LONG-ASS MOVIES THIS WEEKEND >>>

It's been nine long years since the Lord of the Rings trilogy wrapped up. Nine, precious! But no longer will you have to suffer in darkness, far from all things Middle Earth. No, precious, things will now change. An entirely new trilogy based on The Hobbit will hit movie screens Dec. 14, and word on the nerd streets is that these movies carry the torch well - with higher frame rates and better CGI.

To help you rekindle your LotR flame, many theater chains are putting on a marathon of all three movies Saturday, Dec. 8 and Sunday, Dec. 9. Some theaters are showing extended versions, but all feature a special intro by director Peter Jackson. If you haven't done the math, this marathon goes more than nine hours for the theatrical release version and more than 11 hours for the extended versions.

Count on busting out your catheter or adult diaper.

Saturday, Dec. 8

• Galaxy Narrows: 10 a.m., $20, 2208 Mildred St. W., Tacoma, 10 a.m., $20
• Galaxy Gig Harbor: 10 a.m., 2 and 7 p.m., $20, 4649 Point Fosdick Dr. NW, Gig Harbor
• Regal Lakewood 15: 11:15 a.m., $30 via Fandango, 2410 84th St. S., Lakewood
• Regal Longston Place Stadium 14: 11:15 a.m., $30 via Fandango, 13317 Meridian St. E., Puyallup
• Regal Martin Village Stadium 16 and IMAX: $30 via Fandango, 5400 E. Martin Way, Lacey
• AMC Loews Lakewood Towne Center 12 (extended versions): 10 a.m., $25, 5721 Main St. SW, Lakewood

Saturday, Dec. 8 and Sunday, Dec. 9

• Century Olympia (extended versions): 11 a.m., $25, 625 Black Lake Blvd. SW, Olympia