[Knight of Gondor]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> What REALY disappoints me, however, is not Arwen, or the overkilling Legolas, nor even the jokers Merry and Pippin. It is the Nazgul... Every time I picked up and read the LOTR, I would get goosebumps on the back of my neck when I read about the Nazgul.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>I rarely have such reactions to books, even ones as awesome as Tolkien’s. But in the movie, the spine-tingling screams issuing from the emissaries of Sauron are quite scary...especially when they hit that certain pitch that rings in your ears a few seconds after the actual sound waves cease to be projected from all six theater channels. But I especially find the soundtrack to enhance the Nazgûl spookiness. When first introduced on the misty night near Hobbiton, and on track 5 of The Fellowship of the Ring soundtrack, it is like the musty, dark, long-dormant yet newly-awakened evil that are the Ringwraiths. The rapid, scale-climbing violin is the perfect tune for the shivers that run up the backs of those that see or hear the Ringwraiths. While PJ couldn’t sit there and describe to you the Ringwraith fear, I think he did an admirable job in the trilogy. And besides...who says the fear is the same on the big screen as it is in person?<P> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> They were indestructible, and who don't love villains that are invincible? The movie showed them to be nancy cultist boys who scream for mama the moment they see a bit of fire or sword. I mean c'mon! You won't know the power of Sauron unless you see what his servants can do to you. Having Arwen/Aragorn fighting them is still alright with me... just don't make them into wusses!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>The Nazgûl were not indestructible...check near the end of the book Return of the King. They did not scream for Mama when they saw fire or sword...but they fled from fire, both in the movies, and in the book on Amon Sul. Arwen didn’t fight them, she fled them. Aragorn fighting them is taken verbatim from the book, except that he wielded a real sword, not two torches. I have already discussed the idea of Aragorn’s *other* sword than Narsil. Take a look at the actions and reactions of the Nazgûl early on in the books. <P> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> Much as I like how Boromir was portrayed, I am very disappointed that Frodo did not sit on the High Seat and surveyed the entire world... I mean, Prof T created that scene really exceptionally and it described the situation really well. But I guess they can't show that in the movies because Aragorn needs to make out with his lover.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>He did escape Boromir. He did climb to the top of the seat, and while it didn’t show the whole world (how on earth was PJ supposed to portray THAT on the screen?)<P>I’ll make this comment again; you were upset about some missing things, but if some of the love scenes between Aragorn and Arwen (and you’d lose a sizable hunk of the female viewing audience not to have at least one kiss, or a love story — not to mention the charge that LotR is a “guy movie” would run rampant) were removed, then others would complain. It’s a catch-22, and PJ was stuck calculating which of the majority would prefer what.<P> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> On the other hand, those reinforcements led by Gandalf do seem a bit too many... I mean, first throw 300 against 10000, and then all of a sudden 6000 appear to save the situation?!?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Boromir and Gandalf most likely rallied more soldiers from the outlying lands. As I recall, Aragorn told Théoden in Meduseld that Éomer was riding with three thousand. Perhaps I recall wrongly, but that’s how I remember it.<P> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> The Ents were really quite excellent in the siege of Isengard, but Pippin and Merry never grew any taller.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Somehow I have a feeling I’ll utter these two words again before this discussion is resolved: Extended Edition.<P> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> Now we come to what everyone hates: Faramir.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Well! <I>I</I> like him! <P> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> The third movie, I guess, couldn't be worse.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>:-0<P> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> But WHERE is Evil Wizard that every one loves? Those of us who read the book knew that Saruman was killed by Wormtongue in the Shire, but the rest of the audience are going to think that there would be a sequel to this book just because they did not see Saruman die.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Shame that PJ left him out of TTT:EE (he explained that decision in the behind-the-scenes stuff), but not everyone loves the dude. <P> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> but the Riders of Rohan are definitely stupid.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Beg yer pardon?!<P> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> In actual fact, I am very much shocked to see that Gondor is so unprepared for invasion in the very first. Why would Boromir go down to Rivendell if not to seek allies in war? Why would his brother be ambushing Oliphaunts if Gondor is not prepared for war already?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>I dispute the claim that we here in Gondor were not ready. Yet at the bidding of our proud and despairing Steward, we were not as ready as we should have been. <P> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> Frodo HAD to be a hero and shove Gollum down the volcano. I guess Hollywood hate to see bad guys die by their own hand...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>A slight departure from the book, but Frodo was NOT shoving — he was trying to get his Precious back.<P> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> But nobody explained why Frodo could go across the sea with Bilbo and the Elves. By that time, though, nobody cared...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Perhaps not the full reason (that he’d borne such a heavy burden) but if you’d listened, someone said something like “the Elves have granted Frodo a great gift; a place on one of the ships.”<P> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> I guess I am a little too harsh on the film-makers. I am not really in control: this input is made at 4.30am... I have not slept yet. So, if I had offended any with my opinion, I beg you all a thousand apologies! Me a newbie after all!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Beware, for few sensible utterances can be made at 4:30 AM. None of your post, of course, is taken personally, and I hope none of mine is. I’m just tackling the issues that you raise. If you would, I know my posts are long, but I deal with a great many of the objections Willkill raised, if you would be obliged to read them.<P>Also, welcome to both you and caligulathegod, who I seem to echo a little, but that’s okay.<P> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> I was actually directing it towards willkill4food, not Armetiel, but the same goes for all, respect people's opinions to a certain extent.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>I understood that when I read it, Arathor.<P> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> I have nothing against Armetiel's opinions, but willkill4food went to far all he did was complain, and I hate it when people b*itch and moan, if you want to b*tch and moan go somewhere else please. However willkill4food most of the points you made were good, but after reading the ones for FoTR, the rest just seemed like you just wanted to, wait what's the word oh yead, B*TCH!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>You respect Willkill’s right to his opinion...please respect his right to opine on the subjects. I’ll say this again. If you don’t like what he wrote...why cuss him out about it? Just leave it alone. <P> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> I respect yours and everyone else's.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Then please respect my opinion as well...because my objections to orc-talk have not changed. (Willkill seems to respect them, even at the height of frustration)<P> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Not to knock on you, either, but I would rather read a post of nitpicks than a post with at least 5 mentions of 'b*itching & moaning' in it...but maybe that's just me.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Gandalf: "The Only Real Estel stands alone."<P>Knight of Gondor, riding up on horse: "Not alone." *Draws reproduction of Narsil*