[luthien-elvenprincess]

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Quote from Obloquy:
There was an interesting thing mentioned in the movie that I'd never thought of. They said that Sauron had no physical form during the War of the Ring. Although I don't think it's stated anywhere by Tolkien, this actually makes some sense. Since he didn't have the Ring, it is possible that he didn't have enough power to create a new form for himself.
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I realize that this is an old thread...but Tolkien does say that Sauron could take shape during the Third Age. After Isildur cut the Ruling Ring from Sauron's finger at the end of the Second Age, Tolkien wrote:
"Then Sauron was for that time vnquished, and he forsook his body, and his spirit fled far away and hid in waste places; and he took no visible shape again for many long years."

During the Third Age, Sauron did took a physical shape as the Sorcerer of Dol Guldur or the Necromancer.

But, Sauron didn't need the Ring or the power he poured into the Ring in order to take shape. In fact, during the White Council which was called to debate what to do about the Necromancer, Gandalf said,
"It is not needed that the Ring should be found, for while it abides on earth and is not unmade, still the power that it holds will live, and Sauron will grow and have hope. The might of the Elves and the Elf-friends is less now than of old. Soon he will be too strong for you, even without the Great Ring; for he rules the Nine, and of the Seven he has recovered three."

Perhaps, Sauron choose to manifest himself as an eye ringed with flame during the War of the Ring.