OK. I am a Geek. Or if you prefer, Nerd. I really like Tolkein, and I really like what Peter Jackson does with his books. Right now, I am a Hobbit Geek. A few years ago, I was a LOTR Geek. Feel free to laugh, or mock, as I intend to forward any such comments directly to President Uchtdorf.
MInd you, I am not the kind of Hobbit geek that waits outside the theater, in full costume, anxiously awaiting a midnight showing on opening day. The idea of coming home at 3:30am, and then getting up two hours later does not appeal to me. I am not that committed.
However, I am committed enough to find tickets to an early screening of the movie, so that I am going home when the young men in their Gollum outfits are trying to convince the theater manager to not have them arrested. I may like the movies, but not in that way.
In this regard, I am greatly blessed with an EC who loves the movies, and is a Hobbit/LOTR fan as well. She has read all the books – multiple times. She saw all of the trilogy with me, and she was excited to see the first Hobbit as well. I find great reassurance in this -because it reaffirms to me that the reason she liked LOTR wasn’t solely because of Aragorn. (Not that she would say anything, but I did notice how she would ignore her soda whenever he was onscreen. (Teasing, honey!) (Not really)
My EC and I go to all our movies together, she goes to the ones I like, I go to those she likes, because I would rather be with her watching a chick flick, than not be with her. And she has tolerated some dumb movies on my behalf as well.
So we saw the Hobbit in the regular film style on Thursday, and then plunked down our hard-earned cash to see it again on Saturday night, in the new HFR 3D technology. (HFR is High Frame Rate, which means that your eyes see twice as many pictures every second than in a normal movie – 48 vs. 24. Breathtaking and weird a the same time.
We enjoyed The Hobbit, but I won’t use this space to give a review. Instead I want to talk about more important stuff. First, about the author, J.R.R Tolkein.
Tolkein was a Christian, who threaded Christian theology through much of his writing. Some of you might now know that he was also good friends with C.S. Lewis, another famed Christian fantasy writer (Lion, Witch & the Wardrobe.) The theological slant in both their writings were very intentional, although C.S. Lewis tended to be more obvious than Tolkein. (Here is an interesting article about it.)But if you read, and listen closely, you will hear great wisdom in his work. This wisdom is usually voiced by Gandalf the wizard.
So, for today’s wisdom, I give you two of my favorite Gandalf quotes. The first is from the new Hobbit movie, and is particularly interesting given the news of the day, and the second is from the Lord of the Rings.
The boss and his family are driving to Hobbiton right now!
I LOVE LOTR… and not just for Aragorn. 😉 I have Anduril on our wall and flanking it are some of our favorite LOTR quotes, one of which is the Gandalf quote that you shared. With each quote is a scripture that we think goes right along with it. The one that goes with that quote is 2 Nephi 10:23.
At our house we quote Gandalf. But we also love to quote Ian McKellan as Amos Starkadder in Cold Comfort Farm. His preaching there is awesome.
A Tolkein, Lewis fan who quotes from Scarlet Pimpernell, writes posts about To Kill a Mockingbird and finds spiritual depth in all? Uh-oh, I think I have an MMM crush (sorry Sister MMM) – maybe there’s a pill or ointment that would cure me?
And I cook, too. 😉
Thanks for summing up what is probably the only thing I would have liked about the movie. The diaglogue you shared.
Timely.
And you DO know that I am mocking and scoffing you for your nerdiness. Openly man.
And I am openly mocking you for your limited range of enjoyment. Gotta expand those horizons.
We went for a meal at the pub in Oxford where Tolkien and Lewis used to sit and share chapters with each other and discuss their writing and life in general. Very picturesque setting by the river. Beautiful landscape with the spires of Oxford. As a Tolkien and Lewis fan, I was tickled pink to sit there and fantasize about what it would have been like to listen in on a discussion between these two. I bet the discussions are continuing for them now!
I have a really, really hard time telling their names apart. And the old guys all blend together.
Not the hugest LOTR fan. But I do like a spectacle and I do like movies so I shall go eventually.
Well, I was introduced to you blog for the very first time this past Friday. Having read your last few posts (counting today) I am now officially calling myself a fan. Thanks for the great posts.
I actually loved reading that second Gandalf quote – great choice!
I have had a bad few days. I have relived my childrens early years of school,prayed for the parents and families of all involved in our current horror,and tried to review the truths and wisdom that I have been taught. Still a pall has hung over me and then I read this blog and cried. For some reason it helped me. Thank you.
You just cemented yourself in the awesomeness hall of fame by busting out a Scarlet Pimpernel reference. Seriously, MMM. Awesomeness.
I second this.
Great quotes. I haven’t seen The Hobbit yet, but I will. 🙂
I’ve always loved Gandalf and his inspiring words. He is an amazing character.
Off topic, but you blew your cover when you started selling your books! I now know what section of the country you live in!!!! The book is just right for my kids who are parents of teens! Funny because they are so true.
They seek him here, they seek him there
Blog groupies seek him everywhere.
He writes of heaven, and oh so well;
Middle-Aged Mormon Pimpernel.
Dude!@ I am so impressed. And thanks for not calling me damned and elusive.
You’re welcome. 🙂
I figure if Jane Seymour can edit the poem, I can too, right?
CS Lewis and Tolkien were friends. Very good friends. Tolkien converted Lewis is Christianity. -but they hated each others work. Interesting.
My favorite Gandalf quote (and actually one of my favorite quotes ever is this one:
“Pity? It was pity that stayed Bilbo’s hand. Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends.”
It’s especially meaningful right now after the tragedy in Connecticut…
Tom
Great thoughts. My EC likes to use the “a wizard is never late” line on me all the time.
My mom calls Aragorn Captain Moroni. I think its how she justifies her crush on him. I loved that line he said about Bilbo. Especially because Bilbo didn’t even know his strength. It was too perfect.
I saw The Hobbit yesterday with my EC. When Gandalf said that phrase about Bilbo I teared up, thinking about the elementary school shootings. Our world needs reminders like that, even in movies that don’t really make a difference in the grand scheme of things. If they prompt us to be better people, to hold virtues closer to our hearts, then movies are important in the grand scheme.