Immortal Midlife Crisis

Gimli doesn’t know where to look…. #ElfProbs

The Hobbit Movie is coming!

Almost time! I’m very excited to see this movie…Finally! Especially with my new interest in the “Sherlock” BBC series.

Bad Ass Axe

“Hey!” That’s what the Duke said just before he smashed George Kennedy in the face with an axe handle.

This post is not about game design…not really anyway, but it started out that way. For some reason, while working on mechanically differentiating weapon types (in ways other than raw amount of damage) for HAGIS/Aega Mythea, I got thinking about axes.

For some reason, I absolutely love the 60’s John Wayne-style western movie, The Sons of Katie Elder in which the Duke wallops the blacksmith-bullying George Kennedy in the face with an axe handle. I think much of the appeal is actually due to the axe-handle scene. I suppose I should seek help. Anyway, here’s the relevant section of the movie on You Tube:

While I was chuckling, I remembered the uber-useful linguistic site that provides translations in all known languages for the definitive utterance: “Oh my god! There’s an axe in my head!” Now there’s a lesson in multi-culturalism for you all. Please be attentive.

Inevitably, I suppose, that brought my warped mind to the discussion between Gimli and Legolas in the The Two Towers movie as to why a dead orc was still twitching…

Gimli: 42, now that’s not a bad score. I myself am sitting happily on 43.

[Legolas pulls out an arrow and shoots the Urukhai body Gimli is sitting on]

Gimli: He was already dead.

Legolas: He was twitching!

Gimli: He was twitching because he’s got my axe embedded in his nervous system!

If you’ve seen the movie, you’ve got to admit that Gimli Gloinson does have a point there. Even after Legolas fires his “just to make sure arrow” into the Uruk corpse, Gimli is still able to make the corpse twitch with but a little twisting of the axe…

Anyway, I haven’t gotten anything concrete yet as to how I’d like for a Great Sword to work differently than a Great Axe just yet, but I have some ideas. I don’t think it will be working like it does in D&D3.x though.

And with that I leave you….ok, just one more movie image from The Shinning…..that’s right, The Shinning…..after all, who wants to be sued? Not Willie, let me tell youNow, let’s look at this picture…with an expression on your face like that, everyone knows you’re likely to be holding an axe (and be up to no good). Right?

Eh, I better get back to it….

~Adaen of Bridgewater

Ian McKellen wants it bad

I saw this article on the long-awaited, and waited, and awaited movie of J. R. R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit”.

McKellen hopeful of end to Hobbit rift Staff and agencies
Tuesday October 16, 2007
Guardian UnlimitedSir Ian McKellen would be “very pleased” to reprise the role of Gandalf the wizard in the long-awaited adaptation of JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit, the actor has said. US reports suggest the ongoing negotiations over the Lord of the Rings prequel may be close to being resolved. Firstly, it is understood that New Line, which backed the original trilogy, only part-owns the rights to The Hobbit, with rival studio MGM also maintaining an interest. And then there is Rings director Peter Jackson’s separate legal dispute with New Line, this time over profits from the franchise.

Sir Ian has therefore taken the opportunity to restate his claim on the wizard’s weatherbeaten hat, whether Jackson, who was at one point effectively blacklisted by New Line over the legal dispute, is able to return for the new film or not.

“I am glad to read that [The Hobbit] is looking more and more likely,” said the 68-year-old actor. “I would be disappointed if they didn’t want to have the original Gandalf. I suppose if I am still functioning and working well, it is very likely I would be asked to do it and if I were, I would be very pleased to do it.”

Sir Ian said he hoped Jackson would direct the movie, but said he had the director’s blessing to play Gandalf for someone else. “When Peter announced he had withdrawn from The Hobbit, he sent me an email saying ‘Because I am not going to do it, it doesn’t mean you have to do the same. Of course, you must play Gandalf whether I direct or not’,” said the Shakespearean actor.

Sir Ian portrayed the character in the three Lord of the Rings movies, one of the biggest box-office successes of all time, and earned a best supporting actor Oscar nomination for the part in 2002.

The Hobbit, first published In 1937, describes the adventures of Bilbo Baggins as he joins Gandalf and a group of dwarves in a quest to slay a dragon. During the quest, he discovers the powerful ring that plays a central part in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Guardian Unlimited © Guardian News and Media Limited 2007The Hobbit had been slated to be made shortly after Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings movies were released (relatively speaking). However, due to some disagreements with regard to funds between New Line and Peter Jackson, there’s been some delay. The situation is pretty complicated, I’m sure, but I’m finding it difficult to keep interested in the legal wrangling. Just make the freakin’ movie already.

Anyway, Sir Ian McKellan, who played Gandalf in the LotR series is still very amenable to reprising the role in a Hobbit movie….even without Peter Jackson Directing. Sir Ian, in my opinion, did a pretty good job in the role for LotR’s. Still, I can’t help but wonder how the first choice for the role (Sir Sean Connery) would have worked out. Apparently, Connery didn’t relish the idea of living for a LONG stretch of time in New Zealand (they filmed all three movies together)…I suppose the alure of Scottland kept him home.  My brother and I have discussed this at length and have come to the conclusion that barring any other major changes in casting (or directing), Connery would have stolen the show.

 EVEYBODY STAND BACK….I suspect that the hordes of McKellan fanboys (and girls) will be pelting me with rotten produce straight away. Its not that I don’t appreciate McKellan’s performance as Gandalf, I guess I just always saw Connery in the role (even before it came out that he’d been asked)…..I suppose that makes me a bit of a Connery Fanboy…ah well, so be it. It may interest some that Jackson seems to have agreed with me.

~Adaen of Bridgewater