The Necromancer

[Boo Radley]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

Yeah, we'll get to see a giant flaming eyeball swinging a sword at the Five Sunglasses before bobbing away into Mordor. Exciting, isn't it?

I'm beside myself with excitement! There's actually two of me here!

[Eruhen]

I'm really hoping this is Cumberbatch not knowing what the Udûn he's talking about. Otherwise, I'm going to start banging my head against the wall now and now stop until There and Back Again comes out.

[blue]

That's weird, why would Saruman be "bad" at that time anyway? There're 60 or so years for Sauron (the necromancer) to regain whatever corporeal form (an eye) that he's got and also corrupt Saurman.

It's all a bit odd, if you ask me - If Sauron shows at the Battle of the Five Armies, that wouldn't be the way I would've tied The Hobbit to the LoTR movies. I don't think there's any problems with showing whatever the Istari vs. Necromancer get on with, as that, imo, would be sufficient to make the tie-in, but I guess we'll find out!

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by blue

That's weird, why would Saruman be "bad" at that time anyway? There're 60 or so years for Sauron (the necromancer) to regain whatever corporeal form (an eye) that he's got and also corrupt Saurman.

From what I remember of the LOTR timeline (the book) Saruman was already "bad", but in secret. He tried to delay the attack on Dol Guldur until he was pressed to allow it, to gain time for the Ring to reveal itself.

[blue]

Hmm! Well, I'll have to go back an look, then. I'm probably misremembering but I thought Saurman'd started down the wrong path with the palantir connection with Sauron, though I'm not sure when that could've occurred - prior to the jaunts Gandalf took during the Hobbit to thwart Sauron/Necromancer or after.

We received two looks in the LoTR movies of Sauron - an eye (vividly captured above as requiring massive sunglasses) and a huge dude in armor. I'm hoping Jackson can make as daunting an impression of the necromancer, but somewhere in between, maybe a heavy dark semicorporeal cloak or something, considering Sauron's power is rising, but not fully there yet.

I'll still be ticked if he shows at the Battle of the 5 Armies.

[Lalwendë]

I really don't want to besmirch the name of Benedict Cumberbatch, seeing as he's achieved the herculean task of making me enjoy Sherlock (the detective is one of my all time most hated literary characters), but I think he might not fully understand what he's talking about, he doesn't sound like a Tolkien fan

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

(the detective is one of my all time most hated literary characters)

???!!!!

I can't read other mystery after getting the hang of Sherlock Holmes!

Originally Posted by Lal

I think he might not fully understand what he's talking about, he doesn't sound like a Tolkien fan

He's an expert on the Five Legions War, that's for sure. You're probably right here.

[Boo Radley]

Originally Posted by blue

Hmm! Well, I'll have to go back an look, then. I'm probably misremembering but I thought Saurman'd started down the wrong path with the palantir connection with Sauron...

That's what I'm thinking, too. If Saruman had a major fault before that, it was the arrogance that he could fight Sauron one to one.

[Sarumian]

Originally Posted by blue

Hmm! Well, I'll have to go back an look, then. I'm probably misremembering but I thought Saurman'd started down the wrong path with the palantir connection with Sauron, though I'm not sure when that could've occurred - prior to the jaunts Gandalf took during the Hobbit to thwart Sauron/Necromancer or after.

As I understood it, Saruman's corruption started before he got connected to Sauron via Palantir. It began when he learned enough about the true nature of The Ring and came to the conclusion that it can be found and used. He started desiring it. While he was not totally corrupt at the time of 'The Hobbit', he was already turning aside from his mission and, yes, delayed the attack on Dol Gudur under one or the other reason until Gandalf went there and proved that the Necromancer was Sauron. Then the attack was launched with his consent.

However, before he began chatting with the greater S, he was still able to return back to his path, but then he got trapped - all this happened a bit later as far as I concerned. Due to this reason, I wouldn't really mind such an interpretation, that at the time of 'The Hobbit' Saruman was still a noble wizard. Or may be he just came into temptation and desperately fought it. All that could make it more interesting, than just another battle.

[Sarumian]

PS Re: Mr. Cumberbatch. He's a good actor (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy) and I hope, he's going to read the book before he does the job. His interview made me to recall how Russian emperor Alexander III explained why he fired a minister:
'When Durnovo reports to me, he understands nothing, but I can understand the matter; when count Vitte reports, I understand nothing, but he understands it. And when it was Krivoshey, neither him no me could understand anything.' The latter can also be said about the interviewer and mr. Cumberbatch.

[alatar]

Originally Posted by Sarumian

However, before he began chatting with the greater S, he was still able to return back to his path, but then he got trapped - all this happened a bit later as far as I concerned.

Was Saruman truly 'trapped,' or was this Gandalf's spin on the situation. When I read the conversation between the Grey and the White wizards, it sure seems that Saruman was a willing partner in Sauron's plans.

Regardless, can't wait to see how PJ spins it. Saruman with chronic conjunctivitis in one eye perhaps?