LOTR & The Hobbit 2013 Set Discussion

[Doctor_ocks]

One hardly needs to be an expert on the source material to like a Lego-set. In fact, it is often enough for most people to have watched the movies once in cinema (and occasionally again on TV) and if they like a movie themed set, why not buy it? (And since you have it already, review it).

I for one bought a Lego Batman set (76000), even though I neither read any comic nor watch the cartoons. I think I saw the last two movies, but the set is unrelated to them iirc. I just happened to like it: interesting vehicle, cool parts and story.

Actually, I believe that the casual buyers who may not know how to properly pronounce Sauron are far more important than us few nerds.

I couldn't agree more. These franchises survive on the casual fan and I'm grateful for them.

However, I'm not talking about people buying the sets, I'm talking about people reviewing the sets. I like a lot of things that I'm not going to do a review on...because I don't know what I'm talking about. This isn't something I lose sleep over. I just find it annoying.

To keep on topic, anyone snagged doubles of these yet? I wanna see some combined set mods!

Edited May 20, 2013 by Doctor_ocks

[Deathleech]

Anybody over "a certain age" is very likely to mispronounce many of the names in Tolkien's work, because there was nobody to tell us different when we first encoutered the names. I still regularly go around referring to the dragon as "Smog" and pronouncing Gandalf "Gandolf", because I grew up in the Dark Ages and read the books dozens of times before there started to be Tolkien fansites with handy pronunciation guides, let alone movies. It really doesn't mean the speaker doesn't know Tolkien. It just means they didn't see the movies first.

I suppose, it's just hard to imagine someone still pronouncing names wrong when the movies themselves have been out over a decade. It's not like they are brand new and relatively few have seen them. If you are a fan at all I imagine you have seen the films and heard the proper pronunciations at least a few times by now. Plus the sets are all based on the film scenes, not the books so it seems weird not to of seen the films by this point.

I am sure some people don't pronounce the names right because they are just really use to saying it a certain way from reading the books first. For YCF, I don't feel like he is a fan of LotR at all really and just got the sets to be the first to review them and up the watch count of his videos. If you have seen his Council of Elrond set review, he calls Gimli a Hobbit

[TheLegoDr]

As much as I think some of these sets would be great to MOD, I don't plan on buying doubles. Mostly because my money needs to go to many themes and not just Middle Earth..., but with that said I'd love to see another Rivendell MOC with the updated pieces.

As far as pronunciations go, I'm sure I still mispronounce them. As long as it's close, I don't see the big deal in getting upset about it. Granted, when people mispronounce my name it does tend to be frustrating since I have a relatively normal name. "Seth"

[Deathleech]

I see a lot of people talking about the Black Gates as a good candidate for buying doubles, but what about the Council of Elrond set? Sure the minifigure selection is pretty bad for having doubles of, but you could make a more suitable council with two or three sets. The three chairs that come with one set aren't even a quarter as many featured in the movie

[Moexy]

I'm going to buy 2 Council of Elrond sets, just so I can close the back. I thought about buying two additional sets (4 in total then), but I don't know yet (maybe when they are on sale).

[bekindsorewind]

I am sure some people don't pronounce the names right because they are just really use to saying it a certain way from reading the books first. For YCF, I don't feel like he is a fan of LotR at all really and just got the sets to be the first to review them and up the watch count of his videos. If you have seen his Council of Elrond set review, he calls Gimli a Hobbit

It was in the Pirate Ship Ambush review I believe, and is yet again an example of how some of these reviewers churn them out for no other reason than for the fact of being first. Does it really take that much work to redo a minifig closeup? Calling Gimli a Hobbit has to be one of the dumbest things these popular video reviewers have said.

Now if you excuse me, I'll be waiting for a real review here on EB. :)

[8BrickMario]

I could do with two of Arwen, as the head will be useful for a character I invented.

TBS Black Gate review:

They are almost better than YCF at LotR reviews, as they know the background (and thus are fans), and also know how to pronounce Sauron (!) They also put the wings on Gwaihir (not a "bird") on correctly. They don't discuss the hidden door, and discuss the combo option in length, though. The other LOTR summer wave reviews they've done are on the "recent uploads" section of their channel.

Edited May 20, 2013 by 8BrickMario

[just2good]

Yeah, just2good is the only one I watch. I think the reason about not knowing stuff but buying the set anyway is cause people want the reviews for these new sets. Gotta keep up with ze demand.

Yep, one of the only popular ones who seems to have it too. He's now the only reviewer I watch. ;)

Thanks for the support!

I take a lot of pride in LEGO and my work, and I will keep producing the content for y'all. Reading this thread though, I might have to relearn how to pronounce the names of LOTR characters.

Also, my nearest Toys"R"Us still doesn't have LOTR stuff. I want Elrond darn it!

[8BrickMario]

Heck, the one I want is the amazingly creepy Mouth of Sauron! The Gate or the Council will probably be my first buys.

[Leo604]

I could do with two of Arwen, as the head will be useful for a character I invented.

TBS Black Gate review:

They are almost better than YCF at LotR reviews, as they know the background (and thus are fans), and also know how to pronounce Sauron (!) They also put the wings on Gwaihir (not a "bird") on correctly. They don't discuss the hidden door, and discuss the combo option in length, though. The other LOTR summer wave reviews they've done are on the "recent uploads" section of their channel.

A little off topic but that guy looks ridiculously similar to Ben Affleck except that his hair is a little lighter.

Great review, though.

[Lynx]

Regarding pronounciation, nearly every reviewer gets Gandalf and Aragorn wrong. The 'a' (Gandalf, Aragorn) is not as in "can" but rather as in "barber".

[Faefrost]

Heck, the one I want is the amazingly creepy Mouth of Sauron! The Gate or the Council will probably be my first buys.

I want a half dozen of the Mouth of Sauron Minifigs just for the head. So many delightfully horrifying MOC possibilities. They are perfect for some of this seasons Dr. Who villains as well.

[8BrickMario]

I want a half dozen of the Mouth of Sauron Minifigs just for the head. So many delightfully horrifying MOC possibilities. They are perfect for some of this seasons Dr. Who villains as well.

I was thinking it could be used for one of the Gray Sisters in Greek mythology, one of the three hags who passed a singular eye around to share! If only we had a long gray female hairpiece...

Regarding pronounciation, nearly every reviewer gets Gandalf and Aragorn wrong. The 'a' (Gandalf, Aragorn) is not as in "can" but rather as in "barber".

So it's GON-dalf and ARR-agorn?

Edited May 21, 2013 by 8BrickMario

[Darth Malgus]

Hahha leave our Southern Hemispherian accents alone Don't get me started on how you guys say "Aluminium"

Couldn't agree more

[Artanis I]

Regarding pronounciation, nearly every reviewer gets Gandalf and Aragorn wrong. The 'a' (Gandalf, Aragorn) is not as in "can" but rather as in "barber".

You'll find plenty of occasions in the movies where Frodo & others pronounce them as the short a as in "can"

[8BrickMario]

There's no one answer with pronunciations, except for names like Bilbo, Frodo, Arwen, and Elrond. Many of the names have multiple acceptable ways to say it. By the way, I wasn't intending to be insulting towards the accents. I was just pointing out how strong Bjarke's accent was. By "aluminium", do you refer to "A-loo-min-um", or "Al-oo-min-i-um"?

[Doctor_ocks]

I see a lot of people talking about the Black Gates as a good candidate for buying doubles, but what about the Council of Elrond set? Sure the minifigure selection is pretty bad for having doubles of, but you could make a more suitable council with two or three sets. The three chairs that come with one set aren't even a quarter as many featured in the movie

Ageed and that's exactly what I've been saying! I want two, but now that you mention it three would be a better start. I'll probably wait for sales.

Edited May 21, 2013 by Doctor_ocks

[8BrickMario]

The Black Gate may actually be the first set I make a video review of! I haven't made one yet, but I really want to!

[Faefrost]

There's no one answer with pronunciations, except for names like Bilbo, Frodo, Arwen, and Elrond. Many of the names have multiple acceptable ways to say it. By the way, I wasn't intending to be insulting towards the accents. I was just pointing out how strong Bjarke's accent was. By "aluminium", do you refer to "A-loo-min-um", or "Al-oo-min-i-um"?

You mean Beelbu, FrooDoo and Eelroond?

[8BrickMario]

Oh, dear. Old J.R.R. should have written a pronunciation guide!

[prozac]

are the orcs from the black gate set the same as the orcs from the Forge...as far as printing goes anyway?

[Doctor_ocks]

There's no one answer with pronunciations, except for names like Bilbo, Frodo, Arwen, and Elrond. Many of the names have multiple acceptable ways to say it.

I've heard very good arguments as to why Oin and Gloin are supposed to be pronounced O-in and Glo-in. You could go on forever with the names :P

I'm not asking reviewers to be perfect. None of us are and I'm sure all these people are perfectly nice individuals. They just come off as needing attention the way they slap sets together and then butcher the description. If you don't know something, say so.

They just come off as silly to me the way they race around looking for sets or pay an arm and a leg on eBay for sets just to be the first or the only one reviewing it. Don't get me wrong, I run around town looking for sets and have paid WAY too much for minifigs on eBay or at conventions, but they were things I wanted...not things I wanted to get more Internet people to like me.

[Artanis I]

are the orcs from the black gate set the same as the orcs from the Forge...as far as printing goes anyway?

As far as we know, the same head and torso is used in the Black Gate, Corsair, Orthanc, Forge & Warg sets. (Unfortunately)

[Seaber]

Gandalf should be pronounced Gaandalv. Tolkiens Letters is the best place to read up on this.

Therefore EVERY review is wrong and not up to standards. Does it really matter? Not at all.

Can't wait for Gandalf the White!

Edited May 21, 2013 by Seaber

[ZCerberus]

I'm getting kind of tired of all the "he can't pronounce this right" or "he called so and so the wrong thing". Just cause we are more geeky than the reviewers doesn't mean we need to point it out! Let's stick to the set features and the like and get away from how to say Smaug or Gandalf.

Is the reviewer guy with minifig a bit too positive? Does he gloss over part selection? Yes, let's talk about that, not the other stuff.