comment by bmcl1987 - the M stands for meltdown 🤓 (U14177)
posted less than a minute ago
comment by Black Hawk (U16342)
posted 4 seconds ago
As someone with little interest in Harry Potter, I am very unlikely going to play the game. I don't think the gameplay looks particularly good, and I find the franchise as being oversaturated at this point. But I appreciate that people who do love the books, are excited to be fully immersed in the world.

Tolkien had questionable views, but I absolutely the books, film adaptions and games. Unless someone has done something hideous, or there’s an ideological connection between art and artist, then separating the two has never been a problem for me.

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I guess Tolkien isn’t expressing his views on social media in 21st century Britain. I have to say my love of him withered while trying to get through the fangorn forest chapters of the 2 towers. Just remembering sitting as a 10 year old in my bed reading it thinking “why did he have to make it so difficult?”
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I think for many people there parts to his books which drag. I only found The Scouring of The Shire chapter to being a bit needless and silly.

I loved The Hobbit. I like the Lord of Rings, but struggled with it for large parts as a kid.

I actually prefer the Lord of Rings films to the books. Opposite was round with Harry Potter though.

One of the most annoying parts to Harry Potter is the amount of crappy souvenir shops, selling cheap rubbish to tourists and fans.

There’s also a lot of silly parts to the books and films, like time travel, slavery and tying in real world events like WW2.

I think Rowling has made an enormously fun universe for children and adults. But I'm not sure he is a brilliant writer overall.

comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted less than a minute ago
I loved The Hobbit. I like the Lord of Rings, but struggled with it for large parts as a kid.

I actually prefer the Lord of Rings films to the books. Opposite was round with Harry Potter though.
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I have flip-flopped on the films. I think the first two are brilliant, the third is weak overall.

The books I can understand can be a bit much of a slog for some people. I find overall their messages, themes, characters and world are fantastic. They practically invented the fantasy genre.

comment by Black Hawk (U16342)
posted 1 minute ago
One of the most annoying parts to Harry Potter is the amount of crappy souvenir shops, selling cheap rubbish to tourists and fans.

There’s also a lot of silly parts to the books and films, like time travel, slavery and tying in real world events like WW2.

I think Rowling has made an enormously fun universe for children and adults. But I'm not sure he is a brilliant writer overall.

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he?

One of the biggest problems me and my borthers had with Tolkeinn as kids, was that my dad would rave about the books and encourage us to read them.

It really challenged our natural instinct to rebel, as we didn't want to agree that we liked the same things as him.

comment by Black Hawk (U16342)
posted 2 minutes ago
One of the most annoying parts to Harry Potter is the amount of crappy souvenir shops, selling cheap rubbish to tourists and fans.

There’s also a lot of silly parts to the books and films, like time travel, slavery and tying in real world events like WW2.

I think Rowling has made an enormously fun universe for children and adults. But I'm not sure he is a brilliant writer overall.

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We visited Universal studios a few years ago, (amazing) but the HP merch was nuts. One particular shop in diagon alley was selling character wands for $30+. They consisted of a small plastic molded wand in a cardboard box.

They were jumping off the shelves

Bought my daughter a Belatrix wand for £39

"It's got Dragon Heartstring in it Dad"

comment by Robbing Hoody - At the end of a storm (U6374)
posted 1 minute ago
"It's got Dragon Heartstring in it Dad"
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Polypropylenious!

comment by CrouchEndGooner (U13531)
posted 39 minutes ago
https://twitter.com/bbcquestiontime/status/1623820218010112001?t=wM4MLcxi-SD5xyDTRivuTg&s=19

Interesting clip from QT and no doubt Pawl was seething the woman was allowed time to criticise the Tories but notice how Fiona Bruce immediately moves onto someone else

No room for digestion or comment on what the woman said just a straight NEXT
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Haha, I thought it was a one eyed summary from somebody who obviously doesn't like the government (as if they would call a GE at a time when they'd be slaughtered without having to). She's a very good example of the type of person that the audience is full of these days, some of the comments about her are spot on.

I'm sure when she climbs into her BMW 4x4 for the journey home she can feel she's had her say, she's probably getting nailed by her daughters violin tutor when her husbands at his neighbourhood watch meetings.

comment by What would Stuart Pearce do? Who do you think you are kidding Mr.... (U3126)
posted 15 minutes ago
comment by Black Hawk (U16342)
posted 2 minutes ago
One of the most annoying parts to Harry Potter is the amount of crappy souvenir shops, selling cheap rubbish to tourists and fans.

There’s also a lot of silly parts to the books and films, like time travel, slavery and tying in real world events like WW2.

I think Rowling has made an enormously fun universe for children and adults. But I'm not sure he is a brilliant writer overall.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
We visited Universal studios a few years ago, (amazing) but the HP merch was nuts. One particular shop in diagon alley was selling character wands for $30+. They consisted of a small plastic molded wand in a cardboard box.

They were jumping off the shelves
----------------------------------------------------------------------

It's the same for all the merchandise there really. I can't believe anyone buys anything from the parks in Florida.

I think I only bought a Butterbeer when I was in the Harry Potter bit.

comment by What would Stuart Pearce do? Who do you think ... (U3126)
posted 19 minutes ago
comment by Black Hawk (U16342)
posted 2 minutes ago
One of the most annoying parts to Harry Potter is the amount of crappy souvenir shops, selling cheap rubbish to tourists and fans.

There’s also a lot of silly parts to the books and films, like time travel, slavery and tying in real world events like WW2.

I think Rowling has made an enormously fun universe for children and adults. But I'm not sure he is a brilliant writer overall.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
We visited Universal studios a few years ago, (amazing) but the HP merch was nuts. One particular shop in diagon alley was selling character wands for $30+. They consisted of a small plastic molded wand in a cardboard box.

They were jumping off the shelves
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Feckin hell! Although, I'm not really that surprised!

Wouldn't mind trying a few butter beers!

comment by son of quebec (U8127)
posted 26 minutes ago
comment by Black Hawk (U16342)
posted 1 minute ago
One of the most annoying parts to Harry Potter is the amount of crappy souvenir shops, selling cheap rubbish to tourists and fans.

There’s also a lot of silly parts to the books and films, like time travel, slavery and tying in real world events like WW2.

I think Rowling has made an enormously fun universe for children and adults. But I'm not sure he is a brilliant writer overall.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
he?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
They

comment by Robbing Hoody - At the end of a storm (U6374)
posted 32 minutes ago
Bought my daughter a Belatrix wand for £39
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Well at least it worked. It made £39 disappear, just like that.

comment by #4zA - Ha da passa a nuttata (U22472)
posted 12 minutes ago
comment by son of quebec (U8127)
posted 26 minutes ago
comment by Black Hawk (U16342)
posted 1 minute ago
One of the most annoying parts to Harry Potter is the amount of crappy souvenir shops, selling cheap rubbish to tourists and fans.

There’s also a lot of silly parts to the books and films, like time travel, slavery and tying in real world events like WW2.

I think Rowling has made an enormously fun universe for children and adults. But I'm not sure he is a brilliant writer overall.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
he?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
They
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😂

comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by What would Stuart Pearce do? Who do you think you are kidding Mr.... (U3126)
posted 15 minutes ago
comment by Black Hawk (U16342)
posted 2 minutes ago
One of the most annoying parts to Harry Potter is the amount of crappy souvenir shops, selling cheap rubbish to tourists and fans.

There’s also a lot of silly parts to the books and films, like time travel, slavery and tying in real world events like WW2.

I think Rowling has made an enormously fun universe for children and adults. But I'm not sure he is a brilliant writer overall.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
We visited Universal studios a few years ago, (amazing) but the HP merch was nuts. One particular shop in diagon alley was selling character wands for $30+. They consisted of a small plastic molded wand in a cardboard box.

They were jumping off the shelves
----------------------------------------------------------------------

It's the same for all the merchandise there really. I can't believe anyone buys anything from the parks in Florida.

I think I only bought a Butterbeer when I was in the Harry Potter bit.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I have the receipt knocking about somewhere I kept from a lunch at Disney. Was something like $48 for two meals comparable to a big mac meal.

The RMT rail union has rejected the latest offers from both Network Rail and the train operating companies in the long-running dispute over pay, job security and working conditions.

Oh dear

Just belligerence from both sides now, govt have admitted it would have been cheaper to go with the RMTs initial terms than go through all this but neither side will back down now.

I think the dispute will go on beyond the next election

comment by Black Hawk (U16342)
posted 1 hour, 52 minutes ago
comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted less than a minute ago
I loved The Hobbit. I like the Lord of Rings, but struggled with it for large parts as a kid.

I actually prefer the Lord of Rings films to the books. Opposite was round with Harry Potter though.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I have flip-flopped on the films. I think the first two are brilliant, the third is weak overall.

The books I can understand can be a bit much of a slog for some people. I find overall their messages, themes, characters and world are fantastic. They practically invented the fantasy genre.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
He pretty much did.

But other authors have gone beyond him I feel, as much as I love the LOTR books off the top of my head I can think of four other fantasy series I prefer

Joe Abercrombies First law series

Robin Hobbs realm of the elderlings

A song of Ice and fire (incomplete obviously)

And for more high fantasy: Malazan book of the fallen.

Not saying RMT should back down btw, they shouldnt

But the strikes are doing nothing to move the negotiations their way, it's just damaging the economy through disruption to commuters and a lot of people WFH as well as costing us public money as the govt bails out the companies

comment by Insert random username (U10647)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Black Hawk (U16342)
posted 1 hour, 52 minutes ago
comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted less than a minute ago
I loved The Hobbit. I like the Lord of Rings, but struggled with it for large parts as a kid.

I actually prefer the Lord of Rings films to the books. Opposite was round with Harry Potter though.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I have flip-flopped on the films. I think the first two are brilliant, the third is weak overall.

The books I can understand can be a bit much of a slog for some people. I find overall their messages, themes, characters and world are fantastic. They practically invented the fantasy genre.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
He pretty much did.

But other authors have gone beyond him I feel, as much as I love the LOTR books off the top of my head I can think of four other fantasy series I prefer

Joe Abercrombies First law series

Robin Hobbs realm of the elderlings

A song of Ice and fire (incomplete obviously)

And for more high fantasy: Malazan book of the fallen.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I am enjoying reading The Witcher stories

comment by Ignacio Varga (U11781)
posted 13 minutes ago
The RMT rail union has rejected the latest offers from both Network Rail and the train operating companies in the long-running dispute over pay, job security and working conditions.

Oh dear
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Expected really

comment by #4zA - Ha da passa a nuttata (U22472)
posted 13 minutes ago
comment by Insert random username (U10647)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Black Hawk (U16342)
posted 1 hour, 52 minutes ago
comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted less than a minute ago
I loved The Hobbit. I like the Lord of Rings, but struggled with it for large parts as a kid.

I actually prefer the Lord of Rings films to the books. Opposite was round with Harry Potter though.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I have flip-flopped on the films. I think the first two are brilliant, the third is weak overall.

The books I can understand can be a bit much of a slog for some people. I find overall their messages, themes, characters and world are fantastic. They practically invented the fantasy genre.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
He pretty much did.

But other authors have gone beyond him I feel, as much as I love the LOTR books off the top of my head I can think of four other fantasy series I prefer

Joe Abercrombies First law series

Robin Hobbs realm of the elderlings

A song of Ice and fire (incomplete obviously)

And for more high fantasy: Malazan book of the fallen.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I am enjoying reading The Witcher stories
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The first book was great, the story gets a bit lost I feel as the books go on.