Snowflake Challenge: Day 5

[prisca]

Time for catching up.



Challenge #5
In your own space, promote a canon/talk about a part of canon that you love.

This year I have decided on

Lord of the Rings
I remember that I tried to read the books when I was about 16/17 years old... and I failed miserably.

Some years later, Peter Jackson's movies resounded to the lands, and it was impossible to escape them. I watched a trailer more accidentally (Gandalf and the Balrog at Khazad-dûm), and I knew I had to watch the movie.

I was intrigued from the very first moment. The Shire, the music, the Hobbits. Sam. I admit, I like Frodo, but my heart always belonged to Sam. The way Peter Jackson brought Middle-earth to life. It was the beginning of a great journey.

I finally read the books - and nowadays, I am glad I watched the movies first because I could enjoy them without thinking about the changes PJ made. It doesn't mean that I don't have learned to love the books, too; some parts are better than the movies. Sam in the ork-tower, god, it always breaks my heart to read these chapters.

I started to visit internet forums; usually, I am a shy person who doesn't like to interact with strangers, but suddenly it was easy to overstep my lines because we all shared one big love. I started to visit small gatherings with fans at first, later my first Ring Con in Bonn. I made new friends; I met some of the actors; I even got the chance for a photo with Sean Astin (which I hate, because I look like a dork, but I would never ever want to miss the memory **grins**).

All this is about twenty years ago, and even if the fandom faded away over the years, Lord of the Rings is still a part of my life. I re-watch the movies, I listen to the music, I re-read the book. And for now, I am curious where the journey will go when the new Amazon series come out.

Comments

[gillo]

The film fandom has faded a little, but the love of Tolkien persists - you can even do a Masters' degree in his work now. Thanks for doing the challenge!

[prisca]

You are right, Tolkien is so much than just LotR, and the 'hard-core fans' will never stop to dive deeper and deeper into his work.

[littlelostcat]

<3 I love LotR - both movies and books, although I didn't get into the books until the movies came out. The movies have now become a comfort watch for me; like you said it's the music, the Shire, the hobbits, the story. I could and do watch Fellowship on repeat or I'll get to the end of the end of RotK and need to be back in the Shire.

And, agreed, Sam is *gestures* beyond words. He is the hero of the story, he is the backbone of the fellowship. To quote Frodo, Frodo wouldn't have gotten very far without Sam. <3

[prisca]

It's good to see that there is still so much love for Lord of The Rings in the world.

[spikedluv]

The movies are really good. Story: I recall my S.O. (who I 'lovingly' call Pip in internet circles *g*) after the first one, complaining because he hadn't realized there were going to be three, lol! Every time they're airing on tv, though, he's got them on, so I guess he forgave them.

[prisca]

**Lol** Oh, he was not alone with his assumption that The Fellowship is a stand-alone movie; one of my friends was outright shocked about the sudden, open end.

[why_me_why_not]

LotR was my intro to fandom on the internet! A long time ago, but only if you measure in terms of years.

I had read the books but the movies were a whole 'nother thing. And it felt like the fans were such a part of it, especially with all the behind the scenes and commentary and stuff that came with the special extended edition discs. I rewatch the movies regularly. There was so much heart put into them.

[prisca]

Seems as if LotR was the intro into internet/fandom life for a lot of people.