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One does not simply watch all three movies in a row and not quote a meme from it

To be honest, the first time I marathoned the trilogy was last New Year when I was down bad with the flu. Unable to do anything other than lay on the couch, I thought “well I’ve never seen the extended versions before” and watched all of it while in something of a haze the whole time… but the beautiful music score and familiar dialogue of characters I loved was very comforting at the time.

Protect this woman at all costs.

My wife and I started a LOTOR extended edition marathon back in 2020. We did the whole hobbit meals throughout the day as well and named it HOBBITSGIVING, as it replaced Thanksgiving that year. Glad to hear other Tolkien lovers are doing something similar.

real fans watch the version where every time sam takes a step, he says ‘if i take one more step, it’ll be the farthest away from home I’ve ever been.’

I agree. I will never be able to not bring up Viggo actually breaking his toe when he kicks the helmet. And most of the time, I also have to mention the flag flying off to the ground as being completely unplanned.

Fun fact: I am currently on a deadline for an important project which I have to submit in two days. These last three months have been actual Hell. So, to celebrate my imminent freedom, I plan on having friends come by for a Lord of the Rings marathon, which is something I haven't done in a while. This video couldn't have come at a better time.

I have hosted two LOTR marathons, and you are so right, it’s a great way to experience these movies with friends! I went a bit more over the top than you did (I know, hard to imagine 😊) and I did did meals pulled from the books wherever possible. Such as: full English breakfast for first breakfast; apples tossed to everyone for second breakfast; lunch was the meal from the Inn at the Prancing Pony (soup, cold meats, bread, butter, half a ripe cheese, blackberry tart); Lembas bread, of course; a Seed Cake for afternoon tea; raw fish (sushi), rabbit stew and a golden cake made in the shape of a ring. For beverages we had tea, cucumber water (Ent Water), ale, mead, mulled cider. I had help from some of the guests and I made much of it ahead of time. I had a spreadsheet similar to yours. But I love the idea of a walk before the last movie. Must schedule that in if I do it again!

I did this for my family a few years ago. One very important lesson... keep the portions small! It's a lot of "meals" to be eating when you're just sitting all day. Think of trying to do more like grazing than meals. I did pastries and hot cocoa for first breakfast, porridge, bacon, and juice for second. Fruit bowl for elevensies. Luncheon was a beef stew and Apple Beer. For Tea we had lemon zinger tea with scones. Dinner was Cornish game hens, roast potatoes and carrots with gravey, Stove top stuffing, and martinellies sparkling cider. For supper we just did a charcuterie board. But by the time we hit the end we were all in a food coma and didn't want to move. Next time we will think much smaller scale.

a note on frosting cakes, it helps a lot if the cake is frozen, this is how we did all the cakes when I worked in a bakery.

I have honestly done over 100 lord of the rings marathons since the movies came out. I think I might have a problem, but I’m not going to stop

I did an LoTR marathon years ago with the extended editions and the hobbit movies. It lasted about 20 hours and I was the only one who didn't fall asleep during it. So that was maybe not the way to do it... It was pretty fun and unhinged though. We had a lot of meals, tea, fun decorations, and an impromptu crab running performance at one point.

Couldn’t agree more on the walk break! We have taken this one step further and we do traveling marathons! 3 different households host, one for each movie. We live in an urban area, so things overall are nice and walkable. It allows for good stretch breaks, and also keeps the literal day-long movie event from feeling like a slog, since you are changing up the scenery. It also helps with food prep, as each host only has to do food for 1/3 of the day rather than the whole thing. (Plus people can stop at bakeries and grocery stores in-between houses to pick up more food.) We’ve done this multiple times with big success. If you’ve got 2 other friends you can rope in, I highly recommend trying it! :)

I didn't even skip through the sponsor segment! I hope those guys take "note" of that!

I have LOTR extended version on the tv every Thanksgiving as I cook. It's my own personal tradition. The guests usually only get to watch the last movie with me. 😊

One advantage of being part of a volunteer group running a rural Bavarian cinema is that it becomes your second living room and you can commandeer it for a Lord of the Rings marathon. First time we had a private event with a pot-luck for sustenance, and employed the cinema's enormous coffee-machine. Unfortunately, since we used a DVD, there was a lot of dispute going on over the language options. Second time we had an official event including paying guests. We sent away some minors because of regulations only for them to reappear with their parents in tow who made a ruckus and forced us to let them in anyway. We had to nail massive planks over the lady's restroom's windows to protect them from the casual archery which happened in the yard between movies. Good times! Maybe the 20th anniversary would be a fitting occasion to repeat this.

Just stumbled upon this channel due to the Boromir book vs movie analysis (favourite character ever lol) and wow, what a beautiful find! A cozy, chill atmosphere, great knowledge of the lore, and just a generally nice channel host - you've earned yourself a sub, thanks for blessing this platform with your works!

The salted pork is particularly good.

Some great recipes in there! Re the shepherds pie thing, shepherd's pie is specifically made with lamb or mutton because shepherd=sheep herd, if it's made with beef it's called a cottage pie.

Dude the timing!! I'm thinking of rewatching Lotr right now! It's been really stressful at work lately and whenever I feel particularly stressed I turn to Middle Earth for comfort. It's my safe space. 😁

Mad respect for your spreadsheet game Jess. Excel-lent.......... I'll see myself out.

I feel like a collab with Tasting History would be epic for this type of episode or your food ones. Love your vids and channel! New subscriber!

On your topic of organizing in detail, in advance. I totally agree. It is well known that you are best served by breaking down a project into its smallest parts. In addition to creating a smoother run event, you also shake out any problems, time sinks, and additional resource requirements when you look st how the small parts work together. Of course, it also can help avoid being overwhelmed by large projects. This same technique work for scheduling anything. Putting thought into more than just the start time of a meeting helps ensure you arrive on time and perform effectively when you do arrive. I do this all the time and I find myself just following my schedule alarms and instructions with little stress on the day of the event(s).

I'm so glad you're getting sponsorships, Jess. 😃

Make popcorn, grab your preferred beverage, sit comfortably, press play, profit.

After you have the hobbit food marathon, you can do the "Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli Ultramarathon". I've read that it's about 135 miles. With the popularity of ultrarmarathons these days I'm surprised that some running group in New Zealand hasn't created this.

If I had planned and prepared all that, I would be so exhausted that I would sleep through the marathon!

My wife, son, and I are doing a LotR marathon over this Memorial Day weekend. We started tonight (Sunday) with the Fellowship and will do the rest tomorrow. Tonight we had the two breakfasts. For first breakfast, we had stuffed French toast, and for second breakfast we had taters, sausages, and nice crispy bacon. Tomorrow, for elevensees we're using your fruit platter idea. Luncheon will be a homemade tomato soup and grilled cheese. Afternoon Tea we'll have cookies with herbal tea. Dinner will be chicken and dumplings, and supper will be a blackberry and apple pie. A good amount of the recipes I'm using are from the Halfling section of the D&D cookbook.

My yearly marathon involves all 3 extended versions of the trilogy and occurs around New Year. My BF was never much of a LOTR fan, but living with a Tolkien nerd has opened up a new world for him (or perhaps he just endures it because he's a great guy!)

My marathon is the extended versions - boo ya!

Never happened with any other youtuber to NOT skip sponsors or video ending because they are so nice and it would be rude on my part.

Shepherds Pie = Lamb. Cottage Pie = Beef. They are the same thing except one is lamb and one is beef lol Edit: great ideas and well put together video though!! Just had to point out that fact to you :D

Taking a walk is exactly what my previous marathons were missing

what a wonderful feast you prepared. to use a new england colloquialism, "yum".

This would honestly be the best day of my life

The "Go for a walk" advice is so good. I am definitely going to use this, and basically all the other advice as well :) Thank you!

Actually clapped and cheered when the one bit of trivia you couldn't resist sharing was EXACTLY what I knew it would be (because, same) 😆

I've been to plenty of LotR marathon parties. Most of them were pot-luck, but the host provided most of it. My contribution was always "Elf Ears." Simply deep fried cheese tortellini with marinara sauce to dip them in. They were a huge it!

One thing I always do when hosting a marathon: get them to come to your house the night before. That way, you can start way earlier

I usually do a three day marathon starting with a 'fan edit' 4 hour version of The Hobbit then the extended version of LOTR. Grilled ham and cheese sandwiches and a high end bottle of Zinfandel seems to do it nicely.

Jealous? Me? No, of course not... Sounds like a lot of fun :)

The first time my now girlfriend was at my house, it was my birthday and we, who at the time weren't a couple yet, had decided to watch lord of the rings extended edition together in one sitting with no sleep. She hadn't seen the movies prior, at all, but I somewhat teased her with memes. Well, we got through fellowship and half of the two towers. Then we were so tired, we had to stop. However, we finished all the movies in the weekend and shortly after, we became a couple. Interestingly, she preferred the hobbit movies, because the story is less grand in scale.

Next we need the longer (full Tolkien) marothon version.... extended versions of every lotr, hobbit, and rings of power, in a row!..... XD

This is like my Pinterest feed made into a how-to video. Love it!! I hope I get to host something like this someday

*go home Sam scene is about to come on* I NEED TO TAKE OUT THE PIE! *runs out* I actually watched the sponsored segment this time because it seemed relevant.

Wow, I need a friend like you! You did so much work for that marathon!

This is awesome! You did a great job and have definitely inspired me to do something similar next time I have a re-watch.

Very impressive spreadsheet. Now I just need to figure out how to tack on 5 hours so I can include my favorite hobbit edit.

Hello Jess! I wanted to say thank you for the great video and inspiration. I love you videos and am so happy your finally getting sponsors!

I have just recently discovered your channel, and I love, love, love your videos!! I do a LoTR marathon every year in December, but it's just me on my own or with my son... but I do envy that you have a group of like-minded friends with whom to enjoy the best movies ever made. Thank you for your excellent videos.

Recently discovered your channel and I love it! Always makes me wanna watch LOTR AGAIN

HA! good stuff! I saw the hobbit meals coming a mile away! Great idea for how to do such a thing. Sounds like a hoot! Can't wait to hear about some of the insights you got from your guests!

Wow you pulled that off really well. Everything sounded and looked delicious. I'll have to look for your video making lembas bread. It sounds intriguing. Thank you for sharing this.

Beautiful creativity!!

Me and my friend call our marathon a Ringathon :)

Great tips in the video. My boyfriend and I have an annual marathon (sometimes two a year). We’ve never taken a walk between TT and ROTK though. That’s definitely going to make our next marathon so much better! ❤

I love this idea so much! I for sure am going to give it a try

omg, Jess, your spreadsheet! I promise, you are among folks who understand :) Such a smart use of tech to keep yourself on track!

I remember having a marathon when the movies came out. We would meet at one friend's house the weekend before the movie. We would then watch the previous movie. We had food and took breaks to discuss theories and predictions for the upcoming movie. When the last movie came out we broke up the event over two days. It was great fun and it made meeting up for the theater that much more fun. Of course, each time we went to the newly released movie it was an EVENT. Similar to Starwars and even Startrek movies people dressed up. I would like to add in here, that fans have been dressing up for starwars and startrek long before comicons became such big deals. Unlike back in the 70s/80s/90s we were able to reserve seats so there was no real need to sit out in a long line. But for our viewings of the LoTR people still lined up early. It was fun meeting and talking with so many like-minded fans.

The fam and I usually watch the extended LOTR over Thanksgiving holiday. I love the idea of making food to accompany the films. I nice mulled wine would probably go great with the shepheard's pie. Yum.

What an awesome idea! !!!

You are wonderful. Love you and your videos. LLAP 🖖

Seven meals in one day would be a bit much for me (both eating and cooking), but I’d love to do something like this with my friends sometime!

I was a member of a nation trivia group that was online. When I learned LOTR was coming up I binged everything LOTR. All the extended editions, the addendum videos, read the books, I mean everything. When I played the trivia game I had a couple button pushers to help. Well we finished 1st or 2nd in the tournament going on all my selections. I've got to do this again, it was so much fun. And beings LOTR & HOBBIT are my favorite books and movies why not...lol. Just remembered i even watched all the credits on each movie and glad I did... they had a question from there...lol.

First time viewer, just wanted to say that you mogged all of your friends.

Jess : makes cozy little video and an amazing spreadsheet and provides recipes Jackasses only take away: It’s cottage pie!!! 😂😂😂

Here in Austin at the Alamo Drafthouse was the first time I heard there was a screening for all three extended cuts back to back to back with a full hobbit multi-course menu included. Prob around 2005.

I highly recommend stuffed bell peppers as a meal - ground beef, finely chopped veg and rice cooked with herbs and stock of choice, stuffed in hollowed peppers and topped with cheese, baked in the oven. Comfort food. For breakfast I can also recommend waffles with bacon pieces in the mixture and topped with syrup. Maple bacon is a winning combo. Salty, sweet, perfect. It's been a while since my last lotr marathon and now that you mention it, it might be time for another

I love how we have so many people doing this we need a how to video on KZfaq ❤😂

I was sick over the past week and a half and did about 4 marathons of these movies in that time. It was the easiest way to pass the time with something I can quote and visualize from memory while turned the other way in bed.

Once I marathoned the movies, but I also included The Hobbit (1977) and the album Nightfall in Middle-earth. That, uh, that was too much. Round about the middle of The Two Towers, I was feeling exhausted.

So, when are you starting your cooking channel? The food was beautiful and looked absolutely delicious!!!

Great marathon food tips, but that mug tho'. 🤩

That dinosaur mug is incredible, where can I get one?

10:27 I was watching Two Towers with my mom yesterday and I paused the movie here just to tell her Viggo broke his foot. XD And you are not alone in your excel sheet extravaganza. I'm rather infamous for using them.

Imma see if my thxgiving guests want to turn it into a LOTR marathon.

Loved that Shepard's Pie Much better than what I see around here passed off as that dish Mashed Potatoes with corn, peas, and ground beek mixed in Ick

You're funny, in a good way. Just Imagine you in your 60s+ reading books to children, helping them find their own path, making Bilbo-style faces and gestures. And baking cookies of course 🙂 Have a nice day

Shepherd's pie for supper? It's a light meal! Sounds delicious though, especially with the red wine.

It's super easy, barely an inconvenience.

To be honest, I'm starving now and going to eat hummus sandwich and pasta leftovers because I had nothing else in my fridge rn 😁Thank you Jess for breaking my healthy diet today 🙌

If a man hasn’t put the one ring on your finger yet I’d be shocked cause you’re precious. Love the channel thanks for your wonderful videos!

I remember doing a 9-movie marathon of all the main Star Wars films with my friends overnight. After living on a chips and soft-drink diet only for 24 hours straight for a marathon, I can confirm it is necesarry to have good food. And I can confirm again, the walks were the only things keeping us alive.

You might be one of the few to enjoy this marathon counterpoint to yours: You had a group of friends over for a hobbitey time that means comfort. I was alone on a business trip to New Zealand and found myself near to Edoras. So, I managed to find a video store that rented my 3 dvd's and a DVD player and I watechd all 3 movies in the hotel room with junk food. It was a bleary next morning when a 6 wheeled vehicl picked me up. The rest is largely in the film, but I do have a picture with a sword!

I’ve been wanting to host a marathon for YEARS. But the idea of preparing so much food freaks me out, I didn’t consider making it a potluck until now though!!

*sees spreadsheet*: ...me

I think we need to call Alcoholic Hobbits Anonymous after hearing this meal plan

Love me a good spreadsheet!

As opposed to the Lord of the Rings Death March, which is the same except you have to sit on wooden kitchen chairs and you only get a bathroom break twice, once at the end of Felloship, and once at the end of Two Towers.

That chicken soup looks and sounds good and wanna try it myself.

Wow, you're amazing. You put so much thought and work into this. I may have a little major crush on you. You have some incredibly lucky friends 🙂

So yesterday was my birthday so I already know my plans for this year ... but now I know what I'm doing for next year

This sounds wonderful! Unfortunately I've never had the pleasure of sharing a group viewing. Hopefully one day. You forgot one VERY important item though... Kleenex...if you're like me, there's going to be tears... lot's of em! 😭🤣. 🖖😁🤘🇨🇦

You are awesome and amazing so when do the other 63k of us come over for a marathon?

I do a middle earth marathon every year. I try to do a meal plan but I always screw it up😂

😊 this is nice.

10:24 I KNEW IT I'M SO HAPPY

❤ spreadsheets 🧡❤💛💚💙💜

This has made me hungry. Has anyone heard the rumor that the 25th Anniversary edition could be even longer than the “extended edition”?