LotR1-FotR-Seq13

[alatar]

I would agree with Eomer of the Rohirrim regarding this last sequence. Haven't had the time to count the fetched by Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli, but the number is a bit high. At least Aragorn, after his bout with Lurtz, looks like he was in a fight (Gimli gets dirty from falling down, as we will see in TTT).

Remember that there was some concern about having a 'Lurtz,' but as this name is just an easier way to designate "the orc formerly known as Saruman's troop leader," I wasn't too put off by that. Having another Tolkien-named orc would change the story a bit, especially if this headless orc were to have some part in TTT, and surely PJ wouldn't want to tamper with the text . I think that PJ wanted to have a 'boss' for Aragorn to fight, and Lurtz the UberUruk was it.

Aragorn, as noted, even here goes with the headchopping, as we'd also seen in the Battle at Mazarbul. What's up with PJ with that? Is there no other way to vanquish a stout foe other than to 'unburden his shoulders?'

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned that Boromir's death was not in FotR, but placed there by PJ. It makes perfect sense to me, as it was a great way to end the movie and waiting over a year to find Boromir's perforated body wouldn't have the same emotional impact as seeing it here, after traveling with him for over an hour. The FotR ending allows for more possibilities for starting The Two Towers, as the Three Hunters are on the move and Frodo and Sam have started their journey to Mordor.

No thread was left untied.

[Tuor in Gondolin]

Aragorn, as noted, even here goes with the headchopping, as we'd also seen in the Battle at Mazarbul. What's up with PJ with that? Is there no other way to vanquish a stout foe other than to 'unburden his shoulders?'

Perhaps he saw Highlander one too many times.

And as I have observed elsewhere, one of the more
irritating (albeit minor) changes by PJ and Co.
was their putting in "Let's hunt orcs!"
In place of

With hope or without hope we will follow the trail of our enemies. 'And woe to them, if we prove the swifter! We will make such a chase as shall be accounted a marvel among the Three Kindreds: Elves, Dwarves, and Men. Forth the Three Hunters!

Or even just

We will make such a chase as shall be accounted a marvel among the Three Kindreds: Elves, Dwarves, and Men. Forth the Three Hunters!

With, if necessary, followed by "Let's hunt orcs."

[Elladan and Elrohir]

This is my favorite sequence in the film by far, and one of the best in any of the movies.

Actually, I was more irritated at Aragorn taking so long to kill Lurtz than that 'Gorn, Leggy, and Gimmy killed so many Uruks. But maybe I'm in the wrong. The way I see it, the average Uruk ought to be about on the level of a sturdy man of Gondor or Rohan. Maybe a little higher. So I don't see any reason why the gruesome, uh, threesome shouldn't eat their lunch. Although, I must agree that considering how much PJ builds up the Uruks in the film, viewers may think, "Well, dude, they're falling just like the regular orcs in Moria! They're nothing special."

Boromir's death is absolutely awesome, and yes alatar, no doubt it was the right decision to put in this film. IMHO, Viggo matches Sean shot for shot acting-wise, although Sean does have the advantage of being the one who's dying. Both of them are great actors, and they play that scene magnificently. Although I do kind of get a little thrown off by the whole disappearing-and-reappearing-hand-on-Aragorn's-shoulder thing. But other than that...

Frodo and Sam's last big scene is also brilliantly scripted and acted. The Gandalf flashback (which actually isn't a flashback since Gandalf changes it to "all YOU have to decide is what to do with the time that is given YOU") is perfect, and cements my conviction that Ian McKellen should've won an Oscar for his performance.

Interesting that Edward Ross' solo "In Dreams" is included on "The Breaking of the Fellowship" track on the soundtrack, but it's not in its place in the film. Pity, because it's a great solo, putting words to the beloved Shire theme. Was this done so that Enya could get the Best Original Song Oscar?

[Essex]

A few things

Boromir88 - re

'Though he's still not too thrilled about Aragorn.'

that's putting it lightly! Book wise, have a think about LOTR from the Council on to the end of boromir's life - concentrate on boromir and aragorn's relationship. There is real animosity and anger between the two throughout - arguments ensue - either man trying to outdo the other, and only sometimes working together as a team (ie making the path in the snow) - I only realised this animosity after quite a few readings of the book. I'm not sure if anyone else has the same viewpoint of their animosity towards each other.


It's 'Let us hunt some orc' - not 'let's hunt some orc' - the latter would seem rather crass to me - but the former, uses archaic language - and is pretty much taken from aragorn's words to eomer 'I am hunting Orcs' - so it's OK with me. I know this sounds a small point, but to me it does make the sentence, and it's sentiments, tie in more with Tolkien's world.

I've only just finished reading lotr for the umpteenth time, and have finally come to realise Aragorn's decision to leave Frodo (in the books). It's exactly the same reason that Gandalf leaves the WK and saves Faramir. BECAUSE THERE IS NO ONE ELSE TO SAVE HIM SO I MUST. But evil will come of it. Aragorn HAS to follow Merry and Pippin to save them, because no one else could.

But I think Jackson's change to the plot that Aragorn let's Frodo go works well.

The scene where we see araogrn and co (and the orcs) respond to boromir's call is amazing - one of the best put together shots of the movie, the camera folowing the orcs down the hill as it sweeps through the trees. marvelous.

I'm not into 'inconsistency' failures in Films that people love finding - u know, like bormoir's arm being on araogrn's shoulder when he dies in one shot, then not in another - that doesn't bother me - but one thing that DOES (and I don't know why!) is the tear tract on Frodo's face that is in the wrong order - something simple that i noticed the first time i saw the film - why they didn't spot it I don't know.

But wood's acting here is marvelous. I think Jackson, as a director, can get so much from his actors with just a LOOK. You can se this throughout the 3 movies and with numeorous actors.

Does anyone else wince when you see Sam run into the river after seing what happened to sean astin's foot when he went in the first time on the extras dvd?

anyway, a brilliant end to a brilliant movie.

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Alatar, I think you misunderstand me. I was not referring to the Orc carcasses fetched by the three Heroes; I was using the Scots' word for 'fighting'—fechtin'.

Though it kind of works!

Did having the death of Boromir in the Fellowship actually improve on the book? I always thought the end of the first book was slightly anticlimactic, and I can't really imagine reading it and then waiting another 6 months or a year or however long it was until Two Towers came out.

[alatar]

Originally Posted by Eomer of the Rohirrim

Alatar, I think you misunderstand me. I was not referring to the Orc carcasses fetched by the three Heroes; I was using the Scots' word for 'fighting'—fechtin'.

Though it kind of works!

Sorry. I just liked that use of the word so much that it clouded my perceiving it otherwise ("I will fetch thee if thou touches him...").

Did having the death of Boromir in the Fellowship actually improve on the book? I always thought the end of the first book was slightly anticlimactic, and I can't really imagine reading it and then waiting another 6 months or a year or however long it was until Two Towers came out.

I would think that this is one of PJ's actual improvements on the text - not that Tolkien wanted three different books, as LotR is one story. Movie-wise, great ending.

[Lathriel]

One of my favourite parts of this sequence are the Argonath. I really like the way they are done, and you really get a sense of history.
Another thing I really appreciate about these movies is that so much effort was put in finding the right location and that the scenery does't only act as background.
Boromir's death scene is really touching and I like how Gandalf's voice comes back to Frodo when he has to make a desicion.
It is also neat how the end of the movie shows just a little bit of Emyn Muil and as a viewer you hope that they will show you more but then the movie ends and you have to wait another year.