"My friends, you bow to no one"

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

I don't like the scene, but it is because I find it very unconvinsing. It seems fake! It is one of those scenes that are supposed to be realy touching, but all it does for me is make me want to vomit.

[MatthewM]

Just to add, I actually liked the scene. I thought it was moving and showed full development of friendship between the hobbits and Aragorn.

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

I just want to add, that I like the intend of the scene, but I just don't think that they make it work.

[MatthewM]

I think it works, but everyone is going to have their own opinion. I love the whole coronation scene.

[Elladan and Elrohir]

It's a beautiful moment, capped perfectly by Howard Shore's score stringing the Shire theme. I don't cry at movies, but that's the first time ever where I wanted to.

I agree that Merry and Pippin shouldn't be placed on the same level as Frodo and Sam, but you have to admit that, in both the book and the movie, the Quest likely would have failed without them. Or at the least, Minas Tirith would have fallen. But that's another thread for another time.

[Gurthang]

Well, I rather liked the scene. Actually, I liked it quite a bit. Except for Pippin's face. I always laugh at that, because it's the funniest possible face for that serious moment. Which means it's rather out of place in the scene.

But I really liked the scene, mainly because it shows that Aragorn, who had just been crowned King, was still the noble, humble person they had come to know. I think it fits better with his character to give credit to others when it is due. He himself did deserve a lot of credit, which he received (he was just crowned King after all!), but he makes sure that the other key players are not left out.

The fact that Merry and Pippin are left in the shot was good, too. It says to me that, even though they were forced apart and went down different paths, they (the four) are still the closest friends through it all. Very touching indeed.

Also, I think it's very fitting that the hobbits get their moment to "stand above" everyone else before "shrinking" back into memory and legend.

[Sir Kohran]

Originally Posted by Gurthang

Well, I rather liked the scene. Actually, I liked it quite a bit. Except for Pippin's face. I always laugh at that, because it's the funniest possible face for that serious moment. Which means it's rather out of place in the scene.

But I really liked the scene, mainly because it shows that Aragorn, who had just been crowned King, was still the noble, humble person they had come to know. I think it fits better with his character to give credit to others when it is due. He himself did deserve a lot of credit, which he received (he was just crowned King after all!), but he makes sure that the other key players are not left out.

The fact that Merry and Pippin are left in the shot was good, too. It says to me that, even though they were forced apart and went down different paths, they (the four) are still the closest friends through it all. Very touching indeed.

Also, I think it's very fitting that the hobbits get their moment to "stand above" everyone else before "shrinking" back into memory and legend.

Excellent thoughts there, Gurthang.

I like your words on how Aragorn makes sure everyone gets credit - it ties in with his speech: 'This day does not belong to one Man, but to all...' Good to see that Jackson got a message like that across.

And yes, this is a fantastic moment in the film - alongside Gandalf's speech on death to Pippin during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields and Frodo and Sam's nostalgic remembrance of the Shire after the Ring is destroyed, it's the most emotional part of ROTK for me. We spend so much of the time in awe at Aragorn's heroics, Legolas's stunts, Gimli's bufoonery, Arwen's looks, etc. that to see them all bow before the real heroes - the modest Hobbits we began with - is really an excellent reminder of who has accomplished most in this story.

[Diamond18]

That bit seemed overly corny to me. I don't necessarily dislike it, but it did seem like a rather "Hallmark" thing for Aragorn to say. Maybe it was just Viggo Mortenson's delivery.

Originally Posted by Gurthang

Well, I rather liked the scene. Actually, I liked it quite a bit. Except for Pippin's face. I always laugh at that, because it's the funniest possible face for that serious moment. Which means it's rather out of place in the scene.

Actually, I thought the hobbit's expressions were the best part about the scene. They were all so in character.

(This can be roughly translated into -- "Darest thou to speak ill of my lord Peregrin? Avast, ye scurvy fool of a knave! Take it back, take it back, I say!")

PS -- Welcome, Deathscar. And just so you know, Ang is fanatically opposed to Sam and even wrote this about him. That should clear some things up.

[Beanamir of Gondor]

A reason I liked this scene was because I also felt a little bit of Sam's "great stories", sort of like in Book!RotK, with "Nine-Fingered Frodo and the Ring of Doom". At the end of Movie!TTT, Sam and Frodo were talking about the legends, the "great stories", of the hobbits, and the possibility of them being in those stories someday. Then, in the RotK "You bow to no man" scene, I saw awe in Sam's face, because he knew that he would be a legend to Men and Hobbits.

P.S. Yes, Anguirel, that bedroom scene felt squirmingly like... um... fanfic.

[MatthewM]

Just to let you all know, not like it would shift any opinions, but Sean Astin himself said today that this part makes him cry most.

[Anguirel]

Excellent. All the more reason to lambast it!

[MatthewM]

Originally Posted by Anguirel

Excellent. All the more reason to lambast it!

Someone is sour and afraid to admit they like the scene...

[Essex]

Back after a break.....

Just to remind those who may have forgotten, but this scene (one of my favoruites in the whole trilogy and made me burst into tears) is loosely based on Aragorn kneeling to the Hobbits at Cormallen.

And so the red blood blushing in their faces and their eyes shining with wonder, Frodo and Sam went forward and saw that amidst the clamorous host were set three high-seats built of green turves. Behind the seat upon the right floated, white on green, a great horse running free; upon the left was a banner, silver upon blue, a ship swan-prowed faring on the sea; but behind the highest throne in the midst of all a great standard was spread in the breeze, and there a white tree flowered upon a sable field beneath a shining crown and seven glittering stars. On the throne sat a mail-clad man, a great sword was laid across his knees, but he wore no helm. As they drew near he rose. And then they knew him, changed as he was, so high and glad of face, kingly, lord of Men, dark-haired with eyes of grey.
Frodo ran to meet him, and Sam followed close behind. 'Well, if that isn't the crown of all!' he said. 'Strider, or I'm still asleep!'
'Yes, Sam, Strider,' said Aragorn. 'It is a long way, is it not, from Bree, where you did not like the look of me? A long way for us all but yours has been the darkest road.'
And then to Sam's surprise and utter confusion he bowed his knee before them; and taking them by the hand, Frodo upon his right and Sam upon his left, he led them to the throne, and setting them upon it, he turned to the men and captains who stood by and spoke, so that his voice rang over all the host, crying:
'Praise them with great praise!'

So Jackson's take on it is not much different - I admit Merry and Pippin should not be included to make the scene closer to the book, but I can live with that.

So to say it is superfluous or honey sweet then we must include Tolkien's work itself in this criticism.....

This scene in the book is one of my favourites - that a king will bow down before two 'lowly' hobbits (and actually seat them on his throne!!!!) shows the mark of the man, and his heartfelt gratitude to his friends. I gush with pride for Frodo and Sam when I read this scene every time. And I was so glad that Jackson paid homage to it in his scene, which was beautifully done.

[smeagollives]

Originally Posted by Beanamir of Gondor

P.S. Yes, Anguirel, that bedroom scene felt squirmingly like... um... fanfic.

what is so bad about fanfic?

[Lady_Arwen]

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