@ Liberty: no problem. I only wanted to allay your fears and assure you (and me ) that Gandalf will turn out just fine.

Re Bilbo: I think, as long as the actor has at least somewhat of a 'hobbit' face, once they get that wig, the clothes, and makeup on him, he should fit the bill. And speaking of which, the actor GB mentioned above sure has a hobbit-y appearance, wouldn't you say? I haven't seen Rea in any films, but trusting GB's recommendation, I'd be content with him as Bilbo ... at least his physical looks would fit my idea of Bilbo of the Shire very well. And I could see with him in full costume that he could have an Ian Holm aura about him. Do you know if he is being considered, GB?

I really don't know if Rea is being considered. But if he isn't, he should be.

GB

I can't remember his name, but there was a BBC adaption of "David Copperfield" (1999) and the man who played Mr. Mcawber looked like Bilbo a lot! maybe he could play Bilbo!

You mean Bob Hoskins, Liberty? Yes, he does have a hobbit-like face. And he's only 5'6", similar to Ian Holm, 'though with the magic the filmmakers weave in terms of 'changing' actors' heights, this probably doesn't come into play a whole lot. I would think, though, that it would only make it easier for them if they didn't have an actor playing a hobbit that was 6'1" or something.

^^ yes! I meant Bob Hoskins! I couldn't remember his name! thank you! he looks so much like Bilbo! my mom saw him in David Copperfield and said: "Well, everyone has a twin in the world and I think I just found Ian Holm's twin!

Liberty.

Well, Happy Tolkien Reading Day to all. March 25: the day the Ring was destroyed and Sauron was vanquished.

I usually attend a TRD annually, except that this year it's held this Saturday, and I have a previous commitment elsewhere. We typically meet in an English Pub in Toronto, share laughs, camaraderie, hearty fare, mushrooms ♥, and a pint or two (for me? of ice-cold cranberry juice). Then we read aloud our favourites passages from any number of Tolkien's writings. A special time, always.

Even if you can't make it to an official Tolkien get-together, grab some siblings or friends and enjoy reading some of his marvelous writing to each other. Even alone would work.

*raises a toast to the Professor*

(I'm not necessarily promoting TORn, but I thought the graphic kinda cool. They're having a "Tolkien from A-Z"—in Canada, that's 'zed' not 'zee' —thing going on there.)

yay! happy Tolkien Day to everyone on this thread!
hmmm.....I was going to read FotR again soon......I should do that today!

I can't believe I forgot! Happy Tolkien Day everybody!
To celebrate:
Three rings for the elven kings under the sky,
Seven for the dwarf lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for mortal men doomed to die,
One for the dark lord on his dark throne,
In the land of Mordor, where the shadows lie.
One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them,
One ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them,
In the land of Mordor, where the shadows lie.

One of my favorites.

Happy Tolkien Reading Day! (I didn't even know it existed. )
I'll make sure I read FotR tonight. I'm in the middle of it but don't always get to reading it each day.

Ah yes, excellent quote, daughter of the King. (Also, I love the Till We Have Faces quote in your signature.)

Yes, Pattertwigs Pal, groups all around the world are getting together during these few days to read Tolkien aloud. Cool, eh?

Ah, reading The FotR again, eh? Sounds very inviting.

Woohoo! I continue to be awed at how incredibly beautiful and inviting the NZ countryside is that is so accurately turned into the Shire. One of my two travel goals in life is to make it to New Zealand someday. (The other is to visit Oxford, England—the university, the Kilns, and the Eagle and Child (Bird and Baby) where the Inklings laughed, discussed and critiqued each other's works-in-progress.)

Late Happy "Yay! Sauron's Dead!" Day! I composed a little song for the occasion and Jo thought I should post it here.

Yay! Yay! Sauron's dead!
Yay! Yay! Sauron's dead!
Yay Yay! Sauron's dead!
He's dead, he's dead, he's dead, he's deeaadd!
Cause Gollum killed him!

^^ yay! Sauron's dead! *cheers* hurray! *breaks out a bottle of coke to celebrate*

Yes, Pattertwigs Pal, groups all around the world are getting together during these few days to read Tolkien aloud. Cool, eh?

That is cool. I tried to read some of FotR out loud to my sister on the 25th but she didn't want to hear anything that required her to think.

Ah, reading The FotR again, eh? Sounds very inviting.

Yes, I wanted to see if I understand more of the books after reading the Sim... (no idea how to spell it ). I just finished the part where they escape from the burrow wraiths.

^^ The Sim was the one Tolkien book I couldn't get through.....even after reading all those guide to Middle Earth books and Toliken or LOTR for dummies books, I couldn't understand it. nither could my mom.....

I got through The Silmarillion by taking it one sentence at a time. It just takes patience to get through, that's all. It's not a race.

Although I'm not sure how well I remember it offhand except for bits and pieces, I got through it on the second try. (All except for the last chapter or two... ) Perhaps now is time to read it again, because I will understand it even better!

Hmm, I found FOTR quite easy to read (I tried it after the Silmarillion!). When I tried The Sil (I'll call it that for short, if I may!) again, I found it much more interesting. (I discovered links between the books such as Ungoliant, and the tale of Beren and Luthien. I find it thrilling to know more of the back-story behind Lord of the Rings!) In my opinion, the best part of The Sil, however, is the part in the end "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age." (Of course! )