:: Tears of the Moon ::

:: Wednesday, December 31, 2003 ::

Happy New Year!

Just saying this ahead because it's fifteen minutes till the shift starts and I'm working through the 31st to the New Year. It sucks, I know, but that's call center work. I get paid well, but hell. This is my first New Year away from work.

Plus points though. Since we're on the 19th floor overlooking the city, I have a faaantastic view of the fireworks. The ultimate downside here is that I won't be with my family tonight.

Food! Lots of food!

Fireworks.

Bittersweet. It sucks to be here, but the people at work make it bearable. We have lots of food, good company, and people as depressed as I wanting to be home instead of here, determined to be as cheerful as the circumstances allow.

Happy New Year, folks.

:: D said @ 5:41 AM [+] ::
...

Okay. Me, Perfect Girlfriend.

And I'm still single?

Come on, guys, I'm pimping myself out here.


-Perfect- You're the perfect girlfriend. Which
means you're rare or that you cheated :P You're
the kind of chick that can hang out with your
boyfriend's friends and be silly. You don't
care about presents or about going to fancy
placed. Hell, just hang out. You're just happy
being around your boyfriend.


What Kind of Girlfriend Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

*g*

:: D said @ 8:27 AM [+] ::
...

So what's up lately? Updated my blog to include a cursor trailer.

Watched the ROTK premiere. It rocks. :D

Had fun fun gifts for Christmas. All in all a good holiday.

:: D said @ 8:24 AM [+] ::
...

Saturday. Had lunch with Ye Cutie (whom I'm going to start calling YC for short).

Sunday. Had mass, went to the mall to buy me a dress for Vannah's wedding. Met up with May at Galle, gave her the blow-by-blow of the thing with YC. Had Peppermint Mocha with Oreo cheesecake at Starbucks. Orgasmic. :D

We visited three stores for dresses, and I ended up picking the most expensive one simply because it just rocked. It's aquamarine v-neck long gown with a hole in the back. It was satin, and it was boddy hugging, so I had to buy myself proper underwear to go with it, just so the straps wouldn't show at the back (because of the backless hole thing). Then we had to go to Megamall to buy the gift/s.

We bought them a home design book (for inspiration, because Vannah likes to decorate stuff. It'd come handy for when she has her own apartment with Essie). We also put in a small cookbook for Filipino desserts, just in case she misses Pinoy food. Then we got them a six-person place setting thing, native Pinoy design. She won't have that there, right?)

Much thanks to May for being the other half of the shopping thing. She was stalked by a couple of fangirlies, but all in all, it was fun. Still jealous that she can watch the ROTK premiere.

Got home by eight. And yes, my feet were killing me, because I wore heels. Wrapped the stuff, took a nap, watched West Wing.

West Wing! I finally saw the parts where Josh freaked that Donna left ("Donna left?"). Good grief, Josh, get a clue. Donna's going out with some guy and you're still clueless. Instead you hang out with a frigid witch with blank eyes. Argh.

Monday
I've told my sup I'd be absent today since October ("Kat, I'm never going to be absent on you, except on this one day in December.. I know it's October, but I'm telling you now so you know."). Woke up late, watched Hook on DVD, finished up some cross-stitching. Took a shower, headed for the salon. Had my nails done. Makeup, because I wouldn't know how to dress myself up unless it's basic office makeup. And I needed help with my hair. I wanted it braided in a crown on top of my hair, and have silver ribbon wound around it. The braid is fine, just that I need something to go with my shoes: I'd be wearing an aquamarine dress with silver shoes. Silver ribbon would tie the outfit together (yes, I'm OC that way) or else the thing would be so.. blah). It took a while, but by six-thirty it was done, and Dad drove me to Intercon, where the wedding was held.

One thing about Indian weddings: it takes a long time to finish.

If you think I'm kidding, or I'm being flippant, don't. I'm serious. The invite said 8pm. Vannah's uncle's family were there as advance party and her cousin (sort of cute) told us that even if you come at 9, it'd still be early. Cripes! May, Lala, Audrey, Bettina and Bettina's sister and I were there at eight.

True enough, one guest rushed behind me and I heard her tell Vannah's aunt, "I'm so sorry, I'm SO early!". That was at eight thirty. I was thinking, holy cow, how long will this take? But it was my first Indian wedding, so I was determined to savor everything.

Another thing about it was that people were standing around, socializing and stuff while the ceremony was taking place. Twas like having the family and the ceremony going on and nobody was paying attention. Lmao. We were thinking, hello, a wedding's taking place and you're not paying attention! Must be a cultural thing. Again, Vannah's cousin gave us interesting points: they time the wedding in such a way that the people come exactly for the food. When the invite says 8, people come by ten, or shortly before because they know that's the time when they serve up the food.

Speaking of food, boy did they put out for food. There were two or three tables per kind of food there was: two tables for the main dish, two for pasta, two for salad, three sets for dessert. There was a barbecue made of tofu which was pretty nice, and the tofu-and-cheese thing, which was surprisingly good. I was moving on with dessert by the time I tasted it, so I wasn't able to get more. Dessert was good. Kiwi tarts, yum.

Dad had a flat tire going home, so he asked if I could sleep over at May's (Yes, I could), and just go home in the morning. We got pictures with the bride and groom at eleven (eleven!) or so. By that time, most of the guests have left. Lemme just say that I've never seen so many saris in my life! And so many Indians! It was the first time (as Bettina said) in my life when I felt like the foreigner, instead of being the local.

I'm going to miss Vannah. We've known each other since Freshman orientation in college. We've never had a class together (except for one semester in Comm), but we've always been friends. I guess it has a lot to do with both of us being dropped off at school early in the morning and keeping each other company before class. She would almost always be there before seven, and so was I. We'd talk, catch up, gossip. I don't think I ever really fully appreciated how much of a friend I was to her until this wedding thing came along. I was one of a very few non-Indian friends that she invited to her dinner thing with Essie, and to the wedding. The other four, I'm good friends with (May, Audrey, Lala), and one was Vannah's childhood friend, Bettina. Other than that, the guests were Indian, or few Filipinos probably related to Vannah or Essie by business or work.

You know what they say about brides being beautiful? It's true. Absolutely true. I've always known Vannah to be pretty. She has beautiful, deep set eyes and a nicely shaped nose and face, owing to her heritage. She has the most amazing corkscrew hair when she lets it down. But boy, when I saw her at the wedding, all dressed up with her traditional clothes, she was beautiful. Incredibly beautiful. I saw the look on Essie's face and he knew he has a beautiful bride. Lucky, lucky guy.

I'm going to miss her. And I'm definitely going to keep in touch. It's weird to be invited to your friends' weddings (and I mean weddings because the couple wants to get married and the girl's not pregnant). It makes you think wow, you're of THAT age. The age when you ARE actually in the age of consent. Next thing you know you'd have friends with kids made out of that marriage, you go to other people's weddings.. wow.

Lala dropped us off at EDSA-Crossing, and May and I had to cross the street, and walk a few blocks to the tricycle area. Which was fine for her, because she'd changed clothes. I was wearing a long gown with my hair and face done up. At two in the morning. I borrowed May's wrap and felt ready to stab someone with my Lipfinity lipstick if they made any sudden moves. Haha.

Got to May's apartment. Yay! First time! Nice, cozy. I wanted her Orlando cover pic on the wall. She didn't go to work the next day because we both overslept. The wedding took too damn long. It was great, and it was a fun experience, but lol. Let's just say that we'll be better prepared for our next Indian wedding, when it comes along.

:: D said @ 12:04 AM [+] ::
...

I'm snagging this off a diary entry I found at the SETI website (Click!). Another reason why I firmly believe that I was born in the wrong country.


December 08, 2003

The Birthday Present

by Dr. Peter Backus, Observing Programs Manager

In the words of Indiana Jones, “It’s not the years, it’s the mileage.” At 6:29 Atlantic Standard Time this morning, I completed fifty-one orbits of our local star. So, today is my orbital anniversary. In that time (discounting the Earth’s diurnal rotation), I’ve traveled nearly 30 billion miles while orbiting the Sun. My colleague, Mike Davis completed his sixty-fifth orbit two days ago. He’s logged eight billion more miles, which leaves me puzzling over why it is that he consistently manages to beat me when we race up the stairs to our cabins. On the grand timescale of the cosmos, I can feel much younger. Since 1952, the year of my birth, our Solar System has completed a mere 0.2 millionth of one orbit around the galactic center (a complete orbit is called a Galactic Year).

However you measure the time, I feel fortunate to be where I am today because I wanted to be here for as long as I can remember. On another orbital anniversary four decades ago, I received a very special present--a children’s science book that I’ve never forgotten. I can still picture the cover of the book; gray lines and colorful, bright pictures on a black background. The pictures represented different fields of science, and inside were sections on each: Geology, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Medicine, and of course, Astronomy. I enjoyed all of it -- even the gory pictures of brain surgery. The Astronomy section however, especially captivated me, with its pictures of galaxies and nebulae. And then, there were the pictures of telescopes! It was in that wonderful book that I first saw the newly-constructed Arecibo 1,000 foot antenna.

Although the picture of the Arecibo telescope was small -- a little more than an inch across -- it was clear to me at age eleven that the dish must be enormous. I wanted to see for myself just how large it was, so I decided to pace off 1,000 feet along my street. I started at the driveway to my house and counted as I walked. At “four hundred” I had to cross the street, careful not to lose count. At six hundred and fifty, I passed my friend Ricky’s house. At “one-thousand,” I looked up from my feet and suddenly found that I was in unknown territory on my own street; I didn’t know who lived in these houses. I was nearly halfway to my school. Amazing! I had never seen a structure that big. What it would be like to use a telescope like that? What wonderful things could it find?

I’ve traveled a long way from that street, in both time and distance. Orbital anniversaries have a way of making one reflect on such things. I remember my first trips to Arecibo, and seeing the huge structure with its enormous feed suspended over a perfectly round, metallic dimple in the karst. It catches my breath, and still does. I am certain the look on my face when I first came upon the telescope was much like the expression I wore as an eleven year old, marveling at the distance I’d paced. The look reappears with each Arecibo deployment, although today, my childhood curiosity has given way to adult exploration. I know what it is like to use the telescope, even if I never know what it is we will find.

Now, on this orbital anniversary, I am once again using that telescope that had me pacing the street of my neighborhood so many years ago. And I suppose in some ways, I feel a bit like Indiana Jones when I look out into the lush forest that enfolds the observatory. Off on another adventure at the world’s largest telescope dish. That’s probably the best birthday present ever.

:: D said @ 4:08 PM [+] ::
...

Massive ROTK Q&A Spoilers!
Pippin_Took @ 2:26 am EST


TolkienOnline regular Marty was lucky enough to see an early
screening of ROTK today, and has been hard at work answering a
multitude of questions about the movie from fellow fans. I have
organized them in an easy-to-read format here for all to enjoy. I
will continue to update as Marty answers more questions. This should
go without saying, but Massive major mega-spoiler warning!! Spoilers
don't get any more major than this!

How is the Saruman/Palantir issue handled?

Gandalf & co show up at Isengard and meet the hobbits at the gate.
Pippin finds
the Palantir at the base of Orthanc in the water and Gandalf
snatches it from
him. There is no sight of Saruman or Grima.



Do you think the film will be emotional for those that don't know
the book?


My Tolkien virgin GF cried like a baby.



Do we see anything of Valinor?

No



Is there any sort of epilogue with material from the appendices?

No



Is Aragorn/Legolas/Gimli/Arwen or anyone who wasn't at the Havens in
the book
there for the film?

No



Is Galadriel at Aragorn & Arwen's wedding?

No



Do Eomer and Gimli say anything about how beautiful Arwen and
Galadriel are?

No



Please fill me in on the House Of Healing scenes and the Eowyn and
Faramir
storyline.

Not there, though Faramir and Eowyn are standing together at
Aragorn's
coronation.




Does Aragorn really stand up with authority and become the King we
all want?

Yes



Is the suffering of Frodo truly moving?

Yes



How is the editing and flow of the movie?

I liked the flow, but you could tell there'd be plenty of material
for the EE



How does Gandalf's confrontation with the WitchKing play out. Is it
good/bad/brilliant?

Not there.



How is Miranda in her fight with the Wiki?

One of the highlights of the film. I was moved more than I'd ever
imagined I
would be.




What is the first shot/scene after the initial Smeagol/Deagol
Prologue. Where
does the title "Return of the King" get displayed...

There is a short scene with Frodo, Sam and Gollum right after the
prologue.
Gollum wakes the hobbits and tells them to hurry. Sam tells Frodo
they're
running low on lembas. Then we cut to Gandalf and friends going to
Isengard and
the Return of the King title appears.



Every...Single...Second...of any scenes that take place in Isengard,
assuming
there are any of course, and if not how does the Palantir get
discovered and how
is Saruman dealt with...

I told much of it above. Treebeard also has a cameo.



Does the Crossroads Scenes make it into the TE Cut?

No



Are the Watchers in Cirith Ungol included?

Yes, but they don't do anything.



Does the Witchking confront Gandalf on his Horse or on his
Fellbeast? Does it
happen at the Gate? Does the Cock crow before the Rohan arrive?

No, no and no



How does Eowyn vs. Witchking play out? Are there deviations from the
book? If so
for the better? Does Eowyn decapitate the Fell Beast? How does the
WK die, is it
cheesy?

It's pretty faithful. Yes, she decapitates the fell beast. His crown
kind of
collapses on his head. It's not cheesy at all. One of the numerous
applause
points in the film.



Are the Witchking or the Mouth of Sauron given any backstory, or are
they just
tossed into the story without any character development?

Gandalf quickly explains who the Wiki is and that's pretty much it.
The MOS is
not in the film.



Is Gollum shown pleading before Shelob at all?

No



Do the Eagles come to the Black Gate?

Yes, and the moth.



Tell us everything that happens after the ring is destroyed. What
happens at the
Grey Havens? Is there an Epilogue? If so what does it show? Does it
tell us the
fates of the characters? What is the very last shot of the movie?
Etc Etc...

There is the coronation, Aragorn gets the she-elf and the hobbits go
home. Sam
gets married, Frodo finishes the book, then the GH. There is no
epilogue. The
last shot is the door closing at Bag End. The last line is "Well,
I'm back."



Is there an epilogue that shows the future of the characters post-
Grey Havens?



No



Are there any surprises waiting for us at Mt. Doom or does it play
out pretty
much like the book?

After Gollum gets the ring, Frodo jumps him and they struggle for a
bit before
tumbling over the edge. Gollum dies, Frodo is hanging to a rock with
his one
good hand. Sam grabs the diminished hand and pulls him up.



Is the scenery very much like what we have seen in the flashback
from FOTR (the
one with Isildur and Elrond) or did they alter (enhance?) the look
of it
significantly?

It's pretty much the same.



Does Aragorn take on Sauron in hand-to-hand combat (better phrased -
does Sauron
take shape and we see him in that great armour again)?

No



Is Elrond at the Black Gate or do any fighting anywhere?

No



Who are the minor characters, not yet mentioned?

Is Imrahil in, Beregond, Bergil, Ioreth etc...?

No, no, no



Also I would also like to know if VoS is awkwardly missed and how
they resolve
the Palantir appearence.

It's really not too bad. I did miss the presence of a corporeal
baddie. I think
PJ was right when he amped up Saruman. Too bad he didn't complete
the arc.



I'd like to hear your reaction in general without going into
specifics as well
as your thoughts on Oscar noms. So a spoiler free version of your
thoughts
please!

Bottom line, I liked it. A lot.



Does Pippin fart before Gimli belches, or vice versa?

Neither



How many soft-filtered closeups of Legolas' pretty eyes are there?

Leg's got a few moments, but his presence isn't as strong as in the
other two.



Does PJ pimp his kids in another useless cameo?

I think so.



Only one major question: What goes on at the Black Gate? Is there a
very large
anticlimactic battle, or is the ring destroyed before major
hostilities get
underway? If there is a large fight at the BG, then how does it
compare to BOTPF?
Is it more of less "grand" in scale. There had been some debate
about this topic
earlier and I am curious. Thanks !

There is no MOS. The battle is intercut with Frodo's adventures at
Mt. Doom.
After the Minas Tirith action, we really don't want to see too much
battle
anyway. The odds are very much against our heroes so, even though we
don't see
too much of the battle, we know there's trouble a brewin'.



As said before: is the shot with Gandalf facing the Witch-King in it
at all, or
has it been axed?

Axed



Is Denethor well done, a credible character?

Well, he doesn't have a palantir.



How's the "End of All Things", notably do we see the destruction of
Barad-Dur?

Oh, yes indeedy.



What about "Into the West"?

Sorry, didn't stay for the credits, heathen that I am.



What I'd like to know is just how emotional it is, and elaborate on
how much you
liked it...is it much better than the other two?

It's certainly more emotional than the other two. I spent most of
the film with
a lump in my throat. Yes, I do think it's better. It has a climax,
after all.




What did you think of Denethor (closeness to the books, dialogue,
performance,
etc)?

He was quite the jerk, and the acting was superb. He and Gandalf
sure hate one
another. And when he tells Faramir that he wishes that he had died
instead of
Boromir, all of the Filmamir haters should be converted by his
reaction.



How were the Army of the Dead handled? And the corsairs?

They mention the corsairs but there is no battle with them. The Dead
do indeed
show up to save the day at Minas Tirith.



Does Denethor get his "We shall burn like heathen kings before ever
a ship
sailed hither from the west!" line in any shape or form?

Don't remember per se, but he's very defeatist.



How is the very ending?

Moving to the extreme.



And PJ's cameo?

Missed it.



You said that there's no Gandalf vs WK in the film. Is the scene in
the trailer
when the WK and his fell beast descend before Gandalf not in the
film then? Or
is that scene not a "confrontation"?

I think it's not the confrontation, but don't quote me.



Do Eowyn and/or Merry ride to the Black Gates?

Merry



As a book adaptation, how "close" did you feel the film was to the
books as
compared to FoTR and TTT?

Quite close with one major change. Gollum turns Frodo against Sam
and Frodo
sends Sam home. Frodo faces Shelob alone. Good thing Sam really
doesn't go home,
huh?



How much did you enjoy the film versus the first two? Was it your
favorite?
Least favorite?

Most, but not by a large margin.



You say that the MoS does not appear at the Black Gates (nor in any
of the film,
which is strange). Are there any "bigger" foes that are fought
there? Or is the
battle just the good guys vs the orcs?

There's a battle with Oliphaunts.



Does Sauron appear in the film in any shape or form other than as
the Eye?

No, but his eye has a headlight now. I'm serious.



How well was the Army of the Dead handled?

Pretty much as we've assumed.



Do the Hobbits return to the same happy shire that they left in the
first film?
Or are there signs that events akin to the Scouring took place, but
on a much
smaller scale?

No such event takes place.



How did the Battle of Pelennor Fields compare to the battle at the
Gates?

The battle at the gates is in no great detail. We're focusing on
Frodo and Sam
at the time.



Did you cry?

Nearly, but I was with my GF so I had to keep up my manly facade.



Is the last line really "Well, I'm back"?

Yes



Is there a drunk Legolas?

No



Is there any insinuation of a relationship between Farmir and Eowyn
besides them
standing together? No kiss, no wedding, not even a freaking butt-
slap?

No, no, no



Is it worth the wait?

Yes



Is it as good as it was cracked up to be, and is it as good as we
all hope it
will be?

Yes



Did you look at your watch during the last half hour?

No



How do you rank it compared to the first two acts?

Better, but quite in keeping with the others.



Does Aragorn heal Eowyn, Faramir, and Merry?

No



Faramir -- is he more like "Book Faramir" than he was in TTT TE?

Yes



Does Merry have a scene with Theoden in any way similar to their
scenes together
in the book (i.e. - is the king surprised by the existence of
Hobbits? does he
ask Merry to tell him about pipe weed? does Merry pledge himself as
a vassal to
the king? )

No



How big of a part does Eomer have?

Still pretty small



How does the Shelob scene play out? Particularly, does Frodo enter
Shelob's
tunnel alone, and does Sam put on the Ring after deciding to carry
on?

Yes and no



Also, are Merry and Eowyn at the Black Gates?

Yes



Do we get a sense that Frodo has changed and can no longer enjoy the
Shire when
he returns?

Yes



Although we don't see Valinor (or Tol Eressëa to be precise), do we
see the look
on Frodo's face when *he* sees it? Contentment? Peace? I heard it
was PJ's
favorite moment in the whole film. Did it work for you?

Yes, but it's mostly a bunch of goodbyes (I think I'll miss you most
of all,
Scarecrow, I mean Sam)



Did you hear any feedback from other viewers today, besides the GF?

Other than the multitude of ovations, not really.



Is Bilbo in there?

Yes



Do Arwen and Galadriel have a scene together?

No



There's absolutely no hint of a Faramir/Eowyn romance???

No



You mentioned the Wiki vs Eowyn scene was one of many where people
cheered. What
were the others?

Sam saving Frodo from Shelob. Gandalf taking over for Denethor,
Legolas killing
an Oliphaunt, the ring's destruction, the end credits, name by name,
including
JRRT, etc.



How close is the Wiki & Eowyn dialogue to the book in that scene?

I don't know.



Any particularly funny moments? (don't spill the complete joke
though - I'd like
to be surprised)

Not too much. No dwarf tossing.



Is Gimli still cracking jokes at every opportunity or has he gotten
that out of
his system?

Once or twice. Not too bad.



Does Legolas have any of his infamous super-acrobatic moments?

The Oliphaunt killing moment.



How different (if at all) is Sam's Cirith Ungol rescue from the
book?

It's a more protracted fight, but he still stabs her with Sting.



Tell us about the Pyre of Denethor. How graphic is it? Do they show
Denethor
aflame?

Yes, and he runs in flames from the pyre and jumps to his death from
the tower.



How is the whole "Arrival of the Rohan" sequence played out if
Gandalf does not
confront the Wiki and there is no Cock to crow?

Pretty much the whole "just when things looked their darkest..."
sort of nick of
time arrival.



More about Saruman. Is he mentioned at all? Is it explained in any
way shape or
form what happened to him or is he just wiped away clean from the
plot?

Just some vague talk about how he won't be bothering anyone anymore.



With the MoS gone from the Black Gate, how does that whole sequence
play out? Is
there no parlay at all now? Do they just ride up and start fighting
with
Sauron's army already hanging out at the front gate?

Aragorn and Gandalf ride up to the gates and yell for them to come
out. The
gates open. We see tons of orcs. Aragorn rides over to his men,
gives them a
Kingly motivational speech, then all heck breaks loose.



You stated that the Moth shows up with the Eagles. Can you explain
how it fits
in with everything?

Gandalf sends it to get the eagles so they can kick some fell beast
arse.



Is there any reference to Eowyn and Faramir getting married?

No



Do they show Theoden's funeral?

No



Does Eowyn say memorable lines during the confrontation with the
Witch King?

Yes



Do the eagles talk?

No



Does Eomer get crowned king of Rohan?

No



Does Eowyn get more screen time than Arwen?

Yes



Does Galadriel appear only at the Grey havens? If no, where else
does she
appear?

No, she appears in a vision to Frodo.



Do we get shirtless Faramir???

No



Were there extra scenes that added to the book?

The Gollum framing Sam stuff. Elrond delivers Anduril. Arwen tells
Elrond she's
hooking up with Strider whether he likes it or not. Arwen gets sick
until the
ring is destroyed.



Apart from Aragorn et al in Minas Tirith, were there other
significant
*deviations* from the book? How did they sit with you compared to
those made in
TTT?

There really weren't many changes that I haven't already mentioned.
Most of the
missing scenes will be in the EE so I'm not too upset.



General audience reaction - many tears shed?

Through the roof. Not a dry eye...



Just tell us the general feeling you got. I sit everything you hoped
on first
viewing? Can you now see the single event picture? Does it work? Is
it Best
Picture or not?

I've been saying it will win BP since FOTR lost and my prediction
remains.



Did they make you feel bad for Gollum at the end or does his death
seem like
justice?

No, he's gloating that he has the precious even as he sinks into the
lava



Would you call this movie a tearjerker (what are the tearjerky
moments and rate
them on a scale of 1 to 10 for tear jearkiness)?

Yes.

Pippin & Merry split up 8

Theoden agrees to ride to Gondor's aid 7

Denethor insults Faramir 7

Eowyn/Wiki/Theoden dies 10

Aragorn gets Arwen/Elrond approves 7

All of Gondor bows to the hobbits 7

Grey Havens 10



On a scale of 1 to 10 what do you give it as whole?

9.5, ok 10



How is the destruction of Sauron/Barad-Dur/Ringwraiths and the
scattering of the
enemy forces handled?

This big crevasse opens and they all fall into it.



Does the recent stuff we read about Smeagol being truly evil play
out?

There is one point where Smeagol and Gollum argue with each other.



Does any character die in the movie who did not die in the book?

No



Best of the 3 movies? Better than TTT at least?

Yes, but I liked TTT more than FOTR



Is it an "action" movie or a "character" movie?

Both



How long is the Battle for the Pelennor fields?

Most of the film



Is it longer than Helm''s Deep?

Yes



Is there a lot of inter-cutting during the battle?

Yes



One question for me, will most who see it say to themselves...Yup
this is worthy
of best picture???????? Meaning will critics, and general public be
satisfied
also.

Hard to say, still reeling from the experience, but given the
crowd's reaction,
they will be hard put to give it to anything else I've seen this
year.



With regards to the arrival of the Corsair ships: Is it played out
as if they
are the enemy reinforcements arriving?

Yes, but the audience wasn't fooled



Does Aragorn cross swords with the King of the Dead?

Yes



Could you describe Shelob in detail. Hw big was she (This one is
killing me)?
How real did she look? Was she less than scary, as scary, or more
than scary
than you thought she would be?

Her body's the size of a VW Beetle give or take, but her legspan is
quite
bigger. She was the most terrifying giant spider I've seen on
celluloid, but
then, I'm arachnophobic.



How was the Shelob's Lair scene to you? How did you feel about it?

Like I said, terrifying.



How was the Frodo and Shelob confrontaion? How was the Sam and
Shelob
confrontation?

There is a point where Shelob sneaks up on Frodo that will have you
falling off
the edge of your seat. Sam's confrontation is one of the applause
points. And,
no, he doesn't use the elvish rope in any way.



Does Aragorn "battle" the Army of the Dead in any way, or does he
verbally
convince them to follow him as in the book?

There is a clashing of swords, but that's it.



Given the absence of MoS at the Black Gates, does the climax suffer
from a lack
of any large scale enemy at the end? Or is it done well enough that
the film
doesn't need one?

It's fine.



Obviously this would be an approximation, but how long would you
guess the movie
runs on for after the destruction of the ring takes place?

Maybe 10 min?



Do Frodo and Sam get captured by Orcs on their way to Mount Doom as
in the book?

No



And a related question, once Sam rescues Frodo from Cirith Ungol,
approximately
how much time is spent on their trek to Mount Doom? Do they get
there quickly,
or do you get the sense that they've been travelling for a long
while?

Well, Shelob appears quite late, most of their Mordor trek happens
while the
battle at the gates rages.



In your opinion, does the Grey Havens sequence come off as "cheesy"
at all, or
is it as emotional powerful as most of us expect?

Cheese free if you're not too jaded. I'm quite jaded, but I was
moved to tears.



Do the 3 hunters return to the Hornburg? If so, is Aragorn shown
lookng in the
Palantir? If not, is Aragorn shown looking in the Palantir at
another location.
I'm assuming it will probably be at Edoras since that is where Merry
is shown
pledging allegiance to Theoden in the trailer.

No, there is no Helm's Deep, Aragorn never looks in the palantir,
and Merry
doesn't pledge allegiance.



Is it immediately obvious that Dernhelm is Eowyn?

Yes



Does Gandalf shout "The Eagles are coming! The Eagles are coming!?"

Pippin does



Do the Rohirrim shout "Death!" as they charge?

Don't remember



How much time is spent establishing pre-siege Minas Tirith?

Not too much



Does the WiKi look silly, or really boss?

Boss



Is Frodo shown writing the Red Book?

Yes



Did the crowd enjoy it?

Yes



Are the catapulted heads in?

Yes



Does Aragorn look into the palantir and show Anduril to Sauron?

No



Is Sam a ringbearer and is this mentioned by Frodo at the Grey
Havens as it is
in the books?

He takes the ring but Frodo doesn't mention it.



Does Gollum do what he does in the book on the stairs of Cirth
Ungol -- return
to find Frodo asleep and then go to caress him, possibly turning
good
again...before Sam wakes up and catches him?

No



Does Sam find pity in his heart for Gollum on Mount Doom -- you know
the scene
I'm talking about, Gollum comes running after them jumps on Frodo
and then Frodo
throws him down and threatens to kill him. Then Frodo goes to the
Sammath Naur
and Sam is left to deal with Gollum -- but he has pity for him and
cannot kill
him?

No



On the whole, do you feel the Frodo or Sam came off as the main hero
of the
film, or was it a combination of the two?

I'd say Sam



Does PJ try to fool the audience into thinking that Frodo is
actually dead
post-Shelob?

Yes



Denethor jumps out a window on fire?

Not a window, he runs through the courtyard with the white tree and
jumps off at
the end.



How heartbreaking is The Choices of Master Samwise?

Quite



Is it clear that he is making a heart-wrenching decision to leave
Frodo behind?

No, he cries at Frodo's apparent death then hears the orcs coming
and hides. We
think that the orcs get the ring until Sam shows it to Frodo



For the love of God please tell me WiKi utters his famous line to
Eowyn; "Come
not between the Nazgul and his prey or he will not slay thee in they
turn. He
shall bear thee away to the houses of lamentation. Beyond all
darkness. Where
thy flesh shall be devoured and thy shrivelled mind be left naked
before the
lidless eye." Or at the very least something to that effect.

Something to that effect



So if Eomer is not shown to become king, what is the resolution of
Rohirrim
politics, if any?

Good point, none really. I guess we assume Aragorn will take care of
them.



Did the scene where Gollum confronts Frodo and Sam on the slopes of
Mt. Doom
make it into the movie at all? Or does he just show up as Frodo
claims the ring
for himself?

It's there



There has been a recent picture of Aragorn in Kingly armour on his
horse while
it is rearing up on its hind legs [which I love] Is this picture
from footage in
the movie?

Dunno



Is the Pelennor Fields battle brilliant/good/mediocre?

Brilliant



What are the 4 best scenes/highlights of the film for you?

Shelob, Eowyn/Wiki, Ring destruction, Grey Havens



Does Gandalf have some good strategy scenes? Does he talk with
Aragorn and Co.
about what to do?

Some, not too detailed. Aragorn is the real strategist. It's his
idea to go to
the gates.



Are some of Gandalf's great lines spoken to Denethor [from the book]
in the
film? Is the dialogue good between Gandalf and Denethor?

It's far more tense. They pretty much argue the whole time



Does the tension build well? And does the story give "payoff" to the
tension?

Yes



How are the digital/SFX scenes? Do they detract at times and pull
you out of the
story?

Great and no



Did you like the way the Army of the Dead is depicted artistically
and
practically, eg. the way they looked and acted?

Yeah, not blown away, but it worked



Is Sam shown to be truly heroic in his love for Frodo?

Oh, yes



How is Frodo & Sam taken from Mordor after destroying the Ring?
Eagles?

Gandalf goes to get them on the eagles



How do they eagles turn up? Are they summoned by the big G?

Yes, with the moth



So does the Pyre scene still take place in the Tombs?

Yes



Who really stands out?

FOTR had Boromir

TT had Gollum

ROTK has ...

I'd say the hobbits



How do you like the score?

Phenomenal



Are the Gollum sneak attack and the Gorbag Shagrat capture in?

Yes



Is the Witch-king's voice the same as FOTR?

Yes



With the heads being catapulted into Minas Tirith, how close does
this movie
come to being an R movie? Do we see a close up of the heads or are
we just given
an off screen action/noise to assume they are heads.

No close ups, but we know they're heads



Oh, with the Denethor thing. He chooses to set himself on fire
correct? Does the
running into the courtyard feel contrived, cheesy, bad? Or just
an "OMG what
have I done, this hurts like hell" can't help but run type of thing?

Can't help but run. He's also pretty upset that Pippin pulls Faramir
from the
pyre.



You said the eye now has a headlight.... Does this imply what I
think it means?
Is it kinda like Smaug's eyes in the animated hobbit?

Heh, heh. Maybe a little. But it's less cheesy



Does this movie leave you breathless ? Do you come out changed ?

Breathless, not changed.



How is Pippin's looking into the Palantir handled? Is it clear that
he is in
danger?

Oh, yes, it seems to almost be in flames in his hands. After he
drops it,
Aragorn tries to grab it and drops it. Gandalf needs to wrap it up
to settle it
down.



Is Aragon's line from the trailer about fighting to give Frodo a
chance in the
movie?

Yeah



Is Cirith Ungol scary? Is it pretty much the same as the books, with
Sam
singing?

No Sam singing that I remember.



How long does the movie feel? Were there parts were you were
thinking, "Less
fighting, more Frodo/Sam/Gollum"?

I was wondering when we'd get back to Frodo from time to time.



Is Pippin still crushed beneath the troll?

Not that I remember, but one steps on Aragorn.



You mentioned that there are around ten minutes after the ring is
destroyed.
Does the movie seem to come to a conclusion, or do you want more of
an epilogue?

No, if anything, I think it could wrap up even quicker, but after
three 3+ hour
films, I'd say they deserve a little denouement.



How is the Elrond delivering Anduril scene?

Very moving (and phallic, but that stands to reason)



Is Arwen beautiful for the wedding?

Schwing!



Does Aragorn sing in Elvish at his Coronation?

Not that I remember



Do we see the boat sailing off into the mist at the Grey Havens?

Yes



Is Galadriel at the Grey Havens?

Yes



What did women at the screening think?

My gf is the only one I spoke too, and she loved it.



How is Viggo's overall performance? Does it merit an Oscar Nom in
best actor or
supporting actor? Or does Sean Astin deserve this?

Astin's better



Are there wargs at the Pelennor Fields?

Yes



How are the epic cinematography shots? Are there brilliant long
shots to give
the scope and full impact of what is happening?

Yes



Does Arwen give Frodo the Evenstar, like in the book?

No



How is Gollum biting Frodo's finger off handled? Is it rather
bloody?

Yes



How many eyes does Shelob have?

Couldn't tell, it was pretty dark



Could you give a very detailed description on how Shelob looks
(face/head,
abdomen/body, legs)?

I gotta be honest, I'm arachnophobic, so I didn't look at Shelob
with any great
detail.



Does Theoden have any parting words after he is struck down by WiKi?

Yes



Any Pukel men or Ghan Buri Ghan?

No



Do Sam and Frodo disguise themselves as Orcs?

Yes



What happens to Eowyn and Merry after the Witch-King dies?

Merry & Pippin reunite, Eowyn watches Theoden die in her arms.
That's about it.



Do their swords break? Do they appear hurt? Does Theoden have any
last lines?

The shield breaks at least. They do appear hurt and yes, Theoden
says goodbye to
Eowyn



How does the post-Mt. Doom section flow?

Quickly



How do they transition from Aragorn's coronation to the Shire?

A dissolve



Is there mention of Frodo's wound?

Yes



How is Sam marrying Rosie portrayed?

The four hobbits are having an awkward drink at the Green Dragon.
Sam sees Rosie
and goes to get her while the other three chuckle to themselves.
Dissolve to the
wedding, Pippin catches the bouquet.



Does Gandalf say "I will not say, 'Do not weep,' for not all tears
are evil"?

Yes



Is it a better film than the Rankin/Bass animated classic?

A little



Is there any Boromir content in the movie. Does anyone talk about
him - Pippin,
or Denethor, maybe? Are there any flashbacks including him?

Just a flashback of his death.



Does Aragorn kill the troll that steps on him?

Yeah



In general, how much was Aragorn in the movie? As much as the
previous two, or
less?

Believe it or not, maybe a little less, but not too much less



How does the Grond and the breaking of the Gate play out?

There's this mega-ginormous Grond slamming against the doors as
thousands of
orcs chant "Grond...Grond...Grond!"



Do we get to see Eomer finding his uncle dead and his sister wounded
on the
field?

No



Does Sam get his "Don't go where I can't follow" line when he thinks
Frodo is
dead.

Don't think so



I have to ask this question, though I fear the answer... does Frodo
come off as
heroic in any way shape or form, or is he simply made to look
pitiful?

I hate to say it, but Sam's the man, not Frodo.



Does Frodo sending Sam home even seem plausible in the context of
the movie?


Oh, yes. Gollum convinces Frodo that Sam's stealing lembas and wants
the ring
for himself.



Is there a scene post Pelennor where it shows Aragorn being dressed
in the armor
that he wears to the Black Gate. Does he recite a poem like Theoden
if so?

Not really. Not that I remember at least.




How far into the movie does the Pelennor Fields battle start?

45 min or so



And what is the "beginning move" of the battle?

The return of Faramir's wounded body I'd say. It's not as clear cut
as Helm's
Deep.



Did the scene with Pippin singing (intercut with Faramir's suicide
charge) make
the final cut? If so, what did you think of it?

Yes. It was great.



About Shelob, although you say it was hard for you to get a good
look at her, do
you remember seeing much of her fangs, or was it just the stinger
that she
fought with?

She has fangs and fights with the stinger.



What do you think of the flow and the editing of the film? Do you
think that
adding VOS would lead to pace issue?

I think it might very well have.



Is the "Ride now! Ride to ruin and the world's ending!" line in the
film. And if
so, who says it?

Dunno



Could you please tell me how Arwen and Aragorn meet up?

At his coronation



What happens to the Evenstar?

'Gorn keeps it



Is there any resolution with Gimli and Legolas?

At the gates, Gimli says it's ironic that he'll die side by side
with an elf and
Legolas says, "you mean with a friend."



Are the Arwen scenes boring?

They're pretty short



Do we see Narsil being reforged?

Yes



Do we get to see Frodo's neck cut?

Barely


hope you guys like it...

jac

:: D said @ 10:25 PM [+] ::
...