You can win a virtual 1-on-1 with John Rhys-Davies by donating to the "It's Time to Shout James" fundraiser! Go to this link and follow the instructions! It's a great cause and a fun opportunity for a lucky winner to speak with JRD! app.galabid.com/itstimetoshoutjames/items/420d7dec-081a-43b0-b7ff-1b06bda85d01?backPath=%2Fitstimetoshoutjames%2Fitems Entries will be taken from now until 6:00pm EST on November 23, 2021! *Ignore the "auction closed" box, as it is just a remainder from their previous fundraiser on the site* Winner will be announced on the Nerd of the Rings livestream on Wednesday, November 24: th-cam.com/video/QqnjuwOkAPU/w-d-xo.html
In the broadcast world it’s called “geezer gold” when you are lucky enough to get a born raconteur like John on one of his good days. When you have someone who you can get five minutes by just asking, “so, do you like tennis?” you know that you’re going to have a great time. Also, you know that your producer is going to show up in the editing suite with a bottle of something not cheap for your editor because they’re going to have a long night of it...
Interesting people tend to do that kinda interaction; so much going on in their thoughts and so much to share that the interviewer doesn't even have to initiate all that much. ^_^
Thank you for being such a wonderful host. By not talking over Mr Rhys-Davies and interjecting your thoughts and your schedule like many late night hosts would, we as the audience receive a wonderful gift of philosophy and life stories from a truly wonderful speaker.
yepp, it's really annoying when the interviewers instead "telling" his own versions/experiences related to the topics, and make their guests forget what they want to say before they are interrupted...
Being a good interviewer is a rare gift. Matt honestly isn't a very good interviewer, but neither are some of the biggest names on primetime. I'd rate him as "not bad", but his expertise is still lore stuff.
Not even 15 minutes in and this was way more than I was expecting. Why doesn't he get interviewed more often?! I love his enthusiasm and honesty. Always refreshing to hear someone say they had their doubts and they were wrong.
He's fantastic in interviews, but big talk shows only interview the "stars" from LOTR like Viggo or Elijah or Ian McKellan. I do remember him being on a Canadian talk show right before Fellowship was going to be released (2001) and he was amazing.
Some actors - quite a few - hate doing interviews, especially for the most popular shows in which you can’t have a real conversation, or one of any continuity or depth, because the appearances are all about marketing. Given how he characterized himself in the first 15 mins or so, I’d imagine it may be the case with JRD. Think of Harrison Ford’s famously grumpy nature and how he has grumped through many interviews. But as possibly the biggest star of his generation, he couldn’t entirely avoid them. Can you think of any appearance Ford has done that comes close to this one? I can’t. And I’m of his generation, so have been a fan since the late 1970s. Even since the pandemic and the advent of remote meetings, when stars don’t even have to leave their homes, I can’t think of any increase in Ford’s appearances; in fact, quite the reverse. In fact, it occurred to me early in this interview that JRD and Ford must get along well. Ford majored in philosophy in college, so I bet they had some good grumpy/philosophical talks together. But not on camera. That JRD has given his time for a charitable cause, and has mellowed about fans, speaks well for him and for the hope of growing in wisdom as well as age. Wonderful interview.
He doesn't get the attention he deserves because he doesn't sit on the same perceived billing level of others in the cast. I think that's why he loves things like this interview..and fan conventions. He gets to interact in long form which fans love and sure John does too. Those of us who count know who he is and what he means to us. He's one of those top notch, well bred British Actors that major Hollywood movies rely on to add gravitas and depth to their productions.
“One of the saddest things about old age is that if you’re not careful you can go entire days without learning something new.” Very wise words from John.
Dont let age stop you from anything, only injuries. Always keep learning, whether its documentaries, games that challenge your mind, walk or exercise daily, eat healthy, etc. You can even survive FDA approved medicine that should kill you it's so bad with side effects. But I've survived for a long time despite the medicine. I'm doing great. Don't ever give up.
Personally can't imagine Treebeard speaking any other way and still hear John's voice booming in my head when I read Treebeard's parts in LOTR totally nailed it
I agree actually. I don’t think they could have gotten a much better Actor to voice him, except maybe Stephen Thorne. That could have been a nice touch since like Ian Holm, Stephen Thorne was in the BBC radiodrama, voicing Treebeard incidentally. But I definitely think John got that sort of deep, slow way of speaking that tree beard had very well.
One of the kindest people I've ever met. So sad that the media have vilified him with very little substance to go on. Sadly some people believe whatever they read or make completely subjective judgements of people without even knowing them. Last I saw him we spoke at length and he gave the best life advice before going around every stall thanking people individually regardless of their race or background. He was also the last to leave. Celebrities could learn a lot from this man. A true gent.
@@guineapigsith699 Basically JRD has some strong political views. He's a Brexiteer. Some people seem to think that automatically makes you a racist etc. Obviously you have to be a particularly unsavoury and short sighted type of person to hold that view. He also snapped on live TV during a debate once. Nothing bad, just a short passionate outburst. But ofcourse it was blown way out of proportion by the media and twitter mob. There have been other articles aiming to smear him. He's from an era that many media and elitists in this country are trying to forget and remove completely. It's an awful misrepresentation of the man and quite sad really. However I don't think he cares which is great.
@@MrSRA13 He's a great screen presence but if the past 10 years or so is anything to by, don't look for actors to get your political views. Brexit was and is proving it be very stupid indeed. Still a great actor etc. But yeah, not heard any smears or anything either.
@@JPeeee Oh I would bet that majority of that quantity is high quality. Just how he went over which section contains what can tell you that he cares for good quality books. Not saying all of them are but...
strongly agree. I admit I am extremely concerned about the aims of this revisionist amazon series coming. We got the perfect timing for the best possible films: computer graphics had advanced enough to do what could not be done practically, but it was completed before the overt injection of political correctness and forced diversity into film. It is hard to imagine how the LotR films could have been done better, as a complete package. Its a fun experience every time I rewatch them.
The charisma, grumpy/pessimistic/realism and groundedness that Davis brought to gimli was sorely missing in the hobbit films that the dwarves felt like a different race entirely.
Tbh I think some of the depictions of dwarves are borderline slanted representation in The Hobbit. They seem selfish, superficial, and bigoted for most of the films. There was some great character development in SOME of them (the brothers & Thorin in the first film mostly for example), but it’s few and far between. Gimli is god tier dwarf representation
Same here. I hate how some portions of the media and public have given him a bad rep purely because of his political views. Talk about making a completely subjective judgement of someone you've never met. He's one of the kindest people I've ever known.
"that still only counts as one!" A tip of the hat to Sir John Rhys-Davies for being who he is and for doing a splendid job playing as Gimli. It would be fascinating to see you carry out an interview with the rest of the LOTR cast sometime in the future, Matt.
An actor on the level of Rhys-Davies is someone you wouldn't expect, not only to give his time this liberally, but also to take delight in it. And what he showed of himself is that he is a lovely man, in all aspects of the word. So many celebrities turn out to be banal, annoying, and such manlets when it comes down to it. John does not. He is as big as the characters he portrays, and bigger than most men out there. A giant heart, a heavy mind, and pure wisdom with every word he gives. And yes, gives. These are gifts that spout forth from his thinking. I would rarely assign such a thing as wisdom from a celebrity, usually their words are trite, condescending, and meaningless. But John is someone who seems to constantly question everything, and shares what he thinks about it. And he does so in an easy manner, not assuming anything he says is great, yet it is great. I had no idea John Rhys-Davies was such a brilliant man. I don't know how long he has for this world, but every day with him in it is truly a great day.
I am overwhelmed with happiness hearing his voice when he does Gimli. Aside from that I could listen to John talk all day. There's just so much thought behind every word. It really makes me miss conversations with my grandfather.
What an absolute joy to be able to speak with him. I could listen to him all day. Gimli is my favorite, I love his change of heart and the friendship that he develops with Legolas. And, somehow, I didn’t know he had played Treebeard! How could I miss that? I love that character as well. Thank you for sharing this! ❤️
I love your interview style. You let the person speak so we can get a glimpse of them without interrupting. Its an absolute pleasure to watch. Thanks for your work!
You know that he has done hundreds of interviews and would have answered the standard questions with standard answers. But by asking open-ended questions and staying out of his way, you get so much more. It's funny, he talks about discovering the spark of the divine in talking with ordinary people. I think he finds it because he has a spark of it himself. What a glorious conversation.
What an unbelievable Person,what a wonderful Human. Enjoyed this so much,his wisdom and knowledge deserves a podcast to be discussed and shared. God bless you sir
We recently lost our mom because of covid-19 and during our period of mourning, we decided to re-watch tLOTR. It was very nice to experience it once again and feel hopeful during our time of grievance (not to mention that sense of hopefulness came from a fictional world). I'm a big fan now. This interview is very heart-warming and felt very homely. Sir Rhys-Davies didn't only do an interview but also left us lessons and wisdom...
If you're curious about the book John mentions during our interview, it is called Justinian's Flea and can be found on Amazon: US: amzn.to/3oCmJ6v UK: amzn.to/32d35qk
John Rhys-Davies' portrayal of Treebeard was phenomenal. As a long time Tolkien fan I can unequivocally say that when I do my annual re-read of The Lord of The Rings it is John's voice I mentally hear when I read Treebeard's dialog.
I second the 'Rob inglis' point and want to encourage you to listen to the 1981 BBC version. I had avoided that for years and years, expecting it to be the usual cringe-inducing fare, but parts of it are just phenomenal. Butterbur is sublime and the Treebeard is now 'my' Treebeard.
Chills, indeed. That reading brought tears to my eyes. Thank you, Matt, for conjuring up that idea and breathing new life into it via the great Rhys-Davies. What a treat
Such a great interview Matt!! John is such a pure soul that cares deeply about everything you asked him. He answered very truthfully, and answering in the character of Gimli was a bonus!
John may never had said it but I can still hear it in his voice..such is the reach of his portrayal. John's Gimli leaked out of the films and into any literary gems I read of gimli later
I’d love to see this as a series where you speak to other cast members one-to-one (if you can get them that is)! I reckon Ian Mckellen, Sean Bean or Orlando Bloom might be a little harder to reach though.
What a wonderful man. This was so pleasant to watch and listen to. I could sit and listen to him tell his stories for hours and not get tired of them. Don’t worry Mr. Rhys-Davies, yours is not the last generation to live the feel of books! I don’t want many things in life, but to have a vast library is a dream.
John Rhys'Davies has clearly embraced and appreciates the legacy he is part of. Though he may have done better work in other roles by his own standards. He knows his career, his reverance from fans is massively defined by his involvement in the LOTR trilogy and the Indiana Jones movies. Nothing will ever beat those for interest, questions and the awe ordinary people have for those projects. It's so clear throughout the video how aware he is of being part of something bigger..and for some of the actors this trilogy is/will forever be the pinnacle of why they are known and loved by film fans. He's very like Mark Hamill in this respect. He goes deep into embracing the gift of fandom and they both have a deep appreciation of that fandom.
This is such a wonderful interview. Mr Davies is such a wonderfully interesting and exciting person to listen to. The world needs a podcast where he just riffs. It would be amazing. Thanks so much Matt for bringing this to us.
My goodness this was amazing…I’ve loved Davies since I was a child. His voice, ideas and the way he loves life. Happiness really can be a youthful serum. Thank you for such a nice interview! Delightful, to say the least.
John Rhys-Davies did a fantastic job with his rolling R's in the dwarven accent. I am a huge fan of such accents and it was so on point. Thanks Mr. Rhys Davies, for your interview and theatrical prowess.
I met JRD at a comic convention 4 years ago, one of the nicest celebrities I've met at a comic convention. Six way tie between him, Stan Lee, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, Lena Headey and Sylvester McCoy.
It would be great to hear John Rhys-Davies sing the song of Durin. The world was young, the mountains green, No stain yet on the moon was seen, No words were laid on stream or stone When Durin woke and walked alone. He named the nameless hills and dells; He drank from yet untasted wells; He stooped and looked in Mirrormere, And saw a crown of stars appear, As gems upon a silver thread, Above the shadow of his head.
The world was fair, the mountains tall In elder days before the fall Of mighty kings in Nargothrond And Gondolin, who now beyond The western seas have passed away The world was fair in Durin's Day.
What a lovely talk! It was a pleasure to listen to such a wonderful, wise and kind guest :) Also very good-hearted of him not to press on time at all, like a meeting with a friend :) While the memories of LotR filming are fun and we like to recall them, I think we too often go in circles with them, so I greatly enjoyed the history, literature and general acting stories from John! A lot of wise words! Matt, I'm very glad you had this opportunity and I'm sure you appreciate it even more than me :) (also great for supporting the good cause of helping James Depree!) I like that you allowed a lot of silence moments, a slow pace of discussion, letting John find some books or access old memories - that's not obvious, while there's a lot of value in such an approach :) I know you wouldn't be able to do much about your guest's recording device, but let me say that I'm also happy that the audio quality of John was very good - it would be regretful to lose his great voice to mic distortions. I'm sorry to hear about all the pain connected to the make up work and prosthetics :( John seems to be very tough, and even for him it was such a big nuisance! I mostly hear (from other actors) about the make up jobs in terms of lost (and boring) time, but here he explained well the health and coordination side of the process. I couldn't stop smiling when you both brought up your helmets :D
Rodrigo sama, I'm sorry I missed this live but I was helping a sick friend too. Maybe because my tribe was the best lava tube fighters in recorded history, but the dwarves are my favorite and you sir, are my favorite lotr actor. I love all your roles and your Dwarven heart to help that lad. Bless you
Love the movies and TV shows he's been in, I've admired him for years for his many great roles, but what I really love is his roles in video games. Wing Commander 3, Freelancer, and Dune 2000 wouldn't have been the same without him! He's been through a lot of the things I grew up with, so seeing him is like seeing an old friend every time he pops up in a show that comes on TV and in movies. Plus his voice acting, well, you usually know who he's voicing since he has such a distinctive voice! So it was awesome to see him in this interview!
This was fantastic. What an amazing person. He really is good at recalling detail and telling stories. Matt I thought you did an awesome job staying engaged and asking questions.
I came across your channel by accident and have really enjoyed it, but this was PHENOMENAL! Man that was probably the most fun I’ve had watching an interview like this! Great job sir!!
In 37:51 John mentions the sad thing about old age is going through a day or days not learning new things. My father alway says when he learns something new “I learned something today, the day was not a waste.”
I think it's fair to say.. they don't make them like this anymore. This man is 77 years old and he's loving life while casually talking about ancient slave farming techniques after the fall of Rome. Calls his younger self a "class one idiot". Brilliant.
You can feel the excitement this man exudes about not only his craft overall, but his individual parts in various movies. This was an incredible interview. Thank you for being such a great channel with such amazing content!
You really nailed it with this interview, this was quite epic (especially the reading). I could listen to John all day. Thank you for pulling this off.
Ach, I missed the notification on the day! Anyway, this was really enjoyable, John is such a charismatic individual but also surprisingly thoughtful and introspective. A real joy to behold.
That was magical. Made my day listening while I work. I've been through the trilogy a good few times over the last couple of months and this just brought back all the feels. Might have to start over again. Great interview, John is a legend.
In the words of Gimli "That was a kingly gift!". Thank you so much for conducting, and uploading this absoulute gem of an interview for all admirers of this man, and die hard fans of the Lord of the Rings and Tolkiens Mythology. You have done a great service for an incredibly worthwhile cause. Thank you!
I could sit down on the floor by the fireplace like a child and listen to John talk all day! This was such a treat! I would’ve asked him about his smaller roles in productions like Sliders and the FMVs of Wing Commander 3 and 4.
Wow. That was a delight. The Aglarond reading was a very special moment. Super job, particularly letting such an engaging interviewee talk without hindrance - that's a rare gift for interviewers these days.
I absolutely ADORE him!! He is such a genuine and pure human. I loved this interview. He went above and beyond. As a book lover myself, I would love to live in his house 😍
Closing my eyes during his Glittering Caves reading, I could see Gimli and his future kingdom there... Thank you very much for that awesome conversation with such a incredible actor and human being.
You can win a virtual 1-on-1 with John Rhys-Davies by donating to the "It's Time to Shout James" fundraiser! Go to this link and follow the instructions! It's a great cause and a fun opportunity for a lucky winner to speak with JRD!
app.galabid.com/itstimetoshoutjames/items/420d7dec-081a-43b0-b7ff-1b06bda85d01?backPath=%2Fitstimetoshoutjames%2Fitems
Entries will be taken from now until 6:00pm EST on November 23, 2021!
*Ignore the "auction closed" box, as it is just a remainder from their previous fundraiser on the site*
Winner will be announced on the Nerd of the Rings livestream on Wednesday, November 24: th-cam.com/video/QqnjuwOkAPU/w-d-xo.html
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Razz
I just met John Rhys davies a few days ago
"Never thought I'd be having an interview with John Rhys-Davies."
"Then how about having an interview with a friend?"
this is the one
Bruh you went gloomer fingolfin mode bruh
ethan_hawk_d
damn thats a good comment
Aye, I can do that.
That was fantastic. The guy practically interviews himself. Fascinating.
Thank God. I love Matt’s shows but he has alot to learn about interviews.
In the broadcast world it’s called “geezer gold” when you are lucky enough to get a born raconteur like John on one of his good days. When you have someone who you can get five minutes by just asking, “so, do you like tennis?” you know that you’re going to have a great time.
Also, you know that your producer is going to show up in the editing suite with a bottle of something not cheap for your editor because they’re going to have a long night of it...
@@DneilB007 Ha! I believe it. John was really flowing for this interview, and just seems like the most amazing guy. I wish I could hang out with him.
Interesting people tend to do that kinda interaction; so much going on in their thoughts and so much to share that the interviewer doesn't even have to initiate all that much. ^_^
Haha right? I thought the same thing!
Thank you for being such a wonderful host. By not talking over Mr Rhys-Davies and interjecting your thoughts and your schedule like many late night hosts would, we as the audience receive a wonderful gift of philosophy and life stories from a truly wonderful speaker.
Too many "hosts" interrupt the guest while they're talking. Let them talk.
yepp, it's really annoying when the interviewers instead "telling" his own versions/experiences related to the topics, and make their guests forget what they want to say before they are interrupted...
Interesting people like John, Christopher and Ian are like that; so much to share.
I just cringed at the thought of Fallon doing this interview.
Being a good interviewer is a rare gift. Matt honestly isn't a very good interviewer, but neither are some of the biggest names on primetime. I'd rate him as "not bad", but his expertise is still lore stuff.
Not even 15 minutes in and this was way more than I was expecting. Why doesn't he get interviewed more often?! I love his enthusiasm and honesty. Always refreshing to hear someone say they had their doubts and they were wrong.
He's fantastic in interviews, but big talk shows only interview the "stars" from LOTR like Viggo or Elijah or Ian McKellan. I do remember him being on a Canadian talk show right before Fellowship was going to be released (2001) and he was amazing.
Some actors - quite a few - hate doing interviews, especially for the most popular shows in which you can’t have a real conversation, or one of any continuity or depth, because the appearances are all about marketing. Given how he characterized himself in the first 15 mins or so, I’d imagine it may be the case with JRD. Think of Harrison Ford’s famously grumpy nature and how he has grumped through many interviews. But as possibly the biggest star of his generation, he couldn’t entirely avoid them. Can you think of any appearance Ford has done that comes close to this one? I can’t. And I’m of his generation, so have been a fan since the late 1970s. Even since the pandemic and the advent of remote meetings, when stars don’t even have to leave their homes, I can’t think of any increase in Ford’s appearances; in fact, quite the reverse.
In fact, it occurred to me early in this interview that JRD and Ford must get along well. Ford majored in philosophy in college, so I bet they had some good grumpy/philosophical talks together. But not on camera.
That JRD has given his time for a charitable cause, and has mellowed about fans, speaks well for him and for the hope of growing in wisdom as well as age. Wonderful interview.
Dwarves are too busy making middle earth better than to care for other races; unless they're friends 👍
He doesn't get the attention he deserves because he doesn't sit on the same perceived billing level of others in the cast. I think that's why he loves things like this interview..and fan conventions. He gets to interact in long form which fans love and sure John does too. Those of us who count know who he is and what he means to us. He's one of those top notch, well bred British Actors that major Hollywood movies rely on to add gravitas and depth to their productions.
Because he's a massive homophobe and a weirdo. Look at his question time appearance. Most people would rather forget he exists.
Fun fact: John was cast as Gimli because they could not imagine a better actor representing the dwarven race as a whole.
Even an engineering loss of a finger-tip
When he laughs in this interview - this sentiment couldn’t be truer.
Hilarious considering the sheer height of the man! 😂
@@Ragemuffn He laughs like Gimli because he IS Gimli. ^o^
@@davecrupel2817 The Dwarven race as whole stacked upon each other.
As soon as John said “lovely to be invited” I immediately connected to my speaker. What a voice!
“One of the saddest things about old age is that if you’re not careful you can go entire days without learning something new.”
Very wise words from John.
Dont let age stop you from anything, only injuries. Always keep learning, whether its documentaries, games that challenge your mind, walk or exercise daily, eat healthy, etc. You can even survive FDA approved medicine that should kill you it's so bad with side effects. But I've survived for a long time despite the medicine. I'm doing great. Don't ever give up.
Personally can't imagine Treebeard speaking any other way and still hear John's voice booming in my head when I read Treebeard's parts in LOTR totally nailed it
I agree actually. I don’t think they could have gotten a much better Actor to voice him, except maybe Stephen Thorne. That could have been a nice touch since like Ian Holm, Stephen Thorne was in the BBC radiodrama, voicing Treebeard incidentally. But I definitely think John got that sort of deep, slow way of speaking that tree beard had very well.
@@Bryan198026JRD thought Mufasa's voice actor could do better.
Incredible. What a legend.
My favourite Gimli quote is:
-Certainty of death. Small chance of success. What are we waiting for?
I love the nobody tosses a dwarf bit with the payoff at the hornburg in the next film. One of the best additions the films made to the books
@@FunkiLaugh And payoff too, now dwarf tossing is an actual sport. Thanks Gimli!
@@kamuelalee Dwarf tossing was a sport long before that. That’s why the line in Fellowship was so hilarious.
@@timavery7657 Yes, I know...like midget wrestling from the 1970s.
One of the kindest people I've ever met. So sad that the media have vilified him with very little substance to go on. Sadly some people believe whatever they read or make completely subjective judgements of people without even knowing them. Last I saw him we spoke at length and he gave the best life advice before going around every stall thanking people individually regardless of their race or background. He was also the last to leave. Celebrities could learn a lot from this man. A true gent.
what are they trying to smear him with?
@@guineapigsith699 Basically JRD has some strong political views. He's a Brexiteer. Some people seem to think that automatically makes you a racist etc. Obviously you have to be a particularly unsavoury and short sighted type of person to hold that view. He also snapped on live TV during a debate once. Nothing bad, just a short passionate outburst. But ofcourse it was blown way out of proportion by the media and twitter mob. There have been other articles aiming to smear him. He's from an era that many media and elitists in this country are trying to forget and remove completely. It's an awful misrepresentation of the man and quite sad really. However I don't think he cares which is great.
@@MrSRA13 Ah, the twits of the twitter mob. May all their electronic devices fry!
What life advice did he give?
@@MrSRA13 He's a great screen presence but if the past 10 years or so is anything to by, don't look for actors to get your political views. Brexit was and is proving it be very stupid indeed.
Still a great actor etc. But yeah, not heard any smears or anything either.
Gimli: "Bring your pretty face to my axe!"
Imagine Gimli Spraying Axe Deodorant into a Uruks face.
Ha ha, dwarf quotes are the best.
Bring your pretty axe to my face
@@smaug9956 💕
@@blackwolf4653 or a Warg’s
This man' s library game is on point, completely jealous.
It's really about Quality. Not Quantity. 🙏
@@JPeeee Oh I would bet that majority of that quantity is high quality. Just how he went over which section contains what can tell you that he cares for good quality books. Not saying all of them are but...
@@inventiveowl395 Indeed.
I share his fear of the shrinking interest in physical books, and reading.
Its amazing how the lord of the rings movies were nearly 20 years ago yet they feel so new and entertaining
strongly agree. I admit I am extremely concerned about the aims of this revisionist amazon series coming. We got the perfect timing for the best possible films: computer graphics had advanced enough to do what could not be done practically, but it was completed before the overt injection of political correctness and forced diversity into film. It is hard to imagine how the LotR films could have been done better, as a complete package. Its a fun experience every time I rewatch them.
Yes They Are Truly Timeless
The charisma, grumpy/pessimistic/realism and groundedness that Davis brought to gimli was sorely missing in the hobbit films that the dwarves felt like a different race entirely.
Great point to make
To be fair gimli was a baby during the hobbit
The Hobbit movies are unwatchable to me.
Tbh I think some of the depictions of dwarves are borderline slanted representation in The Hobbit. They seem selfish, superficial, and bigoted for most of the films. There was some great character development in SOME of them (the brothers & Thorin in the first film mostly for example), but it’s few and far between. Gimli is god tier dwarf representation
@@5pctd2br98 they have parts that are okay, but compared to the original trilogy it’s just sad to watch.
I got to meet him at comic con a few years back. I was absolutely starstruck and he could tell, maybe the most pleasant man I've ever met in my lifem
Same here. I hate how some portions of the media and public have given him a bad rep purely because of his political views. Talk about making a completely subjective judgement of someone you've never met. He's one of the kindest people I've ever known.
@@MrSRA13 If you don‘t have the same Opinion as CNN you are an Enemy of State it seems^^. John is a Legend and im happy he walks on this Planet.
@@blackwolf4653 spot on. It's largely the same with the Guardian in the UK unfortunately
"that still only counts as one!" A tip of the hat to Sir John Rhys-Davies for being who he is and for doing a splendid job playing as Gimli. It would be fascinating to see you carry out an interview with the rest of the LOTR cast sometime in the future, Matt.
"That still only counts as one!" is one of the great lines.
An actor on the level of Rhys-Davies is someone you wouldn't expect, not only to give his time this liberally, but also to take delight in it.
And what he showed of himself is that he is a lovely man, in all aspects of the word. So many celebrities turn out to be banal, annoying, and such manlets when it comes down to it. John does not. He is as big as the characters he portrays, and bigger than most men out there. A giant heart, a heavy mind, and pure wisdom with every word he gives.
And yes, gives. These are gifts that spout forth from his thinking. I would rarely assign such a thing as wisdom from a celebrity, usually their words are trite, condescending, and meaningless. But John is someone who seems to constantly question everything, and shares what he thinks about it. And he does so in an easy manner, not assuming anything he says is great, yet it is great.
I had no idea John Rhys-Davies was such a brilliant man. I don't know how long he has for this world, but every day with him in it is truly a great day.
Every time I'm out for a jog, "Keep breathing, that's the key. Breathe"
That's how I feel these days! Lol!
I am overwhelmed with happiness hearing his voice when he does Gimli. Aside from that I could listen to John talk all day. There's just so much thought behind every word. It really makes me miss conversations with my grandfather.
I’d always been sad that Rhys-Davies wasn’t given a shot at the Glittering Caves passage in the films. Now you’ve made it happen. Thank you!
can we have the video stamps please, I haven't watched the entire video
I about cried.
This was a pure joy to watch. I could listen to John Rhys-Davies talk for hours. What a legend he is.
I gained 30lbs of worth of knowledge and wisdom just listening to him John talk.
What an absolute joy to be able to speak with him. I could listen to him all day. Gimli is my favorite, I love his change of heart and the friendship that he develops with Legolas. And, somehow, I didn’t know he had played Treebeard! How could I miss that? I love that character as well. Thank you for sharing this! ❤️
I had no idea that he was treebeard either, so you're not alone!
I love your interview style. You let the person speak so we can get a glimpse of them without interrupting. Its an absolute pleasure to watch. Thanks for your work!
You know that he has done hundreds of interviews and would have answered the standard questions with standard answers.
But by asking open-ended questions and staying out of his way, you get so much more. It's funny, he talks about discovering the spark of the divine in talking with ordinary people. I think he finds it because he has a spark of it himself.
What a glorious conversation.
He must be a wonderful person. Horn of Rohan for me. Thank you.
What an unbelievable Person,what a wonderful Human.
Enjoyed this so much,his wisdom and knowledge deserves a podcast to be discussed and shared.
God bless you sir
We recently lost our mom because of covid-19 and during our period of mourning, we decided to re-watch tLOTR. It was very nice to experience it once again and feel hopeful during our time of grievance (not to mention that sense of hopefulness came from a fictional world). I'm a big fan now. This interview is very heart-warming and felt very homely. Sir Rhys-Davies didn't only do an interview but also left us lessons and wisdom...
Best wishes to you and yours
I'm so sorry for your loss. Prayers for you and your family 💛
Thank you! ♥
That still only counts as one!!! I love this actor and I love his portrayal of Gimli!
That was one of the most enjoyable interviews I think I've ever seen. Simply wonderful. What an amazing man. Thank you for this Mat!
If you're curious about the book John mentions during our interview, it is called Justinian's Flea and can be found on Amazon:
US: amzn.to/3oCmJ6v
UK: amzn.to/32d35qk
This was AMAZING
John Rhys-Davies' portrayal of Treebeard was phenomenal. As a long time Tolkien fan I can unequivocally say that when I do my annual re-read of The Lord of The Rings it is John's voice I mentally hear when I read Treebeard's dialog.
My only caveat to that is Rob Inglis’ narration. Otherwise, uh, yeah. Totally.
I second the 'Rob inglis' point and want to encourage you to listen to the 1981 BBC version. I had avoided that for years and years, expecting it to be the usual cringe-inducing fare, but parts of it are just phenomenal. Butterbur is sublime and the Treebeard is now 'my' Treebeard.
Have you listened to Phil Dragash's version?
Chills, indeed. That reading brought tears to my eyes. Thank you, Matt, for conjuring up that idea and breathing new life into it via the great Rhys-Davies. What a treat
John Rhys-Davies is a gem 🤍 I don’t think Gimli could’ve been portrayed by anyone else. He is Gimli.
This was one of the most wonderful interviews I've had the pleasure of watching. Thank you!
Such a great interview Matt!! John is such a pure soul that cares deeply about everything you asked him. He answered very truthfully, and answering in the character of Gimli was a bonus!
That last goodbye advice by John made me think of my favorite (book)Gimli quote:
“Faithless is he who says farewell when the road darkens”
Such a good line, quality Gimli moment 👌
@@SassyCassie89 so many people are sadly unaware that he wasn’t just a comedy relief 🥲 🤣
John may never had said it but I can still hear it in his voice..such is the reach of his portrayal. John's Gimli leaked out of the films and into any literary gems I read of gimli later
What a fascinating and deep character Mr. Rhys-Davies is. Probably the most well-read actor ever. What an amazing gentleman he is. WWGD?!!!
I’d love to see this as a series where you speak to other cast members one-to-one (if you can get them that is)!
I reckon Ian Mckellen, Sean Bean or Orlando Bloom might be a little harder to reach though.
It is a great chance to see the light inside John, with his curiosity and his approach to New experiences and people.
Even though this happened about 11 months ago, I want to thank you for sharing this with us. Truely, amazing!
Gimli is literally the greatest dwarf to wander middle earth!!
Durin wasn't too bad either 😁
@@jamesbaggett3655 Durins greed awaken the Last Balrog of Middle Earth
@@gregorjerman973 wasnt that Durin VII?
'literally'? 😂 that's punny! 😉
The only Dwarf to sail West
What a wonderful man. This was so pleasant to watch and listen to. I could sit and listen to him tell his stories for hours and not get tired of them. Don’t worry Mr. Rhys-Davies, yours is not the last generation to live the feel of books! I don’t want many things in life, but to have a vast library is a dream.
An unbelievably great interview with one of the few truly great actors.
This man is a delight! Such a joy to listen to him talk.
Gimli was everyone's favorite Dwarf. He was even the favorite of the Powers beyond the Sea. And no one could've played him better.
Thank you Matt and John Rhys-Davies for such an enjoyable interview.
Even iluvater agrees that Gilmli is one of the best characters and that Nerd of the Rings is by FAR the best Tolkien TH-camr
Best interview ever! No axe or words can break the joy and fun that went into it!
John Rhys'Davies has clearly embraced and appreciates the legacy he is part of. Though he may have done better work in other roles by his own standards. He knows his career, his reverance from fans is massively defined by his involvement in the LOTR trilogy and the Indiana Jones movies. Nothing will ever beat those for interest, questions and the awe ordinary people have for those projects. It's so clear throughout the video how aware he is of being part of something bigger..and for some of the actors this trilogy is/will forever be the pinnacle of why they are known and loved by film fans.
He's very like Mark Hamill in this respect. He goes deep into embracing the gift of fandom and they both have a deep appreciation of that fandom.
Absolute giant. What a beautiful interview. Such a rollercoaster of a LotR roll. I loved it. Thank you so much to @john Rhys-Davies
I have always admired John Rhys-Davies as an actor. Now I admire him equally as a person. What a warm, hearfelt, giving man he is.
This is such a wonderful interview. Mr Davies is such a wonderfully interesting and exciting person to listen to. The world needs a podcast where he just riffs. It would be amazing. Thanks so much Matt for bringing this to us.
That was absolutely fantastic!
It was everything I was hoping it would be.
I’m so happy for you to interview him and I can’t wait!
JRD was so generous with his time, thank you. Great interviewee
My goodness this was amazing…I’ve loved Davies since I was a child. His voice, ideas and the way he loves life. Happiness really can be a youthful serum. Thank you for such a nice interview! Delightful, to say the least.
Incredible interview, I loved every second of it.
Amazing man, amazing conversation and, when he reads the description of Moria,... wow!!!!
1:27:13 So I can listen to it many times.
It's not Moria...it's the caverns of Helms Deep (from the books), not part of the movies.
@@l44va My mistake... He even says Helms Deep, but I think I wrote Moria because of that scene in the movie. Time to read the books again. Hahaha
@@faustomadebr
It’s *always* a good time to read the books! Haha
@@l44va Indeed. The Silmarillion is my favorite. Ive read it 10x... :)
@@faustomadebr
That’s impressive for such a hard read! :-)
John Rhys-Davies did a fantastic job with his rolling R's in the dwarven accent. I am a huge fan of such accents and it was so on point. Thanks Mr. Rhys Davies, for your interview and theatrical prowess.
I met JRD at a comic convention 4 years ago, one of the nicest celebrities I've met at a comic convention.
Six way tie between him, Stan Lee, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, Lena Headey and Sylvester McCoy.
I could listen to him talk about history all day long....
This guy is so well spoken and has such good vibes, could listen to him talk for hours
It would be great to hear John Rhys-Davies sing the song of Durin.
The world was young, the mountains green,
No stain yet on the moon was seen,
No words were laid on stream or stone
When Durin woke and walked alone.
He named the nameless hills and dells;
He drank from yet untasted wells;
He stooped and looked in Mirrormere,
And saw a crown of stars appear,
As gems upon a silver thread,
Above the shadow of his head.
Ah! That would have been great!
He does do some reading during the interview of another fan-favorite section though. 😉
@@NerdoftheRings Oh, now I'm really stoked for next week!
The world was fair, the mountains tall
In elder days before the fall
Of mighty kings in Nargothrond
And Gondolin, who now beyond
The western seas have passed away
The world was fair in Durin's Day.
Clamavi de Profundis has a fantastic rendition of this song! Search them out, you'll not regret it.
It’s soooo good!
This was fantastic to see, and really such a joy of an interview.
Wow, what a scoop and what an interview. Brilliant work NOTR.
This is beyond brilliant. Thank you for allowing John to go off on his little journeys... Amazing
He is such a pleasure to listen to, I absolutely love it. Wonderful interview!
What a lovely talk! It was a pleasure to listen to such a wonderful, wise and kind guest :) Also very good-hearted of him not to press on time at all, like a meeting with a friend :) While the memories of LotR filming are fun and we like to recall them, I think we too often go in circles with them, so I greatly enjoyed the history, literature and general acting stories from John! A lot of wise words!
Matt, I'm very glad you had this opportunity and I'm sure you appreciate it even more than me :) (also great for supporting the good cause of helping James Depree!) I like that you allowed a lot of silence moments, a slow pace of discussion, letting John find some books or access old memories - that's not obvious, while there's a lot of value in such an approach :)
I know you wouldn't be able to do much about your guest's recording device, but let me say that I'm also happy that the audio quality of John was very good - it would be regretful to lose his great voice to mic distortions.
I'm sorry to hear about all the pain connected to the make up work and prosthetics :( John seems to be very tough, and even for him it was such a big nuisance! I mostly hear (from other actors) about the make up jobs in terms of lost (and boring) time, but here he explained well the health and coordination side of the process.
I couldn't stop smiling when you both brought up your helmets :D
Rodrigo sama, I'm sorry I missed this live but I was helping a sick friend too. Maybe because my tribe was the best lava tube fighters in recorded history, but the dwarves are my favorite and you sir, are my favorite lotr actor. I love all your roles and your Dwarven heart to help that lad. Bless you
Great interview! Such a nice and well manered man,full of knowledge. Also love how Gimli breaks out sporadicly
Love and support from New Zealand, Love seeing stuff like this happen.
Love the movies and TV shows he's been in, I've admired him for years for his many great roles, but what I really love is his roles in video games. Wing Commander 3, Freelancer, and Dune 2000 wouldn't have been the same without him! He's been through a lot of the things I grew up with, so seeing him is like seeing an old friend every time he pops up in a show that comes on TV and in movies. Plus his voice acting, well, you usually know who he's voicing since he has such a distinctive voice! So it was awesome to see him in this interview!
Right! Totally forgot he was in Wing Commander!
I miss Freelancer. I had so much fun with that game.
This was fantastic. What an amazing person. He really is good at recalling detail and telling stories. Matt I thought you did an awesome job staying engaged and asking questions.
I came across your channel by accident and have really enjoyed it, but this was PHENOMENAL! Man that was probably the most fun I’ve had watching an interview like this!
Great job sir!!
Really appreciate this video. Just allowing a great man to speak what he wanted.
When he started the reading, he took me back to middle earth and damn did i cry hard! Thank you Matt! And thank you John!
In 37:51 John mentions the sad thing about old age is going through a day or days not learning new things. My father alway says when he learns something new “I learned something today, the day was not a waste.”
I could listen to JRD talk about the price of rice in china.
What an absolute LEGEND! I could have listened for much longer. Simply delightful!
That was an amazing interview thanks so much for doing this Matt! He’s such an amazing person and this definitely was such a good cause.
I think it's fair to say.. they don't make them like this anymore. This man is 77 years old and he's loving life while casually talking about ancient slave farming techniques after the fall of Rome. Calls his younger self a "class one idiot". Brilliant.
You can feel the excitement this man exudes about not only his craft overall, but his individual parts in various movies. This was an incredible interview. Thank you for being such a great channel with such amazing content!
Wow! The best use of my time in a very long while. What a wonderful interview.
You really nailed it with this interview, this was quite epic (especially the reading). I could listen to John all day. Thank you for pulling this off.
This was wonderful such a good interview and what a beautiful soul john has. that reading really played with my emotions.
Wooowww what a great session. Thank you for interrogating my favorite dwarf 😄.. John Rhys Davies is such a wonderful actor.
Ach, I missed the notification on the day!
Anyway, this was really enjoyable, John is such a charismatic individual but also surprisingly thoughtful and introspective. A real joy to behold.
I love the life that has been lived by John Rhys Davies
That was magical. Made my day listening while I work. I've been through the trilogy a good few times over the last couple of months and this just brought back all the feels. Might have to start over again. Great interview, John is a legend.
How exciting is this ! love these interviews so much, thank you !!!!
What a genuine character John is! What a blessing to interview him. Still love his role in Raiders of the Lost Ark!
In the words of Gimli "That was a kingly gift!". Thank you so much for conducting, and uploading this absoulute gem of an interview for all admirers of this man, and die hard fans of the Lord of the Rings and Tolkiens Mythology. You have done a great service for an incredibly worthwhile cause. Thank you!
I could sit down on the floor by the fireplace like a child and listen to John talk all day! This was such a treat! I would’ve asked him about his smaller roles in productions like Sliders and the FMVs of Wing Commander 3 and 4.
A couple things recently have put me into a bit of a depressed mood. Something like this showing up in my feed was just something I needed.
❤️
Oh my lord, what an interview! Your happiness through the video shows every second :) John is so generous and it shows how much he likes to share :)
Wow. That was a delight. The Aglarond reading was a very special moment. Super job, particularly letting such an engaging interviewee talk without hindrance - that's a rare gift for interviewers these days.
I absolutely ADORE him!! He is such a genuine and pure human. I loved this interview. He went above and beyond. As a book lover myself, I would love to live in his house 😍
So smart to get him to read the description of the Glittering Caves
Gives me chills and warms my heart at the same time.
If I got to interview him, the smile would never leave my face and I would listen to him for hours...
Closing my eyes during his Glittering Caves reading, I could see Gimli and his future kingdom there... Thank you very much for that awesome conversation with such a incredible actor and human being.