Favourite parts of LotR

What are your favourite parts of Tolkien's LotR?

I've read it only 2-3 times, but here's my list, anyway (to remain hidden if you don't want it to influence your own picks):

Click to show/hide:

Spoiler tag doesn't seem to work on all PCs, so the list is also here:

• "The Shadow of the Past" chapter, where Gandalf spills the beans for Frodo;
  
• the journey from Hobbiton to Bree;
  
• Moria;
  
• the first appearance of Gandalf the White;
  
• Gandalf's dramatic confrontation with puppet-Theoden;
  
• The Voice of Saruman;
  
• the death of the Nazgul Lord;

It's been a couple of years since I read it last, but I would have to say:

Themes, mostly.
Gandalf continually being sarcastic to those who deserve it
The rivalry between Legolas and Gimli
Also, the immense amount of backstory/history which is there if you want it, but not necessary to read if you don't.

It would not influence my picks but, it might remind me of parts...

Keeping it to LOTR (no other books or appendicies)

• Stand men of the west, Stand and wait, this is the our of doom
  
• You cannot pass (see my avatar)
  
• The reappearance of Gandalf as the white
  
• Every time Gandalf lays in to Pippin
  
• Gandalf's recounting of the battle of the peak
  
• The demise of Saruman's army at Helms deep - Gotta love the forest of killing
  
• The ents march on Isengard
  
• Gandalf summoning Saruman out of Orthanc and casting him out of the Istari
  
• Gandalf's ride out to save Faramir
  
• Eowyn standing before the Witch-King
  
• Frodos memory of Glorfindel from the shadow realm as he was fading at the fords of the Bruinen
  
• The arrival of the Rohirrim at the Battle of the Pelenor fields (it also pissed me off that the witch-king and Gandalf didn't get to kick the crap out of each other because of their arrival)
  
• Aragorns arrival at the battle of the Pelenor fields
  
• The fall of Boromir
  
• The body count competition between Gimli and Legolas
  
• The healing of Theoden and the departure of Grima
  

I could continue...

When Frodo bitch slaps Sam for always trying to crawl into his sleeping bag.

kubera wrote:

When Frodo bitch slaps Sam for always trying to crawl into his sleeping bag.

ROFL!

Many of our favourite bits involve Gandalf.

Not entirely...

Carter seems to have a penchant for the homo-erotic interplay between Frodo and Sam.

- not that there's anything wrong with that

didn't you see clerks 2, great bit where they argue about frodo and sam's sexuality, honestly could they have made sam grovel and fawn anymore in the movie,,

kubera wrote:

didn't you see clerks 2, great bit where they argue about frodo and sam's sexuality, honestly could they have made sam grovel and fawn anymore in the movie,, :confused:

Homoeroticism in LotR: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/HoYay/TheLordOfTheRings

Also:

Quote :

◦Some fans see Sam as the real hero of the story. Others think of him as a whiny, negative annoyance who is always complaining, and whose refusal to be nice to Sméagol is what lead to the latter's ultimate betrayal.
■And they have a good reason to believe that Sam is the real hero. He saves Frodo at least six times, he is the one who sees Gollum's real intentions, he fights and stabs Shelob, scaring it away, a creature that even Sauron couldn't control, and he practically carries Frodo there. Sam is one true badass.
■Actually Tolkien himself once called Sam the true hero of the tale (see The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien).
■He also knew that some of his readers considered Sam annoying and acknowledged that this was, to a certain extent, understandable.

Quote :

didn't you see clerks 2, great bit where they argue about frodo and
sam's sexuality, honestly could they have made sam grovel and fawn
anymore in the movie,,

I haven't seen Clerks 2 but, I agree with your remarks as they relate to the movies- it just wasn't one of my favourite parts. (I do realize you were being sarcastic). The portrayal of Sam may be my least favourite part of the movies.

In the movie, Sam reminded me of a Waylon Smithers (without humour)... Or perhaps the Frodo and Sam thing was a bit like Louis and Lestat in Interview with the vampire - Lestat (Tom Cruise) is clearly gay while Louis (Brad Pitt) is clearly uncomfortable with the whole thing.

Sam isn't that pathetic in the books... He was a simple and loyal fellow who ends up being one of the key heroes of the story. (As Steve has mentioned he could be the main hero).

Scary moments in the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy:

http://graphjam.memebase.com/2011/05/21/funny-graphs-i-would-very-much-like-to-hold-it-again/