This morning’s Raleigh News and Observer published an Associated Press review of EA’s video game, Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, a tie-in to the upcoming New Line film. As reviews go, it wasn’t a bad one, and I thought I would offer my own perspective on the game. I’ve had theContinue reading “Return of the King: The Video Game”
Category Archives: Tolkien
Middle-Earth Thoughts
A few days ago I finished playing the Return of the King video game. It’s based on the film, not the book, so the story ends at Mount Doom. I’m sure that Peter Jackson’s film will go further, but I know that the Scouring of the Shire is out (and, personally, I find that aContinue reading “Middle-Earth Thoughts”
Alternity! A Lord of the Rings counterfactual
Electronics Arts released last week a video game based on the Return of the King film, with voice-overs done by the trilogy’s cast and a liberal sprinkling of film footage from the three films bridging the gaps between missions. As with a DVD, there are bonus films that can be unlocked, and earlier this evening,Continue reading “Alternity! A Lord of the Rings counterfactual”
Return of the King: A Preview
Yesterday I got back from the company’s annual manager meeting/trade show. (I’ll tell the story of the trip back another time; needless to say, it wasn’t fun getting from Charlotte to Raleigh in the middle of a hurricane, and there are other managers who I know had a much worse time of it.) Well, EAContinue reading “Return of the King: A Preview”
For all you Hobbits
Today is Mid-Year’s Day. So, drink merrily, smoke some Old Toby pipeweed, have a safe summer solstice, and do the things that all you Hobbits do.
Not for Tolkien purists
Two items of note. First, Tolkien-inspired gangsta rap. Yes, such a beast exists, and I have the CD. You can sample the mp3 of “Lords of the Rhymes” here. Second, the lost son of Denethor, brother to Boromir and Faramir. Not to be seen by the faint of heart, I assure you.
Closing songs
Fellowship of the Ring closed with Enya’s “May It Be.” The Two Towers closed with “Gollum’s Song” by Emiliana Torrini. Return of the King should close with “Frodo of the Nine Fingers.” I’m serious. It doesn’t have to be sung by Aerosmith, though I appreciated their take on the classic Spider-Man theme song. But forContinue reading “Closing songs”
This is how the world will end
Thoughts?
I held it in my hands
The Fellowship of the Ring extended edition. In the super-sized box. With the Pillars of the Argonath bookends. And the bonus fifth-disc featuring a National Geographic documentary. It arrived at work today. I held the box. Turned it over. Felt its weight in my hands. Heady moments, let me assure you. The boxset does notContinue reading “I held it in my hands”
The Battle of Helm's Deep
EA’s The Two Towers video game for the PlayStation2 consists of elements taken from both Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers. Last night I reached Helm’s Deep. For the video game the Battle of Helm’s Deep is divided into three segments. In the first the Orcish armies assault the outer walls and yourContinue reading “The Battle of Helm's Deep”