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Post by WxMAN on Dec 22, 2010 19:16:07 GMT -6
Alright... I am trying to watch the Lord of the Rings for the second time... desperately trying to see what others see in this series.
So I am going to post my pressing questions that kind of get in the way of my enjoyment of the movie. No, I haven't read the books, but then again I don't really read ;D
So...
1. Who formed the rings of power for the elves, dwarfs and humans.. and why? If it was Sauramon (sp?), why would the elves who are "wise above all" take those things? If not, how did Sauramon get the power to trump those other rings with a single one?
and my most pressing problem..
2. Why is 2,500 years since the last huge war over the ring has there been ZERO technological progress? It makes no sense to me...
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Post by Rigil Kent on Dec 22, 2010 22:01:54 GMT -6
1) Sauron created the Rings of Power. He did it while pretending to be a "good guy." It wasn't until afterward, when things started to go south, that the others realized he had ... adjusted the rings he handed out to the others so they would be subservient to the One Ring. As to the elves, well, they were fooled too and, as far as I recall, their three Rings were basically being kept by the most powerful of their race to keep them from being corrupted & turned to Sauron's use. 2) That makes no sense yet immortal elves to whom physics doesn't apply does? It's fantasy, dude. Just roll with it.
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Post by Gigermann on Dec 22, 2010 22:04:13 GMT -6
We have a New Year's tradition of watching the whole thing (straight through, if we can handle it). You're invited to join us; wife too, if need be. We can answer all your questions (probably) and you can help us MST3K it, as we always do.
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Post by WxMAN on Dec 23, 2010 9:07:11 GMT -6
That makes no sense yet immortal elves to whom physics doesn't apply does? It's fantasy, dude. Just roll with it. I guess you're right... I've been able to suspend disbelieve with things like "okay physics and biology don't work the same as they do here" but no technological advances seems... contrived? I'd love to, but I will be up in Tulsa over New Years... too bad to b/c besides the big 'take me out of the movie' questions there are like a thousand other questions...
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Post by Gigermann on Dec 23, 2010 9:24:47 GMT -6
Why is 2,500 years since the last huge war over the ring has there been ZERO technological progress? It makes no sense to me... Is it really that hard to believe? Look at the Amerinidian tribes—no technological advancement for thousands of years, until the Europeans came. Look at fundamentalist Islamic countries—think they would have advanced past the Medieval period at all, were it not for outside influences? That's to say nothing of these Brazilian "lost tribes" that still haven't advanced a whit. If a people decide "this is the best we can do," and stop trying to improve, then no advancement can occur. Doesn't happen a lot, but it does happen. I'd love to, but I will be up in Tulsa over New Years... too bad to b/c besides the big 'take me out of the movie' questions there are like a thousand other questions... I wouldn't mind doing it a bit earlier, for a good cause—plus, I wouldn't mind "doing something" on New Year's, anyway. Is there a good time?
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Post by Rigil Kent on Dec 23, 2010 9:38:38 GMT -6
Why is 2,500 years since the last huge war over the ring has there been ZERO technological progress? It makes no sense to me... Is it really that hard to believe? Look at the Amerinidian tribes—no technological advancement for thousands of years, until the Europeans came. Look at fundamentalist Islamic countries—think they would have advanced past the Medieval period at all, were it not for outside influences? That's to say nothing of these Brazilian "lost tribes" that still haven't advanced a whit. If a people decide "this is the best we can do," and stop trying to improve, then no advancement can occur. Doesn't happen a lot, but it does happen. Here's another to toss in there - the Egyptian dynasties, which ranged from about 3150 BCE to 31 BCE, a period of over three thousand years with frankly negligible technological advancement when compared to the amount of tech increase from 1900 to 2000. So I suspect that the technological advancements in that 2500 year period did happen - how else could they build those awesome statues everywhere or even Minas Tirith? - but they were relatively subtle.
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Post by WxMAN on Dec 23, 2010 12:44:02 GMT -6
I guess that is true... Looks like I put too much faith in science and people's desires to constantly improve their knowledge...
As far as better times go... I doubt it, I will be in Tulsa both this weekend and the next... I think I will be back on Sunday each weekend, but you can't really stay up all that late as Monday comes as does work.. though I do have the 3rd off, not sure if y'all do so I may be able to do something then...
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Post by Gigermann on Dec 23, 2010 13:41:33 GMT -6
I suppose we could spread it out over a night or three if that works better.
Not off the 3rd.
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Post by WxMAN on Dec 24, 2010 13:05:04 GMT -6
Eh, there is always next year... Not a big deal
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Post by Gigermann on Dec 30, 2010 23:32:39 GMT -6
a) It was on his finger, always—can't get much more protected than that. Nevermind the accidental finger-amputation b) Sauron was essentially a god. He had plenty of power without the Ring, just not ultimate power (that is, total control over everyone else, which is what it ultimately would have provided)
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