LotR1-FotR-Seq08

[Lathriel]

In the book it does mention that Gandalf has a staff and thus summons the eagle. But this wouldn't make sense in the movie because the last we see of Gandalf before this scene was him spinning up to the rooftop without his staff. So for me it makes sense because why would they give back his staff, especially since PJ decides to make the staff a symbol of power. (This we see in TTT when Gandalf uses it to get rid of Saruman influencing Theoden)

I think another reason that there is no staff is because PJ said in one of the commentaries that he didn't like to have the wizards shooting lighteningbolts from their staffs and in the book this happens.

The figure(Gandalf) lifted his arms and a light flashed from the staff that he wielded.

Found in the chapter In the house of Tom Bombadil. for my version it is page 167.

I don't really care about this change because I think the alternative is pretty cool. But I must admit that there is a lot of staff losing and finding going on throughout these movies. You never know when Gandalf will lose his staff. the only one who seems to be consistent is Saruman.

[Elladan and Elrohir]

Just to make it clear, Gandalf does not summon the eagle with his staff. You might say that he signals Gwaihir with it, but the actual summons came from Radagast, who obviously does not appear anywhere in the movies.

I agree with Lathriel that it is consistent for Gandalf not to have his staff on the top of Orthanc, considering PJ adding power to the staffs. But yeah, Gandalf the Grey and Gandalf the White are apparently assigned two staffs each. He seems to lose his staff almost as frequently as Anakin Skywalker loses his lightsaber.

[alatar]

Originally Posted by Elladan and Elrohir

Just to make it clear, Gandalf does not summon the eagle with his staff. You might say that he signals Gwaihir with it, but the actual summons came from Radagast, who obviously does not appear anywhere in the movies.

Someone hopefully will provide the text, but what I was saying is that Gandalf had his staff when he was held atop Orthanc. I think that the 'light' wasn't lightning, but maybe a small flicker like Gandalf will use later when in Moria. The light guides the bird to its target, nothing more.

I agree with Lathriel that it is consistent for Gandalf not to have his staff on the top of Orthanc, considering PJ adding power to the staffs. But yeah, Gandalf the Grey and Gandalf the White are apparently assigned two staffs each. He seems to lose his staff almost as frequently as Anakin Skywalker loses his lightsaber.

Do we have a count on the number of staffs that Gandalf has? He hs the original, loses that at Orthanc, gets another, loses that in Moria (I don't think that it's broken), get a Staff 2.0 when he returns from the dead, loses that to the Witch-King, and gets yet another for the trip across the sea.

[Essex]

fyi

In the dead night, Frodo lay in a dream without light. Then he saw the young moon rising; under its thin light there loomed before him a black wall of rock, pierced by a dark arch like a great gate. It seemed to Frodo that he was lifted up, and passing over he saw that the rock-wall was a circle of hills, and that within it was a plain, and in the midst of the plain stood a pinnacle of stone, like a vast tower but not made by hands. On its top stood the figure of a man. The moon as it rose seemed to hang for a moment above his head and glistened in his white hair as the wind stirred it. Up from the dark plain below came the crying of fell voices, and the howling of many wolves. Suddenly a shadow, like the shape of great wings, passed across the moon. The figure lifted his arms and a light flashed from the staff that he wielded. A mighty eagle swept down and bore him away. The voices wailed and the wolves yammered. There was a noise like a strong wind blowing, and on it was borne the sound of hoofs, galloping, galloping, galloping from the East. 'Black Riders!' thought Frodo as he wakened, with the sound of the hoofs still echoing in his mind. He wondered if he would ever again have the courage to leave the safety of these stone walls. He lay motionless, still listening; but all was now silent, and at last he turned and fell asleep again or wandered into some other unremembered dream.

re the number of staffs - You are talking, no doubt, of Movie gandalf, but I would also surmise that book gandalf gets at least one new staff after the battle with the balrog

[Lathriel]

I guess Gandalf is like one of those people who likes to go shopping for shoes but instead he likes staffs. I'm sure you can often see him going to the wizard mall.