Book Review | The Science of Middle-Earth: A New Understanding of Tolkien and His World
This book came out in 2021, and is a compilation of essays covering a wide variety of topics where Middle-earth and modern science intersect. Or at least, that’s the theory. How scientific is this book, really? Other Links: Rumble at https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek
18 Apr 202219min
Why Peter Jackson Was Right to Cut Tom Bombadil from The Lord of the Rings
I have my problems with Peter Jackson, but on this decision he made the right call. Not because Tom Bombadil is a bad character, but because in the medium PJ was working in, he no longer serves the same purpose. For my videos on some of the issues raised here regarding Bombadil and the slow progression of danger as Frodo leaves the Shire, check the following: The Old Forest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1ODkwQ-lnY In the House of Tom Bombadil: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKfG0vP_INs Fog on the Barrow Downs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmY2ah1s2yo The significance of these three chapters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIu8TAYBu7E Frodo leaving the Shire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jTXY8I5wAY Other Links: Rumble at https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek
11 Apr 202219min
Who Really Killed Sauron in the War of the Last Alliance? And Why Does It Matter?
Peter Jackson’s and even Ralph Bakshi’s movies give the impression that Isildur single-handedly took down the Dark Lord Sauron, and while this isn’t exactly accurate, it turns out they did get one detail right. Other Links: Rumble at https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek
4 Apr 202216min
Tolkien’s “Fundamentally Catholic” Mythology: The Christian Foundations of Middle-Earth
In a letter, Tolkien stated that The Lord of the Rings was a “fundamentally religious and Catholic” work, which seems strange given the lack of obvious religion in the story. A close look, however, reveals numerous examples of the author’s theology in all his Middle-earth stories. For videos discussing many of these ideas in further detail, check the links below: Fate and free will generally: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIzDndXGRsY Fate and free will in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvVkE3bBmzM Fate and free will in the story of Turin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lROuU1RPDpU Fate and free will in Tolkien vs. The Adjustment Bureau: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pw4CO58N8g Providence in Tolkien vs. “Passengers”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UCmnGxJSfI Decline, fall, and restoration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLme8xfiY6o Evil and banal and empty (compared to “Megamind”): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-jhi1pMSA0 Morality vs. law: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ggh4oAdiXM The Athrabeth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwi7_nABWDI Other Links: Rumble at https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek
28 Mars 202226min
Merry & Pippin: Fast Friends in a Foreign War | Tolkien Reading Day 2022
The theme for this year’s Tolkien Reading Day is “Love and Friendship,” and a unique view of that comes from Merry and Pippin, cousins who endure hardship and separation from each other and their friends, much like Tolkien did in WWI. For the full playlist of all the Tolkien Reading Day content put out by my fellow YouTube creators for this collaboration, click here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5YrvTuA6inSlv1WMd5uvu7d7Zh1FWIqu Other Links: Rumble at https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek
25 Mars 202219min
The Characters of LOTR: The Relatable, the Admirable, and the "Warning to Others"
With so many characters, the Lord of the Rings is bound to have some you relate to, some you look up to, and some you recognize as real world villains.... You can check out my half-serious personality quiz here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Df6sQKuVGU Other Links: Rumble at https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek
21 Mars 202222min
Is the Tolkien Estate About to Start Aggressively Enforcing Copyright and Trademark?
The Tolkien Estate website recently got a huge makeover, including a much large FAQ section which sent the fandom into a tizzy about how draconian it appeared they would be regarding copyright and trademark violations. How big a deal is this exactly? Here’s some basic info and thoughts from a legal mind. DISCLAIMER: I may be an attorney but I DO NOT practice IP law and nothing I say should be construed as legal advice or considered legal opinion. Other Links: Rumble at https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek
14 Mars 202251min
Fate and Free Will in Middle-Earth vs. “The Adjustment Bureau” | Tolkien & Modern Culture
Rounding out my discussion of fate and free will in Middle-earth, here’s a comparison of how Tolkien handles these topics with the 2011 film, “The Adjustment Bureau.” For a crash course on how Tolkien handles the topic broadly, see my first video in this mini-series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIzDndXGRsY I also have videos on these themes in the story of Turin (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lROuU1RPDpU) and in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvVkE3bBmzM) Other Links: Rumble at https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek
7 Mars 202232min
