Middle Earth Movie Meme - Day Twenty-Three

The Hobbit character you understand the least

        Well, although there are some characters that I really don't like, and some characters that I like that do things I don't like, I understand why they are the way they are. Unlike Denethor, who just, YUCK. He has no excuse. I can't mention his name without saying how much I utterly despise him. In The Hobbit, though, even the yucky characters are pretty understandable. You can chalk their actions up to greed, or whatever. The one who has the least justification, I think, is the Master of Laketown. He has plenty of resources, and yet he lets everything rot and hoards stuff he doesn't even use. He has no mind for his people and is a coward and a slob. I refuse to have a picture of him on my blog, so if you're wondering what he looks like, there's always Google. :) I've talked about the theme of corrupt power throughout these movies before (and the wonderful way Bard does not abuse his own), and, well, the Master is no exception. He, first of all, is greedy. For nothing. He hoards treasure and other valuables in his house, and lets them spoil and depreciate when the people outside are in obvious need. They are cold and hungry, and all the Master cares about is himself. He even betrays his sidekick Alfrid in the end, and even though I have no love for Alfrid it shows that the Master was only using him. He cares for no one but himself. The end.

Blessings,

Reyna

Middle Earth Movie Meme - Day Twenty-Two

Costume you most want to wear

        I'm going to cheat. There is one costume I would wear every day, two I would wear if I lived out in the woods, and one that is just so luxurious I would love to have it to just look at. :)

        I would wear Eowyn's refugee costume every single day if I had it. It's comfy and practical, and there are a few different looks you can go with.

         There's a light blue dress with a split skirt, so I could wear this with leggings by itself or with the shieldmaiden corset.

        Then, there's a brown over-dress that would be perfect for working outside.

        Finally, there's a lovely coat that can dress the whole business up and keep me warm. :)

        The other costumes I would wear are Legolas and Aragorn's. They look so comfortable and tough, which is just what I need.

        Last but not least, Eowyn's green dress. This is the ultimate gown. I wish I could sew well enough to make it, but I suppose I'll just have to be content with looking at pictures. It is lovely.

Blessings,

Reyna

Middle Earth Meme - Day Twenty-One

Favorite couple

        FARAWYN FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

        Need I say more? Their relationship is perfection, especially in the books and the extended edition movies. It's not an easy one, nor really expected, but they are so good for each other. They are both broken in some way and I CANNOT. Oh, and one last thing - THE SHAWL!!!!! It's one of my favorite things in the movie. Even though they don't talk about it, it makes me happy because it's there. That's all that matters.

Blessings,

Reyna

Middle Earth Meme - Day Twenty

Favorite moment/line in The Desolation of Smaug

        Don't say it - I know I've not posted in a while. I'll refrain from bombarding y'all with excuses for now, though, until I finish up this Middle Earth Meme stuff and get that three-months-in-coming Life Update post together. It may take another month, but you'll see it eventually. For now, back to Middle Earth. It is my favoritest place, after all. :)

        There are really so many amazing moments in DOS - Beorn's house, the palace of Mirkwood, Barrels Out Of Bond, coming into Laketown, Thorin's speech, the opening of the door, Bilbo's conversation with Smaug, etc. I really can't say I like this one much more than the others, but I'm going with when they finally get into Erebor. Because there is perfect Bilbo and perfect Thorin and so much epicness going on  (and also feels) that I must mention it once more. 

        It is majestic. And I love Thorin's "I know these walls" soliloquy thingy; it's absolutely beautiful. It's also the saddest part in the movie, in my opinion, that is.

        Ugh, feels. But it's worth it.

Blessings,

Reyna

Middle Earth Meme - Day Nineteen

A location you never want to visit

        Hmm, this is interesting. We always talk about those characters we love and those places we are dying to see, but rarely about the ones we despise. Which may be a good thing sometimes, but the occasional rant is not to be looked down upon. ;) Plus, in a fandom, you can't really avoid it, although I try to be as good-natured as possible. 

        Since most of the scenery I could remember from the films was so delightful, I had to do some web searching to come up with a place I would NEVER want to go. I found it, though: the Southern Alps. This was the setting for the Misty Mountains in Fellowship, and it looks altogether too cold and big for my liking. 

 

        Now, I wouldn't mind going to see these mountains, in fact I think that might be splendid! From the pictures I saw I believe there are some nice (less snowy) plains around that would be fun to hike, but I wouldn't set foot on these mountains for sure. This will be the death of the hobbits! (meaning me). So although these Southern Alps are certainly breaktaking, I'm okay with observing them from a distance. :)

Blessings,

Reyna

Middle Earth Meme - Day Eighteen

The Hobbit character you relate to the most

        Hands down, Bilbo Baggins. He's a home-body who has a previously undiscovered love for adventure. A quiet and peace-loving, yet strong and brave in the face of danger little fellow with unmeasurable love for his friends. He loves his books and his armchair and all the comforts of home, but he has (after the Hobbit, at least) an itch to get outdoors and explore. I want to see mountains, Gandalf, mountains! He may complain a bit if the food isn't what he's used to at Bag End, or if there's a dirty fat root sticking into his back (look, I know that was Sam, but it works), but he will put up with anything he has set his mind on doing. He doesn't give up, even in the face of failure. And, hobbits are particularly light on their feet. :)

        Oh look, he even matches my blog!

Blessings,

Reyna

Middle Earth Meme - Day Seventeen

Scenes/things you cry at

        Umm, everything? That's only mostly true for BOTFA, so I suppose I'll elaborate. 

The Fellowship of the Ring - This is a pretty happy movie, up until Boromir dies. I still don't usually cry here unless I'm having a really emotional day, though.

The Two Towers - Nope. Nothing heartwrenching here, although there are some very sad moments with Boromir and Faramir, Haldir, and the House of Mark (the whole thing with Theodred dying and Theoden not caring and Eomer and Eowyn and FEELS). 

The Return of the King - Here come the tears. When Pippin sings. When Eomer finds Eowyn on the battlefield and SOBS (yes, I sob too). When Elrond does the happy/sad face when he gives up his daughter. When Frodo leaves Sam and Merry and Pippin. Into the West.

An Unexpected Journey - Again, happy movie. Although my heart always races in the face-off with Azog. 

The Desolation of Smaug - I know a lot of people say they cry when Tauriel heals Kili, and maybe I would if I shipped them, but part I come closest to crying at is when Thorin refuses to let Kili come to Erebor and Fili refuses to leave him. Because feels. 

The Battle of the Five Armies - THE WHOLE THING. Read my review here. 

Blessings,

Reyna

Middle Earth Meme - Day Sixteen

Favorite song sung by a character(s) in the films

        So much for being almost caught up. Oh well. Today's prompt is fun! As well as having amazing instrumental music, these films also have a few songs sung by the characters. There aren't very many, but those that are scattered throughout the movies are very tastefully done and, I believe, a great credit to Tolkien's songs and poems. My favorite has to be Misty Mountains from AUJ. I'm pretty sure that's not the official name of the song (I should know it, since I own the album), but that's what I call it so there. Yes, it's much shorter than the splendiferous poem in the book, but the music they composed is just so fitting that I forgive them. This song is haunting. It gives me chills just thinking about Thorin and the Company singing about their lost homeland. And goodness, it convinced Bilbo to go on an adventure! I'm sure glad it did, too. :)

        I want to mention a few others that I love, though. Firstly, The Edge of Night, sung by Pippin in ROTK. Also, What Bilbo Baggins Hates. That is just such a fun song! Before all the horribleness that is BOTFA, they were happy dwarves *sniff*.

Blessings,

Reyna

Middle Earth Meme - Day Fifteen

Favorite moment/line in An Unexpected Journey

        I'm only one day behind, y'all! This past weekend was super busy, but I was able to get a few of these posts done last night so I'm catching up. Some say An Unexpected Journey is slow - even boring. Yes, the first half is a bit slow if you just want action, but I love it. It's so peaceful in the Shire, yet there is still a strong sense of peril and danger. I think it's a very fitting beginning to the beginning of a new epic. Since I already talked about the Shire part in Fellowship, though, I'm not going to talk about that now.
        I'm going to talk about Rivendell instead. I've always loved Elrond. He's such a wonderful character; so kind and caring, yet wise and discerning as well. Dare I even say I like him better in the Hobbit than in the original trilogy? Yes, I think I do. My favorite part is when Bilbo and Elrond are talking on the balcony after Bilbo slips away from the dwarves.

        I love how Bilbo blurts out that he has heard "Go not to the elves for counsel, for they will say both yes and no", and then gets really nervous when Elrond looks so stern before he smiles. :) And then he tells Bilbo that he is always welcome back in Rivendell if he pleases. We get to see a very soft side of Elrond in this movie, and it is definitely one of my favorite parts.
        Also, just being back in Rivendell is so magical. It is just as gorgeous - just as peaceful and serene - as it always was. Even if Thorin didn't like it very well, I sure did!

Blessings,

Reyna

Middle Earth Meme - Days 13 and 14

Favorite battle

Lord of the Rings character you understand the least

        I covered the whole 'favorite battle' thing when I talked about Helm's Deep here, so I'm going to go ahead and skip on up to day 14. I've been really busy and fell behind a little bit, but I'm pretty sure I'll still be able to finish on time. :)

         The LOTR character I understand the least is probably a common choice. Denethor. Yuck. I don't have even a single good thing to say about him.

        The main reason I hate him is because of how awful he is to Faramir. See, Faramir is like my baby, so of course I would dislike anyone who is mean to him. And no one, NO ONE, could argue and say that Denethor is not the most mean, ungrateful, unloving father and king anyone could have. It's really quite repulsive. First off, he makes Boromir go to the Council of Elrond when he doesn't want to, even when Faramir volunteers to go in his place. He forces one of his sons into a situation of temptation, and pays the other pretty much no heed whatsoever. Even when his favorite son pleads with him to give his younger brother what he wants, he doesn't listen and is bitter and all around nasty. And then when Boromir dies he says flat out that he wishes Faramir had dies in his place. TO FARAMIR'S FACE. Y'all, Faramir is a wonderful character. He didn't blow up in Denethor's face when he said that, even though he said 'I wish you were dead'. Huh, and Loki thinks he has daddy issues. And then Faramir goes out to Osgiliath when Denethor tells him to, even though he knows it's practically suicide. When his horse drags him back, almost dead, Denethor refuses to let a doctor see him and prepares to burn both himself and his son on a pyre. I'm sure y'all know what happens, how Pippin gets Faramir off the pyre just in time and Gandalf whacks Denethor in the face with his staff (love that part!), and then he ends up falling off the highest level of the city and dying. Good riddance. I'm sorry, I just hate him. I just don't get how he can even think that way. Bleh. 

        Well, you got to hear me rant about my least favorite character. Hop you're satisfied!

Blessings,

Reyna

Middle Earth Meme - Day Twelve

Least favorite costumes

        The only one that comes to mind is Arwen's lavender dress. I'm not sure why I don't like it very much, but it is true. Don't care for it much at all. It's still a lovely gown, I suppose, and I assume a lot of people do like it; it's just never appealed to me personally.

Blessings,

Reyna

Middle Earth Meme - Day Eleven

Favorite moment/line in The Return of the King

         Can I just say THIS WHOLE MOVIE? So much fabulousness and feels and perfection and completion and oh I just love it so much. Especially the second half (minus Shelob; she's just gross). 

        Although the Battle of Pelennor Fields took more screen time than I think it could have - the battle scenes were a bit extended - it is one of my favorite battles scenes in the six movies, second only to Helm's Deep. These are the parts I love that I can think of at the moment:

        Aragorn shouting "Legolas!", who proceeds to take down an oliphaunt single-handedly and with much class.

        AND THEN HE DOES THIS SASSY LITTLE HEAD NOD AND I JUST

        Oh, and Eomer also manages to have a fabulous moment, even though he's not an elf. I like Eomer so much. :)

        As well as awesome fight sequences, there are also major feels when Theoden dies and then when Eomer finds his sister on the battlefield after and thinks she's dead also *WAILS*. 

        One other thing I like about ROTK is Faramir. FARAMIR. Yes, I know I am using way too much caps in this post. Hush. You must watch the extended scenes with him and Eowyn and have major shipping feels with me. 

        Ahh, the beautifulness! *faints*

        The ending(s) are also very fitting and I love those parts too. Especially when the hobbits come back to the Shire and Sam and Rosie get married! They are just so cute! Also, Faramir and Eowyn again at Aragorn's crowning. They are almost my OTP. ALMOST! I usually refer to them as such, but there is still one couple that I ship (ever so slightly) more than Farawyn. And I ship them SO HARD. 

        Gorgeous movie. End of story.

Blessings,

Reyna

Middle Earth Meme - Day Ten

Lord of the Rings character you relate to the most

        I think I probably relate to Aragorn the most. I know, it even surprised me, but when I really thought about it, I realized it is probably him. Of course, we don't have a ton in common, but I relate well to the whole fulfillment-of-destiny stuff. No, I am not the long-long heir of Isildur and rightful queen of Gondor or anything (unfortunately, I know), but I do struggle with something that is a little bit similar. At least the way I experience it. I'm not sure how it's going to come out on paper, er, you know what I mean.

        Especially a few years ago, I had some ideas about what I wanted to do with my life. Imagine that. ;) I was going to be going through a lot of changes in my life, and I had goals just like any other person. A lot of them, though, had not a lot to do with experiences I'd had before, and some were just plain unrealistic (not most). Over the past two years or so, I have had many changes in my life. I started working, started college, and have had a lot of new homesteading experiences. The thing is, this isn't at all what I had planned for myself two years ago. I really had to just let go of my own goals and let God take me where he had planned to all along. It became so much easier once I stopped resisting what would happen anyway. So see, it's not some prophecy or higher destiny I am now following, just the Lord's plan. And oh, it's so nice! I know He will work everything out for His glory and my good, and I don't have to worry about a thing. Don't have to. I'm still working on that. :)
        Ehehehe, this kind of took a different turn than I was expecting. But I answered the prompt, so all's well. Good day!

Blessings,

Reyna

Middle Earth Meme - Day Nine

Scenes/things you laugh at

        You know, for being such dark an peril-filled movies, they certainly have a lot of humor. They have everything, actually. There are some movies that can hardly be improved upon (I am referencing the original trilogy, of course, as I have fewer bones to pick with those). I'll try to find pictures, but if I can't I'll just describe it.

• When that hobbit in the front yard laughs at Gandalf setting off fireworks for the kids and then his wife gives him the death look for encouraging him. :)

•  "Put it in the ground!" "It is in the ground!"

• "You need people of intelligence on this sort of mission... quest... thing."

• Anything that has to do with the Legolas/Gimli rivalry/friendship, such as counting orc kills, or them making fun of each other in any different way. Drinking contest, anyone?

• Riddles in the Dark. Gollum is SO funny! " We knows! We knows safe paths for hobbitses! Shut up!" "I - I didn't say anything." "Wasn't talking to you." Oh, and when he's trying to figure out the 'thirty white horses' riddle and then he finally shouts, "TEEEEEFFFF!"

• The infamous egg-toss scene. It makes it all so much better when you know that they weren't expecting it to even work and it was on the first take! You can just see how excited and happy and surprised the actors all were!

• "If I am not mistaken, this is the Halfing who stole the keys to my dungeon right from under the nose of my guards." "Yes... Sorry about that." 

        That's all I can think of right now!

        Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOM HIDDLESTON!!! You're a darling and a great actor. Thanks for the wonderful movies!

Blessings,

Reyna

It Took A War Audiobook Tour

        We now interrupt this month of Middle Earthiness to bring you an announcement of a different sort. Emily Ann Putzke has released the audiobook of her novel It Took A War, and I am doing some publicity here on my blog. So without further ado, the audiobook!

About The Book:

1861 - Sixteen year old Joe Roberts leads a mundane life as far as he’s concerned. His world spins in the same circle each day: working at his family’s store, taking his sisters on boyish escapades and bickering with his rogue of a cousin, Lucas. Joe can’t understand why his mother allows Lucas to live and work with them after all the pain he caused their family. When war is declared, Joe is quick to join up and become a soldier with the 11th Pennsylvania Volunteers, but war is nothing like he imagined. To make matters worse, he must endure having Lucas in the same regiment. Can Joe put the pain of the past behind him? Forgiveness is easier said than done.

About The Author:

Emily Ann Putzke is a 19 year old Christian, homeschool graduate and history lover. Besides writing historical fiction, she enjoys photography (especially photographing her nieces and nephew), reading, spending time with her family, Civil War reenacting, traveling and a good cup of coffee. She resides in New York State where she drinks in the beautiful autumns and tries to endure the long winters.

Doesn't it sound like a splendid book? Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, and I am really looking forward to reading this! If you are short on reading time like so many of us are the audiobook may be a great choice for you. You can listen to it in the car, while you're doing chores around the house, or any other opportunity that presents itself! The audiobook is for sale three different places:

Amazon 
Audible 
iTunes 

Blessings,

Reyna

Middle Earth Meme - Day Eight

Favorite costumes

        This is probably going to turn out to be a comprehensive list of all costumes ever used in all of the movies. I like a lot of them muchly, so bear with me. Please. See, I'm being nice. :) Shall we start with the Hobbit? Yes, we shall.

Thorin (quest outfit) - I absolutely LOVE all the fur and leather and metal on this costume. And I love Thorin so it holds even more sentimental value *sniff*.

Fili and Kili - Yes, I'm putting them together because the pictures are together. I would totally wear these.

Bilbo (good morning) - I've always loved this Springy outfit young Bilbo wears when we first meet him in An Unexpected Journey.

Thranduil (silver and orange) - Need I say more than FABULOUS?

       

Elrond - Ahhhhhhh *faints*

        Okay, moving on to Lord of the Rings. See, I tried to consolidate it a bit - wasn't too bad, was it?

Legolas - Another 'I would so wear this' costume. It's so woodsy and soft, yet, I don't know, tough? Not really the word I was looking for.

Arwen (chase dress) - Sorry for the lousy picture, but I love the grays of this dress and the embroidery. 

Eowyn (green dress) - This is one I would love to make, but in all honesty, it's far too complicated for me. And, I would never be able to find the right fabric and other stuff and inaccuracuies annoy me to no end. But just look at the velvet! *sighs*

(refugee dress) - I like this one because it's casual and practical. I also love that it can be worn with the shieldmaiden corset or with that lovely fur coat. Yes, I want one.

(shieldmaiden dress) - 'Nuff said.

Aragorn (ranger) - This may look like a bunch of rags and leather, but I love it.

 

Faramir (ranger) - I like this one because it is the crest of Gondor combined with woodsy green and brown. Yum! And, well, Faramir...

        Okay, I'd better stop now before this post gets too very long. I hope you enjoyed my ramblings!

Blessings,

Reyna