LotR1-FotR-Seq04

[doug*platypus]

My preference would have been to have this scene as a flashback at the Council of Elrond. But I admit, I could quite easily be wrong on this point. The scene of Gandalf's merry ole trip to Isengard fits in well where it is here placed. Although, having said that, Gandalf's escape from Isengard fitted in well as a flashback at Frodo's bedside, so maybe having the whole thing as flashback may have worked out well. At least then we would have had some "where's Gandalf" moments, as we get in the book.

Christopher Lee was superbly cast as Saruman. His demeanour, his voice, his posture brought the character to life as no other actor could have.

Orthanc was different to the picture I had always had in my mind of a smooth, obsidian like monolith which was less designed and more organic. But having said that, it was exactly the same as in my Alan Lee-illustrated LOTR, and that was a great comfort! I thought the park-like atmosphere was a nice touch. Obviously that's just the southern end of Isengard, and the orcs and wolves are hidden away somewhere "round back"! I liked Saruman chiding Gandalf over use of the "Halflings' leaf".

I think that more should have been made of Saruman's own aspirations, his willingness to betray his new master Sauron, should the One come into his possession:

"Why not? The Ruling Ring? If we could command that, then the Power would pass to us. That is in truth why I brought you here."

Movie audiences are often smarter than filmmakers give them credit for, and it seems entirely plausible to me that Saruman should have a lust for his own power, rather than a life subservient to Sauron. Think of the Sith Lords from the Star Wars saga. One of the key aspects of them is that one is constantly seeking to overthrow the other. Darth Vader and The Emperor are not simply the evil team. Vader wants to rule the galaxy with Padmé and later Luke, while The Emperor wishes to cast down Vader and take Luke as his young apprentice. And it's entirely plausible... because they are evil!

On to the palantír. Another beautiful and lovingly-crafted prop! I liked the cover that could be thrown over it. Didn't like seeing the Eye of Sauron there. It just gives too much away. Plus everytime we see the Eye, as my theory goes, we get a little more immune to its effectiveness... "oh, it's that flaming eye again. I'm so over that!".

So then we have Saruman gloating over the ride of the Nine, and how they will kill the Ringbearer. Gandalf makes for the exit, but no! Down comes the impregnable door. So he tries another one... that comes down as well. And yet another one... Gandalf, are you starting to see a pattern here? Cotton on, man! Slowed mind, indeed. It should have been obvious from the first door slamming that Saruman intended to keep Gandalf locked up. Just a waste of preciouss screen seconds to show more than one, I believe.

The wizard fight is a bit out of the ordinary, and something of a gamble on PJs part, but in my mind it comes off pretty well. In the book, Gandalf says:

"They took me and they set me alone on the pinnacle of Orthanc..."

But can you imagine how that would play out in a movie? Some nasty men and/or orcs turn up to aid Saruman, and Gandalf just meekly goes along with it? I think that moviegoers would have demanded a bit of a fight from the old guy. It seems more logical that Saruman had to defeat Gandalf in battle before imprisoning him. The one thing I didn't like was that Saruman got his filthy hands on Gandalf's staff. Hey, man, that's his staff and a symbol of the authority and mandate he has from the Valar! You can't just swipe it! Where is he going to get another one? There are continuity editors watching, remember... oh, well, maybe not after all. I guess staffs are relatively easy to come across, then. Even in the book, Gandalf the White turns up with a new one (from Lórien?).