LOTR/Hobbit, DVDs

[Geoff Bannister]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "werebearloony" 
<Erthena at a...> wrote:
> I can't resist a good LOTR thread even if I have to jump in a 
little 
> late. 

<snip>
  
> 2)LOTR-amazing, I just started reread number six and expect it to 
be 
> so great.  I am sad though that I never read the books before I saw 
> the movies (I had a bad experience with the animated Hobbit).  I'm 
> slowly moving away from PJ's vision and having a few of my own 
> opinonis now.  It was the coolest feeling whan I thought, "well, 
> they sure messed up *that* in the movie", because I was worried I'd 
> be tainted by the movie-cannon forever.
> 
> 3) my recommended reading order(otherwise known as the  order read 
> them in first)- LOTR first, then the Hobbit, then the Sil.  Too 
many 
> of my family turned away from JRRT becaus they read the Hobbit 
> first.  It's a good read, but LOTR is better (for most people).  
The 
> hobbit is seconed because it is a nice break if you're reading all 
> three at once, and it's nice to see what Frodo is saving when he 
> goes on his quest.  The Sil is third because it takes the longest, 
> gets boring, and is not reccomended for those who are reading LOTR 
> because it's popular or are being forced, only read the Sil if you 
> love LOTR. (more on the Sil below)
> 

<snip>

loony:
> 5) The Sil.- I once read that it takes 100 read throughs to 
> understand the Sil., and I believe it.  The more times you read it 
> the more sense it makes.  As you learn who's who and why the Minis 
> Tirith isn't the same Minas Tirith you get the stories underneath 
> the confusing style, and they're all great, and even fun after a 
> fashion.
> 
> 6) Special Edition DVD's - I own both, even though my most recent 
> play has prevented me from watching all of TTT, and they are so 
> great.  Full of facts and fun (esp. the fourth disk of FOTR, the 
> cast documentary is beyond funny,  but that's another post 
> completely)
> 

Geoff:
As some of you will know, I am one of the Ancients when it comes to 
LOTR, having first read it about 1955-6 and since then about 25-30 
times in total.

The problem I always have (and I know one or two friends also share) 
is that I get stuck in "Book 4" - the second half of TTT. We have the 
first part where JRRT cleverly intertwines the threads of those who 
have remained on the west side of the river - Legolas/Gimli/Aragorn, 
Gandalf and Merry/Pippin and then you get the long spell with just 
Frodo/Sam/Gollum which tends to be rather unlightened gloom and I do 
find it heavy going on occasions. One of the good things about the 
films is that Peter Jackson has also inter-cut this section with the 
others.

The problem with the Silmarillion is that I have to read with one 
finger permanently anchored in the genealogical tables at the back 
because I am asking myself things like: "Is this guy a man or an 
elf?" "Now who is this guy's father?". It's interesting but slow 
progress. Some parts of the Silmarillion are extremely good - the 
Elves' crossing of the Helcaraxe in the First Age and the betrayal 
and destruction of Gondolin come to mind.

With the movies, I managed to acquire a video original edition of 
FOTR, a vidoe extended  edition and then decided that a DVD player 
was needed, twisted the corporate arm of the family to get one for 
Dad's birthday and then got the 4-disc extended DVD. No way did I 
want the Argonath in my study; there's enough clutter there already! 
((I have since given away the video extended edition).

I am now touting for the 4-disc extended edition for Christmas. I'm 
prepared to be extreeeeeemly patient and wait until then. But not the 
5 disc set thank you.

In passing, my elder son who is also an LOTR addict, he teels me that 
there is a special CD of the ROTK music which has something with it 
about Howard Shore's work composing.

Geoff