First look at Evangeline Lilly in 'The Hobbit: the Desolation of Smaug'

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Aganzir

I'll have you know I can shoot three bullseyes in the time it takes most shooters at the archery range I go to to shoot one.

But with bananas? That's settled then. When we meet in RL, we will have an archery competition with bananas for bows.

[Aganzir]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

But with bananas? That's settled then. When we meet in RL, we will have an archery competition with bananas for bows.

Or we can shoot bananas with rubber bands?

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Aganzir

Or we can shoot bananas with rubber bands?

Shoot bananas, shoot shoot bananas...

[Zigûr]

Here's a quote from alleged Tolkien fan Philippa Boyens on the matter of 'Tauriel' derived from this TORN article: http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012...-hobbitcon-qa/

Who you saw a little bit of. She’s our redhead. We created her for that reason. To bring that energy into the film, that feminine energy. We believe it’s completely within the spirit of Tolkien. You know, we tried really hard, and she wanted that more than anything, herself. She didn’t want it to be a ploy. We wanted her to sit in the world, and I think you guys are going to fall in love with her.

Whichever marketing person thirteen years ago or so at New Line invented the phrase 'Spirit of Tolkien' must be very, very pleased with themselves.

"But why is Dale a Mediterranean city full of medieval Muscovites?"
"Spirit of Tolkien, guys, spirit of Tolkien."

"Why are Bilbo and Thorin both nothing like their book counterparts?"
"The spirit of Tolkien told me it was okay."

"Azog?"
"Spirit of Tolkien."

[LordPhillock]

Zigûr, you're hilarious and I love you. That was perfect!

[Nerwen]

Well, between that and “it’s in the Appendices", it looks like they’ve got all bases covered, doesn’t it?

I do hope the “she” who “wanted it more than anything” is Evangeline Lilly and not Tauriel.

[Zigûr]

Originally Posted by LordPhillock

Zigûr, you're hilarious and I love you. That was perfect!

Well you've got to laugh, haven't you? We need some 'grumpy Tolkien' smilies...

Originally Posted by Nerwen

Well, between that and “it’s in the Appendices", it looks like they’ve got all bases covered, doesn’t it?

Mithril could not ward off the critics any better, could it? I find the only thing the 'Appendices defence' is preferable to is the much-repeated call by people online of "It's in The Silmarillion/Unfinished Tales/Histories/Letters/Roverandom/The Father Christmas Letters/delete-where-applicable." No it's not...

Well, apart from 'Blue Wizards', huh? I read somewhere they were advised by people of the copyright persuasion not to do that, but I guess as long as they don't name names it's fine...

[Mithalwen]

I am afraid I took near sadistic glee in quoting the letters at someone who insisited that JRRT would have loved the films. But I am paying for any bad karma fo this morning I gave myself a hair dye disaster to rival Tauriel ~ oh my children heed the words of your Auntie Mithalwen and should you absentmindedly mix the conditioner with the developer, do not think what is the worst that can happen and add the dye and slap it on anyway...