I spent all of Sunday watching "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Lest you think I did nothing but sit on the couch for approximately 8 hours, let it be known that I was embroidering a bunch of burp rags for a friend's soon-to-be-born baby at the same time. Hey, I can multi-task!
I have been a fan of the books since college and though I am not a fanatic, I admit I was skeptical when the first installment, "Fellowship of the Ring" came out; the task of creating a cohesive, entertaining and true-to-Tolkien film (not to mention 3) was a phenomenal task. Well, A and I enjoyed "Fellowship" so much, we went back to see it about 12 times! Never before, or since, have I spent that much time and money on a single film. The magic of Middle Earth never waned for us; the costuming, the music, the characters and Peter Jackson's serious efforts to maintain the heart of the story kept us coming back for more. In A's case, Orlando Bloom as Legolas certainly didn't hurt either!
Our enthusiasm saw us through the releases of the next 2 films as well as both the regular DVD releases and the Director's cut DVD for all 3 movies. It was sad to realize that our three-year movie event had finally come to an end.
Still, I admit there were certain favorite lines and scenes that I waited in vain for: Gimli requesting a lock of Galadriel's hair or Eowyn facing down the Witch King of Angmar with the powerful, "But no living man am I! You look upon a woman. Éowyn I am, Éomund’s daughter. You stand between me and my lord and king. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him." In the movie she takes off her helm and says, "I am no man." Okay, same meaning, but still...I was also doubtful regarding the casting of Liv Tyler as Arwen--my main memory of her is in "Armageddon"--not exactly a part you can sink your teeth into. The coronation scene in "The Return of the King" forever erased any doubts; who didn't sigh in admiration when Arwen shyly peeped out at Aragorn around the standard she carried?
I thoroughly enjoyed my personal movie marathon; I had not watched the films for several years and not only have they kept their magic, I appreciate the effort that went into their production and the "little" details, even more now than I did before. Notably: Andy Serkis's CGI-assisted personification of Gollum which puts him on a par with any of the other principal actors; Boromir's death scene in which he expresses remorse and loyalty to Aragorn; the single tear of regret that trickles down Wormtongue's cheek when he realizes Saruman is plotting the total extinction of man; and Faramir's heart-rending, "If I should return, think better of me, Father."
Cinema gold!
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