Starting this coming weekend, Saturday March 17 at 6.00pm EDT, Hall of Fire is embarking on a chapter-by-chapter discussion of Fellowship of The Ring.
Whether you’re a first-time reader of Tolkien, a first-time chatter who’s never visited before, or an experienced hand who was with us when we began our first read-through back in 2001, we’d love you to join us. (Be prepared for a few spoilers along the way, though!)
FoTR Book 1, Chapter 1: A Long-Expected Party.
“It will have to be paid for,” they said. “It isn’t natural and trouble will come it!” Continue reading “Hall of Fire this weekend: FoTR — Book 1, Chapter 1”
Posted in:
Share:
How’s your Tolkien trivia? Do you know the difference between a Balcoth and a Brandybuck? All the seven names of Gondolin? How many great rings of power there were in total?
Well, if you’re up for the challenge, we’re powering-up our trivia master Elrond for this weekend’s Hall of Fire session. Elrond knows more than 700 questions — some easy, some not so easy! So join us this evening (Saturday March 10) from 6pm EST (that’s New York time) in #thehalloffire on our IRC server (irc.theonering.net) where we’ll be indulging in a fun battle of wits where that will test your Tolkien geekery to the limit!
Plus, as a quick a heads-up, next weekend we’ll be starting a chapter-by-chapter read-through of Fellowship of the Ring. So haul your copy out and brush-up on A Long Expected Party! Continue reading “Hall of Fire Tolkien trivia contest tomorrow!”
Posted in:
Share:
It’s been a huge week for Hobbit movie news with the new Hobbit v-log finally dropping the other day. So come join us right now in Hall of Fire as we discuss all the latest spoilers and location details that the production crew has dished out!
We’re done! Thanks everyone who joined us!
Posted in:
Share:
A Maia, Gandalf would have witnessed the foundation of Arda. But when he was “embodied” in Middle-earth during the War of the Ring, exactly how much foresight did he have?
Today we ask in Hall of Fire: Just how much — or how little — did Gandalf know?
Throughout the events of The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings, his decisions often seem to have a hint of prescience.
We’re done for today! Thanks everyone who joined the discussion!
Continue reading “Hall of Fire chat: how much did Gandalf know?”
Posted in:
Share:
Peter Jackson’s reconstruction of Denethor, the steward of Gondor remains one of the more controversial aspects of his adaptation of Return of the King.
This weekend, Hall of Fire re-engages with an old question as we ask: “Movie Denethor: tragedy or travesty?”.
Denethor II, the last ruling steward of Gondor is one of Tolkien’s most interesting characters — as flawed and tragic as some of the greatest heroes of the First Age. In his rivalry with Thorongil and Gandalf to his strained relationship with Faramir and a stewardship where he resorts to desperate acts to save Gondor, we see his pride, nobility, arrogance and, ultimately, his despair and madness.
In Jackson’s live-action movie trilogy, Denethor (played by John Noble) is written differently — a weak ruler who passively (and even actively) works against Gondor’s defence.
What are the successes and failures of Boyens and Walsh take on Denethor? Does the more dramatically shown antipathy of John Noble’s function better in film, even though it comes at the cost of some of the subtlety of the original? Continue reading “Hall of Fire tomorrow. Movie Denethor: tragedy or travesty?”
Posted in:
Share:
We about to begin this week’s Hall of Fire discussion. Our question today? Pippin Took: Bold, hard halfling or piece of luggage?
Pippin, as Peregrin Took was universally known, was the youngest (and perhaps most reluctantly accepted) of the Fellowship. He was only twenty-eight when he set out with Frodo and Sam from Bag End on the first part of their great journey — quite young for a Hobbit.
What does this say about the character of Peregrin Took? Come join our discussion by clicking the link below!
We’re done for this week! Thanks to everyone who joined us!
Posted in:
Share:
