Tolkien Survey
I'm succumbing to the survey every other LJ Tolkien fan is filling out these days so...
1. Did you read the LotR books before or after seeing the movies?
Way, way before. "Lord of The Rings" has been my favorite novel for some 25 years now. I pull it out to read again pretty much as a yearly ritual.
2. Who are your favourite characters from the books?
Sam and Frodo, though of all the hobbits I always identified most strongly with Merry. Gandalf and Galadriel would follow up from a distance.
3. Have your choices for question #2 changed over time?
No. I still love Sam and Frodo.
4. Were your choices for question #2 influenced by the movies?
No. Sean Astin and Elijah Wood had the most to prove to me, playing my favorite characters, but their portrayals of Sam and Frodo are wonderful, so thumbs up. I adore Ian McKellen as Gandalf. I'm more iffy on the portrayal of Galadriel in the movie, but that's not the doing of Kate Blanchett, who I thought was fine, as much as the way the character was written in the screenplay.
5. Who are your favourite characters from the movies?
Sam and Frodo (surprise!). I also liked Aragorn a lot and look forward to where his character will go in the third movie. Never cared much for Pippin in the book, but Billy Boyd just can't be denied in the movies, gotta love that accent. Also, like many people, I came away from the first movie seeing Boromir as a far more sympathetic character than in the book.
6. What is your favorite scene/event from the books and/or movie?
One? I have to pick one? Sigh, I can't do it...
From the books:
Gandalf facing down the Balrog- I've always said that if someone can get past that scene and still not be hooked on the book, they are never destined to be a Tolkien fan.
The Lothlorien chapters- lovely and magical.
Sam's battle with Shelob and the aftermath- This chapter can still make me cry.
Eowyn, Merry and the Witch King- 'Nuff said.
Sam seeing the star over Mordor- My favorite passage in LOTR.
The Grey Havens- poetic, haunting and just a perfect ending.
From the movies:
Gandalf facing down the Balrog- Boy, did they deliver brilliantly on one of my favorite passages from the book.
The death of Boromir/Sam and Frodo in the boat- These two scenes back-to-back had me dissolved under my seat first time I saw FOTR. And the next 25 times after.
The scene where Eowyn runs out onto the balcony of the Golden Hall and the Rohan music swells and she can see Aragorn, Gandalf, Legolas and Gimli riding in from the distance and the flag tears off the pole and floats to the ground- a favorite TTT moment.
Sam's speech at the end of TTT- yes, I am sentimental.
Now, bring on the movie versions of Shelob, the Witch King and the Grey Havens.
1. Did you read the LotR books before or after seeing the movies?
Way, way before. "Lord of The Rings" has been my favorite novel for some 25 years now. I pull it out to read again pretty much as a yearly ritual.
2. Who are your favourite characters from the books?
Sam and Frodo, though of all the hobbits I always identified most strongly with Merry. Gandalf and Galadriel would follow up from a distance.
3. Have your choices for question #2 changed over time?
No. I still love Sam and Frodo.
4. Were your choices for question #2 influenced by the movies?
No. Sean Astin and Elijah Wood had the most to prove to me, playing my favorite characters, but their portrayals of Sam and Frodo are wonderful, so thumbs up. I adore Ian McKellen as Gandalf. I'm more iffy on the portrayal of Galadriel in the movie, but that's not the doing of Kate Blanchett, who I thought was fine, as much as the way the character was written in the screenplay.
5. Who are your favourite characters from the movies?
Sam and Frodo (surprise!). I also liked Aragorn a lot and look forward to where his character will go in the third movie. Never cared much for Pippin in the book, but Billy Boyd just can't be denied in the movies, gotta love that accent. Also, like many people, I came away from the first movie seeing Boromir as a far more sympathetic character than in the book.
6. What is your favorite scene/event from the books and/or movie?
One? I have to pick one? Sigh, I can't do it...
From the books:
Gandalf facing down the Balrog- I've always said that if someone can get past that scene and still not be hooked on the book, they are never destined to be a Tolkien fan.
The Lothlorien chapters- lovely and magical.
Sam's battle with Shelob and the aftermath- This chapter can still make me cry.
Eowyn, Merry and the Witch King- 'Nuff said.
Sam seeing the star over Mordor- My favorite passage in LOTR.
The Grey Havens- poetic, haunting and just a perfect ending.
From the movies:
Gandalf facing down the Balrog- Boy, did they deliver brilliantly on one of my favorite passages from the book.
The death of Boromir/Sam and Frodo in the boat- These two scenes back-to-back had me dissolved under my seat first time I saw FOTR. And the next 25 times after.
The scene where Eowyn runs out onto the balcony of the Golden Hall and the Rohan music swells and she can see Aragorn, Gandalf, Legolas and Gimli riding in from the distance and the flag tears off the pole and floats to the ground- a favorite TTT moment.
Sam's speech at the end of TTT- yes, I am sentimental.
Now, bring on the movie versions of Shelob, the Witch King and the Grey Havens.