LotR3-RotK-Seq12

[Elladan and Elrohir]

Whatever you may think of the Frodo-Sam schism, Shelob's Lair is brilliantly conceived and executed. The set, the acting from Wood, the CG spider (it almost doesn't seem right to call her that), the perfect sound effects, and not least the creepy score. It's all magnificent.

And I happen to love the Frodo-Gollum scene that follows, as well. It's certainly not what you'd expect, that just minutes after one betrays the other brutally, they're having a heart-to-heart in between wrestling duels. But it's exactly in keeping with the way PJ has built up their relationship. Neither one is stable, but Frodo finally remembers that he does indeed have a hot date at Mt. Doom (or is that Gollum?), and each one's response to the other is totally logical.

And the Galadriel scene is brilliant also. Tolkien always blushed and nodded when readers did him the honor of comparing Galadriel with the Virgin Mary, and I think this scene is definitely in keeping with that comparison, whether intentionally or not. The Lady of Lorien plays an important role in that scene and in the subsequent scene with Sam in the book, and so I'm thrilled that PJ stuck this moment in there. It's really the defining moment for Frodo in the films, though we almost lose sight of it because he's immediately "killed" by Shelob. This is his turning point. "If you do not find a way, no one will." From this point on, he may lose hope, he may rely on Sam to get him to Orodruin, but he never shirks back from his task. He will never again stop to wonder, "What are we holding onto, Sam?"

Awesome sequence, all-around. Oh, and I guess there's the stuff with the Rohirrim too. Dom Monaghan delivers an amazing monologue as Merry; his character gets the least amount of spotlight time of anyone in the Fellowship, but he shines here. Although I too have always thought it rather stupid that he and Eowyn are sitting in the middle of the camp with helmets off, and no one apparently sees them.

[doug*platypus]

I have to say that movie Shelob didn't really do it for me. In the book, she was terrifying, second I believe only to the Nazgûl. There was something about her malicious, evil nature that chilled me to the bone. But in the movie, I believe her character was lost, and she was reduced to nothing more than a large spider. Scary to arachnophobes, maybe, but not evil enough to make this climactic scene all that it could have been.

I also prefer Gollum attacking Sam rather than the master who he supposedly had some feelings for. Rather than the twisted and confused entity we know so well from TTT, I believe ROTK Gollum was reduced merely to another bad guy, totally evil and beyond redemption. And that, in my opinion, makes him less interesting.

Although I too have always thought it rather stupid that he and Eowyn are sitting in the middle of the camp with helmets off, and no one apparently sees them.

In PJs defence ( ), Dernhelm in the book had an "understanding" with the leader of the éored (Elfhelm?) such that the presence of her and Merry was known and tolerated.

[Essex]

And here is one of the main scenes in this film which ties in exactly with the PREMISE of the whole story. That is Frodo showing copassion towards Gollum, even though he's tried to get him killed. This is what saves Middle-earth. The Redemption of Frodo because of his Compassion to Gollum.

Yes, I know this doesn't happen in the book here, but I think (and hope) it's a nod by PJ towards the whole premise of Frodo's Compassion and Redemption.

Sorry for the broken record bit above. I know I keep harping on about it, but it's so important to me.

Did anyone else notice how much Gollum looks like Andy Serkis here in his close ups by the Tunnel? It is very striking.

Anyway, great Shelob scenes - and the anger Frodo shows getting through the webs - silly old Gollumn, egging him on. Very clever to leave Sting behind as well LOL!

PS Don't worry about saving your friends, Merry. You will help Frodo save all of Middle-earth in a few scenes time!

[alatar]

The wee one of the tribe wanted to watch RotK last night as she got ready to pass out - she eventually just runs down. Shelob gave her a bit of a fright, and so we cut quickly to the Stanley Cup, and then back after Shelob let Gollum attack Frodo for a while. Anyway, as she (my daughter, not Shelob) finally drifted off on the couch, I sat watching this movie yet again.

Noticed something this time around that I hadn't seen before, and it's nitpicky (what would you expect? ), but just wanted to get it all down.

Grond, the big battering ram used to bludgeon down the gate at Minas Tirith, is too tall. Watch the scene more closely (I used my copy of the EE version of the DVDs; you'll need both). You'll see that Grond is well above the heads of the 'Grond trolls' that push it. Yet when it breaks through the Gate, it's just above. My picture of the Gate shows Grond withdrawn a bit, and so it looks higher than it was when it struck the Gate.

I'm guessing that if everything were to scale, the 'Hammer of the Underworld' should have struck the top portion of the Gate - still effective, that - though I could be wrong. Was this just some inconsequential error that allowed me to fill up a most boring day, or was the Gate supposed to be taller, or is this another case or moreMoreMORE PJ wanting Grond to be bigger, taller, faster...

It's been a slow day.