TTT - Shadowfax

[Rochelle]

I haven't seen a post about this wonderful character yet *lol* But if there is one I'm sorry!<P>I just wanted to say that I found a picture in one of the picture books that was based off the TTT movie. It showed Gandalf trotting on Shadowfax without bridle BUT his feet were in stirrups I didn't notice it in the movie, I assumed, but they did a good job in hiding any saddle Ian McKellen or whoever may have been seated on.<P>One of my other observations was that PJ had Gandalf riding without harness/saddle but why not Legolas? The first thing he did when he was given Arod was remove the saddle and bridle...? Just a little thing that got me miffed. What are your thoughts on it?<P>That picture made me sad though...I thought the least they could do was "erase" the stirrups before the picture was published *lol*<P>Has anyone seen this picture I'm talking about?

[Earendil evening star]

No i haven't seen the picture but what you said about Legolas and Arod was exactly what i was thinking when i saw TTT, in the book, i'm sure it specifically says that Legolas always rides bare-backed (no bad jokes please)

[Rochelle]

It does...this is a quote from THE RIDERS OF ROHAN.<P> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> A smaller and lighter horse, but restive and fiery, was brought to Legolas. Arod was his name. But Legolas asked them to take off saddle and rein. 'I need them not,' he said, and leaped lightly up <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[Goldberry]

I didn't notice that in the movie, but now that you have mentioned it, I will probably notice all the time and get mad, hehe

[Rochelle]

Well I found one of the pictures...not the one I was talking about but this will do...<P> <P>I'm shocked Shadowfax allows this? *lol*

[Goldberry]

Oh yeah, I see the foot thingies (I know nothing about horseback riding so pardon the lack of proper terminology ). But that really bugs me - that they left them in in the movie! <P>Oh yeah - stirrups! (right?) <p>[ March 08, 2003: Message edited by: Goldberry ]

[Burzdol]

In TTT, where Gandalf dismounts one time or another, you can see a strap going the full way around the horse. It connects with stirrups at each side. They try to hide it though, very poor job.<P>~Burzdol~

[King Fingolfin]

Was actually a little dissapointed that Shadowfax's Importance was not really emphasised enough in TTT, Hopefully in ROTK we will see him "Flying" to Gondor

[doug*platypus]

Good call, his importance (and temperament!) seem to have decreased markedly from the book. As for huge flaring, war-horse nostrils, even I could ride the little pansy-horse they used in the movie! <P>Poor Shadowfax was basically reduced to a shampoo commercial. Does anyone else think "shampoo commercial" when we first see Shadowfax coming over the hill in slow motion, prancing through the daisies?? The stable at Edoras would have been the perfect time for Gandalf to talk about his incredible speed, or maybe he could have been shown outpacing Arod and Hasufel on the ride from Fangorn. Another poor translation(although very minor) by the moviemakers.

[BeeBombadil]

You don't put a 60-some odd-year-old actor on a stallion, however well trained, with nothing to hang onto and no way to balance. Ian McKellan makes it quite clear on his site that he is NOT a rider and was very happy about everything the film crew did to keep him safe on the horse.<P>As for the horse being a puny little thing...right. He's a 17-hand tall stallion. He's incredibly well-trained but still, it takes an expert horseman (or in this case, horsewoman, as the stunt rider was female) to handle a stallion with no tack on.<P>McKellan does very little riding in the movie. You are almost always seeing either a riding double or the actor's face cg'ed into the frames.

[The Saucepan Man]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> Does anyone else think "shampoo commercial" when we first see Shadowfax coming over the hill in slow motion, prancing through the daisies?? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>... or an albino Black Beauty, perhaps.