Published at: Sept. 18, 2001, 5:15 a.m. CST by staff
Folks, Harry here... I have to tell you about something over at TheOneRing.Net that has made me just so happy today! Things have been rather depressing these last couple of days, it seems at some levels like I might be losing a friend over something that I can't imagine, but I continue to work the site... Try to bring news, find things that make me smile... Like the Eric Bana as HULK thing...
With the recent OBITS and the air of war swarming around, it is hard to get upbeat, hard to remember good things that seem to wash over you and make you feel young and carefree... even for the shortest of times.
Xoanon over at the ONERING sent me a picture of Gandalf at HELM'S DEEP.. this is GANDALF THE WHITE!
You know... It is amazing how fast a picture can instantly cause the brain to flood back into a memory. The first time I ever locked eyes on Gandalf was as Gandalf The White in Minas Tirith. I remember he asked if I was Jetlagged... Funny how memory works... heheh
Later that day I saw him astride ShadowFax, and I saw him fighting Orcs at Minas Tirith.... That same afternoon I wandered a bit by myself amongst the ruins of what remained of Helm's Deep... Wasn't much really... just ruins you might expect to find somewhere on a British Isle...
I could remember the smile I had there, the feelings of being in a fantasy... a dream. I remember the banks of monitors, Victoria the Script Supervisor, those delightful New Zealand snacks, Gandalf's beard in chocolate, Frodo and Sam hugging and crying after their last scene, the joy of knocking on the door to the Mines of Moria, feeling Treebeard's bark...
All this and more floods back across my mind as I see Gandalf the White again... He's like an old friend from long ago when everything was pure and great in the world. I remember joking with Gandalf (Ian was in there somewhere) about American political world... About Bush getting elected, about remember his friend Roger Hammond... a more agreeable chap I do believe I have never met. Absolutely pleasant beyond words... I remember a late night out on the town with most of the Fellowship, Rick Porras, his wife and Phillipa... We were crowded into a downtown Wellington shoebox club... It was an amazing scene... I was downing fine New Zealand beers, Orlando was a ball of energy, Dominic was a hell of a dancer, and I could barely move... For some reason I had on a long black overcoat that was always catching on things.
I remember everyone getting absolutely smashed at the party at Barrie Osborne's place... The Hobbits and Orlando running up the stairs and sliding down Barrie's fire pole.... Sitting on those wonderful white couches talking with Astin about growing up in film, really having a great time with him... Finding out that he was completely down to earth... He like so many of you dreams of making movies, directing them, writing them... The same energy as any hopeful filmmaker I've ever scene... that same look in his eyes of absolution to his dream... HE WOULD DO IT, he believes it.
I remember Alan Lee sitting there next to me, and having the most amazing time... Oh this was such great times... Such a wonderful place... And this picture did it for me... Just tumbling over my memories... lost in them.. bits and pieces here and there, Richard Taylor and the Weta folks... That restuarant on the bay, eating dinner and drinking drinks with the actor playing Gollum... Andy Serkis... Randy... Dear ol Randy, Oh how I miss talking with him about vintage films... about stop-motion moments in history...
I'm sorry for losing it here, but this site is a bit like a diary for me. My life, my thoughts, my dreams, fears and hopes... I spill it all here. I should really let you go see this picture... it really did it for me... I have no idea how it will hit you....
