Thursday, April 3, 2008

Wow!









I just have to say: I LOVE these movies!

Having just finished a marathon of the Lord of the Rings trilogy (the non-extended versions, since I didn't have enough time to squeeze in all three extended editions...), I am reminded of the things that make movies great- solid acting, solid directing, an amazing soundtrack/use of music to help carry the story, and the incredible attention to detail- whether it be costumes (all so beautifully done, or ugily done, as the case may be with the Orcs), dialogue (there are some great one-liners in these movies, some funny, some profound), sets, even a simple facial expression at just the right moment to create the perfect effect... These movies never cease to amaze me.

I am always moved to tears as the deeper meaning unfolds along with the story. I see so much that is of value that I can't help but cry at the poignancy of these things: Boromir's undaunted courage and honorable end (this one gets me every time), Sam's loyalty, Eomer's faithful return, the determined valor of the Rohirrim, even in the face of death, the devotion of the Fellowship, the honor given to four simple hobbits who helped change the world... and of course, Sam's speech at the end of The Two Towers... I could easily go on, but you should all be familiar with it already (and if you're not familiar with these movies, more's the pity- you should rectify that situation immediately!)


Movies such as these deserve every honor they receive and more, because they help change our lives for the better. They remind us of why life matters and what is important; they remind us of doing the right thing, no matter how hard or how high the price... As Sam puts it, "...there's some good in this world, and it's worth fighting for."

brilliant!

7 comments:

Emily S. said...

absolutely agree... why can't we go back and watch them for the first time, all over again??

Sarah Lambson said...

is it sad that as you mentioned all the touching parts that I almost cried? Only Lord of the Rings can get dad to go against his "Sunday appropriate" rule. Return of the king was an TNT on Sunday...

Peeser said...

No, Sarah, that is not sad- I cried at almost all of Steven's movie clips that he posted awhile back, and there are somethings that, even just talking about them, get me going (certain movies, certain books)- we're all just a bunch of sentimental saps that don't mind a good cry, even if it's at the littlest of things...

(btw- I really like your profile photo- very nice- though I can't tell what that is behind or on your head...)

Jeanne, the mom and grandmom said...

The movies have been on TBS (or was it TNT?) the last couple of weekends and it sucked me in both times! I gotta watch the extended versions soon.

J.Ammon said...

The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins was discovered by Em and me while watching Ringers, a doc about LoTR fans. Search it on youtube to see Spock and the crazy hobbit dancers!

Julina said...

I tried posting this a week or so ago, but it apparently didn't "take", so I'm finally taking a chance to try again...

Having just recently completed my own viewing of these movies (the extended versions - I didn't buy anything else), I would just add to your list:

-The courage and determination of Eowyn. Even with her brother (indirectly) telling her that she would run at the first sight/sound/smell of battle - and be right to do so - she doesn't let anything stop her from fighting for (and with) those she loves. And what girl, especially, doesn't love the moment she takes off her helmet, says (rather obviously) "I am no man" and takes out the Witch King. AWESOME!

-The lighting of the beacons - emphasis on plural. I've been on this soapbox before, but I can't help it - it gets me every time. I can't imagine being one of those guys up on the mountain for months, years - even decades? - at a time with nothing to do but wait for someone to need the beacon lighted. It would be totally understandable if any one (or all) of them said at some point "forget it, this is just stupid, I'm not going to waste my life up here on this forsaken mountain for a pile of wood that I am NEVER GOING TO LIGHT. I'm going home". What a testament of duty, loyalty, and a whole lot of other commendable qualities that none of them gave up and that not just the first beacon (yay, Pippin), but all of the successive beacons was lit and the message got through.

-The wordless look that Frodo and Sam exchange in the House of Healing that says so much more about what they have gone through than Merry/Pippins exuberance and even Gandalf's approval ever could.

-For that matter, Gandalf's wordless look of - relief? pity? gratitude? all of the above? - when Frodo says he'll take the ring.

-The dawn at Helm's deep, when (having accomplished the impossible by simply lasting out the night) the ragtag army of men and elves regroup and Theoden and Aragorn decide to ride out to meet their fate - "Now for Wrath... Now for Ruin... and the Red Dawn"

-And I would add the story of Cameron Duncan - the young NZ filmmaker who became the inspiration behind "Into the West" - you'll find it on the second appendix disk for ROTK. It's amazing - he's amazing - but be prepared to cry (a good cry).

I think that was all of them... Now let's see if it will post...

Julina said...

Wait, no, I thought of another one...

Sam deciding to seize the day and not let one more moment pass without letting Rosie know how he feels (and his friends' expressions as he does just that... :-)

OK, I think that's all.

Seriously, watch the Cameron Duncan piece (I re-watched yesterday). Amazing.

Love you-

Juli