At Least I Have That Going For Me

Okay, it's been a week since "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" came out. I've watched it two or three times since it came, once with my son, which was a blast.

I even had an opportunity to use a clip from "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" when I spoke at Heartland Community Church. One woman from our church e-mailed me the following comments:

"so you know there are others like you in this particular area of the lotr - it too resonates with me in a strong way. in fact, a while back i went to see bend it like beckham at the towncentre amc, and as i was walking down the hall to the theatre, i saw the return of the king poster [for the first time] out of the corner of my eye - and i must admit, that i sucked in my breath and tears came into my eyes. i was immediately embarrassed at such an extravagant response, especially since the friend i was with isn't a big fan. but the story speaks to me on so many levels - and has a significant gospel element, shows a way of life that is not easy, but is good and builds on other good and is the only true basis for strength and beauty and love. so really, i don't mind that i cry and get all excited about such a phenomenal film. :) just wanted you to know, i for one, will never tease you about your "obsession" b/c i am of your kind."

ahhh...nice to know there are other "believers" out there.

On the other hand, if any of you see me dressing up like the people in the above picture, you have my permission to ask no questions but simply lock me away. I'm sure Mimi would be grateful, too.

Comments

[timsamoff]

I think you mean that there is "one other like you out there." Ha ha ha! (Just kidding, Tim!)

[Troy]

You probably knew this already, but if not . . . I just read in the USA Today that they will be re-releasing the first two films with the extended versions before the premiere of the third. And on the night of the premiere they'll be running all three back to back in the theatre. It's in selected cities so I'm not sure if we'll be blessed in KC or not, but if we are I think it should definitely prompt a Jacob's Well viewing party like we had for the Matrix.

[James Mills]

You mean that's not you on the far left???

See you in Chattanooga.

[jim]

Tim, it's okay. There are indeed plenty of the rest of us. And I think Troy is right...Reloaded was a blast. And Todd, Nate and I learned that showing up as early as we did was pointless...apparently moviegoing isn't as high stress on the plaza as it is in Olathe..who woulda thought!?

Okay, I need to go download the last couple week's messags since I've been unable to attend..peace.

[Michael Toy]

Wild, just as I was about to press the first key of my comment here, my iTunes (which is set on random play) picked "The Treason at Isengard" out of my song list, so as I comment on LOTR, I have the LOTR soundtrack. :)

I spun Two Towers several times, mostly because I had only seen it twice in theater, grumpy at Peter Jackson for his insistence in letting us know that, except for Aragorn, all men are idiots.

I now know my most hated moment, it is in Osgiliath, when Faramir lets Frodo go, he says something like "I think you and I understand each other at last" -- as if Frodo had anything to learn about Faramir. In the books Faramir is torn between loyalty to his Father, and his heart, which is as noble as Aragorn's. In the movie, Faramir is just Boromir without the likeable side.

Before the first movie came out I was just hoping they didn't screw it up too badly. I loved the first movie, even the changes were OK with me. I felt joy as the summer sunshine washed Hobbiton with light, smiled as old friends appeared and their faces became as familiar to me as their words had been for years, wept as Gandalf pulled his horse up and we looked over the walls of Minas Tirith in the morning light and wept too, and as Borormir died. I'm frozen in time, always with Gandlaf and Frodo in the mines of Moria, thinking of how to use the time that I have.

The second movie, which I went in full of grace for plot changes based on the first movie, felt like a well crafted arrow, show from an elven bow, that somehow missed the target.

Now, waiting for the third movie, I find myself hoping again that they don't screw it up too badly.

[a d a m c l e a v e l a n d]

Thanks for your sharing on LOTR (we are watching it in my highschool Sunday School class right now - doing a "Looking for the Sacred in the Secular" movie series....at least it makes kids want to come to SS).

I had a similar experience when I preached in a small Presbyterian church a few weeks ago. Used the clip that EVERYONE uses from Matrix (the pill scene) but some people had never seen it and they were pretty intrigued.

Just finished The Post-Evangelical...pretty good stuff [once you get past all the typos -- they kill the anal people like me...]. Thanks for your comments.