"... take a shot every time you experience a meme real time ..."
June 22, 2018 8:36 AM Subscribe
Tumblr user alloverthegaf plunks down $4AUD to watch "The Fellowship of the Ring" for the first time and liveblogs it.
They've also started The Two Towers, but still have a ways to go to finish.
They've also started The Two Towers, but still have a ways to go to finish.
Read the books.
posted by littlejohnnyjewel at 8:53 AM on June 22, 2018
posted by littlejohnnyjewel at 8:53 AM on June 22, 2018
psst append /mobile to the url for increased readability, it is how I've survived tumblr so far!
posted by capricorn at 8:55 AM on June 22, 2018
posted by capricorn at 8:55 AM on June 22, 2018
24K solid gold. I love it.
posted by zoetrope at 8:56 AM on June 22, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by zoetrope at 8:56 AM on June 22, 2018 [1 favorite]
Also this is amazing, I am making weird noises at my work desk (sue me, it's Friday) trying to stifle laughter.
posted by capricorn at 8:57 AM on June 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by capricorn at 8:57 AM on June 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
"apparently every hobbit has an instinctual urge to hug Ian McKellen and honestly? same"
I needed this today
posted by ook at 9:04 AM on June 22, 2018 [6 favorites]
I needed this today
posted by ook at 9:04 AM on June 22, 2018 [6 favorites]
man remember when I didn’t give a fuck about this movie
This adorable 20-something gives me hope for the future.
posted by sophrontic at 9:06 AM on June 22, 2018 [5 favorites]
This adorable 20-something gives me hope for the future.
posted by sophrontic at 9:06 AM on June 22, 2018 [5 favorites]
Every time I click over to the next page, Tumblr opens a new tab. Between this and the nested notes, how did this piece of shit site ever get popular?
Tumblr is designed to be read from the logged-in dashboard, immediately after things are posted. The external pages are basically clutter to remind the rest of the world that it exists; the layout options range from "mediocre" to "please bring back MySpace; it was less horrific."
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 9:21 AM on June 22, 2018 [4 favorites]
Tumblr is designed to be read from the logged-in dashboard, immediately after things are posted. The external pages are basically clutter to remind the rest of the world that it exists; the layout options range from "mediocre" to "please bring back MySpace; it was less horrific."
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 9:21 AM on June 22, 2018 [4 favorites]
One does forget how many different memes and tropes are based in the LOTR for so many of us.
I'm reminded of the fact that I really should watch Die-Hard one of these days, because it's just so commonly referenced I feel I'm missing a chunk of understanding everyone else has.
posted by AnhydrousLove at 9:59 AM on June 22, 2018
I'm reminded of the fact that I really should watch Die-Hard one of these days, because it's just so commonly referenced I feel I'm missing a chunk of understanding everyone else has.
posted by AnhydrousLove at 9:59 AM on June 22, 2018
Also, speaking of memes, I'm genuinely astonished at the longevity of the LOTR-based memes. Like, how many other memes from the early 2000s are still in current usage today? Maybe some of the Harry Potter ones, but that's about it.
posted by tobascodagama at 10:00 AM on June 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by tobascodagama at 10:00 AM on June 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
Long-lasting film memes? Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.
posted by Devonian at 11:03 AM on June 22, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Devonian at 11:03 AM on June 22, 2018 [4 favorites]
This was delightful and made me want to watch FotR again.
posted by ChuraChura at 11:06 AM on June 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by ChuraChura at 11:06 AM on June 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
While the quality of Jackson's adaptations of Tolkien books went downhill steadily over time (though they still all had their moments), I still assert that Fellowship of the Ring was damn near astonishingly perfect.
posted by tavella at 11:21 AM on June 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by tavella at 11:21 AM on June 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
RotK was still good, if overlong. TTT was the one that really went off the damned rails, with that ridiculous "lol Aragon's dead now" fakeout and all of that "why yes, this was written in the immediate wake of 9/11, how did you guess?" dialogue with Theoden.
posted by tobascodagama at 11:37 AM on June 22, 2018
posted by tobascodagama at 11:37 AM on June 22, 2018
I'm having trouble seeing the 9/11 link with Theoden, and google isn't helping much.
There's some stuff about mourning, and some stuff about riding out and taking the fight to Saruman, is that it? If someone more familiar would care to elucidate matters, I'd appreciate it.
posted by AnhydrousLove at 11:47 AM on June 22, 2018
There's some stuff about mourning, and some stuff about riding out and taking the fight to Saruman, is that it? If someone more familiar would care to elucidate matters, I'd appreciate it.
posted by AnhydrousLove at 11:47 AM on June 22, 2018
Galadriel to Aragorn: Elessar.
Tumblr commenter: the fuck how many names does this guy have
...and that's when I put my phone down, buried my face in my hands, and had a laughing-crying fit the like of which I hadn't had for years.
They are approaching the material openly, with love, and that always, always makes for the best parody. I used to seek out and read a lot of parody scripts, humorous video game synopses etc. once upon a time, and that's the biggest pattern I recognized: If you don't actually like the subject material, you can't write a good parody. Mockery, especially mean mockery, is never funny. Many would-be parody writers never realized that.
This person does.
I think "read the books" is an unfair response. They are engaging with the material fully and willingly, they are noticing most of the deeper plot beats in there, and they may go on to read the books and enjoy them, too. And I say this as someone who does know how many names Aragorn has, and the names' origins.
posted by seyirci at 11:53 AM on June 22, 2018 [5 favorites]
Tumblr commenter: the fuck how many names does this guy have
...and that's when I put my phone down, buried my face in my hands, and had a laughing-crying fit the like of which I hadn't had for years.
They are approaching the material openly, with love, and that always, always makes for the best parody. I used to seek out and read a lot of parody scripts, humorous video game synopses etc. once upon a time, and that's the biggest pattern I recognized: If you don't actually like the subject material, you can't write a good parody. Mockery, especially mean mockery, is never funny. Many would-be parody writers never realized that.
This person does.
I think "read the books" is an unfair response. They are engaging with the material fully and willingly, they are noticing most of the deeper plot beats in there, and they may go on to read the books and enjoy them, too. And I say this as someone who does know how many names Aragorn has, and the names' origins.
posted by seyirci at 11:53 AM on June 22, 2018 [5 favorites]
I'm having trouble seeing the 9/11 link with Theoden, and google isn't helping much.
I'm referring mainly to this scene.
"Fight them over there so we don't have to fight them over here!"
"Preemptive war is self-defence!"
This subtext is purely invented for the movie, it's not present in the books, where Theoden intends to ride out and confront Saruman without any goading, and only retreats to Helm's Deep when he learns that Erkenbrand's force holding the Fords of Isen have been overrun by an enormous army of orcs and Dunlendings. Theoden's hesitation here exists only so that Aragorn and Gandalf can toss some Iraq War platitudes at him.
posted by tobascodagama at 12:06 PM on June 22, 2018 [1 favorite]
I'm referring mainly to this scene.
"Fight them over there so we don't have to fight them over here!"
"Preemptive war is self-defence!"
This subtext is purely invented for the movie, it's not present in the books, where Theoden intends to ride out and confront Saruman without any goading, and only retreats to Helm's Deep when he learns that Erkenbrand's force holding the Fords of Isen have been overrun by an enormous army of orcs and Dunlendings. Theoden's hesitation here exists only so that Aragorn and Gandalf can toss some Iraq War platitudes at him.
posted by tobascodagama at 12:06 PM on June 22, 2018 [1 favorite]
Oh ta. I did wonder if it might be that, but in the video context wow yeah that's pretty blatant.
I have read the books, but long ago, and I'd forgotten that wasn't in the books. Theoden's reluctance has always seemed odd in the movies, so this all makes a lot more sense now.
posted by AnhydrousLove at 12:13 PM on June 22, 2018
I have read the books, but long ago, and I'd forgotten that wasn't in the books. Theoden's reluctance has always seemed odd in the movies, so this all makes a lot more sense now.
posted by AnhydrousLove at 12:13 PM on June 22, 2018
That was great fun. I was also stifling giggles at my desk ("Fight me Dumbledore!") and remembered how excited I was in the runup to the release of Fellowship.
posted by mogget at 12:18 PM on June 22, 2018
posted by mogget at 12:18 PM on June 22, 2018
aw they’re so ready to fight a guy twice their size with a sword to save their pal hobbits are the Hufflepuffs of Tolkien Land and I LOVE them -Quite right!
posted by Coaticass at 3:04 PM on June 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Coaticass at 3:04 PM on June 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
Also they are not wrong to get goblins and orcs confused, that comes from the source.
posted by Coaticass at 3:30 PM on June 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Coaticass at 3:30 PM on June 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
Obligatory link: DM of the Rings, in which LotR fulfills its true function as a D&D game plot.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 3:31 PM on June 22, 2018
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 3:31 PM on June 22, 2018
Also they are not wrong to get goblins and orcs confused, that comes from the source.
I know, that was great! I'm sure they received a few thousand notes explaining this, though, which is less great.
posted by tobascodagama at 3:56 PM on June 22, 2018
I know, that was great! I'm sure they received a few thousand notes explaining this, though, which is less great.
posted by tobascodagama at 3:56 PM on June 22, 2018
The incomplete Two Towers liveblog is linked at the bottom here.
I hope someone sent them the Flight of the Concords: Don't wear the Ring. Although, maybe it has spoilers? (Yeah, one of Sam's lines from later on).
If you're all enjoying watching someone very genre-savvy watch it for the first time, you might also like Mark Oshiro's unspoiled trip through the books. First post here.
posted by Coaticass at 4:11 PM on June 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
I hope someone sent them the Flight of the Concords: Don't wear the Ring. Although, maybe it has spoilers? (Yeah, one of Sam's lines from later on).
If you're all enjoying watching someone very genre-savvy watch it for the first time, you might also like Mark Oshiro's unspoiled trip through the books. First post here.
posted by Coaticass at 4:11 PM on June 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
"you guys made two entirely separate memes from 2 fuckin seconds of footage nice work"
posted by tobascodagama at 4:53 PM on June 22, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by tobascodagama at 4:53 PM on June 22, 2018 [3 favorites]
been waiting all this time for the dramatic return of Aragorn and he’s fuckin stroking a rock ded
posted by hapaxes.legomenon at 8:38 PM on June 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by hapaxes.legomenon at 8:38 PM on June 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
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The actual content is pretty delightful, though.
posted by tobascodagama at 8:47 AM on June 22, 2018 [11 favorites]