LotR2-TTT-Seq06

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From the swamps we arise like yellow loosestrife.

Gollum hastens through the Emyn Muil while Sam and Frodo follow behind. Gollum proves to be a useful and faithful guide, leading the two out of their ‘going in circles.’ The creature is gushingly enthusiastic, and overtly helpful. The bombed alien planet look of the Emyn Muil is great, as it’s a real place - and just as Gimli had described previously.

Sam gets his foot wet in the Dead Marshes and is none too pleased. If Sam had been listening to Gimli, or had looked at a map or two in Rivendell, he would be less surprised by the foul fen. Gollum, eager to please his new master, leads him through the swamp as it is the safest of roads in this hellish part of Middle Earth.

The marshlands do not look as real as other scenery long shots, and we know that it’s only a stage, but all the same the environment does not detract from the scene. PJ’s sky view shot is more outstanding as I’m not quite sure if it’s a real place or not; regardless, you get a feeling for the size of the vile place.

The three hobbits take a break while Sam, newly an ornithologist, complains. The starving Gollum complains, and takes to eating what he can find, much to the distaste of Sam. The lembas, donated by Frodo, choke the wretched creature, and that only makes them taste all the sweeter to Sam. Frodo’s in another place, seemingly.

Note that, in this particular scene, the marshes are a bit too sunny for me.

Gollum rants even more, and so approaches the ‘good’ hobbit, the one who supposedly cares. I see a snake slithering up to strike, and Frodo feels and hears it too, and slaps it away. Was Gollum reaching out, figuratively to Frodo, or was he just trying to get at the Ring? The rebuke depresses Gollum. There’s no sunshine in this addict’s world, only the drug and shadows.

The fires in the swamp are an interesting touch - methane burning? - but wouldn’t those flames outshine the other candles that we are about to see? A peek into the waters explains the name of the Marshes. Not sure why Sam has to seem so bunged up about everything.

“There’s dead things…in the water! And…those are…weeds over there! And why does everyone call me ‘Rudy?’”

I always wondered how Gollum knew so much about the Dead Marshes and of the races that are floating therein. He makes references to ‘candle lights,’ and maybe it would have been more helpful to see the watery dead first as lights in the pools so that we know what Gollum is talking about.

And are those real people holding their breathes?

Frodo wanders off and decides to go for a swim in the ghost pool, and I’m reminded of “Raider’s of the Lost Ark.” Gollum rescues him - him or the Ring. Frodo experiences a sea change as he sits considering that his once enemy has now saved his life.

A crazy thought: Could Aragorn command this army of aquatic dead? “Arise from your watery graves, oh fishy ones, the Heir of Elendil has need of you this day. Dry off a bit and follow me to the Black Gate!”

Later that night Frodo proceeds to creep me out, caressing the Ring in his palm. It’s just so icky! He’s brought back from his happy place by the voice of Andy Serkis, reading Frodo’s thoughts, and it almost seems that Gollum and Frodo are twins, bound by the Ring.

Frodo suddenly wonders just who Gollum is, and Gollum tries to deflect the inquiry with a bit of rhyme. The name of Sméagol takes the creature back, and as he ruminates on it I hear the White Wizard speaking as he, too, will consider a former name. The unveiling will have to wait as a scream shatters the silent night. Nazgûl are on the prowl, but in this watery place? Maybe this is where the Bruinen river washed them . Frodo is immediately stricken with the remembrance of an old wound (we too get a flashback), and with the help of Sam he gets under cover. We learn that as the wraiths are already dead, one cannot kill them by ordinary means. And just where would they go if you did?

Detroit?

Lastly, we see that the Nazgûl have taken to the air on Fell Beasts, just when bad was already bad enough. Frodo and Gollum hear the call, and luckily Sam is there to shake Frodo out of his trance.

It’s on to the Black Gate for these three.

An aside: The kids have watched the movies, and it’s been helpful to have the Appendices to show them that all of this is ‘pretend.’ Seeing that the Fell Beast’s voice is really that of a donkey takes all fear out of the creatures (if only Frodo and the gang knew). Wraiths on flying donkeys? Bah!

Miles away, Gimli detects the presence of orc blood by taste (another little known innate ability of dwarves…”Hmmm, I’m definitely tasting Lugbúrzian with just a hint of Uruk and maybe a dash or two of horse. Probably vintage 3010. Best served with pasta.”) as the Three Hunters venture even deeper into the forests of Fangorn. The place looks as if a flood recently washed through the thick stands of trees, leaving water and displaced organic debris in its wake. Each hunter adds an observation of his own. While Legolas adds a bit of history, Gimli, once again, plays the clown.

Something approaches! Legolas’s keen sight spots something passing through the trees, and it’s that White Wizard we heard mentioned previously. Unlike in the books, Aragorn has no qualms about killing a hooded old beggar man unchallenged. Ahh, Dúnadan, where are thy manners? Next thing you know you’ll be beheading ambassadors…

The White Wizard is upon them, and their attack - arrow, axe and sword - is futile. The voice of Saruman, the White Wizard, tells of the Hobbits’ fate, or so we are led to think. But something’s not right as an aura obscures this White Wizard’s face. At the request of Aragorn, the wizard cloaks his radiance like a cloud passing over the sun.

IT’S GANDALF!!!

Nice new threads and ‘do. Each hunter reacts to this angel’s revelation, and I like that Legolas bows and asks for forgiveness.

We get to see another favorite scene of mine, where Gandalf tells of how he throws down the Balrog. The lightning from the sword was a bit uncalled for, as I would say that it is inconsistent with this character’s powers. What’s with PJ and giving wizards lightning? What happened to the subtle magic that we saw when Gandalf confronted the Balrog on the Bridge? One stab to the heart (it seems, and isn’t it nice to know that, physiologically, Balrogs have the same organ structure as humans?) and over the edge ole Roggie goes.

Note that in Middle Earth, one can fall forever into an icy underground lake and yet take no hurt, but after a sword thrust, a fall of less than a few hundred feet can prove fatal.

Must have been that lightning bolt.

Not sure if Gandalf goes for a quantum leap or a space odyssey, but eventually he returns to his body and Middle Earth. Suddenly the wizard realizes that he is “Gandalf,” which is kind of funny as he’s been talking to these three for a few minutes, and you’d think that he’d have a little more figured out before going off on his life story with three possibly complete strangers.

“Yes, Gandalf…that was my name. Here I thought my name was Clyde Ba…well that’s why I couldn’t find Bonnie.”

I love the ”turn on the tide” quote, though think that it could be used a bit more effectively. The next stage of these four characters is mapped out, and Gimli grabs from his bag of silliness again.

What kills me is when Gandalf goes on and on about the small stones creating the avalanche. The problems are numerous: Gandalf has foreknowledge about the events, but soon later will be begging both Aragorn and Saruman for any news, the Ents, as we will see, decide to ride this one out but then are tricked into entering the war and Gandalf seems so upbeat about current events and seems downright positive, yet later he seems to feel that they haven’t a chance.

The White Wizard calls for Shadowfax with a piercing whistle. Shadowfax, and the scenery in which he is first seen, is great. Real horse, real world. And again, I cringe when we learn that Shadowfax is lord of all horses and has been with Gandalf through many dangers, as this horse will throw its rider later in RotK.

The four members of the broken Fellowship ride off to some place called Edoras. The other two, in the company of Gollum, approach the Black Gate. Not sure where Merry and Pippin are, as Gandalf never did tell us. That leaves one unaccounted for.

Satellite photos show that Boromir is on his way to the Bay of Belfalas.

All nine.

***Special note: The movie script is found here .