I Will Take These 31 Lord of the Rings Memes to Mordor, but I Do Not Know the Way

John Summers • Contributor

Aug 4, 2024 9:00 PM EDT

When I was younger, my brother and I loved seeking out the oddest, most obscure, and downright bizarre films we could find. Our list included some wild black comedy horror films like "Man Bites Dog," "Basket Case," "Frankenhooker," and a peculiar film titled "Bad Taste" by a then-unknown director from New Zealand, Peter Jackson. This film was an eclectic mix of intense gore and pitch-black humor. It's astonishing to think that just a few years later, this same director would be handed the reins to one of the most ambitious projects in cinematic history: the film adaptation of The Lord of the Rings. And even more surprising is how flawlessly he executed it.

Years after watching those films, I still marvel at the diverse talent of directors like Jackson. It's a testament to the vast range of storytelling abilities that one can hold. From crafting dark comedic scenes to grandiose, epic tales of heroism, the journey of filmmakers can be as unpredictable and exhilarating as the stories they tell. Sometimes, it's these unexpected twists and turns in their careers that produce the most memorable cinematic masterpieces.