2012-2014 - PG-13-R - 8/10 - An overstuffed Middle-earth dessert.

I know this trilogy has a lot of haters, and I’ll admit it is a bit of an overstuffed mess compared to LotR, but my take has always been that LotR is like watching history play out in realtime where the Hobbit is intentionally more cartoonish and fantastical as it is Bilbo’s retelling of his adventure. Thinking of it this way, I appreciate this trilogy as a complement to, not extension of, the LotR trilogy. I know it has its flaws, and plenty of them, but I also understand why they chanced giving us too much instead of too little.

2001-2003 - PG-13 - 10/10 - An unmatched cinematic achievement.

In nearly every way you could judge a movie, the LotR stands head and shoulders above the rest. Created at a time when CGI was still expensive enough to justify doing a lot of practical work, the visuals are a perfect blend of gritty realism and CGI-heightened fantasy elements, the script is about as true to the books as you could expect, the cast is a tour-de-force of at-the-time unknowns, and Howard Shore’s score is one of the most iconic of all time. If you have not seen these, do yourself the favor.

2024 - PG-13 - 6/10 - Not bad but we wanted to like this more.

The last hour of this movie actually delivers on a lot of the lore of Helm Hammerhand and how Helm’s Deep got its name. The first hour of this movie could use some editing and, frankly, gives you too much time to focus on the things that are bothering you about the film. This uses that half animation / half CG style that a lot of people don’t like. It also has some writing, editing, and pacing issues. These are all forgivable in the solid second half but you gotta make it through that first half first…

2024 - PG - 9/10 - A great take on a great musical.

Guest Gen Alpha Review by Elyse Weasle

I have seen Wicked on stage before so I was excited to see how they made it a movie. The movie was great and I can see why it’s trending everywhere. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were both great along with the rest of the cast. I do enjoy that they took time to develop more story line in The Emerald City but they did not add too much. It was more than the play but it was still Wicked. Some movie versions of musicals do not succeed but I’d say this was a success and I cannot wait for pt. 2 in 2025. - E.W.

The Thrill of the Binge

Once the costumes and decorations of Spooky Month are packed away, it’s time for another time-honored tradition: The movie marathon. Whether you’re waiting for Tom Turkey or Kris Kringle, there’s something about gathering for a marathon that is perfect for the holidays.

We here at Thrills Ville are equal-opportunity bingers. Whether it’s Star Wars, Harry Potter, a Marvel marathon, Jurassics Park… Jurassics Parks? Jurassic Parks?, whatever, maybe it is just a pile of movies you love, we’re here for it. For us, Lord of the Rings has become an annual tradition. Every year, we gather to make it a full-day event. We’ve learned that it’s not just about watching the movies—it’s about embracing the ritual, the game breaks, the food, the company, and the excitement as those final moments close in.

Over the years, we’ve perfected our marathon game. It’s not just about zoning out in front of a screen. We turn it into an event. A marathon can be a feast, a celebration, party. Even a simple movie night can feel special if you invest the time in making it memorable - grabbing themed snacks, playing games between movies, or giving it the MST3K treatment.

So, this holiday season, don’t just press play. Take the time to plan your own marathon, create an experience out of it, and invite your friends to join in. You’ll find that what could have been another casual viewing becomes something you’ll look forward to each year. We have included a schedule for those brave enough to do the full 15 hour trek to Mount Doom in a day.

Happy marathoning, everyone!

The Plan of the Things

Use this schedule and menu for a 15 hour quest! This is timed to breaks in the Extended versions:

• 9:00 AM (30 min) - Gather and Breakfast
Bacon & eggs. A variety of breads for the day.

• 9:30 AM (1 hr 45 min) – Fellowship Pt. 1

• 11:15 AM (30 min) – Second Breakfast
Crockpots: potato soup or chili. Keep these out.

• 11:45 AM (1 hr 35 min) – Fellowship Pt. 2

• 1:20 PM (1 hr) – Luncheon
Meat and cheese tray, play some games.

• 2:20 PM (1 hr 50 min) – Two Towers Pt. 1

• 4:10 PM (20 min) – Dinner
Last call on crockpots, prep for supper.

• 4:30 PM (1 hr 50 min) – Two Towers Pt. 2

• 6:20 PM (1 hr) – Supper
Grilled chicken, salad, and games.

• 7:20 PM (2 hr 15 min) – RotK Pt. 1

• 9:35 PM (25 min) – Dessert
Last break, last call for food! Clean up and put away all the food and break out the desserts!

• 10:00 PM (2 hr) – RotK Pt. 2

• 12:00 AM – Farewells
Sigh of relief, final cleaning, dole out left-overs, your work here is done.
Make sure your discs are put away properly, return them to the shelf to wait for next year’s marathon!

The holidays are here, and while nothing tops the thrill of Halloween, this season has its own kind of magic—cozy nights, twinkling lights, and the fun of finding something totally perfect for the raddest people in your life.

The holidays are the perfect time to escape the chill, cozy up with your favorite movies, and let nostalgia take over. Whether you’re staying in for a marathon of cult classics or bundling up to drive around and take in the magic of twinkling Christmas lights, we’ve got just the thing to make it all feel extra special.

While you’re out cruising through the festive glow, swing by Thrills Ville to grab a gift that is unique and won’t just sit under the tree—it’ll outshine it!