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Welcome to a very special edition of The Many Moods of Legolas Greenleaf.
AKA the next part of my interests meme, which happens to be Lord of the Rings. Quick rundown of my very boring day before I get to it though.
Worked this morning after 5 hours of sleep and was surprisingly alert and okay in spite of having been exhausted last night and not being able to sleep. Home for lunch, Oprah, ET and Clare doing braids for me (I love braids!) Work meeting, home again. Wow. My life is spellbinding.
Okay!
LORD OF THE RINGS
Welcome to Lord of the Rings as interpreted by my brain. I'm not going to post pictures of the actors out of their roles in the films, that's what the LotRiPS section of my interests is for. Instead I intend to give you some insight into why I love the movies so much, the amazing feats Peter Jackson and his team performed, and of course a look at Orlando Bloom's phenomenal acting skills.
The books: I first read the books in year 11 when I was assured by almost all my teachers that, at the very least, I had to read Lord of the Rings in order to truly appreciate Harry Potter and the foundation it is based on in fantasy literature. Which to be honest was fair enough. I was also assured that I would LOVE Lord of the Rings since I loved Harry Potter so much, and I was disappointed to discover that this wasn't the case. I liked the books, and I certainly loved the hobbits and the wonderful characters and story created in the books. But by gods I got bored in the long descriptions. Not having a visual mind does NOT help your enjoyment of Lord of the Rings, believe me, not when half the book is just scenery description.
The movies: I was, however, enthralled by the prospect of Lord of the Rings when I discovered it would be made into a movie. I found out though researching Sean Astin, who I loved from The Goonies. I think I must have stared at the first released hobbit picture for an hour trying to make myself believe that was little Mikey playing my favourite character from the books. I knew the movies would be special, right from reading about them then; the way they were all being shot at once, the casting choices, the fact that it was going to be shot in New Zealand. I just felt this tingle in my spine, I knew it would be good.
I first saw it in a miraculously uncrowded cinema about a week after it opened in Japan with various other embassy folk. I was hooked from the opening shot. I'd heard that it ended too fast, that "they just get on boats and that's it," so I was panicking when they got on the boats to leave Lothlorien, checking my watch to make sure it wasn't over yet! It didn't feel too long at all to me. Every scene was beautiful, the makeup and special effects were amazing and new, the acting was brilliant. Middle Earth was so ridiculously real all of a sudden, right there on screen, and it took my breath away. The amount of work put in to the films was clear from the start, and by my second screening I knew I wanted to know EVERYTHING about them.
So I loved the first film, and slowly as time went on I started to look at pictures of the actors, got into the fandom, and it just grew from there. And here I am, a complete LotR nutcase. The conventions have taught me more about filmmaking than most of my university courses, and the DVDs are another course all on their own. Those DVDs have absolutely revolutionised the way we see movies - and the way DVDs are made. I think the Star Wars collection would have been very different were it not for the LotR EE DVDs. Being a trivia nut, I love having the ability to know so much, and to learn from it.
So, here is a tour through Lord of the Rings via my brain:
Okay, you can see all the rest of my hobbit piccies here in my Hobbitses post. They're my favourite part of the film but I already explained all that :)
I have a weird and unnatural love for Fell Beasts (the big bat-dragon screechy things that the Ringwraiths ride on, for the uninitiated.) I have a model one called Horace. They're so beautiful, ugly, terrifying and awe-inspiring. And SO enormous. The moment when the Fell Beast rises up out of Minas Morgul in RotK is one of my very favourite moments in all the films.
Gandy Gandy Gandalf! I like him better grey myself, but I must admit Gandalf the White kicks some serious booty. Ian McKellen is the most brilliant old, grumpy, wise, asskicking wizard ever.
Minas Tirith, which is beautiful, but I've always preferred...
Edoras myself. It's overlooked but I just think it's amazing, the most wonderful set. I almost cried when I found out they tore it all down after shooing there. Also, I think I would rather live somewhere I wouldn't be blinded stepping out of my house on a sunny day.
These two are just incredible, incredible shots that showcase Peter Jackson's talent. The second one is particularly powerful, I think.
Okay, on to the Fellowship:
One of the most attractive parts of the book for me was the emphasis on friendship, loyalty and love, which can be seen in the bonds of the Fellowship. That's what really carried the story for me, this story of how far one will go out of loyalty, and the strength and hope it lends people. Merry and Pippin, Legolas and Gimli, Frodo and Sam, all of them are driven by their dedication to one another. Love it.
Yes, well. Gayest movie that ever gayed.
*cough*phallicsymbol*cough*
Okay, since we're on to Aragorn, might as well get into the men (not like that, you dirty buggers):
Starting with my very favourite man, Boromir. I know he's flawed and proud, but so much of that was his father's fault, and in the end he completely redeemed himself through his bravery. Plus he was just so...passionate, so real.
And with his brother Faramir. The quiet, bookish one. Does anyone else see these two as very Sirius & Remus? *ponders* come to think of it, that was in![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
shoebox_project once.
Eowyn, who is far and away the coolest female character in the Lord of the Rings (not that there are many to choose from.) I feel she got a bum rap in the films what with the forced love triangle and her constantly having to be miserable, but she definitely came into her own in the final battle.
PJ!...okay, moving on.
Gimli. I love the costume for Gimli (I can't bring myself to love the prosthetics knowing how much pain they caused but that helmet's so cool.) Never been a huge fan of the dwarves but Gimli's very funny and very proud, I like him.
I have this picture signed and in a frame. It's so amazing. I love Ents, particularly Treebeard. They're a bit slow for me but the idea of a herder of trees is still one that I love. He's so wonderfully old that he has a completely different outlook on life.
Hee. I know, I know, I'm the only person crazy enough to like Gothmog. You know it's Craig's voice, right? I dunno, Gothmog makes me laugh now. The other orcs just look so cute compared to him, and he's so arrogant; I love the moment when he comes in through the armies of Mordor on a Warg looking like a hidesouly disgfigured John Wayne. It's cool.
Gollum. I don't know, I think at this point I'm starting to get sick of people going on about him, but he is still an amazing character. It's true, you really do forget that he's CG. Andy did a good job, and the scenes where Gollum fights with Smeagol are still funny and horrific.
Elves!
Galadriel is a much more intriguing and complex character than most people realise, I think. She's radiant and beautiful but it's a very sad beauty, she has paid such a terrible price. And yeah, Cate looks amazing.
Okay, Elrond just cracks me up. I'm sorry.
Gil-Galad! In no way was this an excuse to post a pic of Mark. LOVE the old elf costumes, man.
And here's what you've been waiting for!
Legolas is...scared? Angry? Or maybe his eyes just hurt from the dust...
Legolas is....um. Inspired. Hopeful? Wistful?
Legolas is...angry. See how his eyes widened? A little? Maybe?
Legolas is...worried? "Legolas, what do your elf eyes see?"
"Not that much, apparently. I can see orc armies miles away but I can't see A HUNDRED HORSEMAN RIDING UP A HILL BEHIND US."
Legolas is...simultaneously angry, scared and determined. Or just trying to remember his next line.
Legolas is...happy, but looks disturbingly similar to just before he killed the Oliphaunt.
Legolas is...erm, looking pretty does not count as emoting.
Legolas is...sad. His mouth! It opens!!
Okay, okay, this is a picture taken for costume tests. But still...
You know what? I'm not even going to guess this one. It's impossible. He's blanker than a clean slate.
Yea verily Legolas's finest moment.
And a couple other bits:
Because he really wants you to believe he's invisible.
OMG Fran, PJ and Philippa! Absolute heroes.
Obviously if you are a Lord of the Rings fan you need to have TheOneRing.Net in your bookmarks.lotr_daily is a good community to have on your flist, and for icons there's lotricons and lotr_awards for the cream of the crop.
Link of the Day: Bands quiz (careful, it's an Excel file). I only managed 68 out of the 200-whatever there are.
You remind me of the man - 171 days
Green Queen
AKA the next part of my interests meme, which happens to be Lord of the Rings. Quick rundown of my very boring day before I get to it though.
Worked this morning after 5 hours of sleep and was surprisingly alert and okay in spite of having been exhausted last night and not being able to sleep. Home for lunch, Oprah, ET and Clare doing braids for me (I love braids!) Work meeting, home again. Wow. My life is spellbinding.
Okay!
LORD OF THE RINGS
Welcome to Lord of the Rings as interpreted by my brain. I'm not going to post pictures of the actors out of their roles in the films, that's what the LotRiPS section of my interests is for. Instead I intend to give you some insight into why I love the movies so much, the amazing feats Peter Jackson and his team performed, and of course a look at Orlando Bloom's phenomenal acting skills.
The books: I first read the books in year 11 when I was assured by almost all my teachers that, at the very least, I had to read Lord of the Rings in order to truly appreciate Harry Potter and the foundation it is based on in fantasy literature. Which to be honest was fair enough. I was also assured that I would LOVE Lord of the Rings since I loved Harry Potter so much, and I was disappointed to discover that this wasn't the case. I liked the books, and I certainly loved the hobbits and the wonderful characters and story created in the books. But by gods I got bored in the long descriptions. Not having a visual mind does NOT help your enjoyment of Lord of the Rings, believe me, not when half the book is just scenery description.
The movies: I was, however, enthralled by the prospect of Lord of the Rings when I discovered it would be made into a movie. I found out though researching Sean Astin, who I loved from The Goonies. I think I must have stared at the first released hobbit picture for an hour trying to make myself believe that was little Mikey playing my favourite character from the books. I knew the movies would be special, right from reading about them then; the way they were all being shot at once, the casting choices, the fact that it was going to be shot in New Zealand. I just felt this tingle in my spine, I knew it would be good.
I first saw it in a miraculously uncrowded cinema about a week after it opened in Japan with various other embassy folk. I was hooked from the opening shot. I'd heard that it ended too fast, that "they just get on boats and that's it," so I was panicking when they got on the boats to leave Lothlorien, checking my watch to make sure it wasn't over yet! It didn't feel too long at all to me. Every scene was beautiful, the makeup and special effects were amazing and new, the acting was brilliant. Middle Earth was so ridiculously real all of a sudden, right there on screen, and it took my breath away. The amount of work put in to the films was clear from the start, and by my second screening I knew I wanted to know EVERYTHING about them.
So I loved the first film, and slowly as time went on I started to look at pictures of the actors, got into the fandom, and it just grew from there. And here I am, a complete LotR nutcase. The conventions have taught me more about filmmaking than most of my university courses, and the DVDs are another course all on their own. Those DVDs have absolutely revolutionised the way we see movies - and the way DVDs are made. I think the Star Wars collection would have been very different were it not for the LotR EE DVDs. Being a trivia nut, I love having the ability to know so much, and to learn from it.
So, here is a tour through Lord of the Rings via my brain:
Okay, you can see all the rest of my hobbit piccies here in my Hobbitses post. They're my favourite part of the film but I already explained all that :)
I have a weird and unnatural love for Fell Beasts (the big bat-dragon screechy things that the Ringwraiths ride on, for the uninitiated.) I have a model one called Horace. They're so beautiful, ugly, terrifying and awe-inspiring. And SO enormous. The moment when the Fell Beast rises up out of Minas Morgul in RotK is one of my very favourite moments in all the films.
Gandy Gandy Gandalf! I like him better grey myself, but I must admit Gandalf the White kicks some serious booty. Ian McKellen is the most brilliant old, grumpy, wise, asskicking wizard ever.
Minas Tirith, which is beautiful, but I've always preferred...
Edoras myself. It's overlooked but I just think it's amazing, the most wonderful set. I almost cried when I found out they tore it all down after shooing there. Also, I think I would rather live somewhere I wouldn't be blinded stepping out of my house on a sunny day.
These two are just incredible, incredible shots that showcase Peter Jackson's talent. The second one is particularly powerful, I think.
Okay, on to the Fellowship:
One of the most attractive parts of the book for me was the emphasis on friendship, loyalty and love, which can be seen in the bonds of the Fellowship. That's what really carried the story for me, this story of how far one will go out of loyalty, and the strength and hope it lends people. Merry and Pippin, Legolas and Gimli, Frodo and Sam, all of them are driven by their dedication to one another. Love it.
Yes, well. Gayest movie that ever gayed.
*cough*phallicsymbol*cough*
Okay, since we're on to Aragorn, might as well get into the men (not like that, you dirty buggers):
Starting with my very favourite man, Boromir. I know he's flawed and proud, but so much of that was his father's fault, and in the end he completely redeemed himself through his bravery. Plus he was just so...passionate, so real.
And with his brother Faramir. The quiet, bookish one. Does anyone else see these two as very Sirius & Remus? *ponders* come to think of it, that was in
shoebox_project once.Eowyn, who is far and away the coolest female character in the Lord of the Rings (not that there are many to choose from.) I feel she got a bum rap in the films what with the forced love triangle and her constantly having to be miserable, but she definitely came into her own in the final battle.
PJ!...okay, moving on.
Gimli. I love the costume for Gimli (I can't bring myself to love the prosthetics knowing how much pain they caused but that helmet's so cool.) Never been a huge fan of the dwarves but Gimli's very funny and very proud, I like him.
I have this picture signed and in a frame. It's so amazing. I love Ents, particularly Treebeard. They're a bit slow for me but the idea of a herder of trees is still one that I love. He's so wonderfully old that he has a completely different outlook on life.
Hee. I know, I know, I'm the only person crazy enough to like Gothmog. You know it's Craig's voice, right? I dunno, Gothmog makes me laugh now. The other orcs just look so cute compared to him, and he's so arrogant; I love the moment when he comes in through the armies of Mordor on a Warg looking like a hidesouly disgfigured John Wayne. It's cool.
Gollum. I don't know, I think at this point I'm starting to get sick of people going on about him, but he is still an amazing character. It's true, you really do forget that he's CG. Andy did a good job, and the scenes where Gollum fights with Smeagol are still funny and horrific.
Elves!
Galadriel is a much more intriguing and complex character than most people realise, I think. She's radiant and beautiful but it's a very sad beauty, she has paid such a terrible price. And yeah, Cate looks amazing.
Okay, Elrond just cracks me up. I'm sorry.
Gil-Galad! In no way was this an excuse to post a pic of Mark. LOVE the old elf costumes, man.
And here's what you've been waiting for!
Legolas is...scared? Angry? Or maybe his eyes just hurt from the dust...
Legolas is....um. Inspired. Hopeful? Wistful?
Legolas is...angry. See how his eyes widened? A little? Maybe?
Legolas is...worried? "Legolas, what do your elf eyes see?"
"Not that much, apparently. I can see orc armies miles away but I can't see A HUNDRED HORSEMAN RIDING UP A HILL BEHIND US."
Legolas is...simultaneously angry, scared and determined. Or just trying to remember his next line.
Legolas is...happy, but looks disturbingly similar to just before he killed the Oliphaunt.
Legolas is...erm, looking pretty does not count as emoting.
Legolas is...sad. His mouth! It opens!!
Okay, okay, this is a picture taken for costume tests. But still...
You know what? I'm not even going to guess this one. It's impossible. He's blanker than a clean slate.
Yea verily Legolas's finest moment.
And a couple other bits:
Because he really wants you to believe he's invisible.
OMG Fran, PJ and Philippa! Absolute heroes.
Obviously if you are a Lord of the Rings fan you need to have TheOneRing.Net in your bookmarks.
lotr_daily is a good community to have on your flist, and for icons there's lotricons and lotr_awards for the cream of the crop.Link of the Day: Bands quiz (careful, it's an Excel file). I only managed 68 out of the 200-whatever there are.
You remind me of the man - 171 days
Green Queen
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
From:
WOO BOY HOWDY!
Also - 2 things...the one where you said you weren't even going to guess - well, he was thinking about me again...I swear! And the last one of him - that is THE BEST!!!! Thanks again for makin my day!
From:
Re: WOO BOY HOWDY!
Yeah, the last one he's actually worried that Viggo's gonna cark it! Glad you liked the post :D
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no subject
Nice pics. LOTR rules :-D
From:
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manslut'friend' is in danger of being stomped on by a really really big troll.From:
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nonono its his "Are you looking at me? *Are* you looking at me? You? Are looking at *me* " Expression! O.o
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"Not that much, apparently. I can see orc armies miles away but I can't see A HUNDRED HORSEMAN RIDING UP A HILL BEHIND US."
made me giggle out loud!
have you come across this site, its full of screen caps of an asian bootleg of LOTR:Two Towers? basically the english subtitles are screwed - its hilarious! especially with gimli saying 'toast me!'. i'll try and find the link...
xxx
From:
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hilarious!
xxx
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Oh, and "fire safety goggle"! Hee.
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xxx
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no subject