). Much of the rest of it gives the history of the elves, and there are some really awesome tales included. Well worth the read.
 
I will say that I read them all, including The Hobbit, recently (since DEC 2003) but have yet to see any of the films. Tolkein was a gifted writer with a bright imagination. I am in the midst of The Silmarillion now and loving it, although now that I’m not traveling for work, I’m finding it tougher to find time for it.

Brilliant…
 
I started reading LOTR as a kid. First I read the trilogy and then The Hobbit about Bilbo’s journey. I read them in Norwegian and then later in the original English version.

I still remember sitting with the big map over Middle Earth and follow the journey. I have seen the first two movies. Haven’t yet had the time to see the third one :ehh: . I liked them a lot, but have to admit that I missed a few characters like Tom Bombadil.

*Sunniva :blessyou: *
 
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NM2:
I liked all three movies, but I have never read the books.
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You are missing quite alot and the story lines go deeper than the movies.

I could never really get into Silmarillion, maybe i should try to read it again.

Thanks for the info, Tedster, I didn’t really know it went that deep.
 
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Geckstein:
Thanks for the info, Tedster, I didn’t really know it went that deep.
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There are more below. Maybe LilPippy can relate to us what went into her paper.

There is a last sharing of cup and bread, not unlike O.T. manna and its fulfillment in The Eucharist. Before the Fellowship departs from Lórien, Galadriel bids each to participate in a farewell ritual and drink from a common cup. More significant is the mystical Elvish food given to the fellowship — lembas or waybread. A small amount of this supernatural nourishment will sustain a traveler for many days.

The sign of the cross. At the end of the first movie (and the beginning of the second book) Aragorn kneels beside the mortally wounded Boromir — and as he dies, Aragorn makes a rudimentary sign of the cross touching first his forehead and then his lips. It is a salute to Ilúvatar, the One who created all.

Gandalf, the steward of all things good in the world, reflects the papacy. Gandalf is leader of the free and faithful. He is steward of all things good in the world, but he claims rule over no land. As the Popes of history did with kings and emperors of our world, so Gandalf crowns the king and blesses him to rule with justice and peace.

The Shire, described as the ideal community, reflects the social teachings of Catholicism. The Hobbits benefit from a community structure with little formal organization and less conflict. They work only enough to survive and otherwise enjoy each other’s company. There is no jealousy, no greed, and rarely does anyone do anything unexpected. There is a wholeness and graciousness about it that seems to come naturally out of selflessness.

The protagonists embrace suffering as a requirement of working out their salvation. It isn’t enough to simply believe or have faith. To be free of the tyranny of evil each of our protagonists must sacrifice, and work hard through great peril to secure their salvation and the right ordering of their world.
 
I never read the books or saw the movies.
That choice was not on the poll.

Go with God!
Edwin
 
I too first read the books in my teens back in the 70’s. I was incredibly excited when I first heard about the movies. I think Peter Jackson did an incredible job.

The Silmarillion is nothing like LOTR, but is still a worthshile work. It sheds so much light on the earlier works you’ll want to re-read them afterwards.
 
Sorry, but I just can’t get into crackpot tales of Little Men With Furry Feet. I suppose that it all has a peculiar charm to it, but to be honest, I see Tolkein as more of a disgruntled neo- Luddite than a "Catholic Christian writer."

I slogged through the trilogy in high school, and yeah, I thought the movies were fun. But to be honest, I personally find reality a lot more captivating than fantasy. Always felt that way, I guess: even as a kid, I preferred reading history books and biographies to fables of talking animals, dwarves, elves, and what-not.
 
I have to say, who ever started this thread, rock on. I’m such a fan of Tolkien and what he stood for and just the elegance and simplicity that comes through in his work. I highly respect the LOTR series and The Hobbit is my favorite book. My best friend is like obsessed, she knows all the hobbit names, dwarf names, elven names, Valar and all that. The Silmarillion is my second favorite book because I’m an elf wanna be. lol LOTR has even inspired me to become a writer. I grew up with the cartoon and so it greatly influenced play time around the house. lol When the movies came out, I was skeptical at firt, but then I was blown away. Now when I watch it, along with the symbolism, I just cry. lol It’s quite odd.
 
I am a LOTR geek, have seen all 3 movies more than 3 times each, love The Hobbit, and hope to soon have a copy of The Silmarillion. I am about to begin my copy of LOTR and Philosophy, a part of the pop culture and philosophy series (*Baseball and Philosophy * is also a rewarding read for the die-hard fan of our national pastime). Is it true Peter Jackson has been approached about adapting The Hobbit for the big screen?
 
I have to tell you how square I feel:

I thought LOTR was L ife O n T he R ock

That program on EWTN Thursday evening…LOL
 
Big fan here. Especially of Aragorn (Viggio Mortensen) He did superb for the part. Of course, being a woman I tend to be biased here. But all in all the movie was great, couldn’t be better and the books are good too. We are so lucky to claim a catholic writer as Tolkien.
 
I’ve been reading the Hobbit & LoTR once a year since 1966 and love it. I never really got into the Simarillion either, although I do like to read a little in the Appendices ov Book 3. The movies disappointed me because they only show ed the action and blood & guts, all the magig, the music the sweetness was left out. Very disappointing and THEN they lopped off the end of the book. Left out the Scouring of the Shire…a BITTER disappointment. That was the whole POINT of the Trilogy: the Evil is insidious, it is Everywhere, even in the Shire, and the Hobbits have been, as Gandalf says, prepared by their adventures to deal with it. Very sad to miss the point.
 
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