Happy Birthday, J. R. R. Tolkien

[filkertom]

On this date in 1892.

So, what are your favorite characters, lines, and/or scenes from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings? Book or movie.

Comments

[jhayman.livejournal.com]

At the end of the Council of Elrond where Frodo says "I shall take it, though I do not know the way". He doesn't want to, he doesn't have to, but he knows that it's the right thing to do.

[redaxe.livejournal.com]

Big Tom Bombadil fan. I love his whimsy, combined with the depths beneath it. I understand why he was omitted from the movies, but regret it nonetheless; it would have been fun to see what and who and how he was portrayed, given the excellence of what we got.

I also love the songs (Frodo at the Prancing Pony -- fool hobbit that he was -- and the sinister portrayal of that there Ranger man, as well -- I adore that first meeting); they provide the light that remains in Middle-Earth in those days a way in, and a way to our hearts. It would have been good -- and not really all that difficult -- to keep at least one of them on film.

pipn and merry

[tinkerbell1980.livejournal.com]

sorry for misspelling. best line of the movies:"a pint? they come in pints? im getting one"

[dhstein.livejournal.com]

I'm a Frodo fan. Love those hobbits.

[sdelmonte]

The opening line to The Hobbit is one of the best there's ever been.

The lighting of the beacons in the film of Return of the King is so amazing that it brings tears of joy to me ever time I see it. Really. I have no idea why, but even hearing the soaring music, the full Gondor theme, gets me.

In the books, my favorite characters are Aragorn and Gandalf, but in the films it's the sons of Gondor. While there are changes to both Boromir and Faramir, each has a way of stealing the scene, and I found Boromir's death and redemption and Faramir's growth very strong.

[fuuberry.livejournal.com]

Merry and Pippin. Hands down. Nearly every scene they're in brings tears to my eyes, either from laughter or, in Return, the heart-wrenching moments of them being separated and joining again.

[kestrels-nest.livejournal.com]

Three scenes, both from the movies (which says something about just how well the films were done). In no particular order: arming for the battle at Helm's Deep, and the clear sense that this is an exercise if futility but that none the less they will defend their people to the end. When the black ships are sailing up and the defenders think they're about to be caught between forces, and then they turn out to be bearing Aragorn leading the Army of the Dead. And after Aragorn's coronation, when the hobbits go to bow and he turns around and says "no, it is we who should bow to you". Pippin and Merry look delighted, gleeful, overwhelmed - but Sam and Frodo just look soul-weary.

[blueeyedtigress.livejournal.com]

I was deeply impressed in my early youth by Cousin Frodo, and in many ways can feel my life patterns folowing his. Although I'm hoping for no cursed jewellery, thanks kindly.

The first lines of the Hobbit; any of the poetry.

"I will take the Ring," he said, "though I do not know the way."

"I pass the test," she said. "I will diminish, and go into the West and remain Galadriel."

"Well, here at last, dear friends, on the shores of the Sea comes the end of our fellowship in Middle-earth. Go in peace! I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil."

"I tried to save the Shire, and it has been saved, but not for me. It must often be so, Sam, when things are in danger: someone has to give them up, lose them, so that others may keep them.”

[calliopeva.livejournal.com]

The scene in RotK where Samwise says "I might not be able to carry it for you, mr. Frodo, but I can carry >you

Learn something every day...

[calliopeva.livejournal.com]

Learned something new, do not put those lil arrow thingies on either side of a word to emphasise it...it makes the rest of the statemment go away.
Meanwhile, the rest of the comment was "I might not be able to carry it for you, Mr. Frodo, but I can carry you!" before Sam hoists Frodo on his back to carry him up Mt Doom. His strength, loyalty and love throughout the films as well as in the book are my favorite parts of them. They aren't kings or wizards or people of power- they are just plain folks, a scholar and a gardener, thrust into extrordinary circumstances, who are able to rise to the occasion. Because of that they are people with whom I can identify. I always thought that Sean Astin deserved an Oscar for his performance.
I also loved using his and the actress playing his wife at the end's real children to play Sam's daughter and son, very cute and homey, a perfect way to bring the series back to its conclusion, back where it all started, in Hobbiton.

[alicetheowl.livejournal.com]

There's a special place in my heart for The Hobbit, which my father read to me every night before bed one summer, when I was young enough that it was still an astonishingly long book for me to tackle on my own. My favorite part was the test of riddles between Bilbo and Gollum. It's remained my favorite part, but always for different reasons.

[wildcard9.livejournal.com]

I find the books extremely hard to read. No matter how hard I try, they always just put me right to sleep when I read them. Not from the story but from the writing itself. I was a huge fan of the movies because now I could finally see this grand story. However, I did make it through the Hobbit once, and my favorite part was the Riddles in the Dark. That inspired me to seek out more wordplay puzzles for my continued enjoyment.

[mdlbear]

The Ents. Definitely the Ents. Especially old Fangorn; there are days when I feel distinctly treeish myself.

Another Ent at heart?

[netpositive.livejournal.com]

Yes! So often I wish I lived right next door to the Forest so I could just drop by and chat (well, whatever the Entspeech equivalent of chat is, of course).

Of all the things I disliked about the movies [and there were many, don't get me started], the way the Ents were turned into dumb, easy-to-manipulate hicks still makes me the angriest. Slow-thinking, even slow-acting does not always equal "stupid", dammit. :(

[nagaina-ryuuoh.livejournal.com]

"Forth, Eorlingas, and FEAR NO DARKNESS!"

The Charge of the Rohirrim in the movie made my hands itch for a sword.

The lead-in which rumbles and resonates

[alwosm.livejournal.com]

In the black tongue (for the last couplet)


Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul,
ash nazg thrakatulûk, agh burzum-ishi krimpatul.





Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.

One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them

In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.


It IS its own special music.

JM

[youngcurmudgeon.livejournal.com]

Man, everyone else's quotes are so serious and meaningful. Mine, not so much. My favorite relationship has always been that of Gimli and Legolas. Especially the bit with counting the enemies they slice up. 'Cause it's just not an epic myth without the sidekicks having their own story.

And also Aragorn's line in the first movie: "They have a cave-troll." Just one of those days, isn't it?

[allandaros.livejournal.com]

Wasn't that Boromir with the Cave Troll line?

Heee. "Twenty-two! It has been knife-work up here."

[blueeyedtigress.livejournal.com]

"It only counts as one."

[farnex.livejournal.com]

I like both the movies and the books, and I especially like that me and J.R.R. share today's birthday. He would be 115, I'm 29. Yea us!

My favorite points in the movies was Gimli. In Fellowship as they are fleeing Moira while the place is crumbling around them. Aragon goes to grab Gimli but he protests with: NOBODY TOSSES A DWARF! Then later in Two Towers when they need toss him he relents but says : Don't tell the elf. Gimli for me was the best.

[unclelumpy.livejournal.com]

"Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Do not be too eager to deal out death and judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends."

[allandaros.livejournal.com]

That was actually the line that started me disliking Gandalf. :D

[unclelumpy.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes. "Kill 'em all and let God sort 'em out!" has proven itself SUCH a more prudent modus operandii throughout the history of mankind.

[allandaros.livejournal.com]

Heh. Not saying that the "Kill 'em all" strategy is a particularly good one. My quibble came with the pompous way Gandalf said the line. Man may have a point; doesn't mean he's got to be a jerk about it.

[unclelumpy.livejournal.com]

You remind me of those people who call us liberals "wackoes" and "moonbats" when we dare to say something contrary to the popular sentiment... And then later, when it's been proven we were right the whole time, complain about how "smug" we are.

Maybe we wouldn't be so smug if you didn't keep giving us so much to be smug about.

[allandaros.livejournal.com]

*blinks slowly*

Sir, I happen to be a liberal myself.

As I've said, my objection was with the way I interpreted Gandalf saying the line, not necessarily the sentiments contained within it.

If you didn't notice, I was adding a smile to my first post, indicating that I was trying to make a statement with good humor...I was not attempting to attack you or your beliefs.

And I don't appreciate being attacked for a comment I made in good faith.

[unclelumpy.livejournal.com]

It was not intended to be an attack.

I apologize if I inadvertantly presented myself in a method that could cause it to be construed as such.

And I further offer my appreciation at your calling this to attention. I must be wary lest I develop a persecution complex.

[allandaros.livejournal.com]

Ah. Thank you, sir. I was quite hurt at what I had perceived to be a sudden slam upon me for beliefs I don't hold. :)

But hey! Misunderstandings on both our parts cleared up, no harm done; we're both liberal types who like Tolkien - it's a yay! Come, let us go forth and celebrate Tolkien's birthday!

(BTW, after skimming a bit through your journal, you seem like a cool person. Mind if I friend you?)

[unclelumpy.livejournal.com]

Enter freely, and of your own will.

[chaosdancer.livejournal.com]

As mentioned, the lighting of the beacons got me in the films. And Sam. And for whatever reason, even though hordes of sighing fangirls are in love with Aragorn, only Theoden King gets me going in that way. I adored him from the moment he came back to himself and mentally added all the lines from the book as the movie progressed, just so I could adore him a bit longer. :)

[skemono.livejournal.com]

Samwise the Strong, of course. I have a soft spot for fanatically-devoted servants.

Being left-handed doesn't hurt, either.

[netpositive.livejournal.com]

As was mentioned before, I adore just about anything having to do with the Ents. I want to go around murmuring "Hrum, hoom, hm." The snippets of the Long List, the "Lore of Living Creatures", which I'd love to hear told in full. The description of Wellinghall -- all the trees, the falling spring, the stone vessels, the bed of branches, even the Entdraught... I want to have all that. Treebeard being "immensely interested" in *everything*. The story, and especially the Elvish song, about the Entwives. Seeing (hearing) how an Entmoot operates. Meeting Bregalad, the nearest thing to a hasty Ent. The awesome blowup and marching song. Entroots chewing up the outer fortress of Isengard. Huorns taking care of the Orcs.

Beyond that, my favorite piece out of everything is "The Voice of Saruman". Watching Saruman try to talk his way out and get blocked at every turn -- unbelievably wonderful dialogue in there. But then so much of LotR for me is the speech or conversation that Tolkien wrote which illuminates characters and relationships. Lacking most of that... to me, the movies were just a lot of pretty landscape visuals and oh, one darned attractive elven warrior. :P Truthfully, I'd have been much better off watching it with earplugs!

[nightface.livejournal.com]

Can I speak up for the Silmarillion?
"Get thee gone from my gates, thou jail-crow of Mandos" and he shut the doors of his house in the face of the mightiest of all the dwellers in Ea.
Feanor at his most human.(ironically enough)

But LoTR does have my heart. Theoden and the Riders of Rohan charging before the sun rises. Gandalf trying to hold the city together and letting his love for the younger kindreds shine through in little moments.

[laurel-potter.livejournal.com]

The first time I saw "Fellowship" in the theater, I cried. Through almost all of it. Because it looks almost exactly like it did in my head. The story might have veered a bit in all three of them, but the sets and scenery were beautiful. I like the doors of Moria (speak friend and enter), Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli running across Rohan in the second, and the lighting of the towers in the thrid. Along with a whole bunch of other things.

Favorite thing in the books? When Frodo first sees Bilbo at Rivendell? Or when Frodo wakes up and sees Gandalf when it's all over?

Hmm... I must like reunion scenes.

[allisona.livejournal.com]

"Far above the Ephel Duath in the West the night-sky was still dim and pale. There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach."

My favorite LOTR moment. It gets to me every time.