finally

[low_delta]

We finally saw Return of the King last night. I liked it a lot. But it was hard to keep a straight face.

Did anyone else think, when they saw the armies of Mordor marching out of the green, glowing Minas Morgul, "oh-eeh-oh, ee-oh-oh! oh-eeh-oh, ee-oh-oh!"? Or wonder if Pippin was going to see the ruby slippers in the Palantir? At least Treebeard didn't start flinging apples at Saruman.

And when Frodo woke up, why did he and Gandalf start laughing? That was the stupidest thing.

But, like I said, I liked it. Partly because it was fairly close to the book. There were no glaring contrivances. They made up the part about Gollum turning Frodo against Sam, but it worked well enough. The rest of Frodo and Sam's journey was very close to the book. I was impressed. The part with Shelob was very good, though as it was depicted, I don't think Sam would have stood a chance. Seems like Tolkien's was more realistic.

And the scene at the Cracks of Doom, where Frodo was to throw the ring in, was very good. Except maybe that little cliffhanger at the end.

But all in all, I liked it, as I did the first two. And I'm glad that nobody else ever attempted to make those into movies until the technology allowed it.

Bernard Hill gave a great performance as King Theoden. I liked Sean Astin's Sam. He really looked the part. I think Andy Serkis who played Smeagol (Gollum) looked like I pictured Wormtongue. I still do not think Hugo Weaving looks like an elf. Arwen's mother must ahve been the most beautiful woman in history. I can see why the women think Voggo Mortensen (Aragorn) is so hot. But I don't think Orlando Bloom (Legolas) is all the cute. (Sam and Rosie's kids were played by the actor's and actress's kids.)

Comments

The Scouring of the Shire

[the-99th-aisle.livejournal.com]

Just thought I'd mention that I accidentally typed "The Scouring of the Shite" as the subject of this comment, and I think that's kind of funny. On to my comment:

When I read the third book, I was a little uncomfortable with the whole Saruman's Back to Provide One Last Challenge to the Otherwise-Victorious Hobbits ending. It was rather anti-climactic for me, and it seemed like it had been tacked on at the end. Of course, I haven't read the books in years, so my memory of how the book ended is a mite dodgy.

Re: The Scouring of the Shire

[ravenfeather.livejournal.com]

Interesting.. I haven't read them since the early seventies and I DEFINITELY REMEMBERED that Gollum took the ring from Frodo because he knew that Frodo couldn't get rid of it, then JUMPED in and sacrificed himself. I wanted him to redeem himself. I argued with my daughter about it, and she finally got the book out of her room (which she had just read btw) and read that part to me to set me strait. *grin* Funny how my memory changed the meaning like that.

Re: The Scouring of the Shire

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

I can see why you might feel that way about the ending, but let me share a line from the book. It's just before Gandalf parts comopany with the fouir Hobbits.

I am with you at present, but soon shall not be. I am not comeing to the Shire. You must settle its arrairs yourselves; that is what you ahve been trained for. Do you not yet understand? My itme is over: it is no longer my task to set things to rights, nor to help other fok to do so. And as for you, my dear friends, you will need no help. You are grown up now. Grown indeed very high; among the great you are, and I have to longer any fear at all for any of you.

I think this shows that there is a higher purpose in their task than simply a secondary and lesser climax.

But more importantly, The whole story is about the changing of the world. It is the beginning of the age of man. The Elves, Dwarves and Hobbits are all fading away. Since the story began with the Hobbits, and has them as our anchor, it is only fitting to demonstrate the changes that will be wrought in their world.