I live in Japan with my bf and need to find Middle Earth Map that’s great quality (cloth or leather) bc I want to give it to him as a Christmas present.

He has been wanting to get that for years but couldn’t find one.

If anyone knows a shop or online shop that ships to Japan please let me know!

Thanks!

I'm a big fan of The Lord of the Rings and have watched the movies countless times and read the books. Is the new series, The Rings of Power, good or disappointing?

A note on one of The Best Actors in another role:

Sir Christopher Lee narrated and voiced the King of Elfland for the album "The King of Elfland's Daughter", a concept rock album. It is based on Lord Dunsany's 1924 novel, and I would expect that Tolkien would have read it. The King's impassioned "This shall not be!" is on the level of "You shall not pass!" in my humble opinion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soPNwgWkBOI&ab_channel=Synapsida

I was wondering to what level the Nazgûl made their own decisions and how much they where zombies under Sauron’s control.

The people of Rohan were scared of the Path of the Dead and said anyone who entered there will die. Was that real or just a superstition? Did the oathbreakers actually attack and kill people who passed through? Keep in mind, in the books the oathbreakers didn't try to attack Aragorns company like they did in the movies, there was no fight scene. They followed and obeyed him pretty much immediately when he brought them to the stone of Erech and revealed his lineage and showed the great standard brought by Halbarad. Just wondering. Thanks.

https://deathbattlefanon.fandom.com/wiki/Sauron_VS_Nightmare

I've been a lifelong fan of Lord of The Rings, and ever since I was a kid watching the films, I've always wondered exactly how Grima Wormtongue exerted control over Theoden?

In the book, it reads like Grima has just been (in a word) gaslighting Theoden into passivity. Gandalf says "And ever Wormtongue’s whispering was in your ears, poisoning your thought, chilling your heart, weakening your limbs, while others watched and could do nothing, for your will was in his keeping." (TT, 680). The 'curing' of Theoden is clearly still magical, but it's a little nebulous:

"In the gloom they heard the hiss of Wormtongue’s voice: ‘Did I not counsel you, lord, to forbid his staff? That fool, Ha ́ma, has betrayed us!’ There was a flash as if lightning had cloven the roof. Then all was silent. Wormtongue sprawled on his face.

‘Now The ́oden son of Thengel, will you hearken to me?’ said Gandalf. ‘Do you ask for help?’ He lifted his staff and pointed to a high window. There the darkness seemed to clear, and through the opening could be seen, high and far, a patch of shining sky. ‘Not all is dark. Take courage, Lord of the Mark*; for better help you will not find. No counsel have I to give to those that despair. Yet counsel I could give, and words I could speak to you. Will you hear them? They are not for all ears. I bid you come out before your doors and look abroad. Too long have you sat in shadows and trusted to twisted tales and crooked promptings.’*

Slowly Theoden left his chair. A faint light grew in the hall again.’" (TT, 671-672)

At least the way I'm reading it, it seems Theoden is in full possession of his faculties, and simply needs to be shown evidence from the outside world that all is NOT as dark as he supposed.

In the movie, it looks4 as though Saruman is actually possessing Theoden (having Christopher Lee's voice come out of Bernard Hill's mouth). In fact, at the end, it cuts to Saruman, bruised and bloodied on the floor.

My question is—what exactly do you think happened? How do you think Theoden was poisoned? How does it work?

Does anyone know why the films changed Gandalf’s line on the bridge of Khazad-dûm from “You cannot pass” to “You shall not pass” ?

I’m reading the books for the first time, and I was curious since he’s thousands of years old. They kind of make it sound he was always old.

Hello All,

I plan on doing a total LOTR reread/watch for the first time in almost a decade. I was wondering If i should read the books then watch the movies or go book, movie ect.

In addition, for the hobbitt, read the entire book then watch the movies, or read certtain chapters that correspond with the movies.

Thanks!

Granted I'd put away some of the old Toby, and haven't treated myself to an LOTR binge in years, and was probably analyzing too much, but I saw many what (if this were another, lesser franchise) could be described as plot holes.

Not the ones we're all aware of because of well known LOTR film lore, but things that didn't make sense that I noticed this time around.

Gandalf remembers his old name when meeting Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli in Fangorn

A few scenes ago Merry and Pippin were dumped at his feet. Surely they already had this whole yarn out, no? They didn't say "Gandalf! What the actual fuck we thought you died!" or something to that effect. Yet, he only recalls Gandalf the Grey when the trio remind him a few scenes later.

Galadriel and Elrond's telepathic conversation, after Frodo and Sam are found by Faramir

Okay I know they have the foresight and visions, but I thought that gave the broader strokes of what was happening around middle-earth, not a detailed television-like shown of what was going on. This was some next level exposition detailing something that we'd just been showing across many minutes of screen time anyway.

Galadriel is literally telling Elrond that Frodo's fate is in the hands of the Captain of Gondor, etc moments after it happened. So can those two just watch LOTR like we can?

Legolas seeing and then shooting the warg riders

First he stands of the edge of the hill watching them ride over the cusp of their hill and halfway down - then we cut to Theoden for some yarn to Eowyn about the women and children.

Then we're back to Legolas pulling out his bow to shoot down the warg riders. But this time they've rewound, it's a couple of minutes later yet now the first riders are coming over the cusp of the same hill all over again!

Helm's Deep blown up, Aragorn is teleporting

When the wall is blown we see Aragorn get thrown around and land right near where Orcs are about to breach. Oh no! But Gimli's there to save him, jumping into incoming Orc horde to save Aragorn, who is now watching Gimli from a very safe distance about 70 meters behind the blown up wall, with no debris around him. In fact an Elf army is now at his back who he helpfully conducts in an arrow volley to save Gimli who by it appears leapt unnecessarily into a group of orcs nowhere near Aragorn.

"Ride out with me", "For Death and Glory", "For Rohan"

End of the Battle of the Hornburg. But where were the horses before? Aragorn and Theoden have been in that empty room with a few others barricading the door for a while, we see the whole room. No horses. Suddenly when we cut back to them after some Treebeard action, there's a dozen fresh horses in the room ready to do some PG13 orc-slaying by bumping them off the stone ramp outside. Where did they come from?

Osgiliath battle kindly chills out so Sam can do his "Stories that really matter" speech

The battle was being won by the orcs, the Nazgul came, Frodo let Sauron's chief guy know the rings was right there. Sadly, that enormous Nazgul beast got one arrow in it so the Witch king had to bail, ride back to Sauron to say "yeah it was just over there on this tiny hobbit, but my ride got hit so I'll grab the next time I see him."

The battle rages on, with Faramir's small crew just surviving, then Sam starts riffing and the whole city and carnage quietens down in respect. Doesn't this seem dumb that the battle, which presumably should have been getting much worse for the remaining people, just stops completely in this moment. Faramir is convinced by Sam and leads them out the city, questioning Gollum's directions on the way, still no sign of battle. Did they orcs just give up and wait until Return of the King starts to finish off taking the city?

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Away, I'm sure this was thrilling (and I'll remember more stuff soon) just thought I'd share some initial reactions from last night, I'm doing ROTK today so I'll be back with tomorrow with more fascinating insights.

on spotify, is there actually a difference between "the three hunters" and the "uruk hai" theme?

Looking for help finding a link to a specific compilation of Tolkien trivia questions. All I can find is a screenshot from a single page of it. Links to compilations of questions of similar style or difficulty are of course welcome too, just for added fun.

What was the point of his Arda-domination plan? I mean, isn't Sauron just a Maia? Wouldn't the Valar intervene if he got too close to succeeding?

Also did Saruman really think he and Sauron would be able to stand against all of Eru's vassals?

It was said to have been made for a young elf prince. Hobbits were 3.6 ft on average. An elf might be small enough to wear this until he was 10 to 15...but in size about a human 4 year old! No elf at that age would have been exposed to any conflict to need such a thing! The only thing that makes since to me would be it fit bilbo down to the ground but was made for an elf simply to his waist. Which would hint it was intended more as decoration than true armor. Ie an emblem. Does that sound reasonable?

posted originally on my Insta @/keuxcyl if anyone is curious

My fellow Édain. Much there could be discussed of the grandeur of the master that is Howard Shore. Entire legions have marched and paraded at his score. It is a mastery without equal that such a man, as noble as he is, could achieve such a feat as to create unto the history of the world the perfect soundtrack to a perfect trilogy.

Yet, under such musings as I oft find myself, a poignant question yet gnaws at me from the back of my mind: for which exact point in his magnum opus should we amongst each other deem the very Best? Many a chance there are for pickings of delight, for his work is plenty and bountiful; and not easily should we answer any such query.

Yet, as humble students we are of the craft and labor that Howard Shore has made, we might endeavor on such a precarious notion as to certify with agreement the possibility of a Favourite. I myself have not such a notion, for I cannot decide.

Whether they be the perilous and dooming baritones of the Khazâd, that signal the fire and darkness and the coming of the Balrog in the Bridge of Khazâd-Dûm, and the fall of Gandalf the Grey?

Or are they the wrenching and victorious sounds of Forth Eorlingas, that heralds the wrath of Théoden as he rides with the thunderous roar of the Horn of Helm Hammerhand, saved then by his own kin, Éomerf?

Or is it the crying of horns and trumpets that lit the fires in the Lighting of the Beacons, where Pippin kindles the hope of Gondor, with Aragorn pleading to the King of Rohan, who answers the call?

Or is it the deviant music of Théoden, riding to his doom at Minas Tirith in The Battle of the Pelennor Fields, where he speaks of shattered shields and death, ere the sun rises?

As you can find, I cannot simply decide which moment in Shore's score is my absolute favourite. Perchange others may, and with their arguments, sway me to a decision. Nor is my list an exhaustive one; certainly other parts may be included.

Which was the bigger upset? Sam beating Shelob The Great, a being older than Sauron and the last descendant of Ungoliant. Whose ancestors fought Beren himself.

Or Eowyn beating the Witch King of Angmar the leader of the Nazghul. The most powerful Ring Wraith. Wielder of one of the 9.

If Vegas had betting odds on these fights, who was the bigger underdog?