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A day in Middle-Earth

I don't consider this blog to be anything other than a chance to write down my thoughts and experiences with comics,normally, but I felt I would do one for the Lord of the Rings due to my day. My favorite local theater began promoting that they would be showing all three extended Lord of the Rings films, back-to-back in one sitting, a few weeks ago and a close friend invited me. Being a HUGE ringer, there was no choice to be made, simply a purchase. Today was the big day and beginning at 11:00am the Fellowship of the Ring began. Let me pause here a moment.

I have watched these films, even the extended ones, hundreds of times, but the theater is something special. You can watch something at home any time but seeing it on the big screen, in those theater rooms, it's very special. I saw the Fellowship when I was 16 and being rarely able to go to films, it was the first theater film that I actually watched. No talking, no making out with the girlfriend, just watched. It holds a special place in my heart because it opened me up, not only to the realm of Fantasy but to what the theater really is:an experience. I didn't even know what it was, having never even heard of the books, and once I saw the film, I delved deep into the realm of Middle-Earth and have read the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings once a year since. It actually turned me into a reader, something I never was, comics excluded.

All of that said when the first notes rang out and the clear voice of Galadriel began to speak, I was bombarded by memories and sensations. I was suddenly back in 2001. I could smell my girlfriend at the time`s perfume, seriously, and she was nowhere around. I felt younger. The theater experience slapped me in the face like it did then. I was 16 and falling in love with Middle-Earth all over again. It was an amazing experience.

Each film brought it`s own sensations, it`s own memories from that time, from that experience yet at the same time I was living in the moment of seeing it today. As my 28 year old self. It was fun, it was nostalgic and the films in their extended cuts on the big screen were simply beautiful both in story and visuals. I felt sorrow when Gandalf fell, I was angry when Boromir tried to take the ring, I was weary when Aragorn and company were seeking the other halflings, I was horrified when Helm`s deep was blown to pieces, I was tired and near breaking down when Frodo lay at the foot of Mount Doom, so close to his final task and I cried when goodbyes were said before the last ship left. Obviously I left out many things but you catch my meaning. I am thankful for this day. I was afraid that due to the 12 hour timeline, I would tire quickly but the movies gave me such energy and strength that the clock vanished. When it was all over we hadn't eaten all day, save a candy bar a piece and I rationed my water bottle to last all three films. We ate at a restaurant nearby and all we talked about were the films and the books. We were sad it was over because it felt we had just arrived. The trilogy is on bluray but, nothing quite matches the theater and so we were sad to see it end.

All this amounts to is this: I had an amazing day.

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