On Tue, Feb 3, 2009 at 8:00 PM, Bill M. <bmenn...@comcast.net> wrote:
> > As it appears that Tolkeinalia is being tolerated for now... > > My first exposure to LOTR was in the summer of 1970 at age 12. I've > lost count of how many times I've read it. Reading The Hobbit and all > of LOTR aloud to my children is a cherished memory, and I treasure the > leather-bound edition of LOTR that my wife gave me one year for > Christmas. > > As to the movies, much was well done, but the truncation of the > hobbits' return home was disappointing. I understand it in cinematic > terms, but much of the lasting meaning of the books (for me) comes in > the completion of Sam's story arc. It was many years after that first > reading before I realized that it was Sam's story that inspired me, > not Frodo's. > > Frodo was a mature man at the outset of their journey but returned > shattered from his burden. Sam left home very young (another problem > in the movie - Sam was much younger than Frodo, their relationship > should be more father-son than the movie presents) on a journey he > barely understood, but he returned a mature man, strong but not > boastful or brash. We see this in his actions after the Scouring. He > used the gift of Galadriel to heal the wounds of the Shire, not for > his own gain. He planted the Mallorn to replace the party tree where > all could enjoy it, married the prettiest girl in town, raised a big > family, and became the Mayor of the Shire. And, deep in the > footnotes, we learn that at the end of his like, Sam too was allowed > to pass over the Sundering Seas, as befit a Ring bearer. IMO, Sam is > the real hero, the true protagonist of LOTR, and the movie lost that. > > Hobbits would have ridden single speeds - quiet and simple, but > durable and speedy if need be. > > Bill > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ > > I really need to re-read these books! BTW, how old were your kids when you read it to them? -- Cheers, David Redlands, CA --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
