[Essex]

Originally Posted by alatar

We see the battered remains of Saruman’s fortress in the light of day as the Riders approach what remains of the gate of Isengard.

Whenever I see Isengard I can't get the size right in my head - it always looks like a model, exept in this shot - it looks more life like when we have the trees to frame the shot perhaps.

Merry and Pippin are just where we’d left them, amidst the spoils of armies enjoying a bit of flotsam and jetsam.

Just realised after my millionth viewing that they don't seem surprised to see Gandalf. Now us book readers obv. know why this is, but did Movie Gandalf go to see Treebeard? book gandalf went so he could ask treebeard to send his troops towards helm's deep to mop up the stray orcs. Movie Treebeard had already sent them off though.....

A voice is heard, and we know that Saruman has come. Saruman, straight from the books, sues for peace with King Théoden. Though I love the words uttered, and the actors do a fine job, I think that the scene would benefit if Bernard Hill were to hesitate before answering - a dramatic pause to enhance the gibbets.

I agree. BBC radio get this scene SO well.

Saruman spouts some scorn at ‘Gorn, who seems to have a surfer ‘whatever!’ expression on his face. It’s almost like Viggo is thinking, “when will that old man shut up? I want to get back to either a Liv or action scene.”

To be fair, book Aragorn doesn;t talk to Saruman either.......

Gimli, like me, has heard enough and suggests that someone “stick an arrow in his gob.” Gob is an interesting word. Does it mean ‘mouth?’

following the book at least - it is gimli who pipes up first at saruman.

Gandalf begs, yet again, for Saruman to come down.

as he does twice in the book.....

Gandalf breaks Saruman’s staff, which we could have done five minutes ago, but… Who’s this? All of that yelling has woken poor Grima, who must have taken the elevator/lift to the top.

notice the book has this take place at the balcony rather than the top of orthanc.

Did my DVD just skip or did Gandalf just repeat himself? Wonderful dialogue; so much so that we have to repeat it. “Please, oh pretty please Saruman, please tell me what you know.” Saruman, committing the oft-cited Pjism, tells Gandalf to remove his guard then Saruman will spill the beans. This makes no sense, as to me there is no reason for Saruman to leave – and if the Ents really wanted to kill the Treeslayer, well, they and the one-stone one-kill hobbits had plenty of chances.

well, it does kind of follow the book. instead of asking him to withdraw theoden's forces, book saruman replaces this with a comment about the Ents ready to give him what for.....

Legolas, that crusader for justice, takes it upon himself to kill Grima for stabbing Saruman. And his arrow, of course, is lethal. It would have been nice to see such bowmanship when an Uruk ran towards the Helm’s Deep wall with a magical torch, but I guess that you can’t have everything.

he did hit that orc. armour is a wonderful thing!

Legolas and Gimli begin to participate in a drinking game after Éomer explains the rules. Gimli takes to it like a hog to mud, and his table manners are pretty porcine and his behavior asinine.

painful scene to watch, but my 8 year old loves this scene. Must try to remember this Movie is for kids too, not just 30 something guys tut tutting at the screen every 5 minutes!!!

Éowyn brings a cup to that other King guy, Aragorn, and makes a pass for his attention/affections.

I love this scene, straight from the book.

Aragorn and Gandalf discuss Frodo.

I don't mind this scene, even though it has nothing to do with the book. just leads us back nicely to our two hobbits.


Regarding these scenes, and Pippin's cheeky look into the stone later on.....

Reading the book again, it's not clearly mentioned why gandalf sets off for Minas Tirith. (exept in a quick aside to Pippin on Shadowfax) And obviously book Pippin doesn't see the burning tree in his vision. But PJ has decided to put the whole reason-detre around these scenes being the catalyst for the everyone to move towards Minas Tirith. Not really to my liking, but I can put up with it I suppose......