Is Caryn James even remotely aware that 2/3 of the writing team for this were woman? Also, does she think manly tears are unemotional? Also, I'm kinda said because I think she's a big Buffy geek. Whatev.

I finally saw it on Saturday morning. Haven't had a chance to post about it until now. I went with two other guys and a woman, and they all thought it was amazing (the woman gave up on Tolkein after trying to get through the Hobbit, so she didn't know what was going to happen). We joke about how we all got sniffly, but it least they were MANLY tears.

I loved it, but I had a few quibbles.

BHP addressed one of my big ones - Denethor. I didn't mind so much that they made him so nasty out of the box, but given the emphasis they gave it at Orthanc, and Denethor's comment about having seen more than Gandalf could imagine, I was certain that they were going to do a reveal about Denethor using the Paleantir (sp?), which would have gone a long way (if not 100%) towards making him more than a psycho villain. Also, it would have made the Paleantir less of a dropped ball (so to speak), since they didn't have Aragorn using it either. Kind of like it a reverse ass-pull.

Something no one has mentioned (and since Astin was so good in the role, it didn't hurt all that much), but two changes to Sam bugged me: 1) The de-emphasis on him being a ring bearer, even if only for a short time, and, more importantly, 2) him sparing Gollum on Mt. Doom, which parralled Frodo's mercy upon first encountering Gollum up close in TTT.

Also, not happy that they made stabbing the Witch King non-life-threatening, but I figure they 1) can have Eowyn in the Houses of the Healing in the EE becuase of her arm, and more importantly 2) wanted Merry at the battle at the Black Gate.

Really didn't mind Arwen, liked Eowyn, loved Pippin.

Also, I'd like to thank the Buffistas for warping me so that whenever Legolas made an entrance or reunited with a character I'd mutter "Still the prettiest" under my breath.

Funniest overheard conversation after the movie: a woman was berating somebody she was with who had misled her - "You said that Frodo died! You said that the elf died!" and then trailed off into invective at that point.

I'd like to thank the Buffistas for warping me so that whenever Legolas made an entrance or reunited with a character I'd mutter "Still the prettiest" under my breath.

Heh. I never actually muttered that, but after the Oliphaunt scene and the Gondor entrance, I did think it. What I muttered was "Now that's my boy."

which is something I don't remember from the books at all

Just thought I'd let you know this is NOT in the books. On of PJ's best inventions, actually.

Applause moments at my showing: Samwise the brave's two big moments (Shelob and the Orcs in the tower), Eowyn slaying the winged lampery o'doom and her "I am no man", and there was one more I can't remember. Lots of gasps when the Rohhirim first impacted the enemy.

(which is something I don't remember from the books at all)

They are in the books, though far less dramatic. I forget exactly where in the books it happens, too, as there's also the Red Arrow, which summons Rohan. Hmm... Guess I'll just have to read the books again.

Anybody see Bravo's special last night on Entertainment Weekly's top 20 entertainers of the year? Even though I already knew that the cast/creators of LotR were number one on the list - I *still* teared up during the montage.

I am hoping there were some hormones at play because if not, I am a much gianter sap than I think I am.

My dad comforted me last night by telling me he was not going to cry when we see it together on Christmas Eve. (My been-through-real-wars dad crying for any reason is too freaky for me to handle especially while trying to keep my shit together to a certain extent in front of him.)

One other thing: Does it make sense to stop whitefonting now? Since everyone has had the weekend to see it?

Why don't we wait out the week?

Just thought I'd let you know this is NOT in the books.

Okay, now I can't remember for sure if the beacons are lit, but they are mentioned in the books, and NOT an invention of PJ's.

In fact, on the detail map of Rohan and Gondor, the beacons even each have names, so I know I didn't make this up.

Sean is right. When Gandalf is riding to Minas Tirith with Pippin, they pass a messenger going the other way, and then they see the beacons lighting up, one after another, and Gandalf calls out the names of the mountains as they pass. It's actually kinda cool, but not as visually impressive as in the movie.

Katie, I'm with you and Nutty on Eowyn: more despair, please. Eowyn is brittle like Season 6 Scully. *g*

I don't know yet that I think this is the best movie ever. Probably not, not because it's not a fabulous achievement, but because I know too much about it. I think it's impossible to do something this sprawling perfectly, frankly -- there's too much room for error. But it's magnificent, and I can settle for that. *g*

Hee hee. Still pumped a bit. It's strange. After Fellowship, it was all I could do to not be bouncing and squeeing and talking about it 24/7. I loved it loved it loved it.

After Two Towers it tooka couple of hours for the love to sink in. Thought and putting things together and asking questions about certain things (I haven't read, remember, at Sean's request).

This time, I felt almost anticlimactic. The pacing of this one was so different (to me, anyway) than in Fellowship. I'm not sure if it's the pacing of the movie itself or if it's me having been waiting for the resolution of this story for 3 years. It's probably a little of both.

And, my love for this series and this story, at least, what I've seen, knows no bounds. Now, that's not to say I'm going to read the books. I might, I might not. I might just want to keep the magic I got from the movies in my heart and, with the exception of MM telling me a little bit of what happens after, go on imaging things the way I feel they go.

However, it does not stop me from joking about certain things. I am convinced that the defeat of the Witch King was more like this:

WK: No man can defeat me
E: (takes off her helmet) I am no man!
WK: heh heh. Booobies.....Eowyn stabs him in the head
WK: D'OH!!

"The beacons of Gondor are alight, calling for aid. War is kindled. See there is fire on Amon Din, and flame on Eilenach; and they go speeding west: Nardol, Erelas, Min-Rimmon, Calenhad and the Halifirien on the boarders of Rohan."

Gandalf, to Pippin.