It's a dangerous business Frodo, going out your door, and if you don't keep your feet on the road you might just be swept away

I write this as I watch opening scenes of what is certainly a modern classic, the Lord of the Rings (the fellowship of the ring), and I am slightly embarrassed to say that, as when I first watched it, it still gives me butterflies. It will forever be ridiculed by some as cheesy fantasy but this does not do justice to the mastery of the books and sheer imagination of Tolkien in creating the world of middle earth. It will equally always be unfairly compared to the less interesting and less well produced money-spinning machine that is the Harry Potter franchise and in such, probably lose petty Facebook polls signed by thousands of misguided small children.

I have been meaning to return to the series for some time to watch the full extended works from start to finish having every now and then caught bits of films on tv. So to it I shall give it my full attention and for once keep things brief.



PS Eid mubarak to all for whom such things mean something.