The Second Season of the Second Age

I do not understand how people say this show isn't like Tolkien. There's so much going on, I forgot about an entire continent of people between seasons. It is packed full of characters, settings and societies that match the feel of Tolkien's work.

Hey, There are Other Rings that it's the Lord of!

 Of course I knew about the other rings.  It's me.

Ring-Bits

My thoughts on a couple of days I was home alone-

"I’ve got some stuff around the house that should be done, 

I’m way behind in my reading, 

got a lot of writing and editing to catch up on, 

Or…
 

Facebook Film Foolishness: Coda

We’ve had impact lists, previously mentioned impact lists, Eighties lists, and two groups of weird non-human lists.  For the musical finale, repeats are allowed, since I made so many rules last week, I’ve limited the selection pool.  However, these are much more rankable than merely using chronological order.

Facebook Film Foolishness Part 5

While I was racking my brain for weeks to whittle down my original list, (And my other list, and my other other list) Jeff challenged me again with a fellow Facebook film fan Chris's more difficult “10 DAY MOVIE CHALLENGE.”

The rules are: you have to post an image of a NONHUMAN NONBLOCKBUSTER movie character that affected you in some way. Even if it was in the background or had only 5 seconds of screen time. Doesn't matter. ***NO JAWS, STAR WARS, ALIEN, THING, ETC. IT'S A CHALLENGE***

The Hobbit: A Battle of Fine Awesomes

The final chapter of Peter Jackson’s second visit to Middle Earth is over.

Good thing Star Wars comes back to fill the enormous void it will leave next December.

It’s hard to review this one without retreading things I’ve covered before. 

George Awards: Symbolic Tribute

Warning

This post contains bad, foul, filthy and unacceptable language - the words that “will curve your spine, grow hair on your hands and maybe, even bring us, God help us, peace without honor.”

This is not a post for children.  Kids, take a hike. 

This is also not a post for those adults who are offended by this type of language.  Do yourself a favor, and go read some of my cute stuff before moral outrage can kick in.

End of Warning.

It’s time to bring back the George Awards!

The reason for this momentous return is last month New York City honored its native son by naming the street in Morningside Heights next to the perfect location for it after him.

George Awards: They’re Always About That Big

Warning:

This post contains jokes about gross body noises that will disgust adults with a sense of decorum. 

Kids on the other hand will probably roll about on the floor laughing until they join in the noisemaking festivities, either by reflex, or on purpose.

End of Warning.

The George Awards these next two weeks, are more benign that previous entries, but slightly more pungent. 

Fart jokes!  They’re fun for all ages. They’re also the reason my brain stared down the path of these posts after my daughter and I started to figure out our favorite movie scenes featuring them.

Yes, sir, we have quality family time at the McGinley home, and I work hard to pass along my comedic knowledge to the next generation…

Or to pass something anyway.

Sit back, relax and hold your nose as we explore the big screen world of the bi-labial fricative.

The Hobbit: A Destination of Smaug

It’s hard to find anything new to say about the fifth foray into Middle Earth by Peter Jackson and “company. “

Ha ha, get it, Tolkien geeks?

I’ve covered it all before.  Once again we are invited into their version of Tolkien’s world, and it continues to be filled with amazing visuals, compelling characters, and thrilling action.

The Hobbit story remains a less oppressive adventure than the dark times of Lord of the Rings, but includes much more serious elements than the original novel. The film makers have, yet again, made the right choices about what to leave untouched, and what to alter, to both keep the audience’s interest, and have the story line fit within the world established in the previous trilogy.

Jaws Through a Kid's Eyes

One night, my Whovian wife and I planned to sample the Russell T Davies/David Tennant Casanova miniseries on Netflix. 

Due to the whimsical and ever changing nature of Netflix availability, we suddenly found the need to make another choice.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Trilogy

I have to admit, when I first heard The Hobbit was being stretched into two movies, then even more so following the eventual decision to make it a full Trilogy, I wondered how they could possibly follow up the sheer scale and epicness of The Lord of the Rings films using only a couple hundred page children’s book as the source.

The answer comes pretty quickly in the main narrative of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey from a quote by Gandalf discussing Bullroarer Took’s knocking the head of goblin leader Golfimbul off and down a rabbit hole, simultaneously winning the Battle of Greenfields and inventing golf.

“Every good story deserves a little embellishment.”

Lord of the Rings Through a Kid's Eyes: Part 3

RETURN OF THE KING

With a two week break instead of the one week between parts one and two; my daughter started off resistant as ever to watch the finale.  Then, of course, she zombified to focus on almost the entire four hour film. The one odd exception was she ignored much of the first half of the Battle of Minas Tirith.  Too much going on all at once I guess.

The gap apparently made her forget about some minor details:

Why are the trees groaning?

Who’s the King that’s returning?

How old are the Elves?

What’s that big eye thing?

Since she replied to each answer with, “Oh yeah.”

I’m betting it was due more to her third mode of watching the film than actual forgetfulness.

You see, my daughter basically had three modes of viewing during the last movie.

Lord of the Rings Through a Kid's Eyes: Part 2

Click here to go back to the Fellowship of the Ring

THE TWO TOWERS

Once again, it was very interesting seeing her reactions to elements of the story that can be easily taken for granted after multiple viewings and readings.

My fatherly concern started immediately, because as soon as the opening title passed, my daughter inquired, “Where’s Legolas?”

Lord of the Rings Through a Kid's Eyes: Part 1

I’ve already confessed to preferring the Peter Jackson helmed Lord of the Rings films to the books, making me a heathen, but extremely thrilled to receive the Extended Edition Blu-Rays for my birthday last year. 

However, due to:

A) My daughter being scared by Gollum when she previously saw parts of the movies because she was much younger.

B) My daughter being resistant to watching ANY franchise that Daddy says she’ll like, even though he’s been right EVERY STINKIN’ TIME. (e.g. – Star Trek, Star Wars, Doctor Who, Harry Potter, Happy Days, Pirates of the Caribbean, Marvel Movies, Men in Black, Ghostbusters, Superman, and who knows how many others.)

Because she wants to drive me crazy.

I was therefore reduced to clutching the shiny golden box for about seven months muttering, “My precious,” until finally convincing her to watch them. 

I did turn up the pressure a bit as the release date of The Hobbit approached; knowing if she discovered she liked them after missing the new one in the theater, there would be more crankiness in my home than I care to deal with.

Since they are the extended editions, I expected to watch no more than a half a film at a time, possibly breaking it up over many multiple viewings like a miniseries.

She ended up enjoying them to such a level that we watched each film all the way through over a series of Sunday afternoon/evenings with only enforced intermissions in the middle to do stuff around the house and prepare for work and school the next day.

Wait, you mean I was right again?

Here, let me show you my shocked face.

Bad Geek Confessions: Lord of the Rings

I have read the Lord of the Rings many times over the years.  My copies are dated 1984 and I know I read it from the library before that.  The Hobbit, I read back in elementary school, even predating my Dungeons and Dragons obsession by a few years. (For reference, my first character was Gonzo the Halfling.) 

So, again, I have read them.

I have reread them.

I have enjoyed them.

I have also read the Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales. (Though, ironically, I can't remember if I finished the latter.)

But having said all that…I definitely prefer the movies.