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Originally Posted by Bill Pullman as the United States President in the film Independence Day (1996)

Good morning. In less than an hour, aircraft from here will join others from around the world. And you will be launching the largest aerial battle in this history of mankind.

Mankind -- that word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can't be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests. Perhaps its fate that today is the 4th of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom, not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution -- but from annihilation.

We're fighting for our right to live, to exist.

And should we win the day, the 4th of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day when the world declared in one voice:

"We will not go quietly into the night!

We will not vanish without a fight!

We're going to live on!

We're going to survive!"

Today, we celebrate our Independence Day!

Pippin wants to know when the party gets started as he sits in front of Gandalf, astride Shadowfax. Aragorn and the others ride forth to challenge battle, to give Frodo a chance. Aragorn calls for Sauron “to come forth,” as we just can’t introduce another character to be herald nor usurp Aragorn’s command by having another call out Sauron. Aragorn and his party wait, and the silence eats at them.

Finally the Black Gate creaks open (better oil those Iron Hill trolls) and a lone figure rides forth. It’s the Mouth of Sauron, Black Númenórean, Lieutenant of the Tower of Barad-dûr and chief creepy guy now that the Witch-King is in the recycle bin. The creature/man rides forth, and speaks for Sauron. His teeth are creepy and his mask is odd (much has been said about the detail in the mask). He appears insectoid, like a Praying Mantis, and just how does he see? Aragorn, comically, gives him the ‘whatever!’ eyebrows while Legolas looks like he’s ready to shoot the MoS on the spot (then again, what else would Legolas do?).

We could have had some horns blaring to announce the arrival of the Mouth, but…

Gandalf, amazingly, replies when asked if any are worthy as I guess that Gandalf the White rates a Mouth but below a Witch-King. The White Wizard states the West’s demands. “Leave Mordor, disband your armies and see a dentist twice a year!” The Mouth of Sauron taunts Gandalf in return, displaying then throwing Frodo’s mithril shirt to Gandalf.

Personally I liked when Gandalf grabbed it from him, as that demonstrated assertiveness, but…

The hobbits in the group are openly dismayed, as they assume that Frodo is captured. Gandalf hushes the twain, possibly knowing that if Sauron had the Ring, there would already be signs (“What does your heart tell you?”) of it. Seeing that he has the party of the West at a disadvantage, the Mouth of Sauron piles on.

Aren’t Rohirrim truthsayers, and so wouldn’t they know a falsehood when it was spoken?

But even Gandalf gets sucked in by the lies and visibly begins to weep, which is crazy as we, the audience, know that Frodo’s still alive and free, unlike during this chapter in the books when, as far as we know, Frodo’s in Cirith Ungol awaiting transport to Barad- dûr.

Aragorn, still in control of the show, rides forth, and the Mouth of Sauron doesn’t know what’s coming. He mocks Aragorn, stating that the blade does not make the man, but Aragorn responds that the blade surely can unmake the man.

Aragorn beheads the MoS. If you’re keeping score, that’s at least one good beheading by Aragorn per movie (Lurtz, Uruk, MoS). It’s his thing. The rest of the group is momentarily shocked, but then Gimli does his thing, makes a joke, and all is back to normal in the world. For an explanation, Aragorn states that he didn’t believe the MoS, and then more psychotically, that, “I will not!” With his crazy look, no one tries to gainsay the new King. Surely Aragorn is to be the ‘rash new Ringlord sticking out his neck’ but here I think that he’s stuck on just ‘rash.’

Aragorn obviously read, “Headlopping Ways to Better Management,” by Uglúk.

The Black Gate opens, and where before there was nothing, now an army marches below the red gaze of the Eye (looking very much like the Eye and Pyramid, to me, on the back of a US dollar bill). Aragorn decides that it would behoove everyone to retreat back to the rest of the army.

Back on the other side of the fence, Sam notices that the Eye now scans northward, and so it’s safe once again to travel. Frodo begins to rise, and Sam helps him to his feet.

Back north, the long shot shows Aragorn and crew riding to rejoin the Army of the West. Note that no head or body, formerly known as the Mouth of Sauron, lies near the gate just like when Obi-Wan Kenobi was stuck down by Darth Vader. Amazing. And for those of you who are watching/have watched the theatrical release, note the black blood on Aragorn’s sword even though in that version the MoS rides off into the sunset.

I do like that the Army is a mixture of soldiers from different places - Rohirrim standing next to Gondorian soldier.

The Army of the West looks nervous, and so Aragorn, similar to the movie Braveheart and recently as on the Pelennor Fields by Théoden King, decides to give a speech. His words, delivered well, work well enough, but if you start thinking about them too much…Regardless, the soldiers draw their swords, and it’s an encouraging sound.

We see Sam and Frodo slowing making their way up the side of Orodruin.

The Army of the East makes its way around the Free Folk to encircle them. The Army of Aragorn, here not on a hill, prepare to be attacked from all sides, and are woefully outnumbered. The control and restraint exercised by the orcs is interesting, and their line (which is a circle) looks artificial, and I can’t help but see a lawn of bacteria onto which was dropped a filter of antibiotics (anyone know what I’m talking about when I say “flaming glass hockey sticks?”). Note that in this last stand that there are no moats or stinking pools of goo for the trolls to wade into…if there are trolls in this very mannerly group.

Frodo and Sam continue struggle for every vertical inch.

The orcs have completely cut off any chance of the Free Folk retreating. We see Merry, Pippin and Éomer (that other King) steeling themselves for what seems to be the inevitable. Gimli and Legolas share a moment, and it’s nice that the scene wasn’t muddied up with some sophomoric joking.

It’s the end game. For the remaining members of the Fellowship (and Éomer), this is it. Sauron is about to take the bait. It’s all up to Frodo and Sam now.