well I don't think I would be able to explain it to you
One friend I chat to from Interference said "it bores him dead"I love that and use that phrase regularly now. It's so cute.
Should I attempt to explain what it is that some people see in something to other people?
Probably not, but here goes.....
JRR Tolkien, wrote "The Hobbit" as an adventure story for his children.Nothing grand, just a tale of adventure.
He was rather saddened by the death of his friends during WW1( he served in the Somme, only one of three returned) I think in LOTR he was just trying to express some of the grief and horror he experienced there. He didn't really want to write such an epic, but his good friend was a publisher and persisted in asking him to write more...amd more.It has been suggested the one ring is a metaphor for the nuclear bomb." father forgive them, they know not what they do."
If you can find a book called "Letters to Father Christmas "( something like that, I loaned my copy out and never received it back, so that title is not accurate) you may be a bit more entertained by Tolkien. That's mainly what I perceive about him, his love and incredible energy and output. he was orphaned early in his life, so I find his achievemnts even more remarkable.
Not only was he quite a good writer imho, he also did some beautiful and witty paintings. I think mainly he just loved language and children. I think many of the people who are excited about the movie, fell in love with the book and it's characters first.
I think Peter Jackson has crafted his tale for the cinema screen beautifully.
As for the nerds who dress up? I went to the premiere in my little town. I wore green velvet and a crystal necklace to express my love of JRR. I wasn't a "character" from the story as such, but felt happy to be part of what we thought of as a special day. It was the day after Christmas too, so a feeling of love and sharing was in the air. One man there had made a Gimli outfit, his wife was dressed as Galadriel. I don't think they are nerds. I know they are school teachers,and dance instructors and celtic harp makers....maybe that makes them nerds. I know they are kind-hearted...nerdy too?Maybe if you think of it like people who wear U2 tshirts, you may understand a little more. It has something to do with love and respect ...and fun.
It's all just a matter of what each individual enjoys and is interested in. It is wonderful to hear Tolkien referred to as part of "popular culture" Once again I'll repeat what I said in the "Two Towers Stoke" I wish he had lived to know all this.
As for people who sleep through movies and television etc....I don't think it always has to do with the excitement or the quality of what is being viewed. There are a lot of sleepy people about these days.
I have just discovered an authour that is even older than Tolkien and the first paragraph I just read, reminded me instantly of this place...
Marcus Aurelius
" begin each day by telling yourself: Today I shall be meeting with interference, ingratitude, insolence, disloyalty, ill-will and selfishness - all of them due to the offenders' ignorance of what is good and evil.......
for he and I were born to work together, like a man's two hands...."
I thought it was so funnyl to see old "O'Really Us" referring to INterference waaaaaaaaaaay back then. How did he know do you suppose?
It's a case of you either get it or you don't....I'm sure that attempted explaination helped