The Lord of the Rings (1978) — A Review.

1st February, 2026 — The Lord of the Rings (1978).

An Introduction.

OK … it’s a Sunday afternoon: and … ?

I have dinner cooking.

Sausages, so you know: with potatoes.

Exciting stuff, eh … ?

At any rate: it’s quiet, my browser isn’t making my Mac over heat … and there’s laundry doing.

Which has just reminded me: putting things in the dryer, helps … !

At any rate?

I’ve a quiet night in, and a pile of movies to watch.

And … ?

Ever since seeing Ralph Bakshi’s Wizards, a while back, there was something else I meant to catch … 

Catch, review … and tell you about by Wednesday … 

~≈🧙🏾‍♂️≈~

The Lord of the Rings — A review

1st April, 2019.

OK … I know … 

It’s April Fool’s Day.

But frankly?

I could never see the point of leaping out on someone and yelling ‘April Fool’ … after playing a damn silly — and possibly unfunny — joke on them.

We have to ask: “Paul, are you turning into a grumpy old git?”

I think the answer’s going to be “Yes,” at the moment!

~≈§≈~

Grumpy or otherwise?

Grumpy or otherwise, and in-between the stuff I should be doing?

Is one simple fact.

Occasionally, I like a movie.

You’ve possible worked that out, already: especially if’ve read what I wrote about The Limehouse Golem.

Hmm … 

I’ll be honest?

I think I’ve got something going on, right now.

Yes: much like tonights film, I’m on a quest.

In my case, for an emotionally satisfying movie.

In the case of the Ralph Bakshi directed, 1978 version of The Lord of the Rings … ?

I’m not sure I could tell you.

~≈§≈~

The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug: That’s More Like It …

11th April, 2014.

You know, it really is getting late.

Really.

But then, that’s one disadvantage to renting a film that lasts as long as the one I rented, this evening.

You tend to end up with monsters.

Which, now I mention it, is possibly more appropriate than I thought.

At ANY rate … ?

I’ve actually managed to have an evening free, tonight.

A free evening, and enough credit on my iTunes Store account to rent a film.

The one in question … ?

Was the second part of Peter Jackson’s version of The Hobbit: called The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

I’m thinking three things, right now.

1. Benedict Cumberbatch as the voice of Smaug was INCREDIBLE … !
2. So were the scenes with Smaug.
3. And, by GODS, that’s an impressively big dragon!

You can tell something caught my eye, can’t you … ?

Hmmm … Let me get some sleep: I think my brain could do with disconnecting … !

~≈†≈~

The Daily Teaser — 3-1-2013: Professor Tolkien Rides Again … !

You know, I  think I really AM going to have to risk it.

And see if connecting my iPod back to my TV will work.

It started acting up, after the aerial went down, after the Saint Jude’s Day Storm, last year.

So I’m hoping having given it a rest will have helped.

The reason I mention it … ?   Is the simple that that the day’s TV — at least, going by my TV guide — looks … well … 

Uninteresting, let’s put it that way.

OK, yes, I know I could always think getting hold of a set top box.

But frankly … ?   That’s cost I don’t have, thanking you!

Let’s get a move on, shall we?

~≈Î≈~

Yesterday’s teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: along with letting us know she felt yesterday’s tune was very punky, also say her scoring five out of five.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s Tolkienesque questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the How To, license and video … 

Q1) 3rd January, 1892, saw the birth of writer and philologist, J. R. R. Tolkien.   What did the ‘J’ stand for … ?

Q2) Tolkien was a professor at both Pembroke and Merton College: both colleges of which British University … ?

Q3) Professor Tolkien was born in what’s now which commonwealth country … ?

Q4) In Tolkien’s The Lord Of The Rings, Frodo has to throw the Ring into a volcano: what’s the name of that volcano … ?

Q5) The original owner of that ring was the Lord, The Lord Of The Rings is named for.   Who WAS he … ?

Q6) Name any of the other eight characters that form The Fellowship of the Ring, with Frodo … ?

Q7) In The Lord Of The Rings, how many rings of power had the Elves been given: three, five or seven … ?

Q8) Nine rings of power given to various humans, in The Lord Of The Rings.   They turned into what: ring-goes, ring-dings or ring-wraiths … ?

Q9) Which British band named itself after Tolkien’s The Silmarillion … ?

Q10) Finally … who’s playing Bilbo Baggins in the most recent film adaptions of Tolkien’s The Hobbit … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 2nd January, 1911, saw the start of the Siege Of Sidney Street.   That gun battle got the UK’s then Home Secretary into a lot of trouble: who was that Home Secretary?

A1) Sir Winston Churchill.

Q2) 2nd January, 1967, saw which actor sworn in as Governor of California?

A2) Ronald Reagan.

Q3) 2nd January, 1981, saw the arrest of killer, Peter Sutcliffe: otherwise known as who … ?

A3) The Yorkshire Ripper.

Q4) 2nd January, 2011, saw the death of actor, Pete Postlethwaite.   In which 1993 film did he play Giuseppe Conlon … ?

A4) In The Name Of The Father.

Q5) Finally … 2nd January, 1914, saw the birth of wartime heroine, Noor Inayat Khan, GC.   Which wartime British agency had she been working for, when killed by the Nazis … ?

A5) The SOE, or Special Operations Executive.

I’ll leave you with this thought from Professor Tolkien … 

“I am in fact a Hobbit (in all but size). I like gardens, trees, and unmechanized farmlands; I smoke a pipe, and like good plain food (unrefrigerated), but detest French cooking; I like, and even dare to wear in these dull days, ornamental waistcoats. I am fond of mushrooms (out of a field); have a very simple sense of humor (which even my appreciative critics find tiresome); I go to bed late and get up late (when possible).”

J. R. R. Tolkien, in a letter to Deborah Webster dated 25 October 1958.

And with Bilbo’s last song: with words by Professor Tolkien, and music by

Have a good day … !

*        I suppose so, Debbi: I hadn’t really thought about it … !   (Mind you, I’m a touch old school on that front, if it doesn’t have a mohawk, or’s pogoing, it doesn’t count.)

†        And, yes: that’s Donald Swann of Flanders and Swann fame: possibly the only duo to put gnus to music … 

The Daily Teaser — 2-9-2013: J. R. R. Tolkien

Right, it’s one of those ‘Move Fast’ kind of busy days, today.

After all, I’ve got to get to Basildon, today: it’s the Monday I have to got to the Work Program.

In-between job-hunting, Teasering, job-hunting and more job-hunting — and the occasional cuppa — I’ve got to wipe the hard-drive of my mum’s old PC: I’m going to insert it into Gerty — the vintage G4 sitting behind me, that I use for visitors — and hit it with Disc Utility.

All that … ?   All that and go shopping … !

Let’s move on, shall we … ?

~≈Ç≈~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi*† putting in her answers: and bagging three out of six.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s Tolkienesque questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the ‘How To,’ License and video …

Q1) 2nd September, 1892, saw the birth of J. R. R. Tolkien.   Who was the main character of his children’s book, The Hobbit … ?

Q2) More to the point, that hobbit joined thirteen dwarves and a wizard: to burgle from a dragon.   What was the name of the dragon … ?

Q3) Equally to the point, who was the leader of the dwarves … ?

Q4) Name any of the three books that make up Tolkien’s The Lord Of The Rings … ?

Q5) What name did Tolkien give to the setting for The Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings … ?

Q6) The last book in that setting was posthumously published: and called what … ?

Q7) Tolkien was a philologist, which involved the study of what: alphabets, languages or runes … ?

Q8) At which University was Tolkien a professor … ?

Q9) Name either of the colleges he was a professor at … ?

Q10) Finally … Professor Tolkien’s best known academic work was a 1936 lecture — and associated article — about which much loved Anglo-Saxon poem?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 1st September saw the start of World War 2: in which year of the 1930s … ?

A1) 1939.

Q2) More the the point, when Nazi Germany invaded where … ?

A2) Poland.

Q3) The day also saw Nazi leader, Adolf Hitler, sign the orders allowing his government euthanize the mentally  handicapped: and who else … ?

A3) The physically handicapped.

Q4) 1st September of that year also saw which famously neutral European country mobilize its army … ?

A4) Switzerland.

Q5) The day also saw Nazi Germany institute the last version of which German medal … ?

A5) The Iron Cross.

Q6) Finally … name any of the three main Axis powers …

A6) Germany, Italy and Japan.

I’ll leave you with this thought from Professor Tolkien …

“There was a solemn article in the local paper seriously advocating systematic exterminating of the entire German nation as the only proper course after military victory: because, if you please, they are rattlesnakes, and don't know the difference between good and evil! (What of the writer?) The Germans have just as much right to declare the Poles and Jews exterminable vermin, subhuman, as we have to select the Germans: in other words, no right, whatever they have done.”

J. R. R. Tolkien, in a 1944 letter.

And with Namárië: or Galadriel’s Lament, with words by the Professor, and sung by Aijin Hidelias.

*      What the Winston Churchill quote, you mean, Debbi … ?   Either way, the whole thing with Syria … well, I don’t know about you, Debbi, but I’m thinking this could be a world changer …

†        Oh, THAT’S the other thing I was going to mention, Debbi!   Today’s the first time I’ve had a song video: in Sindarin … !   (Or possibly Quenya: I always get my Elvish languages mixed up … )

THE Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: Padded … or otherwise

10th May, 2013.

You know … 

After one night where I’ve had zero sleep — a couple of night’s ago, since you ask — to a night, like tonight, where I’m going to clamber into bed at a comparatively late hour.

MOSTLY … ?

Well, mostly because I wanted to get started on a post about the film I’ve just seen.

You’re PROBABLY not needing to ask what the film was, are you … ?

But just so you know … ?

It’s was the recently released DVD version of the 2012 film, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

And for starters … ?

I’m going to thank an old friend, Graham, for loaning me his copy.

There’s a reason for that.

Partly that Graham’s a kindly old soul who likes being nice to people.   And PARTLY because I asked him politely.

The reason I asked … ?

Actually … is iTunes … 

Normally, I’m a huge fan of Apple products and services.   I’ve written enthusiastically about them enough, over the years to give you a clue about that.

Usually,  I’m happy to rent films through them.   Except The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

Which, at standard definition, measured up at 2.92 gigabytes.   Something I, with my 40gb download, wasn’t going to contemplate doing*.

So, I, for one, was glad to borrow his copy …

Remind me to have some sleep and tell you about it.

~≈†≈~

13th May, 2013

Which — it has to be said — took a long time!

Well … to be fair, the sleeping didn’t take that long.   But the weekend did: mostly where I was help my mother shift a lot of furniture from one room to another.

Quite a lot of stuff, actually …

At ANY rate … ?

At any rate, I was going to try to sum up The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

The film — the first in a trilogy based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s original novel — opens just before the famous eleventy-first Birthday Party, with Ian Holm reprising his role as Bilbo Baggins: who, in explaining how he went on his first adventure, tells us all about the Fall of the Kingdom of Erebor†, easten-most Kingdom of Dwarves.

After it gets invaded by the dragon, Smaug.

After its King, Thrain, his heir, Thror‡, are killed: either in the battle or after.

And Thorin Oakenshield, the remaining heir to the throne of the Lonely Mountain, is left exiled and wondering Middle-Earth, with the remains of his people.

Thorin, of course, is determined to win back his kingdom.   Having eventually decided on a plan to take some of his best warriors to the Lonely Mountain, he seeks out an old friend, to see what advise he has.

Those of who’ve read the story will realise … that Gandalf immediately suggests a burglar … 

Which is where the film starts … 

~≈†≈~

With, of course, a flash-back to Martin Freeman as a much younger Bilbo: calmly sitting on his porch, enjoying a pipe full of tobacco, when he … 

Well, I’d explain more: but I’d suggest seeing this.

There’s reasons: there’s also an argument to deal with, as well, as I’m very aware that some who’ve seen the film — including a couple of old friends, Graham and Kevin D — feel the film has quite excessive amounts of padding to its name.

I can see their point.

There’s a scene — late on in the film — where the Company is travelling through the Misty Mountains, and are incidental victims of some Storm Giants.

That was a completely pointless scene to watch: as it’s derived from a — literal — throw-away line in Tolkien’s original text.

I felt much the same about with a lot of the scenes with Radagast the Brown: although, in the case of Radagast, he’s only given a minor mention in one appendix.   Although, to be frank, I do like Sylvester McCoy, having felt he was rather badly scripted for in Dr Who,

On the other hand … ?

On the other hand, there’s a scene where Gandalf has to report into the White Council: consisting of him, Saruman, Galadriel and Elrond Half Elven.    Padding … ?   Possibly.   If I remember correctly, this only gets a mention in another of the Appendices to the Lord Of The Rings.

And … ?   Well: while I’m not convinced it’s a piece of padding — The Hobbit’s shift from two to three parts is well known — it’s one of the scenes that could possibly have waited for the Directors Cut.

On the other hand … ?

On the other hand, one could ALSO apply that logic to the opening scenes: those that show us the Fall of Erebor.

Again, while this is arguable padding, that could well have awaiting a Director Cut, I’m ALSO aware that not many modern movie audiences would have necessarily have seen read the original books, in which this is discussed.

Frankly … ?   Frankly, from where I’m sitting, having it at that opening part of the first film allows Jackson and company to fill us in on much needed details: with necessarily having to have read all the books.

So … 

Arguably … ?

Arguably, yes, one can say this first film in the trilogy is padded: and possibly to an excessive degree.

On the other hand … ?

On the other hand, I rather enjoyed it.

And hope that the two later films are shorter, having had much of the extraneous stuff out of the way.

Now, if you’ll excuse me … ?   I’m going to have to get the book out of the library … 

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

★★☆☆

*        I’ll be honest, here, if I may … ?   I’ve long been an advocate of using DVD-ripping software like HandBrake to make backups of all your DVDs: AND copies you can play on your iPod.   Why, after all, should you play twice … ?   At ANY rate … ?   At any rate, I did any experimental rip of the film, with HandBrake 0.9.8: at it’s default settings, that gave me a copy of the film at a resolution of 1009*426 pixels, a bit rate of 1,360 … and a size of 1.66 GB.   I have to ask what Apple are playing at, sometimes: although, to be fair, I believe they’d be doing something like this at a resolution of x by 720: a much larger height, and comparative length: that of course, would show up as a larger data-rate, and thus as a larger size file.

†        I should add, here, that the dwarves in the film are, by Tolkien’s own accounts, of the Folk of Durin: Thorin, for example, is a direct descendant of Durin 1st Deathless.   There were, as he himself mentioned in Quenta Silmarillion, six other houses.

‡        Going by the book, Gandalf is given the Key to the Secret Door of Erebor by Thrain: after the latter is captured by the Necromancer: Sauron, in other words.