martasfic | (no subject) (Reply)

I got to see Onward tonight, which I'd been looking forward to months, which of course meant I was inevitably let down. It's a nice enjoyable romp and I'd definitely recommend any fantasy lovers see it at least once, though it wasn't as all-absorbing as Pixar movies usually are for me.

Doesn't mean it wasn't fun. I'd put it at the leve of maybe How to Train Your Dragon or Abominable, which is far from nothing.

What I did love were all the Tolkien references! The movie's set more in the world of Dungeons & Dragons than what you'd call high fantasy in the Tolkien mode. But there are tons of clever references, and each one had me smiling. Putting this under a cut so other fans can enjoy discovering them. Did I miss any?

There's a wizard who looks the spitting image of Gandalf the Grey.

Ian eats breakfast at a restaurant called Burger Shire. There's even a sign bragging they're now serving second breakfasts.

Another store they pass when driving by is called "Master Froyo."

The map at the Manticore's Tavern looks so very like a Tolkien map, doesn't it?

There's a soda machine at Ian's high school selling the brand Mount(ain?) Doom.

The dragon has a soft spot glowing red with her heart. Ultimately she's stabbed through the top, but when we first see it, there's a very Smaug-like view of her vulnerability through her belly.

And while I'm sure it's not intended, I had a few giggles over Ian's brother being named Barley. Might as well have called him Barli and be done with it. He actually was kind of the type....