I do not have a crush on Legolas. Never did. Despite the fact that his amazing Elvish agility has me gaping at the screen occasionally (at least in the films), I have never been impressed by Orlando Bloom's acting. I have always liked Haldir, though, and his bringing of the Lorien Elves to Helm's Deep.

Favorite characters would have to be Samwise Gamgee, Aragorn, Eowyn and Gandalf, in the books and films. I also really like Faramir in the books, but he lost all his sensitivity in the films, which was too bad.

Favorite scenes...if this means the movies, this will be a very long list:

Frodo meeting Strider at the Prancing Pony.

The Council of Elrond.

Gandalf's speech to Frodo in Moria ("All you have to decide is what to do, etc.")

"You shall not pass!!!" scene with the Balrog.

Boromir's death scene.

The return of Gandalf the White.

The Coming to Edoras.

Eowyn's scene in Edoras when she practices swordfighting.

Aragorn/Arwen's dream sequence and the subsequent Warg battle.

Elrond's foresight of Aragorn's death (the music in that scene always makes me cry).

The battle of Helm's deep.

The Entmoot.

Sam's speech to Frodo about the "old stories".

Pippin and Gandalf in Minas Tirith.

The muster of the Rohirrim in Dunharrow.

"It is but a shadow and a thought that you love" scene with Aragorn and Eowyn.

The scene when Denethor tries to burn both himself and Faramir and Pippin's rescue.

Eowyn's "I am no man" slaying of the Witch-King.

Frodo and Sam talking of the Shire on the slopes of Mount Doom.

Also, in the extended Return of the King, Aragorn mastering the Palantir and the Evenstar necklace breaking.

Regarding my favorite scenes in the books, I really couldn't pinpoint all of them; it would take too long. However, I always find, when I read it, I always skip Tom Bombadil. I know it sounds blasphemous, but I just go from "Shadow of the Past" to "At the Sign of the Prancing Pony."

I could seriously keep going on about the Ring all day long. I really hope Peter Jackson does a film version of the Silmarillion.

Oh, have you read any of Tolkien's shorter stories? I love Farmer Giles of Ham (that is so funny) and Smith of Wooton Major.

You shall not bottom!

Haha, couldn't help that one.

From what I have written, it is probably easy to guess what order the films are in in terms of favorites, but I will put them anyway.

The Two Towers. I have always adored Rohan and Eowyn, Treebeard, and the Battle of Helm's Deep, but I like the continuity of this film. Not burdened with having to explain so much, you can just enjoy the wonder of Middle Earth for what it is and explore the characters in more depth.

The Fellowship of the Ring. I love how Sean Bean plays Boromir, and there is a lot of Gandalf, but I never liked Galadriel and Lothlorien very much. This film is really good for anyone taking an acting class: it's like a crash course of what and what not to do.

The Return of the King. I really like the extended edition, but it feels like there just isn't enough in the regular one. Plus, there isn't NEARLY enough of Faramir and Eowyn in the Houses of Healing in general, and so you lose Eowyn's whole character transformation! I do love all the parts with Sam and Frodo though: "And that's for my old Gaffer!"

I cannot break up the book into my favorite parts; it is all one terrific story to me.

I have not the time to talk much, but......here's to Tolkien and his amazing creations! *lifts imaginary glass*

The whole story is so awesome that I cannot possibly think of it in terms of favourites, because that would be like saying some parts aren't as awesome as other parts, but here are a few of the scenes I love best (mostly from the movie):

Frodo dancing t the start. I mostly just love this because the music is so happy!

Rohan charging to Gondor's aid (again, the music. It's perfectly heartbreakingly perfect....)

Aragorn's inspiring speech at the battelfields. I do wonder why he was the one doing the speechmaking and commanding when Theoden was right there. And they were Theoden's men, weren't they? I really need to reread/rewatch this...

Helmsdeep. Why, Haldir, why?

Tom Bombadil. I really wish this had at least been mentioned in the movie, because Tom is the greatest character...

etc.

In terms of favourite characters, Sam, Gandalf, Eowyn, Faramir, Frodo, Legolas, Aragorn, and Tom Bombadil, are probably my top eight, in roughly that order.

Have any of you read the Silmarillion? I started it, but the wording is SO thick! I'm barely a quarter through and it's already been months since I started....

I LOVE the Silmarillion, despite its medieval prose. It really helps to explain some things, and I like how Galadriel was all rebellious and fled with the Noldor instead of more wisely staying behind. She really seemed like a perilous Elf, and that kind of desire for the unattainable serves to justify her desire for the Ring.

I loved Aragorn's speech, too, and often recite it to myself. "An hour of wolves and shattered shields..." Theoden was already dead; he was slain by the Witch King at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.

By the way, I really love the trailer for RotK. Mostly because of the way they cut the scene between Aragorn and Gandalf at the beginning "Every day Frodo moves closer to Mordor" so that Gandalf's words make more sense. Not to mention the awesome music at the end.

And also from RotK, another favorite scene is Pippin singing as Faramir rides back to Osgilliath.