Many Mithril Pages @ Faerylands

Speaking of the Hobbit movie, here is a link to a very interesting web-chat with Peter Jackson and Guillermo del Toro.  It's long, but somewhat revealing.  Some of the questions are quite pithy and pointed, others are fairly obvious and not very informative. 
Personally, I think Guillermo's take on Smaug is spot-on (Can I just say Alan Rickman for the voice  work PLEASE!).  I also am enthusiatic about having the goblins and wargs re-designed, ESPECIALLY the wargs.  Here's the link!

http://www.wetanz.com/holics/index.php? … mp;catid=2

Last edited by presto247365 (Wed, Jun4 2008 12:55pm)

Barliman wrote:

I was amused, though, by Del Toro's long-winded diatribe regarding his earlier (i.e. pre being paid several million dollars) disparaging remarks regarding his dislike of fantasy stories featuring "little guys, dragons, hairy feet and hobbits". That faux pas will doubtless return to bite him in the butt on many future occasions. And rightly so.

Oh dear.  One wonders why he was chosen at all.

Maybe because he won't complain if they deviate from the story?

I also enjoyed the films immensely, though I can't entirely forgive PJ for emasculating Gandalf and perverting Faramir's personality so much that not only is he tempted by the ring but he's prepared to condone the brutal beating of an unarmed prisoner. Not very Faramir-like at all, at all.

Anyway, that's my lot for now - Mrs B and I are just about to set off for a fortnight's holiday way up in the far North where the sun barely sets at this time of year. I've put Nob in the cattery, so Bob will be in charge - at least he can reach the taps. I just hope he remembers to wash his hands when he comes in from the stable.

Try not to drink too much while I'm away.

Huoommmm .... have a nice holiday with Mrs B, Master Barliman ... must be a nice region where the sun sets barley ... huoommm

Huuooommrhuom ... it has become a bit quiet around here, right Boris? ... huoommm ... the place seems to be unoccupied for quite some time .... rhuooommm ... let's hope it won't become  uninhabitable, Boris .... huom ... hush, I can hear a sound from a far distance .... huom.

Huoommm ... I heard you coming back, Master Ddaines ... rhuuooommm ... oh, by the by do you know Boris the spider? ... huoommm ... good to have you here again, Master Ddaines ... huommm ... where to start cleaning up this mess around here? .... or is it better to take our time first to relax a while with a bowl of that watery liquid from the tap over there ... huommm ...

Huoommmm ... so by now I've managed to keep this place habitable ... rhuoomm ... floors are clean, wargskins been dusted, tabs are sealed, the cat is well, Nob's at a place he calls 'nowhere' ... maybe the stables, I dunno ... rhuoomm ... anyway I try to do what I can ... hom ... well, Boris is fine ... rhuoommm ... though I unintentially destroyed one of his webs ...

hear ya hear ya, gentlemen.. uh.. and ladies..

During the absence of master Butterbur, I've been given the authorization to reset all bills and provide each patron with a free mug of our best ale...I'd like to precize that during those hot months, our cave has been filled with huge blocks of ice to refresh the casks.

(mutters to himself : "I hope master Butterburr won't be mad at me, trying to get more people joining the inn by giving to much free goodies... well maybe in the end that'll be good for business who knows")

So, who's first for his mug? free mug of fresh ale! come ask me!

Aha, caught you, Nob you young rascal - who released you from the cattery early? You weren't supposed to be let out until I got back. But I suppose I am back (though parts of my brain appear to have been left behind somewhere), so I'll not worry about it too much, but let's not be having any more of this free ale nonsense or there'll be no salary for you this week (again).

Well, I can see from looking round that the place has been extraordinarily quiet while I've been away in the North. I thought I'd have to catch up with a bit of reading, but it seems not.

First thing I checked on was the polls on the Fellowship site, and I'm delighted to see that King Brand won - very right and proper. The suggestions for this month are also an interesting mixed bag - though (and this is only a personal opinion, you understand), I'm dubious about the Dol Amroth lady appearing again - and leading the voting at this stage too, to boot! I feel sure that JRRT would be turning in his grave at the thought of 'female assassins' in his subcreation! There's too much ICE and Fantasy with a capital 'F' in such suggestions, and nowhere near enough JRRT for my tastes...

Anyway, it's good to be back where I don't have to pay for my beer! Thanks for your work keeping the place in order, Master Tree - you've done a grand job. Your tab is cancelled in perpetuity for that and for other favours (ah yes, I've now received my backlog of mail, and there were some metal bits in it; many thanks!). You really must introduce me to Boris when you next come across him.

Huoommmm ... I'm glad you enjoyed those metal bits, Master Barliman .... huoommm... I'm even gladder about not having a tab left at the moment .... hom ... about Boris, well, don't you remember those four guys singing a song about Boris the Spider .... huoomrhuoommm...Kinks

which leads me to an idea.... I know that people are free to suggest everything they have in mind for next months vote for GF membership... but a lack of "general charter of what can be suggested or not" leads to such inconsistencies...
One of us could suggest Michael to organize a one-time "side-vote" that would be used to generate a chart of what can be suggested or not... (the aspect of a vote for this chart is for the democracy part of it, forcing a chart to members without their approval would be dictatorship...)

but although I am a great Roleplay Gamer myself, I really dislike it when people tend to transform Mithril universe to fill their game desires at any cost... no matter if it turns asunder the tolkien mythology and settled world... (I make allowances for MERP related stuff as they have been... once... authorized and approved material for all the community of Tolkien RPG fans)

well let me know what youthink about it... I would really be disapointed if this girl would win...

While I too find the "female assassin" character far afield from Tolkien canon, I don't think there should be a limit to the suggestions for GF figures.  The public vote will determine if the idea has merit with collectors or gamers, or not.  Wasn't "Assassins of Dol Amroth" an ICE module? 

This month's selections are OK, but there is some odd repetition.  We just had an Eomer at Pelennor fields, albeit with Aragorn.  But how different would another Pelennor Eomer be form previous M-series releases?  The king Dain sound repetitive with the M-series, but Wendy's explanation definetely sets it apart and pairs it with the coming Brand figure.  An unfortunate description was used for the voting list, so I don't think it will get due consideration.

I like the idea of Elessar and infant, Chris does a good job with these things.  Mirkwood captain?  Got one already, M67.  I don't like Hobbit figures much, and not that interested in another orc.  So it will be Narvi, Dain, Elessar, or maybe the half-troll for me!