These comments are pretty funny. I love when people get so offended by a show that's explicitly the product of two peoples' opinions. Like, by all means get offended by the way actual news is covered, or complain about what movies are chosen for review, but to be offended by the opinions on a show that only exists to broadcast those opinions is sort of absurd, no? It's like getting mad at a museum for having old stuff. On the other hand, if you're listening to this show for a reason other than because you like hearing Rafer and Kristen talk about movies, maybe you DO need to be prodded gently in another direction.

Anyway, my real reason for posting was to say two things: 1. I saw the hobbit in 2d the other night thanks in part to Rafer's warning, and I'll agree that it satisfied, especially with reduced expectations. I feel like If you saw the LOTR movies and liked them, you pretty much know what to expect. You're not going to get strong female leads. You're not going to contemplate the vagaries of the human psyche. You ARE going to have an action beat every fifteen minutes, and it will involve CGI. If you're a Tolkien fan you might wonder why PJ thought that pale orc dude was necessary, but probably not ditto for the mountain giants, which were pointless but cool in a robot jox sort of way. I think what i'm saying is that it meets your expectations perfectly if those expectations are informed. I can't speak for the HFR, which seems like the real controversy here. In fact, my only complaint might be that I felt the staging of the gollum scene-- the heart of this episode-- was pretty conservative. It's a great scene in the book and I think a hungrier director with more to prove would've done something fun or inventive with it, something that could play up not just the sick combination of tension and humour underlying the scene but also the sort of inherent "classic matchup" factor for an audience familiar with Andy Serkis utterly crushing the gollum thing in LOTR.

oh, and i guess 2. would be just to agree completely with Rafer re: the OG Conan and Excaliber. absolute classics. the scene where Conan talks about how the finest thing in life is to crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of their women? Yes. Ditto for Uther keeping the full suit of armour on during sex at the start of Excaliber, medieval softcore-style.

No story unless you count the one of displaced people trying to get back their home. Or how about greedy leaders who wreak everything with their lust for gold. Or how about the loveliness of the small person who can do great things.
On 12/30/12 Flickeringmyth says: "It was a stellar week at the Us box office with a number of new releases debuting to impressive numbers. But it was a Hobbit holdover that brought in the biggest audience this weekend with $32 million over the three day weekend. Add to that a Christmas week holiday haul of an additional $25 million for an impressive $221 million grand total to date. The film is playing well across all demographics. $300 million is well within reach and bodes well for the next two installments." Obviously lots of us out here who love this movie.

I loved the LoTR movies. I was disappointed in the slow pace of the Hobbit but once I gave in to the idea of just letting the movie happen I enjoyed it much more.
That being said, the review of these movies as "walking, walking, walking, fight" made me laugh! I'm totally stealing this line...

I listen to this podcast quite often and never been so let down. I think if you fall asleep during a movie you should be honest enough to recuse yourself. Tolkien's work may not be something you can enjoy - fine just don't pretend you have a way of reviewing it that is legitimate. If you look at IMDB's rating of 8.5 it might give you the feeling that your so out of step as to be suspect. Kristen, your snarky self serving reviews had no value. Please step aside the next fantasy movie.

I just listened to this podcast at work today, and I have to say, I'm really disappointed in you, Kristen. I'm not one who typically comments on a podcast (or anything else, for that matter), but I had to say that your comments about people who enjoy the LOTR movies were insulting and just plain wrong. I myself am a 37 year old woman, not a fan boy by any means. I do not dress up in costumes or go to conventions, nor do I play fantasy games online while living in a basement somewhere. I am someone who read the books as a teenager and loved them. Yes, I agree there are problems with the movies, and they are not for everyone. That does not give you the right to or justification for insulting people who like them. I generally love listening to you and Rafer banter about movies, and I often agree with one or both of you. I must say that this episode has really made me think twice about listening to you again. You can do so much better. Please keep your nastier comments to yourself or off the air in the future.