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Post by Fredeghar Wayfarer on Jul 28, 2012 16:16:26 GMT -6
Did anyone watch the opening ceremonies of the Olympics last night? Technically, Tolkien was not one of the authors mentioned when they did their homage to children's literature and fantasy. However, his influence seemed to be all over this event. First, we had a Hobbiton-esque hill rising out of the stadium. This was followed by an homage to the Industrial Revolution, which can't help but bring thoughts of Mordor and Isengard to my mind. Then the industrial workers began forging a gigantic ring while Kenneth Branagh oversaw the construction like a satisfied Dark Lord. Granted, this was meant to be an Olympic ring (and was joined by several others later) but it was bright gold and followed by an Eye of Sauron-like pyrotechnic effect. I don't know if any of this was intentional on the part of Danny Boyle and the Olympic committee but I found it hilarious. Wonder what the Professor would have thought of this. Anyhow, in honor of the Olympics' ceremonial forging of the One Ring, I thought this "Chariots of Mordor" video was appropriate. I love that someone made this as this song was the first thing I thought of while watching this scene in The Two Towers. I still hum it when I watch the DVD. www.youtube.com/watch?v=98Z94iLaHfc&feature=player_embedded
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Post by Stormrider on Jul 28, 2012 16:50:16 GMT -6
Oh darn! I missed the opening. I only turned it on for the last 10 minutes with Paul McCartney singing "Hey Jude!"and the crowd joining in with la la la lalala laaa. It sounds like it would have been reminescent of LOTR! I laughed at your video link with the Orc carrying the torch similar to the Olympic Torch switch off. However, the killing and blowing up of things are very un-Olympic.
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Post by Vanye on Jul 28, 2012 20:46:18 GMT -6
I sure was thinking about LOtR too as I was watching the pageant at the opening last night. The pastoral scene at the beginning looked so much like the Shire in the first chapters & the smokestacks made me think of The Scouring of the Shire later on in the books. A lot of people thought that Kenneth Branagh was supposed to be Abe Lincoln. I new that he was reading Prospero's lines from [The Tempest]- Abe Lincoln did not come to my mind!
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