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Post by Chrysophylax on Sept 1, 2004 17:30:38 GMT -5
Okay, I was just wondering what people would consider to be the 'real Middle-earth' - New Zealand or England?
Do you believe that since New Zealand is the back drop for the films it's more Middle-earth than England, or that since some places that Tolkien invented were perhaps based on places in England?
Personally, I'd go for England. I'd be very interested to know what other people think.
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Post by Belowen on Sept 1, 2004 21:06:51 GMT -5
Hmm... Very good question. I have to think on this more. Right now, though, I think that Tolkien did not have a specific location in mind when writing LotR. Middle Earth may have been a mixture of all sorts of different places that Tolkien had visited or imagined to be like.
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Estella
Dunadan
And as for our star... Miss Christine Daae....
Posts: 151
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Post by Estella on Sept 2, 2004 21:01:01 GMT -5
I'd hafta say England b/c Tolkien sorta wrote Lord of the Rings to be a mythology for England. Besides, Tolkien prolly never went to New Zealand. We wouldn't be asking this question if the movie had been filmed in some elaborate studio somewhere, using computer- or hand-made landscapes as the backdrop, nor would we be asking where the real Middle-earth was if the movie had never been made.
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Post by † Rumil † on Sept 4, 2004 10:06:39 GMT -5
All sorts of places::
I imagine the Shire as Ireland, Gondor as Reniasance Italy or France or something.
Rohan as Sweden, Finland etc.
Mordor..Hmm......I'm not going to say because I don't want to offend anyone...Lol.
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Eriol
Dwarf
The fate of the many is decided by the few
Posts: 61
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Post by Eriol on Sept 4, 2004 13:45:18 GMT -5
lol I imagine the Shire as Ireland, I think that theShire is more like the west of England. I'm English myself, and it is quite similar actually. Rural living. I see what you mean about Ireland, but I've been there and it isnt very sunny or full of life. Sorry Ireland! But you make a good point. Gondor as Reniasance Italy or France or something. I never thought of it like that but that's really true!! Cool.  Like Minas-Tirith is that huge stadium that makes me embarassed that I forgot the name. Hehe. Rohan as Sweden, Finland etc. In the films, and also the books, the Rohirrim are very Viking, so this is true as well. Finally, I do not think that Tolkien based LotR on England or New Zealand (However anyone who has read the book of lost tales there are so many references to English history in there iot is uncanny. It is even spoken about in the commentary by Christopher Tolkien!) I think that Middle-Earth was based upon Africa. I went there this summer, and there are just mountains, and creatures, and everything. It is truly incredible, and it is impossible not to think of Middle Earth when you are there. I also know that Tolkien spent a part of his life in Africa so I wouldnt be at all surprised. |
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Post by † Rumil † on Sept 5, 2004 1:03:27 GMT -5
About Italy/France: Yes, I am doing Renisance desgins and I noticed ( while watching ROTK) that Minas Tirth looked somewhat Renisance-ish, and quite Moorish. About Ireland: Yes, Rural living.. Lol...What part of Ireland did you go too? I remember when the whole isle was sunny and beautiful... Only Northern Ireland is like that now, I think, but I can't remember. But it's not just on their surrondings that reminds me of Ireland.. I'm Irish, and I know a real Irishman would like nothing better then a mug full of frothy beer, and a warm dinner...And music and dancing and parties and whatnot. Although the " eating " doesn't happen much in Ireland anymore.  |
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Eriol
Dwarf
The fate of the many is decided by the few
Posts: 61
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Post by Eriol on Sept 5, 2004 4:56:13 GMT -5
The best part about Ireland is the streets. You stand at one end, and all you see until the other end is "Guiness" "Guiness" "Guiness" "Guiness" "Guiness""Guiness" "Guiness" "Guiness" "Guiness" "Guiness" "Guiness" "Guiness" "Guiness" "Guiness"  It is fun over there though. I went to Dublin, and drove around a bit, and then to Waterford. Seemingly Dublin was the only town I saw except maybe three others. Just like West England. |
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Post by † Rumil † on Sept 5, 2004 5:00:25 GMT -5
Heh, I know!
Sooo many Guiness...
The people are quite friendly there too.
Dublin is lovely.
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Eriol
Dwarf
The fate of the many is decided by the few
Posts: 61
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Post by Eriol on Sept 5, 2004 16:03:41 GMT -5
Yeah I liked it. Where about do you live in Ireland?
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Post by °ArieN° on Sept 11, 2004 3:00:43 GMT -5
I've just heard that the whole LotR universe was supposed to be some kind of reeeaaaally old european history.
ANd Tolikien maybe took peaces from here and there and made up Middle-Earth.
Also, I heard that New Zealand was better for filming becuause there is less people, or cities or something like that, than what Europe has now.
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Post by rickierimshot on May 7, 2005 6:36:45 GMT -5
well, middle-earth was supposed to play somewhere in Europe, i saw on television, but they do not know where
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Like Minas-Tirith is that huge stadium that makes me embarassed that I forgot the name. Hehe.
It is fun over there though.
