The Middle Earth Popularity Cup - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Durelin · 12-20-2008, 05:18 PM

Lol (I hope I may lol without being loled at)...thanks phantom.

Heck yeah,

++Boromir

I'm not that fond of Gandalf. Not fond of the old wizard type. Many of you will hate me for referencing Harry Potter, but I must say I was quite pleased when it was revealed (gradually) that Dumbledore was, overall, more of a jerk than most people saw. Excluding me, of course. (Unfortunately my Dumbledore-is-evil theory didn't play out, but ah well. Snape was good.)

Gandalf...not Dumbledore, I know. But really, there's a case for that. I mean, he didn't give Frodo any options. He goes missing whenever he's needed. And he expects everyone to listen to him. Also there's the respective candy and pipeweed addictions. Tsk tsk.

Boromir had the best reasons of anyone for his desire for the ring. And he's not only a hunky fighting machine but doubles as a snow plow and hobbit-carrier.

Legate of Amon Lanc · 12-21-2008, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Durelin

He goes missing whenever he's needed.

But that was one thing that was great about him. He was always having some "other business" to manage elsewhere, the best it is actually in The Hobbit. Oh, and now I remembered all the cool things he did there, like mimicking the trolls or (very D&D-ishly, but on the other hand very un-D&D-ishly at the very same time) casting lightning bolts at the Orcs or making himself invisible.

Quote:

And he expects everyone to listen to him. Also there's the respective candy and pipeweed addictions.

Just a few more reasons why he is so great character

Lalwendë · 12-21-2008, 02:01 PM

Exactly. One of the reasons Gandalf (and the Hobbits for that matter) is such a great character is he's not some horrible anodyne, vanilla 'hero' dreamt up by a focus group to be perfect and conform to the agenda of the modern world. So he smokes and probably drinks, and he's sarcastic? So much the better!

Watch modern films and TV and it seems any smokers/drinkers are automatically evil because this is lazy writers' shorthand for 'bad guy', tut tut.

Gandalf isn't 'PC' and that's good!

skip spence · 12-21-2008, 03:37 PM

The score now is 11-8 to Gandalf. The deadline won't pass until 12.00 Pm so this contest is still on.

Gollum the Great · 12-21-2008, 05:56 PM

++Boromir

He's awesome.

Durelin · 12-21-2008, 07:49 PM

People took me seriously about the pipeweed addiction? When it was paired with a 'candy addiction'? Hmm.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lal

...vanilla 'hero' dreamt up by a focus group to be perfect and conform to the agenda of the modern world. So he smokes and probably drinks, and he's sarcastic?

Yes, that certainly makes him sound interesting, but he's not to me. I also have no idea what a 'vanilla' hero is in the modern world. I actually think the modern obsession is with the sort of anti-hero. Unfortunately what that normally means is that they make a anti-hero just a piece of trash and expect people to like them because they're, uh, interesting. True, smoking and drinking is suddenly evil, but having no respect for any person or thing around you (or yourself) isn't. Thus we have reality shows.

But then, I don't even think of Gandalf as a 'hero'. Gandalf is more an entity than a character to me. He just manipulates and does. Maybe it's that he's...plot driven, himself like a plot device. Boromir's personality and motives are among the most interesting and well-defined, in my opinion, even though he only makes it through FotR. I guess any character whose purpose is to be there so all the other characters do what they need to just kinda annoys me.

And iconic Gandalf may be, but I'm not into the type of character/legendary figure he represents.

I think I would like him better if he had stayed dead.

Ibrîniðilpathânezel · 12-22-2008, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Durelin

People took me seriously about the pipeweed addiction? When it was paired with a 'candy addiction'?

By Peter Jackson, in (IMHO) a rather lame attempt to get rid of the pipe as a bad influence on kiddies, which obviously did not make it into his final script.

Although the "when last seen picture" above might explain something of it.

satansaloser2005 · 12-21-2008, 10:57 PM

++Boromir

For our lovely Agan's birthday.

skip spence · 12-22-2008, 02:50 AM

The Cup is over and Gandalf is the champion winning 11 votes to 10.

Boromir came within a whisker of overtaking the old wizard but that matters not anymore, he must now return to the White Tower with scorn and nothing to show for the trip.

The glory is all Gandalf's, but alas, in time for the price ceremony the old wizard could not be found. He was seen partying and drinking with his posse for some time, but then went missing, suddenly and mysteriously. Had other business to attend too, it is assumed.

This is the last known photo of the champion, taken by a fan shortly before his disappearance:

Thanks to all of you for participating, It's been fun!

12-21-2008, 02:01 PM	#3
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	Exactly. One of the reasons Gandalf (and the Hobbits for that matter) is such a great character is he's not some horrible anodyne, vanilla 'hero' dreamt up by a focus group to be perfect and conform to the agenda of the modern world. So he smokes and probably drinks, and he's sarcastic? So much the better! Watch modern films and TV and it seems any smokers/drinkers are automatically evil because this is lazy writers' shorthand for 'bad guy', tut tut. Gandalf isn't 'PC' and that's good! __________________ Gordon's alive!

12-21-2008, 03:37 PM	#4
skip spence shadow of a doubt Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Back on the streets Posts: 1,125	The score now is 11-8 to Gandalf. The deadline won't pass until 12.00 Pm so this contest is still on. __________________ "You can always come back, but you can't come back all the way" ~ Bob Dylan

12-21-2008, 05:56 PM	#5
Gollum the Great Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The Pinnacle of my own might Posts: 386	++Boromir He's awesome. __________________ 'It just shows you how true it is that one-half the world doesn't knows how the other three-quarters lives.' Bertie, The Code of the Woosters, by P. G. Wodewouse

12-21-2008, 10:57 PM	#8
satansaloser2005 The Sweetest Spoiler Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: from beneath you it giggles incessantly Posts: 5,789	++Boromir For our lovely Agan's birthday. __________________ "My heart always cowers behind the defense of my wit." Friendship is two pals munching on a well-cooked face together. Fenris bookworm.

12-22-2008, 02:50 AM	#9
skip spence shadow of a doubt Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Back on the streets Posts: 1,125	The Cup is over and Gandalf is the champion winning 11 votes to 10. Boromir came within a whisker of overtaking the old wizard but that matters not anymore, he must now return to the White Tower with scorn and nothing to show for the trip. The glory is all Gandalf's, but alas, in time for the price ceremony the old wizard could not be found. He was seen partying and drinking with his posse for some time, but then went missing, suddenly and mysteriously. Had other business to attend too, it is assumed. This is the last known photo of the champion, taken by a fan shortly before his disappearance: Thanks to all of you for participating, It's been fun! __________________ "You can always come back, but you can't come back all the way" ~ Bob Dylan Last edited by skip spence; 12-22-2008 at 05:46 AM.

12-20-2008, 05:18 PM	#1
Durelin Estelo dagnir, Melo ring Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,063	Lol (I hope I may lol without being loled at)...thanks phantom. Heck yeah, ++Boromir I'm not that fond of Gandalf. Not fond of the old wizard type. Many of you will hate me for referencing Harry Potter, but I must say I was quite pleased when it was revealed (gradually) that Dumbledore was, overall, more of a jerk than most people saw. Excluding me, of course. (Unfortunately my Dumbledore-is-evil theory didn't play out, but ah well. Snape was good.) Gandalf...not Dumbledore, I know. But really, there's a case for that. I mean, he didn't give Frodo any options. He goes missing whenever he's needed. And he expects everyone to listen to him. Also there's the respective candy and pipeweed addictions. Tsk tsk. Boromir had the best reasons of anyone for his desire for the ring. And he's not only a hunky fighting machine but doubles as a snow plow and hobbit-carrier.