Lord of the Rings

I watched the Lord of the Rings movies for the first time last week. I knew it was going to be good, but I was stunned at how amazing it really was. At the end of The Return of the King, I cried through the last three-ish scenes and the whole credits song. I know that sounds childish, but – it was so amazing!

I honestly cannot imagine anyone else playing these characters now.I remember clearly my first reactions to pictures of Ian Mckellen as Gandalf. I wasn’t impressed. The tall, pointy gray hat I think was what really did me off. I didn’t like him. Oh, how wrong I was. Mckellen did a masterful, absolutely masterful job as Gandalf. Of course, I saw him in The Hobbit, first, and that was what really won me over. I’ll admit, I liked him best as Gandalf the White. I cannot think of Gandalf now without thinking of Ian Mckellen, and I think that is the true mark of an excellent performance.Again, when I first saw photos of Elijah Wood as Frodo, I was appalled. Wasn’t Frodo supposed to be older than that? But you know what, as I read the books, I couldn’t get the photos of him out of my head. What does that tell me? Wood was the right choice for Frodo, and all you have to do is watch the movies to see that. He’s amazing. The moment I saw Sean Astin, on the other hand, I knew that he was the perfect Sam. Yes, that is the word, perfect. Here, as in practically every other place, the director nailed it!Aragorn was another one whom I was slightly skeptical about when I first saw the pictures. It didn’t help that I had seen Viggo Mortensen on a movie I wasn’t fond of before I’d watched LOtR. But leave it to a staunch Sherlock Holmes fan to imagine a lank, shady, pipe-smoking ranger to be pale and clean shaven. It wasn’t long before I was won over even before I watched the movies, and once I did, Mortensen will forever be Aragorn to me.I had very little preconceived idea of the physical characteristics of Merry and Pippin, save that I thought Merry had dark hair, and I thought both Dominic Monaghan as Merry and Billy Boyd as Pippin were wonderful, not to mention extremely sweet and amusing!I had a fairly definite idea of what Legolas and Gimli looked like, and both John Rhys-Davis and Orlando Bloom were exactly it. I love how they sort of seem to be the comic relief of the films, and of course the “odd couple” thing is very cute and sweet. I also now understand the Orlando Bloom kick that went on for a while. He is quite handsome.When I first saw Hugh Dickson as Elrond in The Hobbit, I’ll admit, I wasn’t impressed. But gol-ly, was he exactly right in these three films. I felt very bad for him as he had to watch his beloved daughter sink into mortality, but I loved the little smile he gave when Arwen kissed Aragorn at the end. Proud-daddy-Elrond is SO cute!Christopher Lee as Saruman was just amazing – exactly like I’d imagined him in the book! I could go on and on, but every compliment I could come up with has already been said.Andy Serkis’s portrayal as Gollum was really unbelievable. When I first heard the voice of Serkis as Screwtape on Focus on the Family’s Radio Theater The Screwtape Letters, I was convinced that he would be amazing, but now I know it. The scarciest part of it all though, is that some of Gollum’s facial expresions remind me of Andy.

There were many other more minor characters which I found very well done, like Theodin, Boromir, Wormtongue, Farimir, and the like, though I am afraid I wasn’t a huge fan of Arwen and Eowyn, but if the worst I can possibly say about these films is that Merry had the wrong hair color, and I wasn’t entirely satisfied with those two ladies, I’d say the Lord of the Rings moves were winners. 99.9999999% perfect!

Random reactions to random things

This is my random post! Lots of little things I’ve been wanting to say! 😀

First off, just a little funny thing, a boy at the kid’s club I help at called me Bareckah, instead of Rebekah. And last but not least, I have some sage wisdom for all you youngun’s out there..

In the fight of pineapple versus chapped lips, pineapple always wins!

And wins with a vengeance!Anywho…

Robin Hood Philippians 4:8

Robin Hood, Robin Hood, riding through the glen,

Robin Hood, Robin Hood, with his band of men,

Feared by the bad, loved by the good,

Robin Hood, Robin Hood, Robin Hood.

He called the greatest archers to a tavern on the green,

They vowed to help the people of the king.

They handled all the trouble on the English country scene,

And still had plenty of time to sing.

Robin Hood, Robin Hood, riding through the glen,

Robin Hood, Robin Hood, with his band or men,

Feared by the bad, loved by the good,

Robin Hood, Robin Hood, Robin Hood.

                Last Sunday our church had its first cantata without our old pastor and his wife and daughter. The absence of those three very dear people was painfully obvious. That alone was enough to make me cry, but to add insult to injury, when I got home I got to watch the last couple minutes of a Steelers game, which they lost in a most depressing way. After this my family proceeded to talk over all the horrific things that had already made me quite unhappy. I felt very much like curling up into a little ball of depression and then melting into a puddle of misery. After a moments discussion we decided to eat supper while watching an old black-and-white 1940’s Robin Hood TV episode. I love these episodes, and in the depression that I felt, I thought this simple, happy thing would be good for me. The moment the theme music started I felt a surge of joy and in one fell swoop all my sadness flew away. I laughed, and the verse Philippians 4:8 came to my mind. What, really, is more true, honest, just, pure, lovely, virtuous, of good report, and praise worthy than this funny, simple, fun little TV show? The constant joy and laughter, the striving to do good, and be honorable, to be just and pure, and to do the right thing – it is just lovely, really and simply lovely. Sure there are occasional “ghosts,” and perhaps some excessive kissing – but if you’re going to raise a fuss about that, you might as well give up trying to have any fun at all. These shows, while some people might think them stupid or boring or poorly made, are inherently good, which is a nice change of pace.

They also strike a chord with us Christians. Robin Hood, wrongly accused and made an outlaw, is now trying his hardest to uphold justice and do good to the people who are affected the most by the usurper’s cruelty – waiting, with loyalty and eager anticipation, for his true king to return and reclaim his throne. One might just as well be describing the persecuted, or even the non persecuted, Christians, as we wait for our King, The Lord Jesus Christ, The King of Kings, to come back and reclaim His throne from the usurper Satan.

I would tend to doubt that the author of these simple TV shows noticed anything of the kind, but does that mean that we cannot take the analogy and be encouraged by it? Certainly not! Does this analogy mean that now we must try to make every episode into a sermon, and not take the time to enjoy some simple fun? Well, yes and no. For starters, you’re going to have a hard time making a sermon out of some, or rather most, of those episodes, because, to be honest, it just isn’t there. But what I am saying is it is quite easy to find good, even “Godly” pleasure in these TV episodes, and that they are a wonderful relief from the darkness and cares of not only modern “entertainment,” but modern life as well. It is very nice, and a blessing.

When I realize how appropriate Philippians 4:8 is for these Robin Hood shows, I am reminded how infinitely pleasurable it is to be able to worship God even when I’m watching a movie. I’m sure there are some Christians out there, in fact I know some of them, who would tell me it’s impossible to worship God when I’m doing something as “secular” as watching a movie – but why ever not? Doesn’t the Bible say that we are to do all things to the glory of God? Of course it does! And that means you and me, even when we are watching movies. And it’s nice, and easy, to do that when I’m watching these Robin Hood TV shows – so praise God and thank God for them – they are a comfort, relief, and a real pleasure.

Philippians 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.