The Geek and Inkwell

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, dear Geek and Inkwell! Happy birthday to you! Today marks one year to the day that I began writing on this humble little virtual tavern - The Geek and Inkwell. Of course, keeping shop around here would be no fun without readers, so I would like to issue a very heartfelt thanks to anyone who has ever stopped by and to everyone who continues to stop by. We live in a very exciting time for geeks, nerds, and for casual fantasy or science fiction fans, as well, and I feel so fortunate to be able to share my musings and enthusiasm so easily through the invention of the internet and consequently, a blog. Honestly, I am honored that anyone at all takes the time to read and give me feedback on the thoughts I post here. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Screenshot taken in Frostbluff in  The Lord of the Rings Online So, if you are having a glass of anything tonight (hard cider is my favorite!), give it a little raise for o...

 Peter Jackson's  "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"  is the first feature film to be shown at 48 frames per second, as opposed to the usual 24 frames per second, but even so, I loved this film so much that I'm not sure there could ever be enough frames of it to make me happy. As a longtime Tolkien fan, I can assure you that if you are a reasonable person who understands that books and film are two very different mediums, then you will be pleased with - and maybe even excited by - the changes that Jackson brought to the adaptation of our beloved story. The pace is ever so slightly slow in the beginning of the film (not complaining!), and this is understandable because audiences - especially those who have never read the book - need to hear quite a bit of exposition and background before the tale can proceed. Once the quest of Thorin Oakenshield's company is truly underway, however, the pace is breathtaking and there are mishaps and perils at every turn....