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One would perhaps imagine that years of immersion in the world of JRR Tolkien would bring someone closer to the world view of the great man?
But apparently not if you are an actor:
From Wikipedia - Ian McKellen's page.
[Ian McKellen - aged 74] has a tattoo of the Elvish number nine, written using Tengwar, on his shoulder in reference to his involvement in the Lord of the Rings and the fact that his character was one of the original nine companions of the Fellowship of the Ring. The other actors of "The Fellowship" (Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Orlando Bloom, Billy Boyd, Sean Bean, Dominic Monaghan, and Viggo Mortensen) have the same tattoo. John Rhys-Davies, whose character was also one of the original nine companions, arranged for his stunt double to get the tattoo instead.
So... getting tattooed with a number written in elvish script is seen as a tribute to Tolkien, and a 'mark' of solidarity with the values of the Nine Walkers of the Fellowship.
Yaas...
It would surely have been a more appropriate gesture of solidarity if the tattoos had been done in the Black Speech?
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2 comments:
Do bear in mind that Sir Ian has chosen a life of extreme spiritual unrighteousness generally - so much so that I have trouble truly enjoying the Jackson films' depiction of Gandalf, because I can never quite lose awareness how un-Gandalf-like the actor is.
Many people are drawn to God through Tolkien, but one's receptiveness to the Christian themes undoubtedly depends on the extent to which one has already compromised one's capacity for spiritual discernment.
I've read a lot of websites where you find people (usually young) desperately trying to harmonize LOTR with modern secular values.
Also on the topic of Hollywood figures failing utterly to comprehend the meaning of Tolkien's worldview: previews are now available for the next installment of Jackson's Hobbit, in which one can catch a glimpse of the wholly invented new elven warrioress.
See this brief news piece, for example:
What we do know, thanks to Lilly, is the new elf is definitely a warrior. Head of the Elven guard to be exact.
What Peter, Fran (Walsh) and Philippa (Boyens) have done is all in perfect keeping with Tolkien’s world, while adding a third dimension to an otherwise very two-dimensional story.”
"Head of the Elven Guard"?
What a rape of Tolkien's worldview. I do believe I may decline to see this film.
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