[d_kendal]

Cool, thanks for posting that Greg, it was a really interesting article.

- David

[Keith]

The article says that Gollum was a hobbit. I'm not 100% sure, but I don't believe that is correct.

[CJ Swartz]

Great article, Greg - thanks! This combination of actor/animation will be even more fascinating to watch when I have some idea of the amount of thought and effort incorporated into the creation.

I first read the trilogy in 1965, and would read parts at times over the years, but need to take the time to return to the world of hobbits and re-read it sometime soon. It is the only story that allows me to enjoy wherever I enter into the story, and the first story where the descriptive text was as fascinating as the dialogue and action scenes.

Over the years, I named a number of my family animals in respect to the books - dogs:Misty Shadows of Lothlorien, Saucy Bandit of Hobbit Hill, Shadow of Hobbit Hill, and the cat (with furry feet) who lived under a tree (until moving in with me) and enjoyed good food - Hobbit.

[G. Couch]

"Saucy Bandit"...what a great name CJ!!

Keith - There are several references to Smeagol (Gollum) having been a Hobbit. (I'll have to look them up...probably in the Appendix) I believe he and his cousin belonged to the branch of Hobbits who were the last to migrate to the Shire...they were living on the banks of the Anduin river at the time the ring was found.

[DJ Dubovsky]

Found this Biography on Smeagol. Thought it might answer some questions.
DJ

Biography: Smeagol's original name was Trahald, the Anglicized equivalent of which is Smeagol. Smeagol was born in the year 2430 to a fairly prominent family of hobbits of the Stoor strain near the Gladden Fields. In the year 2463, the day of Smeagol's coming of age, he went fishing with his cousin Deagol. While fishing, Deagol saw something glittering under the surface of the water, dove in after it, and came up with a glittering gold ring. Before even knowing the qualities of the beautiful ring, Smeagol's desire to own it overtook him, and he murdered his cousin for it. Smeagol soon developed many undesirable qualities, like stealing, eavesdropping, and being sneaky whenever he had the opportunity. It was these qualities which got him banished from his household. Cursing his bad luck and his family, he eventually made his way to a gloomy den underneath the Misty Mountains. Living in darkness, he grew to hate the light of the sun and moon, but the moon he would tolerate. Smeagol stayed there for many years until he was unexpectedly visited by Bilbo Baggins, who found Smeagol's ring near the water where he had left it accidently. After the "theft" of his "birthday present", Smeagol found the strength to venture out and pursue the Ring. He wandered far and wide until the year 3017, when he was captured by Sauron. This is how Sauron found out about the name of Baggins. Soon after he was captured by Aragorn, who turned him over to Gandalf, but managed to escape during an orc raid, immediately setting off in search of the Ring. He managed to catch up with Frodo and the Fellowship near the West Gate of Moria, following them through, and betraying them to the orcs. Following them through Moria and Lorien, Smeagol was captured by Frodo and Sam near Emyn Muil, after which he faithfully led the pair to Cirith Ungol, and seemed to be changing his ways. In Cirith Ungol though he revealed his true nature, betraying Frodo and Sam to Shelob with the intention of finding the Ring in their discarded clothing. His plan did not work out as intended, and he had to set out after the Ring once more. He caught up with Frodo and Sam at the foot of Mount Doom, where he was cast down by Frodo, and stayed by Samwise out of pity. Frodo was eventually overcome by the power of the Ring at the edge of the Cracks of Doom, where once again he was accosted by Smeagol, wrestling for the Ring. In the struffle he managed to bite off Frodo's Ring finger and recovered the One Ring. In a dance of mirth and excitement, he lost himself and fell into the Cracks of Doom, thus fulfilling the quest.

[Keith]

Greg, DJ,

Thanks for setting me straight. Hope everyone enjoys the latest release.

I will sign off with one of my favorite passages from the story. I recite it to myself when things aren't going very
well.

This is part of a passage Sam says to himself after Frodo has been taken by Shelob, and he must take the ring and carry on alone.

"Above all shadows rides the sun,
The stars forever dewll.
I will not say the day is done,
Nor bid the stars farewell."

krw

[Keith]

All right, who has seen it?

I saw it over the weekend. I must say that I enjoyed it very much. This one wasn't as true to the book as the first one, however.

I won't mention the one main difference that I object to, because I don't won't to spoil it for the ones that haven't seen it.

Hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday.

Pull for NC State over Notra Dame. We are going to need all the help we can get.

krw

[G. Couch]

Keith...I'm lifelong NC State fan!!! (Grew up in Raleigh)

My wife and I saw Two Towers over the weekend and enjoyed it very much...several changes from the books but the movie kept the spirit intact. Gollum really steals the show. For anyone who has not seen it, one word of warning. It is more violent than the first and much darker...two children behind us were really terrified of the dead marshes scene and the parents had to cover their eyes.

[pstewart]

Greg, I just saw it tonight and liked it a lot better than the first, which practically bored me to sleep. Although the scenery was prettier in the first, the tree people and Gollum and the magnificent battle scene in this one kept me awake.

Phyllis

[DJ Dubovsky]

I don't know why parents would think that was ok for young kids.
We went last night and I too thought it was great. Gollum was portrayed just like I imagined him from the books. He sure was a scene stealer.
Unfortunately we had some teenage girls behind us who felt the need for loud comic reviews to the events in the show. It was totally distracting. Dave finally asked them to be quiet but by then the show was nearly over. That's why I like going to a show when the big crowds have thinned out and there's usually only a few people in the theater.
I thought the war was awesome especially the way they showed the overwhelming numbers of Sauromans army. And Treebeard was a delight to see. I can't wait until the next one!!!
DJ

[chris h]

That Gollum had a strange similarity to several salesmen who used to call on me when I was in business. Plus a suit of course!!!

[BigAl]

Ah Chris, you must be referring to his schiz conversations...

[chris h]

Well they would have looked better in straight jackets Al!!

[winwintoo]

I suppose everyone else already saw this, but it was just in our local news paper this weekend.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald...ry/5023564.htm

Take care, Margaret

[d_kendal]

I've always been a fan of Dave Barry's column, he's hilarious. sadly, about a year ago my newspaper stopped running his column so I've missed a lot, since i haven't been keeping up with the website

- David