Oh, I'm a ghost and I'm OK; dodge arrows all night 'n' clash swords all day!

[empress_han]

I think that it might have something to do with the fact that Aragorn is weilding the sword, they are bound by the oath. Or maybe the sword isn't ghostly? When men rot weapons still stay intact.

[Kitanna]

Mmmmm, I smell a plot hole. O those crazy dead.

I always thought the fact their swords clang had to do with Anduril and Aragorn being the rightful king. But the fact that the hunters are not killed when the ghosts pass over them is strange.

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by Eomer of the Nitpickirrim

Yet his sword makes real contact with Aragorn's sword.

The whole point is that Aragorn as the true heir of Isildur, the one who cursed them, and wielding Isildur's sword, is the only one capable of challenging the King and holding him and his people to their oath.

Originally Posted by Kitanna

But the fact that the hunters are not killed when the ghosts pass over them is strange.

Perhaps they have a choice in whether they kill those who they swarm over ...

[dancing spawn of ungoliant]

Originally Posted by SpM

The whole point is that Aragorn as the true heir of Isildur, the one who cursed them, and wielding Isildur's sword, is the only one capable of challenging the King and holding him and his people to their oath.

I think Sauce strikes the nail on the head.

Originally Posted by The very same Guy with Pans

Perhaps they have a choice in whether they kill those who they swarm over

Maybe. But that, I think, leads us to a question about what made the Dead so... deadly.

Originally Posted by RotK, The Last Debate

And suddenly the Shadow Host that had hung back at the last came up like a grey tide, sweeping all away before it. ... Pale swords were drawn; but I know not wether their blades would still bite, for the Dead needed no longer any weapon but fear. None would withstand them. ... And all marines were filled with a madness of terror and leaped overboard.

In the movie we see that grey (or green) tide and they just float over the enemy swinging their swords. In the book it seems that they used mostly fear instead of physical whacking abilities. Later it is told that at the end all enemies drowned or fled so the ghosts didn't/ couldn't kill all of them. So, did the orcs and other nasty things just get a heart-attack and die? Maybe not.

Originally Posted by Eomer

Yet his sword makes real contact with Aragorn's sword.

I'd be interested to know, what would have happened if Aragorn hadn't been able to stop the Dead King's strike. Would he have been able to wound Aragorn?

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by jiving offspring of mighty arachnid

In the movie we see that grey (or green) tide and they just float over the enemy swinging their swords. In the book it seems that they used mostly fear instead of physical whacking abilities.

Yes. They were presented differently in the film. This was, I would guess, necessitated by their presence at the Pelennor, as it would have looked rather silly to have the vast army of Mordor (Oliphaunts and all) simply turn tail and run.

Originally Posted by waltzing child of scary eight-legged monster

I'd be interested to know, what would have happened if Aragorn hadn't been able to stop the Dead King's strike. Would he have been able to wound Aragorn?

I would assume so. If they could kill Orcs, they could have killed Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli (but for Aragorn's heritage and singularly appropriate blade).

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Don't get me wrong; I know that that's the answer, Anduril and all that. I guess I might be looking at a wider issue not necessarily to do with Tolkien, though maybe Tolkien did provide an answer.

How on Earth (and Middle-earth) can ghosts pose an apparently physical threat?

[the phantom]

Perhaps PJ's orcs are extremely allergic to green mist?

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by Eomer of the Conflictim

How on Earth (and Middle-earth) can ghosts pose an apparently physical threat?

Probably the same way that Ringwraiths can be disembodied spirits but still need clothes and horses.

[Neurion]

Originally Posted by Kitanna

Mmmmm, I smell a plot hole. O those crazy dead.

I always thought the fact their swords clang had to do with Anduril and Aragorn being the rightful king. But the fact that the hunters are not killed when the ghosts pass over them is strange.

They should have left it, like so many other things, as it was in the book.

[Elendhel]

Is it wrong that I just put it all down to mystical ghost powers? Of which I know nothing because I am not, infact, a ghost?