September 5, 2003

Mae Govannen, Samwise
Jarrickon Half-elven

Sorry, Samwise the Brave, I hate to break it to you, but there is no Hobbit movie. I too have gotten a trailer for that movie, but it unfortunately is an assemblage of Fellowship of the Ring and several other movies. However, we can all look forward to the Return of the King this December.

Concerning the Maiar: the Istari, or Order of the Five Wizards, were sent to Middle-earth by their angelic superiors - the Valar - as a foil to the return of Sauron at the beginning of the Third Age of the Sun. Which brings another thing up. In the Two Towers, Gandalf says, "Three hundred lives of Men have I walked this earth, and now I have no time." If we estimate a 'life of a Man' to be 80 years, then that adds up to 24,000, instead of the 3,000 years we know the Third Age to be. My only guess is that he meant 24,000 in terms of his existance on Middle-earth, not in light of his comparatively brief employment as an Istar. Any ideas?

Concerning the Balrog: Annatar, I think you have the right idea with the chicken wings theory. Balrog's are capable of short glides, but not extended bird-like flight. Note that the Balrog in the movie's wings are not large enough to sustain a creature of that magnitude Aside from Tolkien saying that they have wings, other justifications are the fact the fell beast reminded the Fellowship of it, and the fact that a multitude got from Angband to Ungoliant's Lair in the mountain range right below the Iron Mountains (sorry, can't remember the name) almost instantly when Morgoth called. As to falling killing them, well, again their wings are not large enough for sustained flight and therefore would still fall.

Namárië!