Tolkien and Croaking

Believe it or not, I got sick again this week. Counting the cold I had a week or two ago this would be the second cold that I’ve gotten in a matter of two weeks. It’s really gotten me down to be sick so frequently. Moreover, it’s hard to keep recovering from cold after cold. There were a few things to help nurse me through the coughing and congestion though.

For example; The Spike Jonez DVD. I didn’t buy into the hype for this release, but when I saw it at ‘Best Buy’ for 14 dollars I decided I couldn’t pass it up. In that five-minute period between the music video rack and the cash register I decided that 14 dollars for Beastie Boys, Dinosaur Jr. and Weezer music videos seemed good to me.
But there’s plenty more on the disc that I enjoyed in addition to the music videos. The short film ‘How They Got There’ is of special consideration.
So if you walk into ‘Best Buy’ and have about 14 dollars to burn, think about picking it up.

I also saw Return of the King again. Happily, I can say I enjoyed more aspects of the film then I previously let on. Of the many things that come to mind, I really liked the soundtrack this time around. I still think that Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers have weak soundtracks. King’s soundtrack, on the other hand, felt appropriate (and original) for the tone of the movie.

For example, the music’s impact upon the film caused one of the true emotional moments for me: Frodo and Sam gazing up at Mount Doom, tired and worn, as the simplistic flute theme for the Shire plays. It isn’t gaudy or orchestrated. It merely reminds you of how far from home they are.

Those details seem like minor improvements upon my first viewing, but they were little things that made the film more relevant to me then an epic battle sequence.