LotR1-FotR-Seq01

[alatar]

Can't help it, but if I don't post this now it will be forever lost...though maybe that's a good thing. Hmmm. This was prompted by the posts regarding Bilbo being a thief.

Anyway, we will eventually see a scene in which Gollum is tortured, and surely he is being questioned regarding the whereabouts of the Ring and the thief Baggins.

Can you imagine Sauron asking, "And by the way, when you found the Ring, you didn't see any extra fingers lying around, did you?"

Okay, so it was funnier in my head.

[mormegil]

I've only had a chance to read about half of what has been said so far and briefly look at some of the rest and what I want to add is nothing similar so here it goes.

Every time I watch the prologue in my mind's eye I'm back at the theater where I first saw the movie. It was either on my anniversary or right near it and my wife and I decided to watch the 12:01 showing of it. I went rather early to get us a place in line and waited for over 14 hours. I must say that this was one of the greatest times I've ever waited for a movie the reason being is all those who waited for the 12:01 showing were true Tolkien fans and not merely movie fans. At the subsequent two there were many more fanboys and Leggy lovers that ruined the mood for me. However, the fellowship was perfect! So there was a slow building surge of excitement and energy that progressed as each hour passed and to me the climax was seeing the beautiful graphic of the title on the screen while hearing Cate's voice.

Her ethereal voice mixed with the music score held me mesmerized and I was rather giddy with excitement. Her voice truly enchanted me and I thought was the perfect voice for the narration. The character for the narration is debatable and seemingly has been here already so I won't go into that but her voice truly was perfect. It had a power and mystic to it that is Middle-earth.

Also two other items of note in this sequence is we see the first glimpses of the costumes and scenery/backdrop. I thought I was in heaven and I was instantly amazed at the high level of quality given to the costumes and the subtle detail put into them. And we see what wonderful landscapes PJ picked out for us and our interest is definitely piqued at this point and in my opinion we are not let down on that front, at least.

In essence I see past all of the story differences and trivial details at this point and I am brought back to the sheer joy and excitement of watching this production for the first time.

[Lathriel]

Funny , during this discussion I also begin to remember the first time that I saw the fellowship. I don't remember exactly how I felt during the prologue that first time but I do remember immediatly falling in love with Hobbiton.
This opening sequence never bores me, I watched it many times but I never have the instinct to go to the next seuence of the movie.

[AragornII]

I think PJ did a great job on the Prologue. There is one thing I would change though. I don't know if this should go here but since it relates to the Prologue, I'll say it. I think that PJ should have used the opening sequence of ROTK(loved that sequence btw ) in FOTR as well as the current sequence. I realize though that it would go way over the time limit for the Prologue, but think about it. The FOTR Prologue gives a history of ME and the Ring, but if the ROTK sequence was in there, it would sort of bridge the gap between the Last Alliance and Gollum and Bilbo. You would have seen why Gollum is evil and how he got the Ring. I mean c'mon. The FOTR Prologue has the Ring getting picked up from the River and then in the hands of this creature. The ROTK sequence would tell how he became like that and why he is so mad when the Ring is stolen by Bilbo. I remeber thinking when I saw ROTK, "Why do they have this at the beginning of ROTK? This belongs way earlier."

Just my thoughts.

[Celebuial]

I totally agree with mormegil: Every time I see the prologue I'm right back in the Cinema watching the film for the first time. I don't think there will ever be a movie related experience in my life more perfect than that one. I was completely blown away. I'd never seen anything like it before all the visuals were stunningly beautiful and I was lost in P-J's Middle-Earth. I guess the experience for me was a kin to those lucky people who saw Star Wars in the cinema...There really hadn't been anything remotely similar before. Indeed it was this experience that got my interested in LotR and Tolkien. After seeing the film once and not really taking any of it in because I was so stunned I went straight to the nearest book shop and brought FotR. I had read all of the books within a week and had started the second reading. If it hadn't of been for the stunning way the prologue affected me I wouldn't be posting this message today.

I can't imagine a better way to have started off the films, or indeed of introducing anyone to Tolkien. It starts off simple and enchanting with Cate's perfectly Elven sounding voice and the whispers of Elvish, giving birth to questions in your mind that entice you to watch on(if you're new to the whole thing and have no-idea what's going on). And well it's just great... all the effects look quite realistic and you really get a sense of all the different peoples of Middle-Earth and what they stand for...

* I shall continue this post at a later date...must sleep....eyes getting very heavy...ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz*

[radagastly]

mormegil

I thought I was in heaven and I was instantly amazed at the high level of quality given to the costumes and the subtle detail put into them.

I knew I was about to see something special when I saw the intricate tracing of gold on the finger of Sauron's gauntlet, seen in a close-up of the ring. incredible detail.

Every time I watch the prologue in my mind's eye I'm back at the theater where I first saw the movie.

It's funny, but the first time I saw this in the theatre, I completely missed the prologue. A friend got lost on the way back from the bathroom, and by the time we got our seats, the movie was already in the Shire. I had to wait until I saw it on my own later before I saw the beginning. Good thing I already knew the book.

Alatar

Can you imagine Sauron asking, "And by the way, when you found the Ring, you didn't see any extra fingers lying around, did you?"

I'm glad it was the index finger and not the next one down. Imagine all the jokes then.

[Gurthang]

Haven't had time to read all that's been said, so I hope this isn't repeating.

First off, the narration by Cate is brilliant. When I sit down to watch the movie, I get chills even before the words begin. The fact that it starts off in elvish really adds a lot I think. Basically highlighting that this is a completely different world than what we are used to. It almost comes across as a translation then(which it actually is... book-->movie), and sets it apart. But just in general the voiceover was very pleasing. Especially '...history became legend, legend became myth...' says so much more than just that the Ring was forgotten.

The Last Alliance was pretty good, too. I enjoyed the rows of archers firing one after another, as well as the first row of elves with glaives(I think that's what they are). The fighting was good, too. Not very extensive, but well shot.

The only thing I really didn't like about this sequence is the way Sauron was defeated. First, he simply hurls Elendil against a wall like a rag doll. Not a lot wrong there(from movie standpoint). Then Isildur runs to his father, completely disregarding the battle, and removes his helmet. Upon noticing Sauron's approach, he reaches for his father's sword, which is crushed by the Dark Lord. Nothing wrong so far.

But this next part is what irks me. Sauron, for some unknown reason, reaches down, with his Ring hand, towards Isildur, who is holding the equivalent of a knife. Completely stupid. Not only is it off from the book, it doesn't make any sense. Seriously, show Isildur get a rush of adrenaline and knock Sauron down. Make Sauron swing and miss, get off balance, and Isildur makes a well timed shot. Make Sauron trip on a rock or something, I don't care, just don't make it like 'Oh, here, cut off my Ring."!

Sorry. That part is just a little annoying to me.

Apart from that, the whole sequence was excellant.

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by AragronII

There is one thing I would change though. I don't know if this should go here but since it relates to the Prologue, I'll say it. I think that PJ should have used the opening sequence of ROTK(loved that sequence btw) in FOTR as well as the current sequence.

I would disagree with you there. I think that the Smeagol/Deagol sequence and Smeagol's transformation works much better once we have got to know Gollum as a character. The full horror of seeing him as he once was works well when we already have the combination of sympathy and revulsion for him that his role in TTT brings.

Originally, I believe that it was intended to be included in the Dead Marshes scene, when Frodo calls Gollum by his original name and the camera pans in on Gollum's expression. But it works well as an opener to RotK, setting up the revelation of the Ring's full effect on Frodo and the link that is made between Gollum's experience and Frodo's possible future.

But I am getting way ahead of us here ...