Yes, it's 2 a.m. and I'm blogging, but I couldn't pass up the chance to say I'm one of those insanely over-eager special people who got to see the earliest showing of Return of the King. The line started at 8 a.m. Tuesday morning and seating started at 12:15. After several hours of waiting, we had worked ourselves up into a good-natured frenzy, and were pumped up when it started at 1 p.m. The first two were the extended versions. At 10 p.m., after lots of countdowns, door prizes, concession junk food, and a few douses of Visine, we settled in for the last one.
We were not disappointed. First, I'd like to say that the extra footage GREATLY impacts the quality of the first two pictures (I hadn't seen the extended versions yet) - I enjoyed them so much more! Things flowed and made more sense with those scenes left in. As for the third movie, it was full of so many moments to cheer and yell, "YEAH, TAKE THAT YOU JERKS!!". This movie wasn't what I expected. I don't want to say anything more about it, because I know you guys haven't seen it yet. (Yeah, I'm bragging a little... but I earned it. I am BEAT.) I don't want to influence your opinion about it before you've seen it.
But, I can't wait to hear what everyone else thinks! And all you non-LoTR fans... you're really only hurting yourselves. They are very good films.
Well, I'm off to blessed sleep now. I'll write more later, when I've recouperated a little! Sorry if this one is a little incoherent.
Posted by Shannon at December 17, 2003 03:09 AM | TrackBackI was there... and to be there... was to BE there... in Middle Earth... in the midst of the struggle.. crying real tears... laughing with genuine pleasure... jumping half out of my seat sometimes (in spite of the fact that I’ve read the books more than once... the first time before some of you were born)... shouting and clapping at hard-won victories, large and small...
There was nothing that didn’t fulfill my imaginings...nothing that let me down... only sorrow that it was finally over... and retroactive joy that they didn’t, after all, let us see all three segments the first year.
What an incredible adventure! Carmike 15 in Columbus, Georgia outdid themselves, as did Outback Steakhouse... who catered steak and chicken supper for all 600 of us during the hour between the first and second movies... then followed up with cheesecake desert between the second and final movie... all included in the $24 price of my ticket. (And there I was, planning to eat popcorn and M&Ms; for 12 straight hours... lol.) And, oh, my, the costumes... so many moviegoers in full costume... hobbits... rangers... elves... dwarves... wizards... even an orc or two... all mingling in the crowd. The theater manager held a costume contest before the final movie... and the applause and uproar was undiscernable between Legolas, Gandalph, Frodo and an elf maiden of Lothlorian. He announced, however, that they were all winners... and I have to agree.
Yesterday.. in spirit... I sat in the midst of my family in Baton Rouge...
And in reality... I sat in the midst of 599 other avid Tolkien fans... all strangers... yet all friends...
But in my imagination.... ahhhhh... in my imagination... I WAS THERE... in Middle Earth.
Posted by: Aunt Vickie at December 17, 2003 12:02 PMI just got home from watching RotK. And holy crap it was AMAZING! My hair is still "Legolas style" and my head hurts from crying for a good 2 1/2 hours. My family doesn't seem to understand how it could possibly be fun to go to the movies dressed as Legolas. And I'm thinking "How could it not?!" I LOVED the film (who else wanted to cheer when Aragorn said "For Frodo"?!). And I agree totally about being there w/ strangers yet friends. Like Amber said: "Lord of the Rings: bringing the world together. One dork at a time."
Posted by: Took at December 17, 2003 11:06 PMAwesome! I wish I'd thought of going in costume... I talked to one of my best friends yesterday... who is taking hr 11-year-old son Matthew to see it on Saturday. Legolas is his favorite, too. After hearing from me that there were so many people in costumes Tuesday night, she went shopping last night and is secretly putting together a costume for him, complete with ears, and will surprise him with it Saturday before they leave for the theater. Is that not the coolest thing for a mother to do?
Posted by: Aunt Vickie at December 18, 2003 09:36 AMSniff! Candice and I will get over not being there with ya'll...I mean, just because I e-mailed you after you got back from buying the tickets is no reason for me to be hurt...
;)
We're taking the boys with us to see it this weekend(I think).
WE CAN'T WAIT!!!!
Posted by: SonofThunder at December 18, 2003 04:35 PMI am watching the first one over tonight, the second one tomorrow night and then Sunday, going to see the third and final one. That is the best way to do it (or just watch all three back to back- I do not see HOW you all can sit there for that long!!)
Posted by: ashley at December 18, 2003 05:42 PMOh, Ashley... it was soooo easy... because the whole thing is so exciting... I almost cried when the third one started because I knew it was almost over...
Posted by: Aunt Vickie at December 18, 2003 07:21 PMOh, Ashley... it was soooo easy... because the whole thing is so exciting... I almost cried when the third one started because I knew it was almost over...
Posted by: Aunt Vickie at December 18, 2003 07:21 PMAshley, are you watching the extended versions?
Posted by: Shannon at December 19, 2003 12:42 AMOh yeah- extended versions of course. Have to do it right! As soon as the extended versions came out, we bought them and watched them, so i have seen them already. But I think watching them right before I see the last one will make it much better. (look who I am telling!!)
Posted by: Ashley at December 19, 2003 09:12 AMOh yeah- extended versions of course. Have to do it right! As soon as the extended versions came out, we bought them and watched them, so i have seen them already. But I think watching them right before I see the last one will make it much better. (look who I am telling!!)
Posted by: Ashley at December 19, 2003 09:12 AM