Preview: Movie Marathon – Lord of the Rings
January 19, 2017
Partially in preparation for our upcoming spring Coffeehouse, primarily because they’re terrific, Student Activities is so excited for our next Movie Marathon, we’re already calling it “our precious”. That’s because we’re showing you one of the most beloved series of movies released this century: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy! For three consecutive nights in the LaHaye Event Space, you can relive all of the Middle Earth-ian adventures of Frodo & Sam, Legolas & Gimli, Aragorn, Gandalf, Treebeard, and of course, that wacky all-seeing eye Sauron. Showings will be as follows:
- The Fellowship of the Ring – January 26
- The Two Towers – January 27
- The Return of the King – January 28
- All movies will start at 8 PM and will be the original, theatrical versions (not the extended/special edition versions, in case you super-nerds were wondering)
There are really only three things you need to know about The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. First, the three LOTR movies would currently rank 18th on the list of the highest grossing franchises in movie history*. You might say, “Who cares, 18th sucks”, but if you did, you’d be stupid. They were released in 2001, 2002, and 2003, and the franchises they rank behind, such as Marvel movies, Harry Potter, Star Wars, all of the James Bond movies, or clown movies like the 62 Transformers**, are both more numerous and recent. That’s a lot of money to earn in just 3 movies, a feat no other trilogy (as yet) has matched.
Second, this is one of the most awarded set of movies ever: 30 Academy Award nominations, SEVENTEEN wins***. It seems pretty good to win 57% of your Academy Awards. Most impressively, Return of the King is tied for the most wins by a single movie, winning all 11 of the Oscars for which it was nominated***. It seems even better to win 100% of the Academy Awards.
Third, and probably most importantly, the American public needs to know that the role of Aragorn, so ably played by Viggo Mortensen, was offered at one point to Nicolas “Nic” Cage****. Though this may seem Radagast-the-Brown-level crazy today, the American public should also keep close in mind that Nicolas Cage dominated the 1990’s and by 2001 was still a ways away from his silly career downturn. Thankfully, his “family obligations” gave us the movies as they exist today.
One trilogy to rule them all, one LaHaye Event Space to find them, etc. etc. Of course, this event is free to attend, and there will be FREE popcorn and cheap concessions available. If you have any questions, email us: studentactivities@liberty.edu.
**Not actually 62, but sometimes it feels like it L