on the Extended Version

Answers! Explanations! So much of the second movie makes sense because of the stuff here. Their cloaks hiding them from the Uruk-Hai outside the gates of Mordor; how Frodo knows that Gollum was also once known as Smeagle; that the fellowship only bound them to go as far as they will, which makes Aragorn's "I would've followed you to the end" even more powerful. Many things rightfully taken out, but also some that truly would've served both the moviegoer and actors. A brief list of memorables:

Legolas. Orlando Bloom of the impossibly long legs. His posture just makes me want to lick him all over, squared shoulders to toe-first walking. Also, I might love the way Legolas speaks beyond any coherence on my part. "He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance" is the single sexiest line ever delivered, ever ever.

Merry and Pippin and their drinking song! Those two got more screen time togeter, and that is as it should be.

"Make conversation with me," he suggested, slipping under Merry's arm. "But not so very polite."

"If only such a thing were possible with Peregrin Took." Merry neatly took the force out of the elbow aimed at him by wrapping his arm around Pippin's shoulders. "What do you want - a story?"

"No, not exactly." Pippin shrugged, as far as he was able to. "Just... anything. Everything."

"There's a lot of anything in the world, Pip, and even more of everything. I'm not sure I'd know where to start."
-Cabbages and Kings by Madelyn Scott

Boromir got much more credit in the original version. As did Bilbo. That damn ring is poison from the first.

Also, so seeing the Boromir/Aragorn now. My oh my, but those two have so much more between them with this version. Cannot *believe* they cut the scene in the middle of the cave troll fight.

Haldir is inexplicably, irrationally sexy to me. He is also very, very, decidedly gay gay gay. I didn't know you could be that flaming without a feather boa and heels, but there we are.

The adorable little hobbitses and their foot stories! Ditto on Dominic's hotness, especially with the facial hair.

Shadow count stands at nine. Next time? Number of shots of Frodo's open hand with the ring in it. Yeesh with the repetition and imagery, man. Shadow bad, ring powerful yet small, check. Can we linger on the rifeness of the sopure love in these movies instead? Because, yes.

I am such a little girl

I know how this story goes. Heck, I know how it ends. They play *NSYNC's music throughout the program, I have pictures three mouse clicks away that prove it if I feel like I'm losing my grip somewhere along the way, but every damn time, Driven manages to do it to me all over again. I'm two steps from tears with a knot in my belly that makes it hard to breathe before they're even finished with Chris's biography segment.

Chris the hottie with the Hi-Tones groupies!
"Chill dude, I'm tweaking your fin."
Justin could *always* do that thing he does so well with his hips.
Joey was the most adorable little boy in all of creation with that mop of hair and the singing! And there I go right along with Papa Fatone. *excuses herself for a tissue*
Lance knew Justin from MMC! Fanboys are the bestest.
They knew from the first harmony!

Love this program beyond all reason and words. Just, yeah. It was bloody hard and impossible to foresee what if anything would come of it all for a while in there. *hugs all the boys* It ends well! I promise!