I LOVE everything about Stephen Colbert - He got me through COVID and I am an ICU doctor. If I could have dinner with one celebrity it would be him. I am moved by his views on grief, religion, and politics. And I have read these books more times than I can count - so there is that😊
@@spirit9091 it was a beautiful brilliant interview - made me cry (still does) - esp when they talk about losing their dads - that really resonated with me.
I was sick a lot as a kid, so I spent a lot of time in my room. The Lord of the Rings books were my window to the outside world. Thank you, Stephen, for continuing to encourage others to enjoy these works.😊
@Jay Gatsby I LOVED the Redwall books as a kid. The songs, the feast, the riddles, the adventures and battles in those books were amazing! I read them before reading The LOTR. Back then I thought LOTR was Redwall for human lol 😆
Colbert gives me hope in Catholics. I mean, I'll never return to the church or Christianity but it's always nice to see a kind and well-read believer in this day in age.
I need to go camping for two weeks in a cedar forest by the ocean while it rains and rains and re-read The Lord of The Rings again. Thank you Stephen for encouraging more people to read.
My wife and I are listening to the audio books now narrated by Andy Serkis. What a treat!!! Can't wait for him to narrate the Silmarillion (my favourite).
Andy Serkis is a real treat. A truly extraordinary man. He is also way more than just voice acting. He does like, actual theatrical performances and shit too.
Tom Bombadil is consistantly one of my favorite characters. The characters I like best change with each reading, but Tom and Goldberry are always there. And frequently, Faramir is too.
I've read LOTR every year for the last 60 years. It has affected my life immensely and as an artist it speaks to my very core. Thank you Stephen for talking about and encouraging people to read the trilogy. My oldest son feels the same way and is passing the love of Tolkein's work to his children.
Now I’ve no excuse NOT to read them. You’re creative, so that’s exactly what I needed to hear as I’ve always thought Tolkien’s books were more for the eggheads in my friends circle, egghead I am not. An artist recommending them, I’m starting tomorrow. So thank you from another creative!
I'm reading "Lord of the Rings" for the first time now, and I'm smack-dab in the middle of that stretch that Stephen mentions. There is something quite serene and peaceful about those chapters.
It's good to hear someone else as passionate about these books (and books in general) talk about them. I read (and reread) the Hobbit and LOTR (and other fantasy books, I'm looking at you Terry Brooks😊) in a cabin in the middle of the woods in northwestern Massachusetts, with massive snowstorms howling nightly, without power and just a candle and the woodstove for light and heat. It was basically long term camping but so immersed in the book world and the woods around me, it felt like I was EXPERIENCING middle earth, not just reading it. I'm telling you, for those of you who are bold enough, reconnect with nature and a good book and life will start to get interesting and better again. LOTR is perfect (in nearly every way) and shows Tolkien's great reverence for the natural world on nearly every page. Stephen, thank you for being so unabashed about your love for these masterful works. I truly believe that the magic within them, as in all great stories, is a transformational one that occurs within the the heart of the reader. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ Edit: I agree that those chapters were some of my favorite especially Bombadil, (which was like the ghost of Christmas past, where all troubles are put on pause for respite from the world and fun and childlike wonder) and should have been included or focused on at least as much or more so over the fixation on some violent aspects of the story. And yes, I too, would watch a series of Colbert based on Middle Earth. You guys should totally do it. I'm calling it here and now, it would be a great success! Get on the phone with network exec's or Netflix. It needs a pitch asap. Give me a yell, I'll help! Make this happen!😊
I love your comment. I can just see you huddled under the covers reading by candlelight. I agree with you; I thought the movie focused too much on the violent parts of the story and not enough on the magical ones. I would’ve done it differently myself. (As if I’m a more talented director than Jackson, although who knows? I’ve never been given a chance!) Thanks for sharing. 😊
@@whitebirchtarot @WhiteBirchTarot You never know... you're right anything is possible Miss director! Yes, it could be a bit spooky then as it was somewhat remote! But epic: I have very fond memories of that winter! I always circle back to that time. It was freezing temps sometimes and needed a 0 degree sleeping bag to survive some nights as the woodstove couldn't keep up, ha ha! Thank you for the love and the connection hun!❤💜 🧡💛💚💙💖🤘😊 Magical rewards for you and anyone who followed the conversion this far: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-NTz2-im7s9k.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-bzDtmMXJ1B4.html An hour with the man himself [turn on closed captions]. Enjoy!
That’s a very strange coincidence… I, just today, finished my own very very long journey, of reading The Hobbit, and then all of The Lord of the Rings books for the first time!!!- And then watching all of the movies for the first time, post-reading the books!!! (It has been quite the amazing experience!!!- and it is a very strange coincidence that it should end on such a day!)
I don’t believe in coincidences either. Time for me to reread. I was 21 the first time I read the Lord of the Rings. I won’t tell you how long ago that was. Have you ever read the chronicles of Narnia? You might enjoy them also. And the Crystal Cave trilogy by Mary Stewart about Merlin? That’s my personal favorite. 💕
Now go forth and read The Silmarillion for the truth of the world and the knowledge of the Uttermost West. Long may the thrones of the Valar endure! May we meet again in song during the Second Music of the Ainur!
Dear Stephen, thanks for the connection to the liturgical calendar. I never thought of that before. Also, in Sweden the day of Annunciation is called Vårfrudagen (Our Lady Day), which sounds almost like Våffeldagen (Waffle Day) so people eat waffles on that day. You're welcome.
I think I was about 10 years old when I first read the Lord of the Rings books. Early 80s anyway. And I fell in love, I wanted to go and live in their world. I still open the pages, go back, and visit my old friends.
Stephen's love of Tolkien gives me such a sense of cameraderie with him. In junior high, the librarian at my school allowed me to preview the new books she'd ordered over the summer, she know I would love LOTR and she was right, it was the best thing I'd ever read. I've read it many times since then. I would listen if Stephen read the trilogy, or even just those chapters. -A devoted Tolkien fan
I'm by no means a LOTR Geek, like our lovely host, the books did enrich my life and still do, it was because I read all of Tolkien's tomes that i was able to move on to RingWorld, Dune and Heinlein's opus. I found reading was good, it was something I could do, well, and the library had all the books for free. I thank Tolkien for giving me the love of reading.
Nothing better than this. Thank you, Stephen. You've gotten me through some tough times, and you fill our lives with great humor, thoughtfulness, kindness and insight. Love ya!
In one of Colbert's audience questions RU-vid videos a couple asks Steven to recommend a LOTR reading for their wedding. He recites a poem from memory with such eloquence it is impossible to doubt his love for Tolkien's life work.
I really like The Steward and the King chapter. The ring has been destroyed, or is about to be, but the people of Minas Tirith don't know it yet. And in this moment of uncertainty and fear, suddenly there's a love story. Faramir falls in love with Eowyn and stand with her in the darkness while she watches and waits for either victory or defeat.
And a great eagle comes with the good news, and tells them the Ring has been destroyed, and for all good people to rejoice, and the city is filled with happiness--and I think that is when Eowyn decides to no longer be a shield maiden, and instead to take up healing, and she gives up her hopeless love for Aragorn, and loves Faramir instead.
@@rikk319 I like your username! My dog is named Henry because we figured since Indiana was named after the dog, we'd name our dog Henry. So he's Henry Bones.
Finally, finally, finally! I have wanted exactly this for the longest time - I used to tell anyone who'd listen that I wished Colbert would just talk about his knowledge of Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings. PLEASE do more, more, more of this!! We/I need it.
I need to go read the books again. It’s been so long since I’ve read one of his but I do read every day because I enjoy learning about different times and countries. I hope children are learning to read and appreciate books 📚 be a shame if that art is lost.
One of the funniest things I have ever seen and heard was Stephen reading 'The Three Billy Goats Gruff" and I can't find it on RU-vid anymore. His final comment that he is available for children's parties was as close to dying of laughter as I ever care to come. Bring back the Billy Goats please.
My husband & I always watch your show on RU-vid right before we go to sleep. Now we can’t see you here anymore 😮we LOVE your opening monologue (sheer genius writing & presentation) and , of course, MEANWHILE. We enjoy your banter, the music, the talks….we actually don’t know HOW you do it! You can NOT BE REPLACED! That said, you deserve a true break…so we’re both hoping you’re just “on a needed well deserved breather”.
Though I enjoy Tom Bombadil's parts in The Fellowship of the Ring, Fog on the Barrow-Downs has such an atmosphere to it. I know that the film had to be whittled down for length, but that chapter and The Old Forest would've added much to the early film. Oh, well.
Hey Mr Colbert. My dad started reading Tolkien to me when I was 6 years old and I've been in love ever since. I am currently fifteen and I still can't get over his works. Personally the Silmarillion is my favorite but the chapters you talked about are all just perfection. Thank you for everything you do on your show. Your biggest fan from Japan
This nailed it for me... I have read LotR annually since discovering it in 8th grade (45 years ago) - always in Autumn - but the first half of Fellowship far more often for the same reasons Steven gives. The first black rider encounter on September 24th; waking beneath the standing stone from 'a sleep they never meant to take' - these moments thrill me more than any battle or wizard's spell. Finding my favorite part of the entire story omitted from the movie entirely was a fell blow, alas. Now I know I did not bear it alone. Thank you for this, Steven Colbert.
I’ve been a Tolkien and Colbert fan for years. Having been a daily consumer of Colbert on RU-vid, I’ve only in the last year been regularly watching Tolkien-based content. Seeing these two worlds combine is certainly no surprise, but was a good joy. The chapters you noted are fantastic. I understand the selection of the first two chapters as it goes a long way to helping understand what it is the Hobbits are trying to save. However, In the House of Tom Bombadil is so fantastic. It shows the risks Tolkien is willing to take in his writing - something that radically diverges from the primary story and potentially risks plot schisms - but is able and willing to do so because life is full of tangents and radical schisms from our intended narrative. If you’re new to LOTR, obviously read all of it. But the 6 chapters highlighted by Colbert are excellent and worthwhile because they are not in the amazing movies by PJ. It will help you quickly understand the depth of content the books provide beyond the movies.
Samwise: "I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you!" Also, Mary of Nazareth: "I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you!" Happy March 25th! I think I'll have second breakfast.
*LOVE* this - so happy every time Stephen gets to 'geek out' over Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit. Stephen, from one kiwi to another (being a kiwi is a state of mind, not a piece of paper...) arohanui (an abundance of love) from Aotearoa/New Zealand. ❤💖❤
This was really lovely! The missing chapters need to have their own movie. I missed them in LOTR. They were there to prep the Hobbits for the dangers and strangeness outside the Shire while still in somewhat familiar territory. I do appreciate Stephen's expert commentary!
Some of it was in the movies, with gross simplifications and changes. We see Sam and Frodo walk through the fields when Merry and Pippin cross paths running from Maggot and finding mushrooms. We also see the hiding at the roadside and the first running from Nazgul.
I read Hobbit and LoTR at least twice before it ever became an 'in' thing to do, and decided that when I had children one, at least, would have the name of the two most inspiring people: Aragorn and Arwen. With the birth of my second child, Aragorn became his middle name. Your knowledge of Tolkien is stupendous, Stephen. Thank you for being you.
My very favorite part was also almost entirely cut out of the movies: "The Choices of Master Samwise" in "The Two Towers" . It's Sam's psychological struggle with what to do next when he thinks that Frodo's dead. As a child, brown like Sam, it helped me overcome classism and racism against myself. As an adult, I saw the connection with Tom Bombadil and it inspired me to think about what being "the master" REALLY means. And at any age I found it the most moving thing that I have ever read.
@@MrSullismom Yep. Tolkien specifically referred to Sam's brown hand holding Frodo's white hand. And as a brown kid in 1964 that meant a lot to me. Maybe I read more into it than intended, but it put heart into me.
I not only love reading Lord of the Rings, I love reading it aloud. I read a portion every evening before I go to sleep, and at the moment I’m up to Pippin and Gandalf in Minas Tirith. Tolkien’s command of the language is so incredible that it just rolls off your tongue like liquid gold (from Smaug, of course 🐉). A wonderful way of ending the day.💖
Definitely lot of Christian themes in Tolkein throughout the virtues and arcs of the characters. Done in such a natural way. The comraderie of LOTR will always be epic
If you read the Silmarillion you will see more. The first part is about God and his angels and the downfall of the devil and the demons that followed him. Athrabeth in Morgoth's Ring talks about God entering his creation to remove the original sin of man. The ages of the World and the Elves' sexual nature comes from St Augustine. The story of Finwe and Miriel is anti Divorce. The Elves are the most Catholic Catholics ever. But I think what is the most amazing thing Tolkien did is write this world, rooted in English culture and history and he made it Catholic after 400 years of Anti-Catholic persecution. Tolkien said Catholicism is in the foundations of this country.
As with CS Lewis, Tolkien's good (non-Catholic) friend. My later realization of the strong Christian influence on both writers (and GK Chesterton) really tainted them for me.
I loved reading the lord of the rings. I read it in Dutch, a long time ago. I think I am going to try to read it in English. But I will reread it for sure.
I love how Stephen Colbert is such a Nerd on the LOTR, and you can tell he's not reading from a script or prompter, but citing from memory. Also, is it really True that the Crucifixion happened on the 25th of March? If so, i wasn't aware... Always learning new things!
Those six chapters are my favorite part of the books as well. You are in constant suspense about the location of the riders relative to the trio. In fact the entire journey to Rivendell is very gripping. I am going to read it again!
I'll listen to Colbert nerd out about Tolkien any day of the week. If I ever got to meet and just sit down and chat with a celebrity, I'd love it to be him (and Evie too!)
What a coincidence, this guy making such a fuss about a ring when I myself found a wonderful ring yesterday ! We were hiking with my best friend through some ancient Bulgarian volcanoes. He, sadly, died the same day by falling three times on a pointy rock headfirst (RIP), but when he found it he gave it to me right away. It is absolutely marvellous, so shiny and round. Very precious. Very precious to me at least. I feel so much better in my life now that I have my ring. I feel like I could do anything. I'm actually working on a project, a start-up that would deliver good and happiness on Earth, on family at a time, right on your doorstep. Don't try to take my ring. It's mine.
My exact same favorite part of the entire LOTR. I adore because it because the action is still in a safe world -- or you feel that it is safe, even though it isn't -- and we get the first big jolt of wonder when Frodo, Pippin, and especially Sam (our emotional point of view character for the entire trilogy, imo) are taken by wandering elves for a night of elvish feasting, singing, and star-gazing. It is also that point when the larger world begins to unfold revealing humorous oddities (Bombadil) and dangers (barrow-wights), both of which expand that sense of wonder in different ways. At the same time, this is when the deep friendship and commitment of Frodo's companions is understood. Even Fatty Bolger, too scared to leave the Shire though he is, commits to helping as best he can, little realizing what it could mean to be a stand-in for Frodo. (Fatty eventually grows too, having led a group of Hobbits to rebel against Sharkey's evil depravations, as revealed in the 'Scouring of the Shire' when Fatty, who had been captured and imprisoned in the Lockholes, is freed by Frodo & friends; Fatty is a much thinner but still devoted friend of them all who did all that he could, too.) I could live in these chapters for all of my days quite happily.
i wish peter jackson would add and extension for those lost chapters and slot it in the fellowship of the rings, there is a great reason for the guys to hitch up again
After COVID and everything that my home country (Brazil) went through, the part that resonates with me the most at the moment is Sam's most famous quote, specially the part about not wanting to know the end, because how could it be happy, and how could the world be normal again after all that has happened. I guess we will find out as time goes by, but I really hope that Brazil (and the world) can recover from the past 3 years. "It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something.”
This past Saturday, a sanctioned Tolkien club (called a 'smial') that I'm part of had a gathering at a Barnes and Noble in Columbus, OH. on Tolkien Reading Day. What we were doing there was individually reading (out loud, in public) excerpts from our favorite passages in Tolkien's works. A few onlookers in the bookstore did, at times, stop to check it out. It was a lot of fun.
Oh this could be a reoccurring but I would watch. Heck make it an hour. Totally would watch and share his videos talking about something he is passionate about.
I used to re-read them, beginning with The Hobbit, about every 5 years. At 75 years of youth I just finished painting the interior of my newly purchased down sized condo. After all the pictures are up and the books put away, I'm going to start at "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit," and go all the way to the end of LOTR. Every reading reveals something new. Just as you can never cross a stream in the same place twice (you and the stream have both changed), so you can never return to Tolkien the same way twice. Thank you Steven for sharing the calendar symbolism.
Have to love a Man who is not afraid to talk about his spirituality (Catholic Colbert case) in a loving and not confrontational way. Colbert's style brings more people towards God and more positive energy in the Universe than any yelling negative evangelical preacher could do in a hundred life time.💫 You do you as long as it bring love, peace, positive energy into the world - We need it +🌎+
Ahh! He feels the same about the Barrow Downs! Everyone knows Bombadil is the man but the Downs was the saddest omission from the movies for me because it was profoundly frightening when I read it as a young kid. My mother used to have the old LotR art calendar and the page with Frodo standing over his friends laid out in white gowns with the sword across their chests gave me chills.
Stephen, you'll be young forever because of the wonder you still hold for the entire MiddleEarth Lore! May you and your lady, commune with Tom Bombadil and dwell in *_his_* wondrous extension of this Magical land!🧙🏻♂️🪄🪄
I really enjoyed this, Stephen. I read all those books while in high school back in the ‘70s. It’s about time I read them again. Whenever I read a book for the second time, I always get more out of it.
