👑 It's So Over There and We're So Back Again: A Hobbit's (Extra-Long) Tale by Peter Jackson
The NeverEnding Movie
It’s 2003. The United States has invaded Iraq. Apple recently launched the iTunes store. Arnold Schwarzenegger has just been elected governor of California (the ACTOR?!?). And you: you’re sitting in the movie theater watching The Return of the King for the first time. You know that the end of the movie is approaching: the Ring has been destroyed, Sauron is defeated, and your bladder is protesting that you should have gotten the medium soda instead of the large. You are right that an ending is coming soon…but when will the end come?
FRODO: "I'm glad to be with you, Samwise Gamgee, here at the end of all things."
Ok, a fade to black, the movie is so over.
Wait, we’re so back!
Alright, it’s for sure so over now…riiiight? We have the Fellowship reunited (RIP Boromir), everyone is joyful, the movie is fading to black once again…
JUST LIKE THE KING, WE’RE SO BACK!
It’s so over. It’s never been more over than this. This is the ending of all endings. THE KING HAS RETURNED! AND HE CALLED THE HOBBITS HIS FRIENDS AND SAID THEY BOW TO NO ONE BEFORE BOWING TO THEM!! There’s not a dry eye in the house. What more could you ask for from a movie titled THE RETURN OF THE KING???
Whelp, we’re so back we’ve gone all the way back with the hobbits to where this whole story began: the Shire.
TWO weddings! How much more over could this movie be??
Aaaaand we’re so back. Again. We’re SO BACK that Frodo’s *literally* working on completing his additions to There and Back Again.
OK FRODO IS SAILING TO VALINOR IT’S SO OVER THERE’S NOTHING LEFT
SON OF A BALROG!
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To Discuss:
Did you see The Return of the King in theaters? In 2003 or sometime afterwards?
Do you feel like it’s a bit of an exaggeration when people talk about how the movie has a bunch of endings?
Do you like that the Scouring of the Shire isn’t included as another ending to this movie or is there no excuse for its exclusion?
Which of the “endings” of ROTK is your favorite? (You can’t say “all of them”!)
Was the third eagle really for Gollum? Or just a redundancy or escort or tagalong?
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Appendices
This Sunday I will have a guest post on
! I’ll cross-post it here, so no need to do anything other than look for its coming on the first light of the fifth day, at dawn look to your inboxes.I finished Ahsoka this week and…mostly enjoyed it. The final two episodes were the highlights for sure. I wouldn’t say it reaches the heights of the best of the Disney era of Star Wars (The Last Jedi, Rogue One, and Andor), but it was solid and enjoyable if a bit poorly paced. I’ll eagerly watch any continuation of the story, whether that’s a second season or the Dave Filoni Mandoverse movie. What did you think?
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I did see it in the theater - multiple times. We did the big midnight release where you watch all 3 films. (Can I just say that needs throw the best parties. We dressed up. People were buying pizzas to share as we waited in line...) Also the cheer that erupted when Boromir showed up in ROTK after we'd all cried over his death a few hours before.
My husband was/is pretty upset about not having the Scouring of the Shire included, "That's the whole point!" ( He also stood up and hollered "What the f**k!?!" when the Elves showed up at Helms Deep.)
The 3rd Eagle carried the snacks.
Firstly, regarding Ahsoka: "solid and enjoyable if a bit poorly paced" is a nice way of saying underwritten. I agree with your assessment, though I am more frustrated than pleased with the show.
1. The real question is 'how many times did you see RotK in theaters?' I believe we went 3 times. Saw Two Towers 4 times. Only went to see Fellowship once, which is crazy because it is now my personal favorite of the trilogy.
2. People like to make a big deal about the multiple endings, but I loved them. I didn't want the movie to end. It was a nice way of helping us say goodbye.
3. Yes, the Scouring is unnecessary in the films. That said, I wouldn't hate an extended extended edition with the Scouring as another ending.
4. Fav ending is hands-down, 'my friends, you bow to no one.' Still can't get through it without tears.
5. Never thought about an eagle for Gollum. Makes sense. Mind blown!