[Essex]

Isn't Jackson showing us with gollum's transformation in that it may be down to how Gollum got tenure of the Ring. It was through Murder. Maybe this accelerated the process.

remember this is an adaptation of Tolkien's work. We have little proof (other than gandalf's words) what caused gollum's descent into madness (?) / schizophrenia etc. Yes, we know that gandalf tells us that he was outcast by his family, and this would have looked good on the EE edition, but what Jackson is showing us here is gollum's addiction to the Ring, and then pan straight to the 'new' addict Frodo, albeit in a lesser stage of the addiction.

showing us gollum getting outcast by his family may have taken too long in this opening scene.

a couple of things. one of the only times in the trilogy I see something with physical action not working quite right is when smeagol is strangling deagol. he's hardly holding onto his neck and not squeezing. now you may think this is over the top, but the way serkis puts his life and soul into his acting, im surprised he went so 'lightly' on the other actor in this scene....

and the rumbling that frodo and sam feel. I watched this scene time after time trying to get a reason for why we have this and couldn't fathom why it was in the movie. until I re-read the book!!!!

From Journey ot the Crossroads

At that moment a rolling and rumbling noise was heard again, louder now and deeper. The ground seemed to quiver under their feet. 'I think we are in for trouble anyhow,' said Frodo. `I'm afraid our journey is drawing to an end.'

and

But it was too late. At that moment the rock quivered and trembled beneath them. The great rumbling noise, louder than ever before, rolled in the ground and echoed in the mountains. Then with searing suddenness there came a great red flash. Far beyond the eastern mountains it leapt into the sky and splashed the lowering clouds with crimson. In that valley of shadow and cold deathly light it seemed unbearably violent and fierce. Peaks of stone and ridges like notched knives sprang out in staring black against the uprushing flame in Gorgoroth. Then came a great crack of thunder.
And Minas Morgul answered. There was a flare of livid lightnings: forks of blue flame springing up from the tower and from the encircling hills into the sullen clouds. The earth groaned; and out of the city there came a cry.

therefore it seems to be a rallying call from 'gorgoroth' - ie must be barad dur or the moutain of fire - and finally minas morgul heeds the call and unleashes its armies.....

PS - to get the quotes I opened my copy of ROTK first before realising this is TT in the 'real' book world!!!! ahhhh, sacrilegeous! the film is overtaking the book in my thoughts - must re read lotr again for penance.......