Something I Noticed

I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that J.R.R. Tolkien was one of the most creative writers ever. He was able to create an incredibly vast world with its own unique history, inhabitants, languages, mythology, geography, Viggo Mortensens, etc.

And yet, a major villain--and arguably the scariest of the series--was just a giant spider. I think it says something about their inherent creepiness that, when a writer who could clearly use his imagination to invent just about anything needed to come up with a frightening hobbit-eating character, he ultimately went with a bigger version of a creature that actually exists. And you know what? It worked. Just look at this picture. It's terrifying.

I know what you're thinking, and yes, this is a great way to start a conversation if you're on a first date. Provided you don't want a second one. You could also ask whether or not Gandalf could beat Dumbledore in a fight.