Viggo Mortensen Wanted More From Lord of The Rings

Without a doubt, The Lord of The Rings trilogy was one of the biggest cinematic events of the 21st Century to date. But while the films have earned themselves millions upon millions of fans, some would have still liked to see them stick a bit closer to the books, Viggo Mortensen included.

Back in January 2017, Empire decided to celebrate the 15th anniversary of The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring by having its stars interview each other. When it came to Viggo Mortensen, it was up to Billy Boyd to ask the questions. Asked if the film was missing anything he would have liked to see from Tolkein’s original text, Mortensen had this to say:

“I’d like to have seen what Peter Jackson would have done with the character Ghân-buri-Ghân, the chief of the Drúedain, wild men of the Drúadan Forest. Seeing him lead King Théoden and his army of Rohirrim through the forest to join the fight to save Minas Tirith would have been thrilling. Towards the end of Tolkien’s The Return Of The King, the Forest of Drúadan is given by newly-crowned Aragorn to Ghân and his people for their exclusive use, leaving it to them to decide that from then on if anyone else is to be allowed to enter it. I suppose all of that extra material would have given the already thematically complex and quite lengthy movie far too long a running time and an overwhelming amount of information for viewers to easily assimilate. Die-hard Tolkien aficionados, however, might have enjoyed the character, as he is a one-of-a-kind noble descendant of prehistoric humans.”

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Action Packed Shows From the DC Universe

Think Marvel holds the monopoly when it comes to great TV shows based on comics? Think again! When you’re looking for a worthy alternative to the mainstream movies and TV that Marvel has to offer, here are two great DC TV shows that are definitely worth binging!

Supergirl. Although the show experienced some production complications after a move from CBS to the CW, it’s still going strong and it’s as exciting, not to mention empowering, as ever! Set in an alternate reality, the show makes excellent use of Superman characters like Lex Luthor, Bizarro, and even Superman himself. Fans are hoping for some sort of crossover with the Arrowverse, especially since the show shares the same creators and now finds itself on the same network, so it may be worth closely following the storyline to see what develops.

Gotham. After five seasons of stories from the streets of Gotham, the show has now come to an end, but that’s not stopping fans from streaming their favorite episodes again and again. What started out as a gritty crime drama following Gotham PD’s Jim Gordon and Harvey Bullock, the show’s somewhat lackluster start quickly turned around once the writers started incorporating more Batman lore, with the fifth and final season bringing about Bruce Wayne’s transformation into the Caped Crusader. Now available on Netflix, it’s more accessible than ever and finding new fans on the daily.

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Give The Gift of Experience

With the holidays coming up and holiday shopping season well underway, it’s tempting to pick up any old gift off the rack for the sake of getting the gift buying over and done with. But this year why not make it truly special by gifting an experience? From wine tasting to brewery tours, evenings out on the town to exotic getaways, and the odd extreme activity thrown into the mix, experience gifts are a better bet this holiday season, and here are three reasons why.

They may already have it. We live in a consumer culture, and with online shopping more accessible than ever most people already have what they really need. Rather than try to guess what your loved ones are after in hopes you don’t buy them something they already have, consider an experience that will always be fun even if it’s not something new.

Memories last forever. That’s right, the old cliche is true, material good really do fade whereas experiences and memories really do last forever, especially if someone is around to take a picture! It may just be a matter of years, possibly even months before that tech is out of date, and it’s only a matter of time before the fabric fades on those new clothes, but the memory of a fun experience will remain the rest of their days!

A shared experience is an opportunity to bond. For the gift that’s extra special, join your loved one on that experience of a lifetime and share the memories! It’ll be a bonding experience like no other, something that will last far longer than any object ever could.

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Adventure Novels to Choose for Your Next Read

With so many titles to choose from in the world of action and adventure literature, it may be difficult to choose your next read. Here are three adventure novels that are well worth reading, and would make great choices for your next book.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. Thanks in no small part to Steven Spielberg's hit adaptation, 2011’s Ready Player One managed to become one of the bestsellers of 2018. Set in 2045, Cline tells the story of Wade Watts, a teen competing for fame and fortune in a virtual competition filled with 80s themed puzzles.

Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs. The timeless tale of the man raised by apes who came to rule the Jungle remains to this day one of the most famous and most adapted stories ever told. Orphaned in the jungle after a plane crash, Tarzan learns of his heritage when coming into contact with humans. A true classic!

Beau Geste by Percival Christopher Wren. Considered by many to be an accurate depiction of life in the French Foreign Legion, Beau Geste is set in the years before World War I and depicts scenes of battle and cruelty. Led by eldest Michael (known by his nickname Beau),the Geste brothers enlist in the Foreign Legion as a way of following their old-fashioned ideals of “doing the right thing.”

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Bombs Away! Unusual Explosive Tales

War can often be tragic and devastating, with losses adding up on both sides and justification for the battles often blurred at best. That said, some unusual and entertaining stories have certainly come from war and the military, particularly when it comes to bombs and bombings. Here are two strange and unusual bomb-related tales that are bound to have you scratching your head.

Bombs away! Allied forces dropped an estimated 2.7 million tons of bombs on Germany during World War II. However, due to certain defects in their delay timers, many of those bombs never exploded, an estimated 200,000 tons worth. Unexploded bombs are routinely found throughout Germany to this very day, resulting in many emergency evacuations of thousands of German citizens while the materials are removed.

Bombs away! Part 2. In 1958, a B-47 plane armed with an atomic bomb larger than the one dropped on Nagasaki was heading to the United Kingdom from the United States. When the pilots noticed an indicator light reporting a fault one of them decided to investigate,and in doing so he accidentally released the emergency pin, resulting in the bomb dropping from the plane over the unsuspecting populace of South Carolina. Luckily, a critical component required in setting off the bomb was still on the plane, and the bomb never exploded.

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The Many Lives of Tarzan

Fans of all ages have been entertained for decades with stories of the mighty Tarzan, but with so many adaptations of the character it may be hard to pinpoint his origins.

Tarzan was created by author Edgar Rice Burroughs, who was also quite known for creating the much loved character John Carter, among others. Tarzan of the Apes, published in 1912, served as the world’s introduction to the character and Burroughs would pen 25 sequels before his death. Countless others would borrow Tarzan to tell his tale, be it authorized or not, making Tarzan one of the most widely recognizable characters in literary fiction.

As the story goes, at the tender age of one Tarzan and his parents, a British lord and lady, were marooned on the Atlantic coast of Africa by mutineers. Tarzan’s mother would perish in the incident, while his father would die at the hands of Kerchak, the leader of the ape tribe who would later adopt the boy. Raised by apes, Tarzan, once known as John Clayton, would lose his connection to humanity until a young woman named Jane Porter would find herself marooned, alongside her father and members of their crew, on the same part of the coast. When Jane left the island Tarzan did as well in search of his love, and the two would eventually marry.

Although the main plot devices and characters remain largely unchanged, the story of Tarzan has seen countless adaptations in the worlds of radio, television, film, novels, and comic books, each adaptation bringing its own unique tone to the timeless tale.

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How To Write A Compelling Adventure Story

When it comes to writing anything at all, it can be a bit difficult to know where to start. Adventure stories are no different. In fact, they can be more difficult for some people to write if they don’t have a clear goal for themselves and their storyline. Here are some questions to ask yourself while you’re in the process of writing the next great adventure story:

1. What does the story revolve around? Is it an object, a power, an idea, or even another person? The creative license here is almost infinite. It’s obviously your choice. Be creative, and when you answer this question and define the focus of the story, you will have your starting point.

2. Define the context of the adventure. What is the history behind it? What is its significance to the story’s characters? Here is part of your character's motives for doing what they do.

3. Where does the story take place? By answering this question, you’re helping set the mood and influence aspects of the story such as character behavior and dialogue. Adventures usually involve some kind of travel, so you have the creative license to make it very interesting here!

4. Who is your adventurer/hero/protagonist? Is there just one, or are there multiple people? What are their stories? And why are they so interested in whatever the story revolves around? These questions build a strong character, along with personality and verve.

5. What is the objective of the story? Are the bad guys determined to stop your protagonist from getting to something? Why is it so important to them? Use these questions to further define the storyline and solidify it.

Once these pieces of your story are dealt with, the rest comes quite easily. Reading some other adventure books could definitely help your juices flow. The Twin Powers, by Robert Lipsyte, is a fun read about twin brothers on a space adventure to save their worlds by an alien invasion. That and more thrilling adventure novels are available on our online library, www.questsky.com. Go take a look!