Friday Five Very cool idea from smattering.org

1. If you could eat dinner with and "get to know" one famous person (living or dead), who would you choose?
Boy, tough one. Has to be one of the LOTR guys, of course. I find Lijah the most intriguing and difficult to know, and of course I worship Sir Ian. Hmmm, go for door number one and risk being disappointed but with the possibility of getting a much better grasp of who he is, or door number two and talk to someone I've loved for over 20 years? Sounds like I've talked myself into #2, but... Yeah, Elijah. I live for rejection.

2. Has the death of a famous person ever had an effect on you? Who was it and how did you feel?
Strangely enough, this is sort of back to Sir Ian. In my Blake's 7 days, I was crazy about Geoffrey Burridge and lucky enough that during that time period, he was usually performing with Ian's group at the National Theatre. So I made several trips to London and was able to quite often see both guys in the same play, although my favorite thing of Geoffrey's was his one-man show, "Chatterton." Only met him once, but he was even more beautiful in person than on TV or stage, and one of the nicest guys I'd ever met. Really loved his fans, and always amazed at how much attention that one episode of B7 got him. When he died of AIDS, I went into a tailspin that last for weeks. Major, deep depression. I can't think of another death that affected me this strongly--in fandom, not even Ian Marter's (who I was MUCH closer to, for several years) made quite the same impact. It was like... some future that I had mapped out and counted on had been eliminated. Don't know how to explain it.
Photo of Geoff as Dorian in "Blake's 7"


3. If you could BE a famous person for 24 hours, who would you choose?
I'd have to say Kirsten Dunst. Pretty, smart, talented, and with a blockbuster movie opening in a month.

4. Do people ever tell you that you look like someone famous? Who?
Yup. Gilda Radner. Not so much anymore as she fades from people's memory. Too bad--I loved the comparison.

5. Have you ever met anyone famous?
Between working at Wrigley Field, being a skating photographer and running a fairly famous skating website, and formerly working a lot of media conventions, yeah. Sometimes really meet, sometimes just get to say "hi" as they pass. Most famous peopleI know fairly well are one former and one current Olympic gold medalist. Famous people I ran into at Wrigley and was most impressed by: Fergie and Keanu (separately, not together!)

Thanks to Dargie for the link to the wonderful comment service--see YACCS link in right margin. I'll leave my message board up for now, but the comment box should be a lot handier. Too cool.

Sure wish I could go with The Chicago Fellowship on Friday to see The Movie on an IMAX screen, but between the fact that I don't have a car, how long it would take, and the fact that I have to work on Saturday and it's a late movie--I don't think there's any way. If anyone wants to join my little group in Evanston (IL) at the 7:30PM show, please do! I'll probably be in the first raised row in my "Frodo Lives" shirt.

Yeah, I hit #20 on Saturday!

Moved the date up from Sunday so I didn't have to worry about the Oscar coverage while I was gone. Gotta keep this stuff in mind! Also went back to my favorite international news-stand for the first time in years. So great. Heidi went with me--#2 viewing for her. I refrained from saying "pervy hobbit lover" even once.

If my LOTR notebook makes it through another 5 viewings, I'll be amazed. It's only the clip on the pen that's holding it together now. So much for spine-bound, cheap notebooks.

Things that make you say "hmmmm"
* Gandalf sitting in Bag End, smoking and thinking. Ever notice that he says "My precious" when Frodo returns?
* Merry sure likes that flat-palm-to-Frodo's-chest gesture. He does it several times. Merry or Dom, one wonders?

So, about Legolas always riding bareback. Not necessarily an elf thing, since all the elves don't do it. I wonder if Orlando breaking his rib changed their plans at all? You can't see a saddle when Legolas rides into Rivendell, or in the shot from TTT. But a stirrup is visible, so *some* kind of tack.

I love the look Sam gives Frodo in the Shire, just after Gandalf leaves. Definitely one of those "See!?" ones. "Look what you got us into." Sam and wizards are not a comfortable combination.

I love the amazing disappearing/reappearing chain around Frodo's neck. You can see it at first in the bed in Rivendell--as short as it generally is, you *should* see it under the nightshirt, but it's only visible briefly. You can see it for a second after he falls in the snow--and you shouldn't, since he's supposed to have had it fall off.

These are getting shorter and shorter. Maybe the notes about #21 will just be about our Fellowship? There are a whole bunch of us going Friday to Evanston to see the new trailer (read Harry's AICN summary at Two Towers Preview. If we get 9 in our little group (not counting any other Chicago Fellowship people who might come), we're going to pick characters. Dibs on Frodo!

The Oscars

Wow. First time I've watched start to finish in YEARS. In fact, I started taping at 11:00AM. LotR has a lot to answer for...

I feel bad for Sir Ian. He certainly deserved the award, and after all the build-up he must have thought he had a good chance at it. But at least the winner was someone he seems to respect, which has to help. And winning the SAG, from people who are truly your peers, has got to help. As a friend said, he might not have won the trophy, but we envy him his consolation prize... (that would be Nick).


I think everyone missed a bet going only with the leading ladies for their "Best Dressed." IMHO Kirsten Dunst was the prettiest thing there, both just herself and in her gorgeous Dior gown. Too bad Tobey seemed so nervous. I hope he gets over this soon--I'm sure he's got a lot of promo to do this spring for Spiderman.

I have to say, I'm not understanding what is going on in fandom these days. Feeling my age, I guess.

What is it that drives people to try to claim copyrighted work as their own, to steal other people's stories, to insist that there *are* no copyright issues with using press photos, Tolkien's characters, and/or real people's names and likenesses? And most of all, WHY ever would someone refer an actor to a website that contains both slash fiction AND RPS without any indication from said actor that he would be OK with such, let alone that he might be *interested* in it? I'm just not following.

Boy, it's been hard to get into Blogger lately! Guess we're all writing like mad.

Anyway--I got to #19 on Sunday. Go me! I think I should have been using a spiral-bound notebook, since the pages are coming out of my spine-glued one. *sigh* Luckily, I'm getting to the point where I have less and less to say. Maybe that means one day soon I'll actually WRITE one of the many plot bunnies that keep me awake at night. Most of what I have now is my stupid questions, like:

Why did they decide to have Frodo NOT reading (or smoking) in the tree? Couldn't they get him down, or what? I guess breaking Elijah's leg to start the movie probably wasn't a good option. And what is he reading, anyhow?

At one point when Elrond is talking to Gandalf, we see the same person (well, elf I imagine) walking around in back of Elrond throughout the entire scene. Is he waiting for Elrond or something? An assignation for later?

I've gone back to being dazzled by Orlando. I was so dazzled initially, that when the first shock wore off, I'm afraid I rather short-changed him. Well, I'm watching him again, and he's still dazzling. (Still the prettiest, too--yeah, Cassie!)

For once, I remembered to look at Viggo's face in the Moria/Balin's Tomb scenes, to see if I could see where he smacked it with the surfboard. Boy howdy. For a long time, we only see the right side of his face--either he's turned, or his hair is over the left side or he's moving so fast you can't make his face out at all. Finally, after he's thrown against the wall by Bob (the cave troll), we're allowed to see the huge shiner and the swollen cheekbone. Ouch. I guess we're supposed to think that's a result of the fight, and not of trying to keep up with 4 hobbits and an elf...

Will I ever get to the point where I take Sean Bean's performance for granted? I think he has (and hits) the most diverse notes in this installment (although I'm sure Elijah will get the overall award long before it's over). He's self-assured and arrogant, proud and brave, strong and loyal, insecure and afraid, protective and supportive... it's just a brilliant performance. I hope he's stayed in the US to go to the Oscars--I hate to think of him having to fly back and forth unless maybe he has Orli to cling to again.

When Frodo offers the ring to Aragorn (OK, so he actually says, "Would *you* destroy it?", but it comes to the same thing), does he KNOW absolutely that Aragorn will not be seriously tempted? Or at that point, is he so upset that he doesn't care? Does he want Aragorn to prove himself (as he did) or is he expecting to see Strider be the next to fall to the power of the ring?

And finally... I think I saw TWO orcs move this time, when Aragorn ran over them to Boromir. Well, I think I'd move to if Viggo tramped on me. After all, they're probably just not quite dead yet...

To get OFF of LOTR for just a second, it's nice to see my favorite newer actress, Kirsten Dunst, getting some good work. Like Lij (hmm, didn't stay off that topic long, did I?) she was so spectacular as a child that you worry about the transition--but so far, so good. I finally saw "Bring it On" which worried me because she plays a cheerleader--but she's fabulous. And I'll be one of the first in line to see her in "Spiderman" in May, despite the dialogue of "wow!" and the wet t-shirt...

I just read in Vanity Fair (which has another extraordinary photo of her on the cover, but no interview or feature article) that Kirsten is playing Marion Davies in Peter Bogdanovich's "The Cat's Meow", a film about the Hearst 1924 yacht death scandal. They say she steals the movie...

I don't *think* there is any way I can go, but I bought a ticket to the TORN Oscar party anyway, just in case next week's e-fares are super-incredible. Here's hoping. At least it sounds like the folks going will have a lot of computers and cell phones and digital cameras with them, so we shouldn't miss TOO much. I wish I knew how impossible it is (or isn't) to get Oscar arrivals photos--love to use the digital at a big event. Oh, well, might have to just save it for the SF Gay Pride Parade.

I do realize I've STILL forgotten to hook my message board up to this blog and my LOTR website. Not a good thing. I signed up for a new one almost two weeks ago, but I keep forgetting to do it. Too much still to scan! Got the French Maximal (men's mag) article up on my site last night. That photo of Lij and Ian remains one of my all-time favorites.

TORN had a link to a site I wish I'd seen long ago (and many $$ ago): The Oscar Watch site has a lot of the LOTR Oscar ads -- really nice scans, too. After I bought almost all the ones I wanted...

This is pretty much how I feel today. No idea why. Maybe it's the idea of Lily Baggins going on vacation with her latest Frodo/Aragorn story just barely underway.... Or maybe it's the idea of Lij doing a movie with Mandy Moore. Or "Chain of Fools" still not being released. Or not being able to get to LA for the Oscars. Oh goody, now I'm even MORE depressed.

Viewing #18 and SAG awards
Go Sir Ian! (and I mean that on more than just winning the SAG Best supporting actor award)


Well, earlier today I went to viewing #18, luckily still in Evanston, back in our old favorite Theatre 12. PJ has messed up my schedule by moving the trailer from March 22 to March 29--I thought I'd hit #20 that day. Then again, Lij is 21, so hitting viewing #21 and the trailer on the same day works, too. And now back to our regularly scheduled notes...

Merry has this thing about putting his hand on Frodo's chest, palm flat. He does it several times. Comforting, steadying? And speaking of hands, Orlando has *gorgeous* hands. Too bad about Lij's...

Caught something I hadn't seen in Moria, Balin's Tomb, when the orcs attack. It's Pip who, of the four hobbits, charges first. I think that's the only time he initiates something like that. Well, he runs out of hiding first in disbelief at Frodo leaving them at Amon Hen, but that's more unthinking. And would someone please tell Sam that hitting orcs with a frying pan is only making them mad, and probably not doing anyone any good?

When Gandalf yells "To the bridge!" in Moria--does anyone but him have a CLUE where that is???

Why does everyone seem to talk R-E-A-L-L-Y S-L-O-W-L-Y around Galadriel? ("but nine there were set out from Rivendell." "What will I see?") Is she much stupider than she appears? Does she lipread?

So, I finally started reading the biography I bought of Sean Bean tonight, during the SAGs.

I'm trying not to expect too much--he seems like one of those people who appears much more alive onscreen than off. I'm only through his teen years at the moment, but there's a lot here that would be useful to RPS writers.

I put up a page of pretty bad screencaps from the SAG awards here. Sir Ian looked fabulous, as did the 3 hobbit boys who arrived together (Lij, Billy, Dom). Well, OK, so TWO of them looked fab, and Lij looked like he was wearing his father's suit. Geez, someone PLEASE dress that boy properly. We didn't really see enough of the others to say, but the two Seans and Orli looked great from what I *could* see. Of course all the buzz on the lists is about the guy sitting next to Ian...

OK, in the last week I've taped Sir Ian on the BAFTA awards, on Politically Incorrect, on Face to Face, and tonight on Craig Kilborn. He's just a delight. Kilborn and he seemed to have a great time. But I wish they hadn't changed his SNL date to a week earlier--they're messing up my oscar weekend plans.

Hooray, I've updated my Lord of the Rings pages. Now, in addition to the "Happy 21st Birthday, Elijah" page (said birthday was January 28), I've got up an index, an art gallery, and an Elijah shrine. Go look!

Viewing #17
OK, I'll admit, the blizzard had me worried. Would I go more than a week without seeing The Movie for the first time since Lausanne? Nah. Lucky I live in a city that can deal with snow!

Noon show, more kids than I'm used to. Fairly small crowd--I hope that's normal for the early show and a blizzard, and not a sign that the movie could end in Evanston before the Oscars. I think I need to start posting something other than movie notes, since I'm running out of new things to notice. Have to look up my post to the Lij list's thread of "10 favorite Frodo moments" and add a message board, so folks can argue with me.

OK, that *wasn't* Rose sitting with Sam. I still can't see her face, but the dress is the wrong color. Baggins or Gamgee relations, I assume.

Elijah's language as Frodo is just the least bit stilted upon occasion--I assume that's intentional, but maybe not. The "What are you doing?" when Gandalf throws the ring in the fire, for instance, doesn't sound entirely natural. But I'm still most taken with Frodo's relationship with Gandalf (quel surprise). In the Shire, he has this fantastic, quirky goduncle that everyone else can only look on with astonishment. But he's on fairly intimate terms with him. Gandalf takes a lot of care on his behalf. Then he goes missing, leaving Frodo in the lurch. But he reappears, still looking after him, and although it might seem that out in the wider world Frodo's relationship with the wizard would not be as unique, would have to be placed in a larger context, but somehow it remains the same. Gandalf is the first to volunteer to aid him in the council, and it is Frodo walking with Gandalf in most of the scenes we see. Of course, now Frodo is not just a young hobbit from the Shire--he is the ringbearer, and central to a lot of lives. But I think Frodo still loses some of his sense of being special in the way he was in the Shire, and is now special in a way he doesn't desire at all. Yet it remains bearable while he holds his special place with Gandalf (and has gained a similar standing with Aragorn).


Christopher Lee has talked about his vision of Saruman as the greatest intellect, and I can see that. Saruman is all brains, all intellect. Gandalf's logic and vision is always colored by his heart, which is both his weakness and his strength.

I really miss the excised line of Galadriel's to Frodo, "You will find your strength." I'd put that in place of "Even the smallest person...." I find that line demeaning to Frodo. Why do his doubts over his inability do accomplish his mission necessarily have anything to do with his size? Any of us would question our abilities under those conditions.

OK, I counted the Frodo "ring in hand" shots today:

1 offering the ring to Gandalf
2 After fleeing the black rider for the first time
3 "I *am* ready to go home" to Sam in Rivendell
4 offering the ring to Galadriel
5 "Would *you* destroy it?" to Aragorn
6 Screwing up his courage to take the boat and leave

So I was right--6 times