LotR3-RotK-Seq06

[alatar]

Originally Posted by Rikae

The stair? It looks like a cliff to me, with some scratches in it to suggest a stair - and while I realise that is more dramatic, if they are going to scale cliffs, why not do it somewhere other than the Witch-King's back yard? Yes, I realize it's essential to the plot, but they could have thought about the logical implications of making the stair nearly unclimbable (except to Sir Smeagol Hillary, of course.)

PJ may have been trapped between the book and a moreMoreMORE place. I've noted previously that Peter Jackson likes to inflate things - we'll see the Witch-King's mace that's ridiculously huge (made so as a joke, but accepted by PJ) - and so the Straight Stairs had to be more than just a steep and long set of stairs. I've climbed up and down the step of the Pyramid of Kukulcan (Chitzen Itza). Others have considered those steep, but having worked on ladders for part of my life, I thought the climb easy. Anyway, these 'stairs,' as you say, are but breaks in a cliff wall. And, like Minas Morgul, weren't these steps made by the Men of the West?

Regarding Minas Morgul: I never liked the neon green=undead equation, here or elsewhere. It doesn't seem quite as far off here as it does in the upcoming paths of the dead scene, but still, it bugs me. To me, neon green says "hippie" or "early 80's", rather than "undead monsters", but maybe I'm the only one who feels that way. *shrug*

What's wrong with the Glorious 80's? Note that I never ever dressed like Don Johnson of Miami Vice fame.

There is one orc among those attacing Osgiliath who quite obviously throws both arms above his head and runs into a sword. "Geronimo!" - it's actually pretty comical.

Sauron, with numbers to lose, had designated 'sword jumpers' who would encumber the enemy while an armed Orc attacked (The Dark Lord considers..."Hmm, we have twice the number of soldiers as weapons. Maybe what we need is a really good marketing campaign." 'Be the first Orc in your troop to get one of the enemy's swords - here's how'). I'm sure that that's how it would get explained, along with some note about it being the 'intent of Tolkien.'

[Essex]

Originally Posted by alatar

I've climbed up and down the step of the Pyramid of Kukulcan (Chitzen Itza). Others have considered those steep, but having worked on ladders for part of my life, I thought the climb easy.

I've climbed up them as well, but I have to admit they're a lot harder to come DOWN than go up! I went down slowly on my behind like my two year old goes down the steps at home!!!

[alatar]

Originally Posted by Essex

I've climbed up them as well, but I have to admit they're a lot harder to come DOWN than go up! I went down slowly on my behind like my two year old goes down the steps at home!!!

I saw people doing the same and couldn't figure out what the problem was as I could walk down ladders in the same manner (as long as they are at the proper angle and not exceedingly high) as it saved time to take two hands-full of tools down from the roof. Regardless, I'd hate to take a tumble down the pyramid steps, as that stone would hurt.

There are stadium seats, way up in the peanut gallery ("peanut heaven" to the locals), that require a steep climb as well. I'm amazed that there aren't more step-related deaths at sporting events...maybe that's why alcoholic beverages at the same are so expensive to (1) decrease consumption and (2) pay the insurance premium.

What now doesn't make much sense is the way looked steep, yet Frodo, Sam and Gollum reach a plateau where they watch the Army of Morgul pass by (less than 20 feet up?). Was this plateau on the side? Can't place it with the initial 'large cliff with stairs' picture.

[Elladan and Elrohir]

I thought the stairs stunk in the movie. One of the few places where I was really disappointed. I picture actual stairs in the book, not this haphazard rock carving.