The Lure of Tolkien

For the past several hours, I've been immersed in "The Fellowship of the Ring" DVD. So far I've watched the entire movie (discs 1 and 2) once; and the first part (disc 1), twice. And gone through about 50% of the second appendix.

The four-disc set offers so much that it's hard to know where to start or stop. There's the movie itself including over 30 minutes of new and expanded footage; commentaries on the movie by writers and director, actors, design teams and production teams; six documentaries; interactive map of Middle-earth; galleries of art; storyboards; galleries of behind-the-scene photos; and another eleven documentaries.

This does not include the Easter eggs. I figured there might be some, so I searched the web and found a listing. Of course, now I don't remember how to access them.

There also appear to be some extra features via an on-line link.

Tolkien's world is so deliciously complete and elaborate that you long to slip into the pages like Alice through the looking glass. He manages to conjure up those sensations you experienced at age 12 when you read of boys and pirate ships and lost caves and treks across the tundra. Sensations that are almost erotic in their intensity.

Maybe that's the great appeal of Tolkien. You return down the rungs of memory to boyhood. When feelings were fresh and tingled down the spine.

If you've tried any of the other stories and tales of similiar ilk, none can compare. And I've certainly searched for something as engendering as Tolkien to no avail.

In watching some of the appendicies, I came to more fully realize what a daunting challenge the movie making process must have been. And what a rare privilege it is to be witness to such a work of sheer genius.

PAX!