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Originally Posted by Essex
But I'm unsure of the dramatic tension it would have on screen as apposed to the tension it does have in the book.
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I'm sure it would have the same effect and the same tension. In the book it is one of the tensest moments at all and I can understand PJ couldn't bring himself to drop it completely. The problem is, that it's a quite un-Jacksonesque kind of tension.
Let's imagine how it could have been.
Grond has just smashed the gate (without the Witch King's help, different from the book). We see the wolf's head swing back like we do in Jackson's vision. Then Gandalf tells his gondorian soldiers to stand their ground whatever comes through the gate.
The audience holds their breath. Now we're prepared for anything. A great onslaught of orcs and trolls and whatnot probably?
No.
We see the black hooves of a black horse slowly stride through the gate. Cut to Gandalf. He does not move, but his face
does show fear. We see the faces of soldiers showing a lot more of it. But Gandalf is in control.
The camera moves from the hooves up, and there we see the figure cloaked in back: A Nazgūl, no,
the Nazgūl. The bowmen stand paralysed, no dart is shot. We see the Witch King moving his head, taking a glance at the defenders.
A moment of silence.
The Nazgūl theme rises.
And there goes the trademark Nazgūl scream, worse than ever. The defenders drop their weapons and flee.
*Nźbābītham Magānanź*
Gandalf alone remains on Shadowfax, stern and unmoved, less fearful now. The music stops again.
"You cannot enter here etc."
The Witch King is dismayed, but little.
That does not suffice to drive him away. Again a moment of silence. Then he lifts his arms, he leads his hands to his hood. Do we finally, after 2 and a half movies, get to see what's under those sheets? Yes! In slow motion he takes the sides of his hood and guides them to his shoulders. Now we see his crown (an iron bracelet with some sort of spikes and dark gems) and his eyes(!) (glowing red, I would say)
"Old fool! Old fool! This is my hour"
He lifts his sword at the word 'my'. Flames run over it (this part is, minus fell beastie, the same as PJ did it). The Witch King then delivers the rest of his line.
Skip the cock. The Witch King charges towards Gandalf. Gandalf is ready to meet him and then...
...well, horns and stuff, Rohan came. The Witch King turns and rushes out the gate where his fell beast awaits its master.
And that's it. We'll see Pippin keeping Gandalf from hunting the Witch King only after the Rohirrim attack.
Now don't crush my innocent ego by saying this wouldn't work.
Alright, do it! I dare ya!
