Just want to share, haven't seen this posted. <object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1yqVD0swvWU&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1yqVD0swvWU&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object>
It's been ages since I read the books, but I'll do my best to consult my inner LOTR dork. If you never read the Silmarillion, then the 'flying into Mordor' plot hole would seem pretty big. The Eagles were special spirits. The Valar, the powerful angels of the universe under the creator,Eru, ordered that the special spirits (i.e. Eagles) were not allowed to interfere directly with the affairs of Middle-Earth as punishment for the arrogance of mankind (like the Greek mythology figure Prometheus) at the island of Numenor. Sauron, a special spirit disobeyed the order and did what he want. The Valar kind of ignored him and watched from a distance. When they saw things getting too out of hand (or felt sorry for men losing to Sauron), they sent in the cavalry in the form of the Eagles. They wanted to see how true/courageous/good men were and whether they deserved to be saved.
IMHO, I'm pretty sure that's why the Eagle was blindfolded, so he didn't know he was interfering in any meaningful way. Of course, how you go about getting the blindfold on the eagle is another story, but I'm just playing devil's advocate.
I don't have the search function or anything so I couldn't check if this has been posted already or not. If it has, this is a great friendly reminder <object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KBAuMpOpSnA?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KBAuMpOpSnA?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>
<iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/b0sc-gS9AqM" frameborder="0"></iframe>
<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fp9DHzgr758?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fp9DHzgr758?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>
I wish somebody could make "How Rockets games should have ended." Chuck Hayes making a buzzer beater 3pt shot.
