Lord of The Rings Exhibition

Being a fairly big geek, I have been to see various exhibits of movie props over the years. I chanced upon the exhibit of Star Wars movie props up in Chicago and had the chance to see a local collectors sci-fi props and replicas a few years back. One thing that has always struck me is how... cheap... the props look when viewed up close. I mean - how did we really fall for it when all of the buttons on Darth Vaders respirator chest peice look like they were painted sloppily with Testors model paint? But we do fall for it and the magic of the big screen takes over, giving us our own brand of myth and wonder for the modern age.

However this was different.

When Jackson created his epic trilogy, he may have relied on computers to fill in the gaps, but everything else was so painstakingly put together, you couldn't help but believe a Hobbit could fly... or something. And here was the proof - right in front of me.

Items that lived for brief moments on the screen were there, from the intricate etchings on the armor of Sauron to the writtings on the scrolls that Gandalf scours for information on the Ring - everything was so darn DETAILED!

Sure, you get some nice up close looks at costumes and major props - such as The Ring itself, but there are others that just make you wonder. The swords and bows, with their patterned inlays and worn finishes - the slight dimples on Gandalfs sword, Glamdring, to the pristine beauty of Frodos own blade, Sting. Everything has its own personality and life.

It makes me want to spend $300 on a replica.

The exhibit offers plenty to see and do - costumes, armor, concept art, and models, to interactive special effect computer simulations. Ever wonder what it'd be like to be the size of a hobbit? Well, they'll turn you into one and take your picture (for a fee). They'll even scan your face into a computer and replicate you as a 3-D computer image, complete with battle helmet.

I spent about an hour and a half in the exhibit and really did not feel like I had drunk it all in. Though you're given a specific admission time when purchasing your ticket, you are allowed to stay in the exhibit as long as you like. Be sure to purge before you go, as there are no restrooms within, and once you leave, you're out for good.

My group finished up the exhibit and had lunch down in the Tea Room. Upscale dining just ain't what it used to be, but I suppose that's what you get when moving the LS Ayers staple to the museum. The mahi-mahi was ok, but the ice-cream pie was very good.

Also happening at the museum when I went was GeoFest ... or GeoCon... It was definitely a large collection of vendors selling everything from sharks teeth to some very cool fossils. Meanwhile Sammy Terry was downstairs, taking photographs with fans. I was too busy looking for my party when he and his bodyguards(?) swept past me. Yes Brent, he was in full make-up. If you want to see him, just go to Conner Prairie on the 26th. Me - I'll probably go back to the Lord of the Rings exhibit for a second taste.