Need a Little Thorin Today

The Hobbit 30 Day Challenge - Day 21

Which Character Would You Like To Be?

In Day 3 of the Challenge I tried to explain why the character I relate to the most is Balin.

Balin is who I am, but does this mean Balin is who I want to be given all the character choices available in both Hobbit films and in the novel?

I've been thinking about all the characters and trying to decide who I would pick.  

I immediately discarded Thorin.  I want to be WITH Thorin, but not be Thorin.  

Since I'm a woman, I then decided to just look at the two adult female choices available: Galadriel and Tauriel.

Galadriel

I'm a fan of Cate Blanchett as an actor, I've had the privilege of seeing her on stage and now admire her even more. But I have never related to Galadriel, and it's not Cate's fault.

First, she's an Elf, and I've never related to the Elves. They are too ethereal and distant. Also, I envy their amazing flat iron hair skills.

Second, she's too cold and contained.  I don't trust anyone that no matter how horrible the threat to their world always remains cool and detached. The one time she showed some real emotion was over the ring (THAT ring!) so that didn't really come from her heart. 

Galadriel is not who I want to be. 

Tauriel

I'm one of the few people on earth that didn't watch LOST, so I had never seen, and barely heard, of Evangeline Lilly before. I wasn't sure about her in this role, and all her Hobbit PR interviews prior to watching the film did not reassure me. 

Thanks to Evangeline Lilly's performance I liked the character of Tauriel more than I thought I would. I had doubts not because this was a character created for the film and not in the novel, but because of some of storyline that involved Tauriel. I'm not a woman that only relates to characters that are other women, I can identify with male characters as well. I also don't need a romance to have an interest in a story. 

Now after watching DOS I still have doubts about the Kili/Tauriel romance, but Lilly convinced me as this character, and I like this Elf. I don't relate to Elves, so she did a good job with Tauriel to make her a warmer character.

Still, I can't quite say I want to be Tauriel:

First, because she's "feisty" and a "badass".  I've never wanted to be a "badass" and some "feisty" people get on my nerves. 

Second, because she's in a love triangle, or love "rectangle", and not a very believable "triangle" at that! Too complicated a love life for me. (And who could look at anyone else when Thorin is around!) Plus, there's something going on between her and Thranduil. I mean, she's reporting to him in what seems like the middle of the night, when he's in his evening robes, in his bedroom? 

Tauriel is not who I want to be.

So again I go through all the characters in my mind, hobbit, dwarves, elves, men (and women), orcs, goblins, trolls, wizards...nothing.

Well, Balin, looks like it must be you-it is you:

 How did Thorin's picture get in there???

Or just maybe there will be a flashback character in TABA? A Dwarf Princess that was once engaged to Thorin?....

(it's only a dream, Tolkien fans, only a dream)

Pics thanks to fanpop.com, lotr.wikia.com, Google Images, and many more

The Hobbit 30 Day Challenge - Day 9

Do You Think You Would Have Gone  

On The Adventure?

Flashback –  a time before Durin’s Day.  

A clear night, with mild weather, and beautiful moonlight.  I’ve settled down in my “hobbit apartment” to read a new “How To” book:  “1001 Ways to Braid Majestic Hair” 

There’s a vigorous knock at the door and I get up to open it:

Hello Fabo

I lost my way twice, seemed to have the wrong apartment number.  Strange, but your two lady neighbors fainted after they opened the door and saw me. You may want to send for assistance.

I'm looking for someone to go on an adventure 
with me? Interested?

aaaaaaaahhhhh

Is that a yes? 

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fabo, I hope you don’t mind if I bring my nephews along too

Fili and Kili

And so we left happily together on our quest 

Thorin, Kili, Fili, and I

Oh, and I did remember to bring along “1001 Ways to Braid Majestic Hair”  came in very handy.

To be continued....

What was the question for Day 9 again?  Would I have gone on the adventure?

If Thorin was at my door and asked me to go, Yes, I would have gone on the adventure. 

The Hobbit 30 Day Challenge - Day 7

Your Opinion On Bilbo Keeping the Arkenstone from Thorin?

There Be Spoilers

Especially if you haven’t read the book, but also if you haven’t seen the Desolation of Smaug. You have been warned.

SPOILERS  SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

I’m glad this question was asked.  I will confess now that Bilbo is not my favorite character in The Hobbit. I don’t particularly like the Bilbo from the last third of the book, I have a better opinion of Bilbo in the films, and that’s thanks to Martin Freeman.  

In the book Bilbo has absolutely no understanding of what the Arkenstone means to Thorin and the dwarves.  It’s not just a pretty, sparkling, stone, as he thinks, but represents everything the dwarves lost when Smaug drove them out of their home, leaving them destitute and homeless.  The Arkenstone is also Thorin’s scepter, the badge of kingship. And it’s a memento from his grandfather, a family heirloom.

Bilbo finds the stone quite by accident, he's not tasked with searching for it as in the film. He sees the stone and knows right away it has to be the one the dwarves are talking about:

“Now I am a burglar indeed” thought he, “But I suppose I must tell the dwarves about it – some time. They did say I could pick and choose my own share; and I think I would choose this, if they took all the rest.”  

Meanwhile the dwarves are showering Bilbo with gifts, among them the coat of mithril that Frodo will wear in LOTR.  All this time Thorin is silently looking for the Arkenstone and worrying about it. And all this time Bilbo has the Arkenstone in his pocket and knows he does, and still he says nothing.

But of course, anyone but Bilbo would understand that the dwarves didn’t mean he should take the Arkenstone as his share, not only because it represents the royal house of Durin, but because it has great sentimental and personal meaning for Thorin and for all the dwarves.
  
Yes, some may say Thorin by this point had become even more stubborn and set in his ways, determined not to share any of “his” treasure with anyone he deemed undeserving.  So if this is what was worrying Bilbo, why didn’t he give the Arkenstone to Balin, who he liked and trusted by this point in the journey, and who always looked out for him.  There’s certainly an opportunity for Bilbo to do so, because at one point in the book he and Balin go off alone.  Why didn’t he do so? I don’t think it had anything to do with Thorin’s increasing intransigence, it all had to do with Bilbo also coveting the Arkenstone.
  

Bilbo was wrong to keep it from the dwarves. The Arkenstone was not his to keep, it belonged to the Heirs of Durin and to all the dwarves.

Now I imagine some of you or most of you think that Thorin was just terrible for not offering to give money right away to the survivors of Smaug's wrath and the poor victims of Laketown. But who really is responsible for Smaug wanting to take revenge on the town?  Bilbo is.  When he chats with Smaug when first meeting him, Bilbo describes himself as “barrel-rider” thus giving away to the dragon that the men of Laketown helped him and dwarves reach Erebor.

The worse thing Bilbo does is not that he keeps the Arkenstone from Thorin. To my mind and heart the unforgivable thing that he does is betray his friends and adopted brother dwarves by giving the Arkenstone to the armed camp outside the mountain, and the dreaded Elves.  At this point in the story the dwarves have fully taken Bilbo in as one of their own, and Thorin certainly praises him at every turn and relies on him.  Bilbo secretly leaving Erebor and giving the Arkenstone so Bard and the others can use it against Thorin is a clear betrayal of friendship and loyalty.

I can understand Bilbo wanting to avoid a conflict, and feeling trapped by Thorin’s unwillingness to compromise. Maybe in some misguided way he thought he was helping the dwarves. I do agree with Bilbo that the people of Laketown deserved assistance for their suffering and that Thorin was wrong. But Bard and the elves were wrong also to show up armed to the teeth instead of coming unarmed in friendship to the dwarves.  Bilbo could have left the mountain and joined Bard if he didn’t believe in the dwarves anymore, or try to find Gandalf and ask him to help stop the violence. He had other choices. Bilbo really accomplished nothing by keeping the Arkenstone from Thorin and may have made matters worse. By his actions Bilbo certainly didn’t bring peace and reconciliation. 

I really think Thorin was too forgiving towards Bilbo at the very end.  I agree with Thorin earlier when he says to Bilbo: “What have you to say, you descendant of rats?”

In summary, I disagree with every action Bilbo takes with the Arkenstone, from the moment he finds it, to keeping it from Thorin and the others, to giving it to Bard and the Elvenking to blackmail Thorin.

Now, to deal briefly with the changes in the film. The more I think about it, the more I believe that either Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, or Philippa Boyens must agree with me a little about Bilbo doing wrong.  Why do I think so? Because in film 2, at the end, Smaug gives Bilbo a much better reason, a reason based on friendship and caring that is not in the book, to keep the Arkenstone from Thorin.

I’m curious to see what will happen in Hobbit 3.

(J.R.R. Tolkien meant for Bilbo to be the hero I suppose? I suppose we disagree)




Please check out the creator of The Hobbit 30 Day Challenge at the link below:

http://peregrint.tumblr.com/post/14786959121/my-the-hobbit-30-day-challenge

The Hobbit 30 Day Challenge - Day 3

Which Character Do You Relate With The Most?

???????

I love to take all those quizzes that ask "What Hobbit or LOTR Character are you?" and most of the time the answer is that I'm either Bilbo or a Hobbit. (Yes, I've taken many of these quizzes!) Only twice I've gotten a different answer. Once I got Dwalin, and that surprised me because I'm not a Dwalin at all (though I love the character) and once I was happily surprised that I got Balin.

Because you see, Balin is the character I relate to the most.

Why do I relate to Balin?  No, I don't have white hair and a big white beard, but otherwise I do look a bit like him, if you get rid of his hair and beard, and add a black wig. 

I relate very much to Balin's personality. Like Balin I am cautious as a person. I would have doubts that this quest is inevitable and would appreciate what I, and my fellow dwarves had accomplished in the Blue Mountains and the good and respectable life we had now after much hard work.  I suppose I should explain that I identify very much with the dwarves because I too had to leave my homeland with my family at an early age for our "Ered Luin".  

I also identify with Balin's sense of loyalty to Thorin.  I'm someone that believes loyalty to friends, family, co-workers, favorite actors, is important. Like Balin, I don't give my loyalty easily ("there is one I could call King"), but once I do I stand by it.  Doesn't mean I follow blindly, because like Balin, if I strongly disagree I would tell the person, but in private, what I really thought and try to get them to see reason as I see it. But like Balin, I would find it very difficult to betray my loyalty to a person once given.

Also like Balin, I'm the "behind-the-scenes" person, the one the "leader" relies on to be there with the right contract in the right place, at the right time. Not quite the "consigliere" like Balin, but the "reliable" person on the job.  It's not something I ever intended to be, it just happened through the years.  

I also relate to Balin's relationship with Bilbo. He's watching out for Bilbo as the newcomer and always there to explain to Bilbo dwarven(?) history like the Arkenstone for example. But I also know that Balin, after some doubts, now sees Bilbo's strengths and admires him.  How does this relate to me? We've all encountered in work situations people that are less than helpful, especially to new employees at work. Remembering my own struggles when this has happened, I always try, like Balin, to be a source of help and information to those that find themselves in an unknown environment. 

Just like Balin, and Thorin too, I can be a bit stubborn and cantankerous at times, but my heart is usually in the right place. 

Thorin and Balin by Lin ART

http://www.deviantart.com/art/Thorin-and-Balin-2-358746571

So Thorin, if Balin ever wants a holiday from being by you all the time, I can be a very good substitute. 

Check out the creator:

http://peregrint.tumblr.com/post/14786959121/my-the-hobbit-30-day-challenge

The Hobbit 30 Day Challenge - Day 1

Who is your Favorite Dwarf?

This is a tough one isn't it!? Who is the bravest, handsomest, most majestic dwarf? 

Thorin Oakenshield

Son of Thrain, Son of Thror

is my favorite dwarf

(Surprise!)

"...in their songs they spoke ever of the Lonely Mountain far away, and the treasure and the bliss of the Great Hall in the light of the Arkenstone...The embers in the heart of Thorin grew hot again, as he brooded on the wrongs of his House and of the vengeance upon the Dragon that was bequeathed to him."  Unfinished Tales, 

J.R.R. Tolkien

Thought I would have some fun while we are all still in DOS mode and take up Peregrint's The Hobbit 30 Day Challenge.

I know this was created for Tumblr so I hope they will forgive me for taking up the challenge here on my blog. 

Please check out the creator of The Hobbit 30 Day Challenge at the link below:

http://peregrint.tumblr.com/post/14786959121/my-the-hobbit-30-day-challenge

If you haven't read the book, beware of spoilers as the challenge hopefully continues for the next 29 days

LOTR 30 Day Challenge - Question #30: How you got into LOTR?

When I was a teenager The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings books were very popular with many of my fellow students. But I don't remember ever talking about Tolkien in English Lit class here in the US, or even being assigned either book in school. But Tolkien's ideas certainly resonated with the tone of the times. 

Also at the time there were several restaurants and coffee shops in my area that were named after characters in Tolkien's books. I remember they mostly served vegetarian meals or sandwiches with lots of alfalfa sprouts. Though I often frequented places like this with friends, and knew generally what the name "Bilbo Baggins" on the front of the menu referred to, I was still not inspired to read any of Tolkien's work.  I was more of a Bronte Sisters - Jane Austen type of reader. Fantasy was really not my genre. 

Fast forward quite a few years and this comes across my radar one day:

By this time I had been a fan of Sean Bean's for several years. Though I liked other actors, Bean's career was the only one I really followed in great detail. I was thrilled that Sean was cast in this film, especially since he seemed so happy to get the part of Boromir.  I knew about Tolkien from my teenage years, and now I really had an incentive to find out more. So I followed the progress of The Fellowship of the Ring, and Sean's work as Boromir, and what was happening in New Zealand as much as I could in the time before Twitter and Facebook. For me this was mainly through The Compleat Sean Bean website.

It was a thrilling time reading all of the LOTR press and all the interviews with Sean talking about working with Peter Jackson, and Viggo Mortensen, and the rest of the cast.  I well remember an excellent interview on Charlie Rose (a US Public Television program), maybe a two night interview I think, with many of the  LOTR cast.  Sadly Sean was not there, but Peter Jackson and Viggo Mortensen I remember very well.  

From The Charlie Rose Show

I started out being interested in the films because of my love for Sean Bean, but after watching the first film and all the interviews with the rest of the cast, and with Peter Jackson, I fell in love with the LOTR films and the entire cast. 

I remember going to see the first LOTR film, The Fellowship of the Ring, with a friend. To this day she has no idea who Sean Bean is, but I talked her into watching this new action/adventure fantasy film with me. 

We're in the darkened theater watching the movie and suddenly there on screen is Boromir.  He walks towards the Shards of Narsil, picks up part of the broken sword, pricks his finger and says 

"Still Sharp(e)" 

I must have made some strange, loud, strangling, noise at that moment, a gasp maybe, a shout, because my friend leans over to me and in a very worried tone says "Are you OK?" 

Even so, I was still not interested enough in the genre to read The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit.  

Premiere time for the Lord of the Rings cast

So what finally lead me to read one of Tolkien's books - The Hobbit?

This man:

Richard Armitage

It seems all my men are destined for 

Middle-earth 

So this concludes the LOTR 30 Day Challenge

Thank you to Sir Doctor of Tardis for the terrific challenge - it has been a fun 30 days

A special "Gracias" to my friend Cassia on FB for keeping the faith, following every day, and sharing my posts on her FB Timeline.

A small musical "Thank you" treat  for Cassia from The Tolkien Ensemble:  Song of Durin

For all who visited and read and commented along the way- Thank you for sharing this journey with me. 


Thanks to The Compleat Sean Bean, The Mighty Bean,  RichardArmitageNet.com, YouTube

"I Have The Only Right"

My Favorite of the Two New DOS TV Promos

Music from the trailer:

Millions of Women Reported Heading For....

 This Island Nation

International security and transportation agencies are on the alert as millions and millions of women around the world have commandeered air and amphibian transportation vehicles and are reported headed for what is believed to be  New...or rather "Middle-earth".

Sources report that all the women seem to be carrying a copy of this map:

What is the cause of this worldwide travel phenomenon?  Authorities trace the mass female (and some male as well) unprecedented mass "migration" to this video:

Authorities in Middle-earth have called in reinforcements from the Hobbit Security Services headed by these three warriors:

This has not been an uncontroversial decision, as several prominent residents of Middle-earth have protested that the leader of the Hobbit Security Services, T. Oakenshield, is the one responsible for millions of women leaving their own lands to travel to New...I mean Middle-earth, resulting in disruption of their own (the complainants) important lives, and have launched a lawsuit against the security service (Complaining M-e residents pictured below):

In an interesting development, the son of one of the complainants against the Hobbit Security Services claims the mass female Middle-earth migration is due to him, though there is no recent evidence to support his claim:

Hobbit Security Services leader, T. Oakenshield, denies he is in any way the reason for this worldwide phenomenon. 

Alleged photo of T.Oakenshield

Instead, Oakenshield insists he is 100% certain the women are not seeking him, but the wisdom of this ancient text:

International authorities confirm that some of the intrepid travelers have copies of the ancient text in their possession, but evidence that incriminates T. Oakenshield has also been found:

 (Photo of button worn by many of the women traveling to M-e)

This mysterious photo has also been found among the M-e bound travelers. Reports suggest this photo is connected to property once owned by the heirs of Durin. T. Oakenshield, head of the Durin family, once again denies any involvement or any knowledge of his plans to dislodge a squatter in the property  (pictured below).

When questioned, the rest of the Hobbit Security Services warriors insist they have no knowledge of their leader's possible involvement in this unprecedented interest in their land and are ready to do their job to safeguard all visitors to New...I mean Middle-earth:

As the investigation continues, international security agencies have called in outside help from a private investigative firm:

We will report further developments as the investigation continues.

Breaking News - Sources close to the investigation are now looking at this man as a "person of interest":

(Sources of pics and vids: YouTube, Google Images, Fanpop, The One Ring Net, DeviantArt, United Agents, and many more)