LotR3-RotK-Seq01

[Rikae]

I agree that the murder scene was well done - appropriately disturbing and, like the murder scene in PJ's "Heavenly Creatures", seems to show the humanity (hobbitity?) of both the murderer and the victim, making it all the more horrifying. I'm not good at discerning what it is in a scene that gives a particular feeling, but watching this I almost felt as if I were inside Smeagol's mind, watching himself completely lose control.
As far as Smeagol's appearance (pale and creepy to begin with), this is in keeping with Tolkien's description of him. The "ring addiction", I thought, was also strongly suggested in the books; I remember having that thought while reading them ten years before the movies were even begun.
I did think the transformation happened too quickly, and apparently before Gollum ever entered the mountain. I had always imagined he changed slowly, over the course of the five-hundred-or-so years underground, and not due to the ring being, as you say, "radioactive"! I also think a slower transformation could have been suggested in the same amount of time, so time constraints really wouldn't be an excuse. Other than this, I liked the sequence - I was pleasantly surprised to see it included & also to see Andy Serkis in the flesh, since he's one of my favorite actors.

[Elladan and Elrohir]

I loved the scene. It's as shocking an introduction into the next movie as the Foundations of Stone scene was for TTT, and I think it sets the tone at the beginning of the film by putting the focus exactly where it needs to be -- on the Ring. And on Gollum, of course. It hints that in the end, it's all going to come down to Gollum's lust for the Ring. Well, they add Frodo in there, too, but we'll tackle that when it comes.

Alatar, I'm not sure why you so despise Gollum's use of the word "silly", but I don't have a problem with it. It doesn't sound out of place to me, at all.

Believe me, people need to have it beat into them what the Ring is and what it does. Some people I know still don't understand it, even after everything PJ does to make it clear.

I don't think they really have time to go into everything that happened to Gollum. They emphasize what should be emphasized, which is that he became an outcast and had to go hole up in some mountain that just happened to be a lair of goblins. This isn't the story, after all; just the prologue, so they need to spend as little time on it as they can get away with, and bring us to our staunch heroes.

[alatar]

Originally Posted by Elladan and Elrohir

Alatar, I'm not sure why you so despise Gollum's use of the word "silly", but I don't have a problem with it. It doesn't sound out of place to me, at all.

It just takes me out of the scene. We just watched a murder and the transformation of Gollum, then we have Sam and Frodo contemplating their next move (and we also get a glimpse of Frodo the Addict). Then Gollum uses the word silly. I got the same feeling, briefly, like when in TTT Gimli said, "nervous system."

It could just be me.

[Essex]

Isn't Jackson showing us with gollum's transformation in that it may be down to how Gollum got tenure of the Ring. It was through Murder. Maybe this accelerated the process.

remember this is an adaptation of Tolkien's work. We have little proof (other than gandalf's words) what caused gollum's descent into madness (?) / schizophrenia etc. Yes, we know that gandalf tells us that he was outcast by his family, and this would have looked good on the EE edition, but what Jackson is showing us here is gollum's addiction to the Ring, and then pan straight to the 'new' addict Frodo, albeit in a lesser stage of the addiction.

showing us gollum getting outcast by his family may have taken too long in this opening scene.

a couple of things. one of the only times in the trilogy I see something with physical action not working quite right is when smeagol is strangling deagol. he's hardly holding onto his neck and not squeezing. now you may think this is over the top, but the way serkis puts his life and soul into his acting, im surprised he went so 'lightly' on the other actor in this scene....

and the rumbling that frodo and sam feel. I watched this scene time after time trying to get a reason for why we have this and couldn't fathom why it was in the movie. until I re-read the book!!!!

From Journey ot the Crossroads

At that moment a rolling and rumbling noise was heard again, louder now and deeper. The ground seemed to quiver under their feet. 'I think we are in for trouble anyhow,' said Frodo. `I'm afraid our journey is drawing to an end.'

and

But it was too late. At that moment the rock quivered and trembled beneath them. The great rumbling noise, louder than ever before, rolled in the ground and echoed in the mountains. Then with searing suddenness there came a great red flash. Far beyond the eastern mountains it leapt into the sky and splashed the lowering clouds with crimson. In that valley of shadow and cold deathly light it seemed unbearably violent and fierce. Peaks of stone and ridges like notched knives sprang out in staring black against the uprushing flame in Gorgoroth. Then came a great crack of thunder.
And Minas Morgul answered. There was a flare of livid lightnings: forks of blue flame springing up from the tower and from the encircling hills into the sullen clouds. The earth groaned; and out of the city there came a cry.

therefore it seems to be a rallying call from 'gorgoroth' - ie must be barad dur or the moutain of fire - and finally minas morgul heeds the call and unleashes its armies.....

PS - to get the quotes I opened my copy of ROTK first before realising this is TT in the 'real' book world!!!! ahhhh, sacrilegeous! the film is overtaking the book in my thoughts - must re read lotr again for penance.......

[Rikae]

I just read something interesting, though I'm not sure if it's true: someone on IMDB claims that Andy Serkis directed the scenes with Smeagol and Deagol.

[Elladan and Elrohir]

I think Fran Walsh actually directed that scene. I am 90% sure this was stated on either a commentary or interview.

[Rikae]

OK, I've got the answer now, straight from the horse's mouth. Fran Walsh directed most of the Smeagol flashback sequence, but Andy directed the fight. From his book:
"Peter told me that Fran was unwell and was unable to work that day. He asked me if I'd direct the scene..." (pg 99)