:smack:
You’re correct. I misread the wiki.
I mis-interpreted the first paragraph as saying he came over with the Noldor at the start of the War of the Wrath. I did not realise that many non-Valinor elves also fought against Melkor in the First Age.
Melian’s Girdle only protected Doriath itself. The rest of Beleriand was open to Morgoth’s pillaging wherever the orcs could get around defenders, even to the south of Doriath…the Falas fell to Morgoth sometime between Nirnaeth Arneodiad and the War of Wrath.
The largest kingdom at the time of the 1st Age was Thingol’s. It was filled with Teleri that never crossed and Nandor elves that entered into Belerian prior to the return of Morgoth. While protected by the Girdle of Melian they mainly lived under the stars.
What the…? Now you’re at risk of turning into self parody.
Far over the misty mountains cold
to dungeons deep and caverns old
we must away ere break of day
to seek the pale enchanted gold
the dwarves of yore made mighty spells,
while hammers fell like ringing bells in places deep,
where dark things sleep,
in hollow halls beneath the fells.
for ancient king and elvish lord
there many a gleaming golden hoard
they shaped and wrought, and light they caught
to hide in gems on hilt of sword far over
the misty mountains cold to dungeons deep and caverns old.
Cool that the new Hobbiton sets will remain afterwards. So, Elijah Wood looks the same at 19 as he does 30. He never ages.
He’s also in hi-def film quality makeup to make him match his appearance from the very beginning of LOTR. That stuff covers a multitude of sins and years alike.
Billy Connoly cast as Dain II Ironfoot
Decent casting IMHO
Brian
was looking at another board & someone posted something so funny - they had read about a rumor that Nicholas Cage was offered the role of Aragorn in LOTR & turned it down. The image of Cage as Aragorn - so funny yet so sickening and appalling…
Imrahil, Prince of Dol Amroth, was left out of Return of the King. Budget, plot, the movie was already too long, why introduce an important character so late–I’m sure there were good reasons. I don’t really mind.
In one of the commentaries, Peter Jackson said that, before they decided to do without the Prince, they’d considered Arnold Schwarzenegger for the role.
I’m pretty sure he was joking…
I don’t know - he originally cast Stuart Townsend as Aragorn - what a genius move that was.
Oh yeah, Connolly is a decent actor, and the production will save a bit of money on make-up, so win-win.
Yeah, but he dumped him early on & hired Viggo Mortensen!
After filming began even, right?
Yes…
Earlier thread on the Townsend casting :-
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=147101&highlight=townsend
Bonus data point about the coolness of Viggo Mortensen :- Bob Anderson, Bob Anderson (fencer) - Wikipedia, died in January this year. Bob Anderson was a fencing champing and trainer, fight choreographer and sword master, and pretty legendary in film circles :- his list of credits includes The Princess Bride, Star Wars (he was Darth Vader’s light sabre duel double), and the LOTR trilogy. (He was also involved in the Hobbit movies :- I won’t be surprised if one of them is dedicated to him).
I read in an obituary of him that he maintained that the most talented swordsman he ever trained, (and he trained real life Olympic fencing champions), was … Viggo Mortensen.
Saw the trailer on the big screen when we went to the movies…
It looks even better than I anticipated.
Re: Bob Anderson.
I have the dvd “Reclaiming The Blade” (did some collegiate fencing - mostly Epee’). I’m not surprised he said that about Viggo. That was some strong work he did in LOTR.
Rest in peace, Maitre d’Armes!
Quasi
Corey Olsen, aka “The Tolkien Professor” is releasing via his website and at iTunes a series of podcasts focusing on the material JRRT wrote relating to “The Hobbit”. It’s entitled “Riddles in the Dark” and you can find it here. (Along with all his other JRRT lectures, which I have found fascinating.)
He’s only got two episodes out so far, but I am finding it fascinating, as he’s pulling info from TH, “History of The Hobbit”, LOTR appendices as they relate to TH, Unfinished Tales, and odds and ends gleaned from SIL and HOMES.
So far it’s been an accurate recapitulation of what’s known of the history Thrain I, first king under the mountain, and lots of other geeky bits.
He plans an entire podcast (generally about an hour) just on the Battle of Azanulbizar!
He’s also relating what’s seen in The Hobbit trailer to just what it might represent in JRRT’s writing. He acknowledges that PJ may just be ‘winging it’, though.
The guy knows his stuff, though I’ve quibbled with a few of his interpretations before, and suspect he really doesn’t have all the HOMES material down cold yet.
I saw the documentary just a bit before he died. He was a great guy and that documentary belongs on the Lord of the Rings DVD.