Hobbits, Elves, Wizards and Dwarves. Those are the main characters in the famed
trilogy Lord of the Rings, as thought of by J.R.R. Tolkien. Part one and two of the book have already been launched wit huge
success to the silver screen. Frodo, Gandalf, Aragorn and Legolas grabbed a place in peoples hearts immediately. Last night
at one past midnight
the last part (Return of the King) made it to the cinema.
About fifty cinemas in Holland
decided to put on part one and two as well for this special occasion. The Royalcinema in Heerlen
even chose put organize a real moviemarathon. Lord of the Rings as a whole: for 17,50 Euro from four in the afternoon until
four at night with breaks between each film. The imagination of J.R.R. Tolkien led to a full house. With bags of crisps and
bottles of soda, everyone worked to the absolute climax: the crowning piece of the trilogy.
To be taken into an enchanted world; long live mysticism. At three oclock the queue in front of the theater is long, and still growing. A quick cigarette and on inside.
Besides the heart, the biorythms are also aflutter. Sleeping is skipped for a night. 'And all this when I have to be on the
seven o'clock train tomorrow', Mieneke Verhoef (22) from Heerlen
sighs. For the occasion, she is dressed in a green Elven costume. 'This is so special; a great story. I've seen part one seventy
times, and part two twenty times. But now I want to see the whole movie, all three
parts in a row.' Just like Willem Bogaerts (37) from Delft ('I met him at a fantasy
fair') she grew up with the works of Tolkien. 'My father used to read to us from it. Wonderful'. All ready for twelve hours
of movie. 'My colleagues think I'm crazy,' Bogaerts smiles. 'But I dont care.'
In the cinema, middle of the back row, Jos Rikers (47) is relaxing in the plush
seat. 'We're going to watch a movie, lovely.' It will be a movie thats twelve hours long though. 'I'm really excited now,
Im not sure it will stay that way though.' Next to him, his sixteen year old son René and his friend Florian Smit. 'My wife
is the only one home right now,' Jos Rikers laughs. 'She fell asleep during part one. I've seen both one and two a lot of
times, but they're always beautiful.'
Laurens van Bergen, owner of the Royal cinema in Heerlen,
enjoys the enthusiasm of the crowd. 'Of course, the financial side is great for me too. I think a lot of people are wrong,
twelve hours of film is a lot. They're underestimating that.'
The 22 year old Raymond Backus and Peter Meij from Maastricht
are quickly eating a pizza. 'We came directly from school; haven't been able to sleep ahead, but we'll manage'. The duo are
fervent fans of Lord of the Rings. 'And tonight is the climax. You just have to be there. We brought 23 cans of Red Bull,
so staying awake won't be a problem. And if it gets tough, we'll just mime all the lines. We saw one and two often enough
to know who says what.'
Mieneke Verhoef and Willem Bogaerts wear fitting costumes to the 'The Lord
of the Rings' movie-marathon
