And though where the road then takes me,
I cannot tell
We came all this way
But now comes the day
To bid you farewellI bid you all a very fond farewell
It was a very emotional song from Billy Boyd that ended the movie–“The Last Goodbye”. As his voice flew, a series of all the actors’ artist image appeared on the screen. The song didn’t only close “The Hobbit” movie, but also ended a long journey of Middle-Earth adventure that started 14 years ago.
I still remember that days of junior high school, moved between classes with thick Lord of the Rings novel in my bag, and a queue of classmates waiting to get their turn of reading the book. I have never really remembered whose book was that–somebody must has bought or borrow it somewhere–but the names, the places, the whole great story and imagination sparkled from the book has never lost from my mind.
Tonight, when I finished watching “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies”, I suddenly felt something is missing. No more Elves, Dwarfs, Wizards, Men, Hobbits, and even Orcs. No more Ring. No more Baggins, Shire, Rivendell, Lorien, Gondor, Rohan, Mordor, and those dreadful yet exciting journeys. When I saw “The Last Goodbye” video clip, I can’t even help to see those nostalgic scenes. The manly Viggo Mortensen I’ve been always fallen for, the cute-young Orlando Bloom, the elegant lady Liv Tyler, even the ‘unsayable’ Andy Serkis in his Gollum skin. This story is simply an everlasting legend.
J.R.R. Tolkien was a great man. But Peter Jackson is probably a greater man. If it wasn’t for him to re-live Tolkien’s book, then today’s generation may not have a chance to enjoy one of this great story in mankind.
This lost feeling is similar with the one I felt when watching the last Harry Potter movie. A bit too sentimental, but I’m sure all people in my generation who have grown up with these stories will feel the same thing. Yes, I should thank J.R.R. Tolkien and J.K. Rowling. Also Enid Blyton, Beatrix Potter, C.S. Lewis, R.L. Stine, and K.A. Applegate. And probably Agatha Christie and Conan Doyle too–though I’ve never read their books (not really a fan of detective novel). They are all great storytellers who have made up our childhood and teenagers life. I’m glad that we still had a chance to grow up with these imaginative stories–rather than robotic gadget today’s children play.
And not to neglect this, but it’s true that most of those great storytellers originated from Britain. I don’t know why but it seems that British people have distinctive talent in “words-manipulating-art”–literature, journalism, and that kind of thing. You see that Rowling was partly inspired by Tolkien. And Tolkien was a good friend of Lewis. And Blyton and Potter was kinda living in the same period. And finally, all of them may have inherited Shakespeare’s ingenuity (!) Oh God is unfair but seems that He streamed down this precious writing talent to British authors along with neverending rain He drained here :p
When you come to UK, you will see that many place of tourism destinations are part of a great story’s legacy. I was amazed to see flock of tourists in London’s King’s Cross, willing to pay 10 pounds just to get a picture in front of so-called “Platform 3/4”. And that a small house in Baker Street London can be transformed into so-called “Sherlock Holmes Museum” which created tourists queue along the road. And that a small coffee shop in Edinburgh can attracts many customers by simply claiming as the “birthplace of Harry Potter”–where J.K. Rowling first sit in to write her novel. Nevertheless, still I went to The World of Beatrix Potter in Bowness-on-Windermere to see a trail of Peter Rabbit’s garden.
Now you can see how Britain can boost their tourism income by only using their fictional story’s legacy. Brilliant, isn’t it? Those imaginative stories can actually help to make up the real world to be as it is now. So again I put my highest respect to those incredible story-tellers. To be honest, they are one of the most influential men on earth. They moved people’s heart through words. They challenged people’s mind through imagination. They are, undoubtedly, the force of civilization…
She was of a quiet sort, but very musical. She could sing, play piano, and dance. In fact, she dnaecd for Tolkien in the woods once and that’s kinda where he got his inspiration for Beren and Luthien. In fact, he had Luthien inscribed in her grave when she died (his children would have Beren placed on his later).