This will change the way you watch “The Lord of the Rings”

1. A Blindfold

The Lord of the Rings trilogy is an epic masterpiece in every sense of the word. It exists in the early 2000s, just before every big blockbuster required a 3D theatrical release to go along with a 2D screening. But instead of experiencing the film with an extra dimension, why not do so with more limitations rather than fewer?

Why not experience the film with a blindfold?

Take away the depth of a 3D film. Then take away the visuals. You’re left with the A in AV. Audio. Listen in as dwarves grunt, hobbits climb mountains, or someone calls someone else a ‘Balrog’, which may or may not be an insult.

Listening to the movie without a visual aid allows you to re-contextualize it. When Smeagol/Gollum/Andy Serkis crouches in a mo-cap suit squealing ‘My Precious’, you can allow yourself to believe that he is referring to you. You are precious. But only if you watch this trilogy without watching it.

2. Playing an accordion during that scene with the Balrog

As far as musical instruments go, an accordion is one that I have not seen played in the trilogy. Though admittedly I did go for a 35 minute bathroom break. Which is fine, I still saw like 9 and a half hours of it.

But there is poetry lost when filmmakers choose to pay no heed to the accordion. Why have artists for so long foregone this wonderful tool borne from the alliance of piano and weird compression tube thingy? The moment which calls for said instrument of beauty to be played is when Gandalf confronts the Balrog in an attempt to save the rest of the fellowship, and on a more selfish note – die so he can come back with cleaner robes.

Truly, the only thing that would make the moment where Sir Ian Mckellan shouts, “You Shall Not Pass!” would be the deflation of an accordion as he does so.

3. Putting your TV upside-down

If you’re a super-fan of the trilogy, you’ve probably experienced it from different angles. Maybe in the cinema you were sat smack dab in the middle of the audience, then when you purchased it on DVD, you were sat on your couch and viewing it from the left-hand side of the screen, so the angle made Frodo seem a quarter-inch wider or something. My area of expertise is clearly not the science, but it is true that where you place yourself impacts how you view the films. If you haven’t already, try to watch it upside-down.

I will not guarantee a better experience, but I will guarantee a different experience.

4. Shouting “Blooooom” whenever Legolas appears on-screen

We all know the elf Legolas was played by Orlando Bloom, famed star of Lord of the Rings and….something else*, probably. Though his face remains unaltered, his ears & hair are so drastically changed from the norm that you may just forget that the man you are looking at is none other than heartthrob star of Lord of the Rings and others; Orlando Bloom.

To remind yourself, remember to shout “Blooooom” whenever the character Legolas appears on-screen. Particularly during the Two Towers in that moment where Legolas (Bloooom) slides down a staircase on his bow.

*Orlando Bloom was also in Pirates of the Caribbean. He played the guy who was not Johnny Depp.

And those are 4 ways you can change the way you watch Lord of the Rings. It’s a fantastic trilogy, and in order to keep the love for it alive, it is important to start seeing it in different ways.