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hobbitlove
Gondor
Apr 8 2008, 6:55pm
Post #1 of 10
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QTNA: Questions That Need Answering!
Welcome to all 'newbies' and 'oldbies'!
For those who may not know, QTNA usually appears weekly on the Movie boards to ask questions that deal with any and all things pertaining to our favorite trilogy of movies, the folks who created them, and all else that this movie fandom involves.
We especially welcome any questions that our sibs have. Do you have nagging little "I wonder why..." type questions? A "did that seem right to you..." question? Or, "I don't get it! What were they trying to do?"
Please tell us what you want to know about.
Today we have one movie question and one 'technical' question having to do with posting on these boards.
Our first question occurred to us when we were preparing this discussion. I like lots and lots of pictures, but, Ordinary Hobbit made the comment that many folk here do not have DSL or an equivalent form of high-speed internet connection. I hadn't realized that. Duh!
1. Is it a problem for some folks on these boards to have many pictures in a post, to open long posts, or to use links?
Most of us, well, I do, anyway, put lots of pictures and links in a post simply for enjoyment, interest, and to, perhaps, enhance our discussions. If these things actually keep people from reading posts, well, that would be a bad thing.
We certainly could try to be more thoughtful of any limits or problems. If some sibs can not or do not open certain posts when they know there will be stuff that ties up their computers, we should do things differently.
If this is a problem, please let us know.
This is a question that has been bugging me for a long time. We had a discussion about it a few years back and at the time, I didn't feel satisfied with the answers. Sorry, I looked for that older discussion, but as usual, I couldn't find it.
We have to do it all over again.
Here it is.
2. What "festers in the heart of Middle-earth"?
The line appears in the EE scene at the ruins of Orthanc and is preceded by Saruman's remarks about having information for Gandalf.
The dialogue:
Saruman: "So you have come here for information. I have some for you."
"Something festers in the heart of Middle-earth." 
"Something that you have failed to see." 
"But the Great Eye has seen it."
"Even now he presses his advantage. His attack will come soon."
 "You're all going to die!"
Let us know what you think "festers in the heart of Middle-earth." My theory is fear and doubt, and I'll say more later.
Thanks for checking out QTNA.
Hob (Hobbitlove) and oh (Ordinary Hobbit)
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hob
(former nick: "HobbitLoveR*M-e" among several others, briefly)
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Alcarcalime
Tol Eressea
Apr 8 2008, 7:29pm
Post #2 of 10
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I have like the world's slowest dial up and if the pictures aren't TOO big they load in a reasonable time. When people don't size the pictures down a bit and they more than cover the width of the screen, then I run into a problem. Yours haven't been a problem for me.
I know that OhioHobbit's technical discussions have lots of pictures (I know this because I am the one who posts them). I hope it's not a problem for people with dial-up.
As to the other question: I always took it to mean that Sauron knew he had lead Denethor astray and that despair was leading Minas Tirith.
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weaver
Half-elven
Apr 8 2008, 9:51pm
Post #3 of 10
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I've wondered about both of these things, too!
[In reply to]
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I just use the standard size the photos download in, when I copy them from the image library to photobucket -- if there's a better, smaller size they should be I would be glad to attempt to crop them...hopefully, replies to this QTNA will provide some direction!
I never liked the Voice of Saruman scene, except for the bit of doubt he manages to plant in their minds. As to what exactly is festering, I was never sure, though Denethor's madness is a likely candidate -- Gandalf seems totally surprised to find Denethor is going to be a problem, at any rate, so it does sort of qualify for something "overlooked."
Of course, it's the "overlooked" that bring out Sauron's demise -- Frodo and Sam, and the fact that "no one" would want to claim the Ring. So that kind of sentiment works both ways, really...
Weaver
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sador
Half-elven
Apr 10 2008, 9:54am
Post #4 of 10
(632 views)
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2. What "festers in the heart of Middle-earth"?
The moviemakers might have meant Denethor's madness, but the phrase doesn't seem appropriate. So I'll throw a few suggestions: - My first association is with Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness'. Saruman is a Kurtz-figure; a missionary from over the sea, using his superior knowledge to manipulate the ignorant natives, while entertaining (most of the time) the idea it is for their own good, and he is actually improving them (compare the description of Isengard, when Gandalf and Theoden first approach it). What else could compare to Kurtz? The other Istari who, as Tolkien suggested somewhere, were responsible for cults of magic all over Middle-Earth?
- Dealing with Saruman himself - it might be science and technology, who are taking over the old ways of life (didn't Saruman speak of 'the fires of industry' who will make the old world fall?) - and eventually leading to a world of self-seekers and self-servers, overthrowing the old values. Frightening thought, thatone is - it means Saruman did win in the end.
- A different (or not really different) tack - Saruman might mean the seeds of distrust and deceit among those who should be allies, induced by and leading to misinformation, misunderstandings, and lies. The result of these, as well, are the new world of each man to himself.
- But once we are considering lies - are you really sure Saruman is speaking the truth here? In the books, in the confrontation between Saruman and his enemies, Saruman distorts and dismembers the truth, in an attempt to swindle his way put of his predicament. Might he not be doing the same here, trying to strike fear and doubt into the hearts of his listeners? Are you so sure something does fester in the heart of Middle-Earth, or if it does, that Saruman knows it? His brandishing the Palantir for all to see might be a way of raising his price in the bargaining with Gandalf, or of showing Sauron that he is still loyal (in case Sauron is watching, or the Palantir can record what was shown in it); in either case, we have no need to take his word for granted.
"I am sorry. I have paid" - Boromir
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hobbitlove
Gondor
Apr 11 2008, 6:22am
Post #5 of 10
(463 views)
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Thanks for your answers sibs. My bad...
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We get this QTNA posted and I'm off to work and get little chance to respond. Apologies.
I hope more will have comments about the dial-up vs DSL thing. I just want to figure out the best way to make an interesting post and also make it accessible.
Hugs,
hob
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hob
(former nick: "HobbitLoveR*M-e" among several others)
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hobbitlove
Gondor
Apr 11 2008, 6:28am
Post #6 of 10
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Thank you for this thorough and well thought out answer.
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Food for thought, and some great theories, especially the idea that Saruman was just bluffing or trying to show the Dark Lord what was going on.
Never thought of that.
The long defeat is a reality in the 21st century. Tolkien knew it in his day. Can't deny the world is changing (all the time) and not for the better.
Anyway, as you said, the line we are discussing doesn't really seem to fit too well. I am still wondering what the scriptwriters intended, but thank you so much for these fascinating thoughts.
Cheers, Sador.
hob and oh
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hob
(former nick: "HobbitLoveR*M-e" among several others)
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hobbitlove
Gondor
Apr 11 2008, 6:45am
Post #7 of 10
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It was your comment that got us thinking.
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The hubby said he was reading your comments about up-loading the pics for OH's brilliant discussions. It takes a lot of time to bring us these extras. Thanks for doing that every time.
I think all the illustrations, diagrams, pictures and links are stupendous. I think they add so much. I think they enhance understanding tremendously,for me, anyway.
It would be a terrible shame to not have them there.
We love to use lots of pictures ourselves, so would hate to not be able to use them. But, then again, the issue is if people don't want to bother with discussions because of the time it takes to open them, well, it kind of defeats the purpose of pictures. If it's not a problem, and you say it is not, well, cool.
I really hope some day you get high-speed access. I am so so so glad we have it.
Love ya,
hob
Check out
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hob
(former nick: "HobbitLoveR*M-e" among several others)
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hobbitlove
Gondor
Apr 11 2008, 7:07am
Post #8 of 10
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I suppose it is Denethor; Denethor and his increasing madness. Although, it is far from clear that that is all or specifically what is meant.
Just read this scene at the ruin of Isengard the other day. It's a bit surprising how much of it made it into the movies. I like the scene very much as I read it. I loved C. Lee and Brad. I'm glad they filmed this. I think that we did need to see Saruman's demise. For closure or whatever you may call it. I didn't mind the way they did it too much. It was just for the EE, after all.
As you say, the best thing about the whole scene is the way the actors showed that the voice of Saruman still had power. He was 'getting to them' just as the Mouth of Sauron does later on. This doubt and worry and, yes, pain, that the fellowship and Theoden experience during this parley, could be a danger to everything they are trying to achieve. To the resolve and cooperation that is needed in this war.
Saruman's words are meant to control through making others weak.
Ah, well, like you didn't know all that. Tush, just airing me mind.
Thanks for posting, dear sib.
hob
Check out
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hob
(former nick: "HobbitLoveR*M-e" among several others)
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mwirkk
Rohan
Apr 11 2008, 11:20pm
Post #9 of 10
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I don't mind pictures in the message bodies...
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...so long as they apply specifically to, and serve to illustrate (no pun intended), the discussion at hand. But I think sometimes they can be reduced in size, unless the resolution is vital to the point.
However, I think all these pics folks have in the tag-lines is completely unnecessary. It might be cute the first time or two you see them. But they get very, very old, very, very fast.
How about server-side storage? Is there enough that that embedded pics will not become an issue at some point?
As per the user, does the board have a 'transfer pics manual-only' mode? An ignorant question, perhaps -- I should've looked myself first, but I'm taking the fast&lazy way out...
-mwirkk :)
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grammaboodawg
Immortal
Apr 15 2008, 4:32pm
Post #10 of 10
(466 views)
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Love pictures, but with dial-up
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it does take time to load... but it's all worth it. The only thing I cannot do at home is watch video or listen to audio. There's just no way. It take about 3 minutes for a good-sized hi-rez pic to load... so I go do something while waiting.
If there are things that I want to get at (audio/video/downloads), I wait until I get to my workplace and come in early to access things on the public terminals before my workday begins... or do it during breaks.
As for the fester, fester, fester, rot, rot, rot in Middle-earth: I've always perceived it as being Denethor's decay from the Palantir/Sauron influence. I've taken it as Saruman's job to poison Theorden via Wormtongue and Sauron's job to poison Denethor via the Palantir. Saurman was very sure the downfall of man would come from this information he held, and was probably more delighted at the prospect since his own downfall. Much like the Saruman in the book took delight in seeing these pseudo lordly people and uppity hobbits thinking they'd gotten the better of the situation. I'll show them!
The festering Saruman didn't see was that Treebeard had been noticing what was going on, but was fairly quiet about it; and the danger festering from 2 young hobbits somewhere in the wilderness.
 
Trust him... The Hobbit is coming!
"Barney Snow was here." ~Hug like a hobbit!~ "In my heaven..."
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