I still wish one of the local theaters would do an all day “Watch the extended versions on the big screen” kind of thing. I would pay good money to see them all on the big screen, with the big sound system.
I never read the books when I fell for the movies. I will say that having seen the films made the books much easier to go through, given that I knew how to pronounce everything.
Thanks for the continuing interesting posts, guys!
Oh gosh, here’s an irony – I was quoting you to say “that’s okay about the spoilers, I’m not clicking on any spoiler boxes until I see the film(s)”… and then realized that if you quote someone, the text in the spoiler boxes becomes visible! Heh. But don’t worry, I deleted it without reading.
Absolutely. I don’t have a problem as long as they’re in spoiler boxes. It’ll make the thread more fun to come back to later on. F’rex, I had a similar thread relating to Watchmen before I read the book, and then I came back to the megathread and had fun reading all the stuff I now understood.
LOL! Actually, I don’t like long hair on men much. I have a feeling the guys are not really my type – too pretty. (Though I do find Robert Pattinson cute in the Harry Potter movies, and who’s prettier than he is? So go figure.) I’m a Brad Dourif fan, though, and I know he’s in it, presumably playing a raving nutter and/or killer because 95% of the time that’s what he does. I’m also psyched to see Ian McKellan. Always wished he’d played Dumbledore, and his Gandalf seems to look just as I imagined him.
It’s amazing – I know the character names, at least some of them, but I know almost nothing about the story. I can’t think of another classic tale of which I’m so thoroughly ignorant. Looking forward to increasing my cultural awareness at last.
I just looked up what character he played, and let’s just say that you won’t be surprised by his casting when you see him. He doesn’t show up until the second movie, though.
As for the Ring’s true power, [spoiler]we see a glimpse of it in Return of the King, when Frodo uses it to command Gollum. That was the essence of its greatest power. Frodo was only able to use it to command a single creature who was already deep under the Ring’s sway, but someone like Elrond, Gandalf, or Aragorn could have used it to the same effect on whole armies.
It also, like all of the Great Rings, had the purpose of “easing the weariness of the world”-- This was how Galadriel and Elrond were able to maintain Lorien and Rivendell in the timeless states they had, through the power of their Rings. Sauron’s ring, though, accomplished this in only a weak, corrupted sort of way, hence Bilbo’s feeling that he was “stretched thin, like butter scraped over too much bread”.[/spoiler]
Wow, I just re-read it and you’re right, so let me say this…
choie, it would be best if you avoided reading the spoiler tag in Jihi’s post #31, but, if you couldn’t help yourself and did anyway, while you might think “ah man, now I know how it ends” in fact you would not. Events happen because of what Jihi mentioned that are totally unexpected, and even after that other “ending,” the movie (Return of the King) continues on for another, what, 45 minutes, an hour? I forget. Whatever, plenty more happens. So, no, you don’t know how it ends after reading it but before seeing the movie, but still, you’d know a piece of information that it would be best you didn’t know so you can experience it for yourself.
I agree with JohnT that it was easier to read the books after I’d seen the movie. I knew how to pronounce things, I had the movie characters to picture in my head (though that didn’t last long as they sort of morphed into their own book characters of the imagination), I could picture the world(s) they inhabited (thank you New Zealand!!, Weta Workshop!, and Weta Digital!), and though the books will be “spoiled” there’s still plenty of information, background, and side stories cut out of the movie to keep surprises going. With the miracle of DVD, it’s easier and quicker now to watch all three movies before reading the books because you don’t have to wait 24 months. I was impatient, but had I been able to view all three movies in one day or the space of a week or even a few weeks (though I don’t know how anyone would be able to hold out) I could have waited to read the books, and then the movies wouldn’t have been spoiled.
I’d go again in a heartbeat. The day before Return of the King opened my husband and I attended “Trilogy Tuesday” at a local AMC theater (River East 21), which started in the morning, with a showing of the extended Fellowship, then the extended Two Towers, then Return of the King. It’s my favorite day at the movies ever.
My husband and I, neither of us remembering what our actual anniversary meeting date was, but knowing that it was within a week or two, decided to make Trilogy Tuesday our official anniversary and made it into a micro vacation. We stayed the night (before) at a local hotel close to the theater, then got up early and got in line. We were able to get our choice seats (not our usual front row center this time, even we thought that would be hard to take over the course of three looooong movies, but front row center in the stadium part, so we could get out and back to our seats by just climbing over the railing instead of climbing over other people in the row). Popcorn and hot dogs were just a $1 all day, but you could also bring in outside food so between movies we were able to go get real food and bring it back. They had costume contests and gave away prizes. One prize that they gave out, everyone got one if I remember correctly, is an actual film clip encased in plastic.
Everyone there was a HUGE fan, so the excitement level was sky high. Everyone had already seen the first two movies, and the extended versions, so it was like being with a bunch of old friends watching something familiar and well-loved, ooohs and aaaaahhs, laughter and tears, in all the same places. Since Return of the King was new to everybody, you could just feel the electricity in the air when it was about ready to start, and the roar when the lights went down was deafening. And of course, everybody loved it (or just about everybody, there are always a few who won’t and don’t). What a day man, what a day.
Last year a local theater showed all three, but they were the normal theatrical cuts, not the extended versions. That was fun too.
you know, my first post wasn’t enthusiastic enough, so…
YOU’RE A FANTASY FAN! WATCH THE MOVIES! and please start a thread after so we can discuss with you. and don’t read anymore about em. go in as a virgin.
Shush! You know we’re suppose to lure them in quietly and then let them know they’re fantasy fans once it’s too late to escape.
I forgot to address this. It made me cry a little bit, but it’s better than nothing and widescreen is better than full screen. At the very very least, please please PLEASE watch it with good headphones on, and not via tinny computer speakers. The soundscape is one huge aspect of the film. And watch it in the dark. And don’t do other things while you’re watching it. Even the slower parts have much worth paying attention to. I have a terrible habit of checking mail and the Dope and other things while I’m trying to watch something on my computer. The temptation is too great, so I generally don’t watch anything but short clips on my computer.
So to answer my own question: I never read LOTR and I did like the movie. A lot!
I have lots of impressions but first I’ll ask the questions that sprang to mind. I found it a bit frustrating because for some reason I had trouble underestanding some of the dialogue. I don’t think it was the fault of the accents (I’ve plenty of experience with watching UK films/TV) or my computer speakers, which are actually excellent. I blame my own tinnitus which seemed to be acting up. But anyway, I seemed to have missed out on some explanations, so some bits confused me. I don’t want to search for the answers myself lest I get spoiled for later movies. So I’m trusting you guys with my burning questions:
a) Why did Samwise keep calling Frodo “Mr. Frodo”? Aren’t they peers? I didn’t get the impression that Frodo was some member of the Hobbit gentry or anything like that. Merry and, uh, the other guy (Tott? Trott? Tock?) didn’t ever call him “Mr.”
b) Speaking of the other Hobbits, why did they come along with Frodo and Sam? It was like one minute they were running from [del]Farmer MacGregor[/del] that angry farmer, and the next they’d all hopped aboard the Prancing Pony Express train without any explanation. (BTW, I couldn’t help thinking of Fred and George Weasley with these two; comic relief pranksters who cause havoc with fireworks…)
c) Didn’t Aragorn/Strider tell Frodo that someone, who I assumed was his beloved, had died? Then Arwen shows up and clearly she ain’t dead. Then Aragorn hangs out reading in some kind of crypt or chapel (is there Christianity or non-Elven religion in Middle Earth?) and is looking mopey at a seeming Virgin Mary statue above what looked like a tomb, wiping away dust from the engraving as if this is his beloved or possibly his mom? But what is his mom’s tomb doing in Rivendel? Holy cow I’m confused.
d) So Aragorn is going under the name Strider … why? To hide from his legacy because he doesn’t like or trust his fellow humans? Boromir seemed not to recognize him, but when he heard his real name (I think) he knew he was the prince who had left Gondor (sp?), and resented him because of this abandonment, right? Was there any other history between these two?
e) Gandalf sure takes his sweet time to start unleashing his wizardry. Why was he fighting a kabillion orcs (or were they goblins?) with a sword when surely his staff could be zapping those little bastards right and left? Is he not as powerful as I think he is?
f) Am I crazy or was that Borias from Xena playing Cate Blanchett’s sidekick? Awesome!
g) Um … Sam and Frodo are lovers, right? At least, Sam reeeally seems into Frodo.
h) Mithrail armor. I’ve heard of this before through, as Equipoise called it, cultural osmosis. But I’m not sure what it does. Does it have healing properties? Because clearly Frodo was gutted like a pig on a spit by that, uh, troll-like thingy (was it a troll?), but three minutes later he was fine and the Dwarf indicated that the chain mail wifebeater was responsible.
i) I really seemed to miss something in the whole Cate Blanchette / Elf Witch segment. Firstly, I’m predisposed to assume Cate is playing evil, because, y’know, the White Witch / Jadis from Narnia thing. Second, her evilosity was built up because Frodo was hearing her voice being all seductive and, well, evil-sounding. So naturally Frodo gets out of bed and walks right up to her so she has the opportunity to make a play for the ring, and then she gets all green and scary as hell and her voice turns into Bea Arthur and Frodo gets creeped out, and she says she passed the test(?). And then the next scene … shows Cate being all glowily beatific and benevolent, the Wizardess of Oz (or Aslan) giving each Fellowship member that one special item useful in battle. The hell? Did I misunderstand what she said? Was she testing Frodo? And why? Who the hell is she to make tests, anyway? Geeze.
j) By the way, how freakin’ stupid is Frodo to keep going off by himsef to people he doesn’t trust? He does this with Cate, but then later, when he suspects he’s gonna be betrayed, sure enough, he goes off by himself when the whole of Mordor is out for his blood, and gets up close and personal with Boromir. Not the brightest kid, is he? Oh, I guess this isn’t a question. My question is: am I wrong or is Frodo supposed to be exceptionally naive and/or foolhardy? Or was he purposely trying to test Boromir?
k) WTF are you KIDDING me with the movie ending where it did??? ARGH! Holy moley. You guys were sure correct in saying that the film didn’t tie up the main story. Since someone mentions that this actually ends with the first bit of the Two Towers book, where does the Fellowship book actually end?
k) No really. Frodo & Sam are boyfriends, right?
Okay, I think those are it for now. I’ll probably think of more, though. And now for general impressions:
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This was a damn purty film. New Zealand is gorgeous, ain’t it? I thought so in Xena and this sure clinches it. I do wish I’d seen it on a big screen. And the special effects! It’s the simplest things that got me: I really bought that the Hobbits were so much tinier than the humans. Not for a moment was I taken out of the scene by thinking, “huh, how did they shoot this to give the impression that Elijah Wood only reaches Liv Tyler’s waist?” Plus, that supersize demon was BADASS.
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I was really impressed by Elijah Wood. Frodo was all kinds of awesome! Very touching and sympathetic. He was certainly the official damsel in distress, though. Dude was constantly in peril and having others save his tiny wee ass. Aside from the guy mentioned above, he’s definitely my favorite character. I hope he gets some chance to shine in the later films, but well he’s back’s post earlier gives me the impression this ain’t the case. But that’s okay… at least he seems to survive through to the third film, which is more than I dare expect, considering point #3.
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I’ve said it elsewhere on the SDMB, but I’ll say it again: I am the TOUCH OF FREAKING DEATH when it comes to characters. If I like a character, it is guaranteed that they will either a) be marginalized, b) die, c) go nuts or evil, or d) go nuts/evil and then die. For real. Naturally, this happened in LOTR. When I found myself especially interested in one member of the Fellowship, I pretty much knew what was gonna happen. And it did. So ave atque vale…
Boromir
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Y’all weren’t kidding when it comes to LOTR being the source of fantasy tropes. The wizened mentor, the all-powerful evil that’s either dead or near death trying to come back to life through his minions, the young hero who’s insecure and uncertain, the loss of the mentor that almost damages the hero’s spirit but later the mentor’s shade/memory/ghost comes to strengthen the hero’s resolve … Star Wars and Harry Potter, among others, clearly suckled at Tolkein’s proverbial teat. (Then again, this stuff dates back before Tolkein too … lots of it is part of the mythic Hero’s Journey as delineated by Joseph Campbell.) Of course to a degree I knew what was coming when Gandalf held back on the bridge, because it pretty much had to happen. But I don’t blame LOTR just because it’s such an overused trope. I won’t fall into the trap that some younger folks do who watch Citizen Kane or Casablanca now and kvetch that they’re cliched.
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I suddenly understand a LOT more about The Order of the Stick! With the goblins, orcs, elves, halflings, dwarves… Got a whole new appreciation for what’s happening in that strip.
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Arwen’s horseback flight with gravely ill Frodo was kickass. I think that was my favorite action scene in the film.
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All in all it took me a while to get into it, mainly because of my difficulty understanding the dialogue, but also because I’d just started to get excited by the Arwen/Frodo scene above when the movie ground to a halt with Arwen/Aragorn. Don’t get me wrong, I like romantic scenes, but this was just … ugh. Slow as molasses. Then again it was the two dullest characters (next to Legolas, anyway) acting moonfaced with one another, so how interesting could it be?
But after Frodo volunteered to be the ring bearer I got hooked. I truly admired Frodo’s bravery – this tiny pipsqueak who’d just escaped death, being so determined to see this mission through. And also Gandalf’s reaction moved me, seeing the dread, concern and probably admiration mingled on McKellan’s weathered, expressive face. (I completely saw these two as Harry Potter and Dumbledore.) I know Aragorn is supposedly the big hero character, and I’m assuming he’s the guy referenced in the third movie’s title, but to me it’s little Hobbit Frodo who’s the focal point of the story, at least for now. I find it much more compelling to watch someone who’s not a typical hero standing against the odds.
Whew. Well, those are my impressions and questions. I might remember more tomorrow. Thanks to everyone for encouraging me to see this. Definitely a very good movie, and you can be sure I’ll be following this up shortly with the next film. You sure were right: I’m damn lucky that I don’t have to wait a couple of years for it! 
Oops sorry, missed the edit window. When I said:
I meant “Aside from the guy mentioned below…” I changed things around a bit and forgot to edit that bit. Sorry.
Ha, I was just getting ready to go to bed. First though, I’m so glad you liked it! Second, you watched the Extended version. Several things you mention are not in the theatrical version. I’m just curious why.
Many others who have names, places and whatnot will surely answer your questions far far better than I could. In fact, it was people asking questions like yours and people answering politely and with enthusiasm, providing backgrounds, names and context that helped me very very much in the period after I’d seen the movie and wanted to learn more. I scoured the net for threads like this, and the Dope, and Home Theater Forum were the two best places for helping my enlightenment, with questions answered without being snarky or condescending toward the questioners. Weeks before I read the books I felt very filled in due to the patience and thoroughness of those who took the time to give details. If people have time to give you answers, and I hope they do, you’re in for another treat.
People just have to keep in mind that you’ve only seen the first movie though and be careful with their answers. 
Gotta sleep now. Sorry I’m not answering anything (except that Frodo and Sam are just good friends) but really, others will do a much better job.
Ooh!Let me!
Frodo, Merry and Pippin were all gentry, the equivalent of landowning squires (with Frodo being the only one with his own property, and Pippin being a young member of the Shire’s oldest and most powerful family). Sam was Frodo’s gardener, and definitely beneath the other three on the social ladder.
As the Shire was basically based on 19th-Century rural England, a servant would definitely address his master as Mr. So-and-so. The fact that he called him “Mr. Frodo” instead of “Mr. Baggins” just showed how close they actually were.
Remember how the Black Rider found them along the way? They got dragged into it, and they couldn’t just abandon Frodo later on.
The story he told Frodo was part of an ancient legend which has parallels to his current situation vis-a-vis Arwen.
In Rivendell he was just reading in the library. In the extended edition you see him visiting his mother’s grave, which is indeed in Rivendell - his family was very close to the elves and he was raised there.
There’s more on this in the later films, but in an nutshell - Aragorn is the true heir to the kingdom Boromir’s family has ruled for the past few centuries. His line had supposedly died out. He used the nickname because of his doubts - his family suffered from a curse, in his eyes (his ancestor was the guy from the prologue who refused to destroy the Ring), and he feared that he was unworthy of taking the throne.
Tolkien wizards are not that big when it comes to flash-bang magic. They’re more about the subtlety and the wisdom.
Yep.
You’re thinking too modern-like. Read Mallory and his ilk - medieval tales are full of men kissing each others’ hands and declaring eternal loyalty, in a totally manly way.
Mithril is simply very string and very light. The troll’s spear never pierced the armor - Frodo went down due to blunt force trauma (a weakness of mail armor), nothing more.
Cate’s character (Galadriel) was very ancient and very, very powerful. If she had taken the ring, she would have used it to defeat Sauron and then turned around and become just as bad herself due to its corrupting power. She was testing herself - willing herself not to take the ring. Once she passed her test she became much more calm and beatific.
The key to the Ring is that the more powerful you are, the more dangerous the ring is to you and to everyone else. That’s why hobbits - the least powerful people in the world - were the only people who could be trusted with it.
Still not the best scene in the film, though. Needed to be a bit more subtle.
He simply doesn’t want anyone else to get hurt. It’s a bit naive, but not foolhardy.
No, it ends basically in the same place as the book. Tolkien originally didn’t want to break his story into three volumes in the first place, but didn’t have a choice in the matter.
Nope. Sam later (much later) commits certain acts of rampant heterosexuality.
Oh man! I had no idea. I told my friend I was gonna rent the LOTR dvd, and she said she had a copy would lend me hers. I asked her if it was the regular or extended version, and she said 'the theatrical version," so I assumed that meant … well, the one that had been released in theaters. I bet she meant ‘director’s cut’ or what have you. Dang. So there was extra stuff included and I still had questions! Clearly I’m not very smart. Serves me right for going the cheap route rather than just waiting for Netflix.
I hope so! Just use spoilers if you’re not sure, and I promise I won’t look at 'em.
Oh now there’s no way I’m believing that. 
Seriously, thank you for all your responses, Equipose. You really helped psyche me up for this.
Whoa! Ninja answers there. Thank you, Alessan! I still can’t believe I was so determined not to see the extended version and then I went and did it anyway. Hoo boy.
OOOhhh, okay, that definitely makes sense. I didn’t get that Sam was Frodo’s gardener at all. Or, for that matter, that Frodo was really much of a “landowner,” although I guess since he took over Uncle Bilbo’s home, that’d do it.
Speaking of Bilbo: what was his point in making that big announcement at his birthday party and using the ring? If he was trying to keep his ownership of the ring a secret – and it seems like something you’d wanna keep secret – why did he show off like that? Rather attention whorey of him, wasn’t it? Plus, he was so fond of Frodo; he must’ve known disappearing like that would make his beloved nephew scared as hell.
So basically, just friendship, then. Fair enough. Were we to assume that at some point on the journey to the inn Frodo told them about the ring? It seemed as if they were accompanying Frodo without knowing … well, anything, really.
Well, I’m thick as a dwarf’s neck because I couldn’t figure out what his current situation was vis-a-vis Arwen. Clearly they were in love, that’s not what confuses me. But what’s keeping them apart?
Ah, gotcha. That makes sense.
Okay, that’s a big help! Thanks. Is it possible that Elf Agent Smith isn’t that keen on Aragorn wooing Arwen (who is … what, Smith’s daughter?) because he doesn’t trust his family line?
But he was sure doing some whiz-bang magic up against Darth Saruman. Surely he could’ve blown some goblins away just to make life easier.
I know, and Launcelot / Arthur were just buds too. Still, I refuse to believe this movie and these performances in particular didn’t spawn a kabillion slash stories.
And scared the bejesus out of poor Frodo in the process. So okay, she was the one who passed the test. I misheard what she said, I thought Frodo was the one who passed.
You don’t hire Cate Blanchette to play a fantasy queen and ask her to do subtle.
Thanks for the enlightenment, Alessan! That does help a great deal.
Oh gosh, had to check the thread one more time before turning in, and I see that Alessan is exactly the kind of poster I was talking about, who helped me understand so much between my first and second viewings of the film!
Aragorn is human, with a normal lifespan (which is, though, longer than in our world) whereas Arwen is an immortal elf. Aragorn will someday grow old and die, while Arwen will always be young and beautiful, or at least, just slightly older and beautiful. Arwen can renounce her immortality (along with her elfin powers) to live a human-type lifespan with Aragorn, but Aragorn thinks that’s too much of a sacrifice and is torn. How to let someone you love give up immortality for you? He loves her and wants to be with her, but that’s a lot to ask. She’s willing to give it up, gladly. Plus, Aragorn already thinks he’s a loser because of the curse (not an actual curse, but the one in Aragorn’s mind because of his ancestor Isildur’s failure to give up the ring, he’s afraid weakness runs in the blood), so there’s that too. He thinks she can do better.
Her father is against the union because though he likes Aragorn, if she keeps her immortality she’ll watch Aragorn grow old and die and will live a life in grief, and if she gives up her immortality she’ll grow old and die too, so he can only see it as a lose-lose for Arwen.
I believe the ancient couple Aragorn told Frodo about were also an elf/human union, and went through the same thing.
I do have to go to bed now.
Oh, one interesting bit of info that doesn’t have anything to do with Aragorn and Arwen (so I’m not spoiling anything): though elves are immortal in normal circumstances, they don’t grow old and they don’t get sick, they’re not invincible. They can be killed, like with a sword or arrow, just like anybody else.
a) Bilbo, and by extension Frodo, are the wealthiest hobbits in the shire. Merry and Pippin are heirs to 2 “noble” houses. Merry to the area called Buckland and Pippin is the next Thane of the Shire. Very important to note that these don’t really mean much but there is a class distinction in Shire society. Also Sam is Frodo’s gardener.
b) In the movie they basically get chased by Blackriders. In the books Merry, Pippin, Sam and another hobbit are members of a conspiracy to watch Frodo and make sure he doesn’t run off into the wilderness. They learn about the ring and move to help Frodo flee the Shire.
c) Aragon tells the tale of Beren and Luthien, where a mortal man and eleven woman fall in love.
The crypt is really more of a memorial to Elendil/Isildur. As for religion, there isn’t really any direct reference. For the Elves, it isn’t needed since they have actually lived with divine beings and understand the nature of the world.
The tombstone is his mothers. You have to remember that the fall of Sauron was about 3000 years earlier. Aragon’s people have dwindled and diminished but the heirs of Isildur have been fostered in Rivendell and the heirlooms of their house (sword that was broken) kept in trust. So not a big surprise that his mom is buried there.
Also Elrond and Aragon are related in a very distance manner. Oh and Elrond is basically Aragon’s foster father.
d)Aragon goes by Strider in Bree - it’s what the locals call him. Boromir does not recognize the name Aragon but rather the title Heir of Isildur. Isildur considered himself high king of both Gondor (ruled by his brother’s son) and Arnor (ruled by Isildur). Now Isildur winds up being an orc arrow pin cushion and his youngest son rules in the North. Eventually the northern kingdoms fragments and each is over run by the witch king’s forces (Angmar). Gondor on the hand does quite well for 1500/2000 years until their king is lost. They then are ruled by the Stewards in the name of the King. Boromir, being the next steward is surprised to hear that a King could actually return.
e) Gandalf and Saruman are members of an order called Istari - wizards. They are actually angelic beings incarnated and restricted in what they can do. Their job, such as it is, is to stir resistance to Sauron and encourage acts of bravery and hope. D&D magic is not what they do, but they are inherently powerful.
g) No, but the movie gets annoying with it as Frodo is unbelievable passive in the movie. Frodo is less passive in the books.
h) Mithril armour is light and incredibly strong. The spear fails to penetrate it, though it does badly bruise him
i) Galadriel is basically the most powerful elf going. She was born in a land where angelic being live, watched the elves smash themselves to pieces fighting Sauron’s old boss and has spent the last 5000 years working against Sauron himself. She’s on the good guy’s side. She’s also Elrond’s mother in law and Grandmother to Arwen.
She tests them all since the 8 of them are traipsing around with the one thing that could plunge middle earth into perpetual darkness ruled by a god king.
With the exception that Boromir doesn’t die until about three pages into The Two Towers. Fellowship ends with the fate of the rest of the group unknown and Sam and Frodo crossing the lake alone.
Oh and there’s a lot of stuff in The Lord of the Rings that’s hard not to read as homosexual subtext even if the actual deeds don’t point that way.
choie, you will enjoy these a lot, especially with regard to the “Sam + Frodo = hobbity lovers?” thing. There are some (weak) spoilers so you may want to wait until after you see the other two films. They’re hilarious, though.
Unfortunately, it gets much, much ooglier after TFOTR.
“Aragorn, son of Arathorn” is a name well known among the kingdoms of men, what with him being the rightful heir to the throne and all. Aragorn going off to be a ranger is sort of the Middle-Earth equivalent of Prince William deciding to throw it all away to join the Peace Corps or something… and it’s pretty tough to be a dark, brooding ranger when people keep coming up to you and going, “Say, aren’t you Isildur’s heir?”
ooh - a Tolkien virgin discussion!
Answers:
a) No, Sam and Frodo are not peers. Sam’s family worked for Frodo’s for a long time. And Frodo is older than Sam.
b) The other hobbits went with Frodo because they are very good friends of his and they care about him and want to help the cause. Not that it matters, but in the books (which were written before Harry Potter, of course) they are more serious characters.
c) No, Aragorn was speaking about another Elven princess who fell in love with a mortal. His mother’s tomb was in Rivendell because that’s where she died. Elrond raised Aragorn as a foster son.
d) People in these stories have lots of names and nicknames. “Strider” started as a nickname that the people of Bree gave him.
e) No, his staff cannot zap people, the movie-created scene with Saruman notwithstanding. Yes, he is very powerful – in wisdom, leadership.
f) Probably, since they were both filmed in either Australia or New Zealand.
g) No, no, no. Sam and Frodo aren’t lovers. They can express human emotion and friendship with hugs. Sheesh.
h) Yes, the mithril shirt saved him.
i) No, no, no. Galadriel is not evil. She would be if she gave in to the temptation to take the ring. She is ancient, and elvish, and wise, much more so than Frodo at this point. That’s why she can seem to test him.
j) No, no, noo. Frodo is pretty wise too. Galadriel was good and helpful. Frodo needed a few moments to think. He probably thought Aragorn would watch Boromir.
k) The book ends with Frodo and Sam leaving, but doesn’t show what happened to the others of the Fellowship. Imagine being a kid reading it and not knowing what was going to happen next and not having access to the next books! And no, people can care about each other in non-sexual ways.