The Lord of the Rings: My Story
January 1, 2003 (revised January 6, 2005)
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
The purpose of this document is to describe my relation to J.R.R. Tolkien's fantastic story The Lord of the Rings and Peter Jackson's three movies made from it. Tolkien's work is much more than the stories; it is about a world complete with its inhabitants, languages, mythology, and mysteries. To me the movies are a lot more than just three movies; they are a phenomenon.
Therefore I felt that I wanted to put into words my feelings and relation to The Lord of the Rings, and also how I became a huge fan. My reverence for Tolkien's work has grown many degrees since I first learned of it, and I hope to convey this change to those who read this text. Furthermore, the document is as a place where I can write down events related to The Lord of the Rings that could be interesting for me to read in the future; in other words, a kind of a diary.
Originally the events were presented in more or less chronological order, but in January of 2004 I decided to restructure it to give it an essay-like form. Due to the fact that I began to write this document around the time of the premiere of The Two Towers, events that took place before that are not as detailed as are more recent ones.
2 The Book
This chapter is concerned with the book, including my favorite passages.
2.1 Reading the Masterpiece
I had long been thinking about reading the book, but had not gotten any further than that thought. However, during the weeks following my seeing The Fellowship of the Ring in the theater (see section 3.1) my desire to read The Lord of the Rings increased quite a lot and I finally decided that now was the time to start reading the book. I had to deal with one problem before I could begin, though: I did not have the book.
A little less than a month after seeing The Fellowship of the Ring I ordered The Lord of the Rings from an online Swedish bookstore. I chose a one-volume edition that included the six appendices and an index. I did not start to read it immediately when I received the book, but eventually I set out on the long quest (as it would prove to be) of reading it. After I finished The Fellowship of the Ring I did not read anything in The Lord of the Rings for quite some time. When I later was done reading The Two Towers, I first thought that maybe I should wait and not read The Return of the King until the movie premiere was drawing near, but eventually I decided to continue reading and delved into The Return of the King a while after having finished The Two Towers.
On Sunday, December 29, 2002, at 09:40 I finished the last chapter of The Lord of the Rings. It had been quite a long journey. However, the book was not quite finished yet: I still had the six appendices left, and I began reading the first one the same day I finished the main story. Since I only read sporadically, I did not finish the appendices until Sunday, January 26, 2003.
The Lord of the Rings was excellent with many facets and a striking depth; a fantastic masterpiece. I was fairly certain—and still am—that I would never read a book that would have the same impact on me as this one had. It included all the elements that I wanted in a story and interwove these in a way that affected me on many levels. Reading The Lord of the Rings was interesting, enjoying, amusing, exciting, and at times moving.
I read the book for the second time in January–March 2004, and I appreciated and enjoyed it even more because I had then seen all three movies (though not the extended edition of the last movie). I had forgotten some things that were not in the movies, and it was interesting to compare the book with the movies. My second reading of The Lord of the Rings was a needed refreshment.
There really is not much more to say here since the book is canonical. Moreover, I find it easier to discuss movie experiences than book experiences since visual and auditory experiences are easier to talk about than the internal experiences that arise when one reads a book.
Swedish title: Ringarnas herre/Härskarringen.
2.2 Favorite Passages
Below are my favorite passages from the book. No page references are given since there are so many different editions of The Lord of the Rings that such references would not be universally correct.
2.2.1 The Fellowship of the Ring
I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve. [Bilbo]
—"A Long-expected Party"
* * *
'Always after a defeat and a respite, the Shadow takes another shape and grows again.'
'I wish it need not have happened in my time,' said Frodo.
'So do I,' said Gandalf, 'and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.'
—"The Shadow of the Past"
* * *
'Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends. I have not much hope that Gollum can be cured before he dies, but there is a chance of it. And he is bound up with the fate of the Ring. My heart tells me that he has some part to play yet, for good or ill, before the end; and when that comes, the pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many — yours not least.' [Gandalf to Frodo]
—"The Shadow of the Past"
* * *
'And now,' said the wizard, turning back to Frodo, 'the decision lies with you. But I will always help you.' He laid his hand on Frodo's shoulder. 'I will help you bear this burden, as long as it is yours to bear.'
—"The Shadow of the Past"
* * *
' "It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door," he [Bilbo] used to say. "You step into the Road, and if you don't keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to." ' [Frodo]
—"Three is Company"
* * *
'Tom was here before the river and the trees; Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn. He made paths before the Big People, and saw the little People arriving. He was here before the Kings and the graves and the Barrow-wights. When the Elves passed westward, Tom was here already, before the seas were bent. He knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless — before the Dark Lord came from Outside.'
—"In the House of Tom Bombadil"
* * *
Then Tom put the Ring round the end of his little finger and held it up to the candlelight. For a moment the hobbits noticed nothing strange about this. Then they gasped. There was no sign of Tom disappearing!
Tom laughed again, and then he spun the Ring in the air – and it vanished with a flash. Frodo gave a cry – and Tom leaned forward and handed it back to him with a smile.
—"In the House of Tom Bombadil"
* * *
All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.—"Strider"
* * *
'I am Aragorn son of Arathorn; and if by life or death I can save you, I will.'
—"Strider"
* * *
'By Elbereth and Lúthien the Fair,' said Frodo with a last effort, lifting up his sword, 'you shall have neither the Ring nor me.'
—"Flight to the Ford"
* * *
'There are many powers in the world, for good or for evil. Some are greater than I am. Against some I have not yet been measured. But my time is coming.' [Gandalf]
—"Many Meetings"
* * *
'Upon this very ring which you have here seen held aloft, round and unadorned, the letters that Isildur reported may still be read, if one has the strength of will to set the golden thing in the fire a while. That I have done, and this I have read:
Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatulûk
agh burzum-ishi krimpatul.'The change in the wizard's voice was astounding. Suddenly it became menacing, powerful, harsh as stone. A shadow seemed to pass over the high sun, and the porch for a moment grew dark. All trembled, and the Elves stopped their ears.
'Never before has any voice dared to utter words of that tongue in Imladris, Gandalf the Grey,' said Elrond, as the shadow passed and the company breathed once more.
'And let us hope that none will ever speak it here again,' answered Gandalf. 'Nonetheless I do not ask your pardon, Master Elrond. For if that tongue is not soon to be heard in every corner of the West, then let all put doubt aside that this thing is indeed what the Wise have declared: the treasure of the Enemy, fraught with all his malice; and in it lies a great part of his strength of old. Out of the Black Years come the words that the Smiths of Eregion heard, and knew that they had been betrayed:
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to
bring them all and in the Darkness bind them.'—"The Council of Elrond"
* * *
' "For I am Saruman the Wise, Saruman Ring-maker, Saruman of Many Colours!"
'I looked then and saw that his robes, which had seemed white, were not so, but were woven of all colours, and if he moved they shimmered and changed hue so that the eye was bewildered.
' "I liked white better," I said.
' "White!" he sneered. "It serves as a beginning. White cloth may be dyed. The white page can be overwritten; and the white light can be broken."
' "In which case it is no longer white," said I. "And he that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom."' [Gandalf talking about himself and Saruman at the Council of Elrond]
—"The Council of Elrond"
* * *
'It is not despair, for despair is only for those who see the end beyond all doubt. We do not. It is wisdom to recognize necessity, when all other courses have been weighed, though as folly it may appear to those who cling to false hope.' [Gandalf]
—"The Council of Elrond"
* * *
'This quest may be attempted by the weak with as much hope as the strong. Yet such is oft the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world: small hands do them because they must, while the eyes of the great are elsewhere.' [Elrond]
—"The Council of Elrond"
* * *
'I think that this task is appointed for you Frodo; and that if you do not find a way, no one will.' [Elrond]
—"The Council of Elrond"
* * *
In the wavering firelight Gandalf seemed suddenly to grow: he rose up, a great menacing shape like the monument of some ancient king of stone set upon a hill. Stooping like a cloud, he lifted a burning branch and strode to meet the wolves. They gave back before him. High in the air he tossed the blazing brand. It flared with a sudden white radiance like lightning; and his voice rolled like thunder.
'Naur an edraith ammen! Naur dan i ngaurhoth!' he cried.
—"A Journey in the Dark"
* * *
'You cannot pass,' he [Gandalf] said. The orcs stood still, and a dead silence fell. 'I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udûn. Go back to the Shadow! You cannot pass.'
—"The Bridge of Khazad-dûm"
* * *
'For not in doing or contriving, nor in choosing between this course and another, can I avail; but only in knowing what was and is, and in part also what shall be. But this I will say to you: your Quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail, to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while all the Company is true.' [Galadriel]
—"The Mirror of Galadriel"
* * *
'And now at last it comes. You will give me the Ring freely! In place of the Dark Lord you will set up a Queen. And I shall not be dark, but beautiful and terrible as the Morning and the Night! Fair as the Sea and the Sun and the Snow upon the Mountain! Dreadful as the Storm and the Lightning! Stronger than the foundations of the earth. All shall love me and despair!' [Galadriel]
She lifted up her hand and from her ring that she wore there issued a great light that illumined her alone and left all else dark. She stood before Frodo seeming now tall beyond measurement, and beautiful beyond enduring, terrible and worshipful. Then she let her hand fall, and the light faded, and suddenly she laughed again, and lo! she was shrunken: a slender elf-woman, clad in simple white, whose gentle voice was soft and sad.
'I pass the test,' she said. 'I will diminish, and go into the West, and remain Galadriel.'
—"The Mirror of Galadriel"
* * *
'In this phial,' she [Galadriel] said, 'is caught the light of Eärendil's star, set amid the waters of my fountain. It will shine still brighter when night is about you. May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out.'
—"Farewell to Lórien"
* * *
But against Minas Tirith was set another fortress, greater and more strong. Thither, eastward, unwilling his [Frodo's] eye was drawn. It passed the ruined bridges of Osgiliath, the grinning gates of Minas Morgul, and the haunted Mountains, and it looked upon Gorgoroth, the valley of terror in the Land of Mordor. Darkness lay there under the Sun. Fire glowed amid the smoke. Mount Doom was burning, and a great reek rising. Then at last his gaze was held: wall upon wall, battlement upon battlement, black, immeasurably strong, mountain of iron, gate of steel, tower of adamant, he saw it: Barad-dûr, Fortress of Sauron. All hope left him.
—"The Breaking of the Fellowship"
2.2.2 The Two Towers
Aragorn threw back his cloak. The elven-sheath glittered as he grasped it, and the bright blade of Andúril shone like a sudden flame as he swept it out. 'Elendil!' he cried. 'I am Aragorn son of Arathorn, and am called Elessar, the Elfstone, Dúnadan, the heir of Isildur Elendil's son of Gondor. Here is the Sword that was Broken and is forged again!'
—"The Riders of Rohan"
* * *
'There are some things that it is better to begin than to refuse, even though the end may be dark.' [Aragorn]
—"The Riders of Rohan"
* * *
'Real names tell you the story of the things they belong to in my language, in the Old Entish as you might say. It is a lovely language, but it takes a very long time to say anything in it, because we do not say anything in it, unless it is worth taking a long time to say, and to listen to.' [Treebeard]
—"Treebeard"
* * *
'I am not altogether on anybody's side, because nobody is altogether on my side, if you understand me: nobody cares for the woods as I care for them, not even Elves nowadays.' [Treebeard]
—"Treebeard"
* * *
'Curse him [Saruman], root and branch! Many of those trees were my friends, creatures I had known from nut and acorn; many had voices of their own that are lost for ever now. And there are wastes of stump and bramble where once there were singing groves. I have been idle. I have let things slip. It must stop!' [Treebeard]
—"Treebeard"
* * *
They all gazed at him. His hair was white as snow in the sunshine; and gleaming white was his robe; the eyes under his deep brows were bright, piercing as the rays of the sun; power was in his hand. Between wonder, joy, and fear they stood and found no words to say.
At last Aragorn stirred. 'Gandalf!' he said. 'Beyond all hope you return to us in our need! What veil was over my sight? Gandalf!' Gimli said nothing, but sank to his knees, shading his eyes.
'Gandalf,' the old man repeated, as if recalling from old memory a long disused word. 'Yes, that was the name. I was Gandalf.'
He stepped down from the rock, and picking up his grey cloak wrapped it about him: it seemed as if the sun had been shining, but now was hid in cloud again. 'Yes, you may still call me Gandalf,' he said, and the voice was the voice of their old friend and guide. 'Get up, my good Gimli! No blame to you, and no harm done to me. Indeed my friends, none of you have any weapon that could hurt me. Be merry! We meet again. At the turn of the tide. The great storm is coming, but the tide has turned.'
He laid his hand on Gimli's head, and the Dwarf looked up and laughed suddenly. 'Gandalf!' he said. 'But you are all in white!'
'Yes, I am white now,' said Gandalf. 'Indeed I am Saruman, one might almost say, Saruman as he should have been.'
—"The White Rider"
* * *
He rose and looked long at Gandalf. The others gazed at them in silence as they stood there facing one another. The grey figure of the Man, Aragorn son of Arathorn, was tall, and stern as stone, his hand upon the hilt of his sword; he looked as if some king out of the mists of the sea had stepped upon the shores of lesser men. Before him stooped the old figure, white, shining now as if with some light kindled within, bent, laden with years, but holding a power beyond the strength of kings.
—"The White Rider"
* * *
'Do I not say truly, Gandalf,' said Aragorn at last, 'that you could go whithersoever you wished quicker than I? And this I also say: you are our captain and our banner. The Dark Lord has Nine. But we have One, mightier than they: the White Rider. He has passed through the fire and the abyss, and they shall fear him. We will go where he leads.'
—"The White Rider"
* * *
Casting his tattered cloak aside, he [Gandalf] stood up and leaned no longer on his staff; and he spoke in a clear cold voice.
'The wise speak only of what they know, Gríma son of Gálmónd. A witless worm have you become. Therefore be silent, and keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a serving-man till the lightning falls.'
He raised his staff. There was a roll of thunder. The sunlight was blotted out from the eastern windows; the whole hall became suddenly dark as night. The fire faded to sullen embers. Only Gandalf could be seen, standing white and tall before the blackened hearth.
—"The King of the Golden Hall"
* * *
Down through the breach of the Dike charged the king's company. Down from the hills leaped Erkenbrand, lord of Westfold. Down leaped Shadowfax, like a deer that runs surefooted in the mountains. The White Rider was upon them, and the terror of his coming filled the enemy with madness. The wild men fell on their faces before him. The Orcs reeled and screamed and cast aside both sword and spear. Like a black smoke driven by a mounting wind they fled. Wailing they passed under the waiting shadow of the trees; and from that shadow none ever came again.
—"Helm's Deep"
* * *
'You are mighty in wizardry, Gandalf the White.' [Éomer]
'That may be. But if so, I have not shown it yet. I have but given good counsel in peril, and made use of the speed of Shadowfax.'
—"The Road to Isengard"
* * *
A strong place and wonderful was Isengard, and long it had been beautiful; and there great lords had dwelt, the wardens of Gondor upon the West, and wise men that watched the stars. But Saruman had slowly shaped it to his shifting purposes, and made it better, as he thought, being deceived — for all those arts and subtle devices, for which he forsook his former wisdom, and which fondly he imagined were his own, came but from Mordor; so that what he made was naught, only a little copy, a child's model or a slave's flattery, of that vast fortress, armoury, prison, furnace of great power, Barad-dûr, the Dark Tower, which suffered no rival, and laughed at flattery, biding its time, secure in its pride and its immeasurable strength.
—"The Road to Isengard"
* * *
'Well, Théoden, will you ride with me to find Treebeard? We must go round about, but it is not far. When you see Treebeard, you will learn much. For Treebeard is Fangorn, and the eldest and chief of the Ents, and when you speak with him you will hear the speech of the oldest of all living things.' [Gandalf]
—"The Road to Isengard"
* * *
'He [Treebeard] said: "My business is with Isengard tonight, with rock and stone."'[Merry]
—"Flotsam and Jetsam"
* * *
Even in the mind of Théoden the thought took shape, like a shadow of doubt: 'He [Gandalf] will betray us; he will go [to Saruman] — we shall be lost.'
Then Gandalf laughed. The fantasy vanished like a puff of smoke.
'Saruman, Saruman!' said Gandalf still laughing. 'Saruman, you missed your path in life. You should have been the king's jester and earned your bread, and stripes too, by mimicking his counsellors. Ah me!' he paused, getting the better of his mirth. 'Understand one another? I fear I am beyond your comprehension. But you, Saruman, I understand now too well.'
—"The Voice of Saruman"
* * *
'Come back, Saruman!' said Gandalf in a commanding voice. To the amazement of the others, Saruman turned again, and as if dragged against his will, he came slowly back to the iron rail, leaning on it, breathing hard. His face was lined and shrunken. His hand clutched his heavy black staff like a claw.
'I did not give you leave to go,' said Gandalf sternly. 'I have not finished. You have become a fool, Saruman, and yet pitiable. You might still have turned away from folly and evil, and have been of service. But you choose to stay and gnaw the ends of your old plots. Stay then! But I warn you, you will not easily come out again. Not unless the dark hands of the East stretch out to take you. Saruman!' he cried, and his voice grew in power and authority. 'Behold, I am not Gandalf the Grey, whom you betrayed. I am Gandalf the White, who has returned from death. You have no colour now, and I cast you from the order and from the Council.'
He raised his hand, and spoke slowly in a clear cold voice. 'Saruman, your staff is broken.' There was a crack, and the staff split asunder in Saruman's hand, and the head of it fell down at Gandalf's feet.
—"The Voice of Saruman"
* * *
'But I should like to know—' Pippin began.
'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?'
—"The Palantír"
* * *
'Mithrandir we called him in elf-fashion,' said Faramir, 'and he was content. Many are my names in many countries, he said. Mithrandir among the Elves, Tharkûn to the Dwarves; Olórin I was in my youth in the West that is forgotten, in the South Incánus, in the North Gandalf; to the East I go not.'
—"The Window on the West"
* * *
'I would not take this thing [the Ring], if it lay by the highway. Not were Minas Tirith falling in ruin and I alone could save here, so, using the weapon of the Dark Lord for her good and my glory. No, I do not wish for such triumphs, Frodo son of Drogo.' [Faramir]
—"The Window on the West"
* * *
'War must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour all; but I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend: the city of the Men of Númenor; and I would have her loved for her memory, her ancientry, her beauty, and her present wisdom. Not feared, save as men may fear the dignity of a man, old and wise.' [Faramir]
—"The Window on the West"
* * *
'Galadriel!' he [Frodo] called, and gathering his courage he lifted up the Phial once more. The eyes [of Shelob] halted. For a moment their regard relaxed, as if some hint of doubt troubled them. Then Frodo's heart flamed within him, and without thinking what he did, whether it was folly or despair or courage, he took the Phial in his left hand, and with his right hand drew his sword. Sting flashed out, and the sharp elven-blade sparkled in the silver light, but at its edges a blue fire flicked. Then holding the star aloft and the bright sword advanced, Frodo, hobbit of the Shire, walked steadily down to meet the eyes.
—"Shelob's Lair"
* * *
'Frodo, Mr. Frodo!' he called. 'Don't leave me here alone! It's your Sam calling. Don't go where I can't follow! Wake up, Mr. Frodo! O wake up, Frodo, me dear, me dear. Wake up!'
—"The Choices of Master Samwise"
2.2.3 The Return of the King
Even as Pippin gazed in wonder the walls passed from looming grey to white, blushing faintly in the dawn; and suddenly the sun climbed over the eastern shadow and sent forth a shaft that smote the face of the City. Then Pippin cried aloud, for the Tower of Ecthelion, standing high within the topmost wall, shone out against the sky, glimmering like a spike of pearl and silver, tall and fair and shapely, and its pinnacle glittered as if it were wrought of crystals; and white banners broke and fluttered from the battlements in the morning breeze, and high and far he heard a clear ringing as of silver trumpets.
—"Minas Tirith"
* * *
Denethor looked indeed much more like a great wizard than Gandalf did, more kingly, beautiful, and powerful; and older. Yet by a sense other than sight Pippin perceived that Gandalf had the greater power and the deeper wisdom, and a majesty that was veiled. And he was older, far older. 'How much older?' he wondered, and then he thought how odd it was that he had never thought about it before. Treebeard had said something about wizards, but even then he had not thought of Gandalf as one of them. What was Gandalf? In what far time and place did he come into the world, and when would he leave it?
—"Minas Tirith"
* * *
'The board is set, and the pieces are moving.' [Gandalf]
—"Minas Tirith"
* * *
'I am no warrior at all and dislike any thought of battle; but waiting on the edge of one that I can't escape is worst of all.' [Pippin]
—"Minas Tirith"
* * *
'The Darkness has begun. There will be no dawn.' [Gandalf]
—"Minas Tirith"
* * *
'So we come to it in the end,' he [Théoden] said: 'the great battle of our time, in which many things shall pass away.'
—"The Muster of Rohan"
* * *
He [Aragorn] drew a deep breath. 'It was a bitter struggle, and the weariness is slow to pass. I spoke no word to him [Sauron], and in the end I wrenched the Stone to my own will. That alone he will find hard to endure. And he beheld me. Yes, Master Gimli, he saw me, but in other guise than you see me here. If that will aid him, then I have done ill. But I do not think so. To know that I lived and walked the earth was a blow to his heart, I deem; for he knew it not till now. The eyes in Orthanc did not see through the armour of Théoden; but Sauron has not forgotten Isildur and the sword of Elendil. Now in the very hour of his great designs the heir of Isildur and the Sword are revealed; for I showed the blade re-forged to him. He is not so mighty yet that he is above fear; nay, doubt ever gnaws him.'
—"The Passing of the Grey Company"
* * *
It seemed to Pippin that a pale light was spread about it and the heavy shadows gave way before it; and then as it drew near he thought that he heard, like an echo in the walls, a great voice calling.
'Gandalf!' he cried. 'Gandalf! He always turns up when things are darkest. Go on! Go on, White Rider! Gandalf, Gandalf!' he shouted wildly, like an onlooker at a great race urging on a runner who is far beyond encouragement.
But now the dark swooping shadows were aware of the newcomer. One wheeled towards him; but it seemed to Pippin that he raised his hand, and from it a shaft of white light stabbed upwards. The Nazgûl gave a long wailing cry and swerved away; and with that the four others wavered, and then rising in swift spirals they passed away eastward vanishing into the lowering cloud above; and down on the Pelennor it seemed for a while less dark.
—"The Siege of Gondor"
* * *
'Tell me,' he [Pippin] said, 'is there any hope? For Frodo, I mean; or at least mostly for Frodo.'
Gandalf put his hand on Pippin's head. 'There never was much hope,' he answered. 'Just a fool's hope, as I have been told.'
—"The Siege of Gondor"
* * *
In rode the Lord of the Nazgûl. A great black shape against the fires beyond he loomed up, grown to a vast menace of despair. In rode the Lord of the Nazgûl, under the archway that no enemy ever yet had passed, and all fled before his face.
All save one. There waiting, silent and still in the space before the Gate, sat Gandalf upon Shadowfax: Shadowfax who alone among the free horses of the earth endured the terror, unmoving, steadfast as a graven image in Rath Dínen.
'You cannot enter here,' said Gandalf, and the huge shadow halted. 'Go back to the abyss prepared for you! Go back! Fall into the nothingness that awaits you and your Master. Go!'
The Black Rider flung back his hood, and behold! he had a kingly crown; and yet upon no head visible was it set. The red fires shone between it and the mantled shoulders vast and dark. From a mouth unseen there came a deadly laughter.
'Old fool!' he said. 'Old fool! This is my hour. Do you not know Death when you see it? Die now and curse in vain!' And with that he lifted high his sword and flames ran down the blade.
—"The Siege of Gondor"
* * *
Tall and proud he [Théoden] seemed again; and rising in his stirrups he cried in a loud voice, more clear than any there had ever heard a mortal man achieve before:
Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden!
Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter!
spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered,
a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises!
Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!With that he seized a great horn from Guthláf his banner-bearer, and he blew such a blast upon it that it burst asunder. And straightaway all the horns in the host were lifted up in music, and the blowing of the horns of Rohan in that hour was like a storm upon the plain and a thunder in the mountains.
Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!
Suddenly the king cried to Snowmane and the horse sprang away. Behind him his banner blew in the wind, white horse upon a field of green, but he outpaced it. After him thundered the knights of his house, but he was ever before them. Éomer rode there, the white horsetail on his helm floating in his speed, and the front of the first éored roared like a breaker foaming to the shore, but Théoden could not be overtaken. Fey he seemed, or the battle-fury of his fathers ran like new fire in his veins, and he was borne up on Snowmane like a god of old, even as Oromë the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young. His golden shield was uncovered, and lo! it shone like an image of the Sun, and the grass flamed into green about the white feet of his steed. For morning came, morning and a wind from the sea; and darkness was removed, and the hosts of Mordor wailed, and terror took them, and they fled, and died, and the hoofs of wrath rode over them.
—"The Ride of the Rohirrim"
* * *
A sword rang as it was drawn. 'Do what you will; but I will hinder it, if I may.' [Dernhelm]
'Hinder me? Thou fool. No living man may hinder me!' [The Lord of the Nazgûl]
Then Merry heard of all sounds in that hour the strangest. It seemed that Dernhelm laughed, and the clear voice was like the ring of steel. 'But no living man am I! You look upon a woman. Éowyn I am, Éomund's daughter. You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.' […]
Suddenly the great beast beat its hideous wings, and the wind of them was foul. Again it leaped into the air, and then swiftly fell down upon Éowyn, shrieking, striking with beak and claw.
Still she did not blench: maiden of the Rohirrim, child of kings, slender but as a steel-blade, fair yet terrible. A swift stroke she dealt, skilled and deadly. The outstreched neck she clove asunder, and the hewn head fell like a stone. Backward she sprang as the huge shape crashed to ruin, vast wings outspread, crumpled on the earth; and with its fall the shadow passed away. A light fell about her, and her hair shone in the sunrise.
Out of the wreck rose the Black Rider, tall and threatening, towering above her. With a cry of hatred that stung the very ears like venom he let fall his mace. Her shield was shivered in many pieces, and her arm was broken; she stumbled to her knees. He bent over her like a cloud, and his eyes glittered; he raised his mace to kill.
But suddenly he too stumbled forward with a cry of bitter pain, and his stroke went wide, driving into the ground. Merry's sword had stabbed him from behind, shearing through the black mantle, and passing up beneath the hauberk had pierced the sinew behind his mighty knee.
'Éowyn! Éowyn!' cried Merry. Then tottering, struggling up, with her last strength she drove her sword between crown and mantle, as the great shoulders bowed before her. The sword broke sparkling into many shards. The crown rolled away with a clang. Éowyn fell forward upon her fallen foe. But lo! the mantle and hauberk were empty. Shapeless they lay now on the ground, torn and tumbled; and a cry went up into the shuddering air, and faded to a shrill wailing, passing with the wind, a voice bodiless and thin that died, and was swallowed up, and was never heard again in that age of this world.
—"The Battle of the Pelennor Fields"
* * *
Out of doubt, out of dark to the day's rising
I came singing in the sun, sword unsheathing.
To hope's end I rode and to heart's breaking:
Now for wrath, now for ruin and a red nightfall! [Éomer]—"The Battle of the Pelennor Fields"
* * *
[U]pon the foremost ship a great standard broke, and the wind displayed it as she turned towards the Harlond. There flowered a White Tree, and that was for Gondor; but Seven Stars were about it, and a high crown above it, the signs of Elendil that no lord had borne for years beyond count. And the stars flamed in the sunlight, for they were wrought of gems by Arwen daughter of Elrond; and the crown was bright in the morning, for it was wrought of mithril and gold.
Thus came Aragorn son of Arathorn, Elessar, Isildur's heir, out of the Paths of the Dead, borne upon a wind from the Sea to the kingdom of Gondor; and the mirth of the Rohirrim was a torrent of laughter and a flashing of swords, and the joy and wonder of the City was a music of trumpets and a ringing of bells. But the hosts of Mordor were seized with bewilderment, and a great wizardry it seemed to them that their own ships should be filled with their foes; and a black dread fell on them, knowing that the tides of fate had turned against them and their doom was at hand.
—"The Battle of the Pelennor Fields"
* * *
Gandalf sprang up the steps, and the men fell back from him and covered their eyes; for his coming was like the incoming of a white light into a dark place, and he came with great anger. He lifted up his hand, and in the very stroke, the sword of Denethor flew up and left his grasp and fell behind him in the shadows of the house; and Denethor stepped backward before Gandalf as one amazed.
—"The Pyre of Denethor"
* * *
'For it is only in the coming of Aragorn that any hope remains for the sick that lie in the House. Thus spake Ioreth, wise-woman of Gondor: The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known.' [Gandalf]
—"The Houses of Healing"
* * *
'These are his [Sauron's] terms. Take them or leave them!' [The Mouth of Sauron]
'These we will take!' said Gandalf suddenly. He cast aside his cloak and a white light shone forth like a sword in that black place. Before his upraised hand the foul Messenger recoiled, and Gandalf coming seized and took from him the tokens: coat, cloak, and sword. 'These we will take in memory of our friend,' he cried. 'But as for your terms, we reject them utterly. Get you gone, for your embassy is over and death is near to you. We did not come here to waste words in treating with Sauron, faithless and accursed; still less with one of his slaves. Begone!'
Then the Messenger of Mordor laughed no more.
—"The Black Gate Opens"
* * *
'No taste of food, no feel of water, no sound of wind, no memory of tree or grass or flower, no image of moon or star are left to me. I am naked in the dark, Sam, and there is no veil between me and the wheel of fire. I begin to see it even with my waking eyes, and all else fades.' [Frodo]
—"Mount Doom"
* * *
'Come, Mr. Frodo!' he [Sam] cried. 'I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you and it as well. So up you get! Come on, Mr. Frodo dear! Sam will give you a ride. Just tell him where to go, and he'll go.'
—"Mount Doom"
* * *
'I have come,' he [Frodo] said. 'But I do not choose now to do what I came to do. I will not do this deed. The Ring is mine!' And suddenly, as he set it on his finger, he vanished from Sam's sight. […]
And far away, as Frodo put on the Ring and claimed it for his own, even in Sammath Naur the very heart of his realm, the Power in Barad-dûr was shaken, and the Tower trembled from its foundations to its proud and bitter crown. The Dark Lord was suddenly aware of him, and his Eye piercing all shadows looked across the plain to the door that he had made; and the magnitude of his own folly was revealed to him in a blinding flash, and all the devices of his enemies were at last laid bare. Then his wrath blazed in consuming flame, but his fear rose like a vast black smoke to choke him. For he knew his deadly peril and the thread upon which his doom now hung.
From all his policies and webs of fear and treachery, from all his stratagems and wars his mind shook free; and throughout his realm a tremor ran, his slaves quailed, and his armies halted, and his captains suddenly steerless, bereft of will, wavered and despaired. For they were forgotten. The whole mind and purpose of the Power that wielded them was now bent with overwhelming force upon the Mountain.
—"Mount Doom"
* * *
'I am glad you are here with me. Here at the end of all things, Sam.' [Frodo]
—"Mount Doom"
* * *
'Stand, Men of the West! Stand and wait! This is the hour of doom.' [Gandalf]
—"The Field of Cormallen"
* * *
Behind the seat upon the right floated, white on green, a great horse running free; upon the left was a banner, silver upon blue, a ship swan-prowed faring on the sea; but behind the highest throne in the midst of all a great standard was spread in the breeze, and there a white tree flowered upon a sable field beneath a shining crown and seven glittering stars. On the throne sat a mail-clad man, a great sword was laid across his knees, but he wore no helm. As they drew near he rose. And then they knew him, changed as he was, so high and glad of face, kingly, lord of Men, dark-haired with eyes of grey.
Frodo ran to meet him, and Sam followed close behind. 'Well, if this isn't the crown of all!' he said. 'Strider, or I'm still asleep!'
'Yes, Sam, Strider,' said Aragorn. 'It is a long way, is it not, from Bree, where you did not like the look of me? A long way for us all, but yours has been the darkest road.'
—"The Field of Cormallen"
* * *
'It needs but one foe to breed a war, not two, Master Warden,' answered Éowyn. 'And those who have not swords can still die upon them.'
—"The Steward and the King"
* * *
Then Aragorn took the crown and held it up and said:
Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien. Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' Ambar-metta!
And those were the words that Elendil spoke when he came up out of the Sea on the wings of the wind: 'Out of the Great Sea to Middle-earth I am come. In this place will I abide, and my heirs, unto the ending of the world.'
—"The Steward and the King"
* * *
'It is sad that we should meet only thus at the ending. For the world is changing: I feel it in the water, I feel it in the earth, and I smell it in the air. I do not think we shall meet again.' [Treebeard]
—"Many Partings"
* * *
'Do you not yet understand? My time is over: it is no longer my task to set things to rights, nor to help folk to do so.' [Gandalf]
—"Homeward Bound"
* * *
'I tried to save the Shire, and it has been saved, but not for me. It must often be so, Sam, when things are in danger: some one has to give them up, lose them, so that others may keep them.' [Frodo]
—"The Grey Havens"
* * *
'Well, here at last, dear friends, on the shores of the Sea comes the end of our fellowship in Middle-earth. Go in peace! I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil.' [Gandalf]
—"The Grey Havens"
* * *
And then it seemed to him [Frodo] that as in his dream in the house of Bombadil, the grey rain-curtain turned all to silver glass and was rolled back, and he beheld white shores and beyond them a far green country under a swift sunrise.
—"The Grey Havens"
3 The Movies
Peter Jackson's movies are the topic of this chapter.
3.1 The Fellowship of the Ring
This section is concerned with the first part of the movie trilogy.
3.1.1 Theatrical
The Fellowship of the Ring opened on Wednesday, December 19, 2001, but I did not as far as I can remember take much notice about it. A week later, on December 26, a friend asked me if I would like to come with him to the theater and see The Fellowship of the Ring. He had already booked two tickets, before he had checked with me if I wanted and could go with him. I was not that enthusiastic, but I somewhat reluctantly agreed to see it, something for which I was very grateful afterwards.
We walked to the theater through a snowy Lidköping for the late (20:30) run. My initial impression after seeing the movie was that it was great with good cast, script, and music, but I did not then really feel that it was a special movie; that would come after I had watched the DVD edition. The movie did leave me with a certain stiffness in my legs; it was probably the longest movie I had seen in a theater.
3.1.2 DVD
Tuesday, August 6, 2002, was a big day: the release of the Fellowship of the Ring DVD edition. I saw the DVD release the first time with the same friend I originally saw the movie in the theater with, and then not even from the beginning, and immediately many memories of the movie came back to me and I began to see the movie in a new light. Soon thereafter I ordered the DVD so that I would have this masterpiece in my possession. When I received it I watched it a couple of times in a short period of time: I think I saw it three times during one week.
The next big day was Tuesday, November 12, when the extended edition of The Fellowship of the Ring was released. I had already booked the Collector's Edition online in advance so that I would get the movie as soon as possible. I got it on November 14. A couple of days after that, I watched the extended edition for the first time. I really enjoyed the new and the extended scenes that made the movie even better. It was at this point that the other languages spoken in the movie began to interest me a little. I think the Elvish languages are beautiful.
By now my impression of The Fellowship of the Ring was no longer the initial one I had after seeing it in the theater. I thought the cast members were great and filled their roles perfectly. The work of the crew was just astounding: there were so many people involved, and I was sure that they all contributed in one way or another to the movie. When I realized the extent of work put into the movie (from the DVD bonus discs and TV documentaries) I viewed it in a whole new light. The music was fantastic and I truly did feel transported to Middle-earth when I heard it. It fit perfectly with the movie and helped to tell the story. Now I fully realized that this was not just any movie, but something really big and special.
3.1.3 Specific Scenes
A character I missed very much was Tom Bombadil. I can understand why he was not in the movie, but I very much would have liked to see him (and Goldberry) in it. Tom is important because he is a mysterious character over whom the Ring has no power, and he is one of my favorite characters in the book.
I am not altogether happy that in the movie it seems to be Arwen who makes the Loudwater/Bruinen river rise against the Nazgûl; in the book it is the Elrond who commands this river. Furthermore, the movie never mentioned that it was Gandalf who made the white horses (with white riders in the book) appear in the rushing water.
In the book, it is Caradhras itself that defeats the fellowship; in the movie, it is obvious that it is Saruman that is causing the defeat.
The scene with Gandalf and the Balrog on the Bridge of Khazad-dûm is one my favorite scenes in the movie. The Balrog looks so menacing and terrible; its sounds and the wave of heat that flows from its mouth when it roars are great.
Another great scene is in Lothlórien when Galadriel is tempted by the Ring and changes dramatically for a brief moment of time. I really like the words she says during this brief moment. When I saw this the first time it made me unsure about Galadriel's character (good or evil) since I did not know the story at that time.
The gift-giving scene in Lothlórien where Galadriel gives the members of the fellowship parting gifts was one scene that was not in the theatrical edition, so I was very happy to see it in the extended edition.
One emotional scene is the one where Frodo stands alone on the shore of Anduin and hears Gandalf's voice before he takes one of the boats and sets of across the river.
Swedish title: Härskarringen - Sagan om ringen.
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3.1.4 Poster and Soundtrack
I tried hard in September and October to get hold of the theatrical poster of The Fellowship of the Ring, but it obviously was very popular and could not be found anywhere (for free at least). Fortunately, thanks to a remote acquaintance who works in a bookstore that sold the DVD, I was able to get the poster. (A big thank you goes out to this acquaintance.)
I ordered the Fellowship of the Ring soundtrack together with the soundtrack of The Two Towers in December of 2002. With the music being so good I wanted to have these soundtracks.
3.2 The Two Towers
This section is concerned with the second part of the movie trilogy.
3.2.1 Theatrical
On November 18, 2002, the tickets for The Two Towers were released. I went to the theater at about 18:30 (one hour after it opened) and was a little surprised that there still were tickets available for the premiere. However, I did not purchase a ticket for the premiere, but for Sunday, December 22.
December 22, the day when I would see The Two Towers. With the outside temperature being about -12 degrees Celsius I finally sat there in the theater at 20:30. For some reason the movie did not start until 15 minutes later, and people around me started talking about something not working as it should and other worst-case scenarios. Fortunately the movie began eventually. However, that was not all that happened unexpectedly. A couple of minutes into the movie some of the lamps in the roof in the theater suddenly lit up. They remained on for a minute or so before they were turned off. After that no more mishaps occurred.
I enjoyed The Two Towers a lot; it was an excellent movie. Just as with the first movie, great cast, crew, and music. I felt that The Two Towers differed more from the book than did The Fellowship of the Ring. I did not feel the same way as I did during The Fellowship of the Ring, probably because I knew what was going to happen, whereas with The Fellowship of the Ring I knew very little about The Lord of the Rings and Tolkien. Therefore it was natural that I was more critical when I saw The Two Towers than when I saw The Fellowship of the Ring.
As the credits rolled over the screen and I got up, I realized that it did not feel like three hours had passed. I know that when I left the theater after The Fellowship of the Ring I really felt that I had spent a long time in the seat, but this was not the case with this movie.
Afterwards, I was not sure how I would endure the wait that followed until December of 2003. I hoped to be able to go to the premiere of The Return of the King.
3.2.2 DVD
The two-disc edition of The Two Towers was released on August 16, 2003. I, however, had already decided not to buy it as I preferred to wait for the extended edition. On September 7 I saw The Two Towers over at a friend's house and it brought back memories of when I saw it in the theater. I preordered the extended edition collector's box on September 8.
On November 11 I received an e-mail from the online DVD store where I had preordered the extended edition of The Two Towers saying that the release date had been moved from November 18 to November 26. This was a huge disappointment to me, and I immediately set out to find the cause of the delay. It did not take me long to learn that the reason was a malfunction of the machine that manufactures the boxes. The release had been delayed in Sweden, Norway, and Finland. On the morning of November 21 I received an e-mail that said the boxes were on their way to the store and that preparations were being made to send them out. The e-mail also said that my order would be sent on Tuesday, November 25. Then on November 25 I received another e-mail regarding further delay of the Two Towers extended edition. It said that my order would most likely be shipped on November 27. The reason was a delay in the shipment from the distributor to the store I ordered the movie from.
The Collector's Edition of The Two Towers finally arrived on December 2. Last year there was a fifth DVD included with the Collector's Edition of The Fellowship of the Ring, but due to rights issues that disc was not included in all DVD regions, Europe being one of them. With The Two Towers, however, the fifth DVD (about the included Gollum statue and other Sideshow Weta collectibles) was included. In the package was also a small Two Towers key ring which turned out to be a small gift from the store to make up for the delay. I also received a small compensation for the delay in the form of a discount on my next order.
For various reasons I was not able to actually see the whole extended edition until December 9, though I did see about half the movie over at a friend's place (he received it a day before I did). After seeing the extended edition I could honestly say that most of my negative thoughts regarding the theatrical edition were addressed. In short, the extended edition was a big change for the better.
3.2.3 Specific Scenes
Gollum is incredibly realistic and no doubt the best computer-generated character I have ever seen. I do not see him as a digital effect but as a real cast member. Gollum is a complete success.
A great moment is in Fangorn Forest when Gandalf returns as Gandalf the White. This scene is excellently carried out and quite emotional as it is signals the return of hope. I have always liked Gandalf the White more than Gandalf the Gray, and this is an important scene for the former.
The scene where Gandalf makes King Théoden see things clearly again ends with a shot of Saruman being knocked to the floor. This together with the fact that Saruman speaks to Gandalf through Théoden tells me that Saruman is actively controlling Théoden, and that is not how I understood this part when I read the book; Saruman's workings are of a more subtle and indirect character. The movie version can, however, be interpreted so that Saruman takes an active role when he realizes that Gandalf has come. In any case, I think that this scene is effective and powerful.
Faramir's character is quite different from that in the book, where he is intelligent and insightful. I can understand and accept that these changes were made to really show that the Ring affects everyone and that Faramir could not so easily relinquish it, but the changes clearly clash with Tolkien's description of Faramir.
One big change from the book is that Faramir takes Frodo and Sam to Osgiliath, where one of the Nazgûl almost captures the Ring. I wonder why Sauron did not change his strategy when he learned that the Ring was a lot closer to him than he thought.
The battle at Helm's Deep is very impressive to say the least, and the scene where the Elves come to aid in the battle is a nice touch that works very well. The Elves are not at Helm's Deep in the book, but I can accept their presence there in the movie.
One favorite scene of mine is where the Ents march toward Isengard. The visuals and the music make that scene very memorable. The guy that sat to my right in the theater chuckled in the beginning of the scene where the Ents attack Isengard. It is clear to me that he must not have read the book, for certainly the Ents are enigmatic and not some funny living trees that only crush Orcs with their big feet. Merry and Pippin more or less trick Treebeard to go to Isengard so that he sees the devastation that Saruman has caused and because of that launches the attack on Isengard. I think this makes Treebeard come off less wise than he really is; surely he need not be tricked into something. I understand that this change was done to give Merry and Pippin a more active role, but it would probably have been better if the book had been followed here.
In the scene where Gandalf comes to Helm's Deep and charges down with Éomer and his men following, Saruman's forces turn toward them and align their spears in that direction. In the book the enemies are terrified and go mad by the sight of the White Rider and flee, throwing away their weapons. In the movie they do not seem to be very terrified by Gandalf's coming, at least not at first. Still, it is one of my favorite scenes in the movie where Gandalf et al. charge down the hill with the sun rising behind them, blinding their enemies' eyes.
I much like the scene toward the end of the movie where Sam looks out the window at Osgiliath and speaks while scenes from Helm's Deep and Isengard are shown. Sam's lines are wonderful.
I am glad that the scene with the Huorns at the end of the battle at Helm's Deep is in the extended edition. It is one scene I missed in the theatrical version, since I like the part in the book where the enemies flee into the forest that has appeared out of nowhere behind them. The forest is the Huorns, and they take care of the enemies once and for all.
Swedish title: Härskarringen - Sagan om de två tornen.
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3.2.4 Poster and Soundtrack
After several contacts—beginning in September, I think—with the local theater I finally got the theatrical poster for The Two Towers on Tuesday, December 10. I was very glad to finally have this poster, and looked forward to obtaining the theatrical poster for The Return of the King next year.
I ordered the soundtrack to The Two Towers together with the Fellowship of the Ring soundtrack in December of 2002. Just as with the first movie, the music in The Two Towers was excellent and of the same high quality as in The Fellowship of the Ring.
3.3 The Return of the King
This section is concerned with the third and last part of the movie trilogy.
3.3.1 Theatrical
The tickets to The Return of the King were not released on November 17 here in Sweden as was expected. The reason was that the movie had not yet received its age rating. On November 18 it was announced that the tickets would be released on December 8.
Here in Lidköping the tickets to The Return of the King were released at 14:00 on December 8. I was at the theater at 13:20 and the queue started just outside the doors to the theater, but soon it had grown quite long. Still, it could have been much worse. I estimated that there were about 45–50 persons in front of me in the queue, and I was a bit nervous that I would not get a ticket for the premiere. When it was my turn, only the two front rows and a couple of seats here and there were available. Fortunately I found a good seat. Just as I was about to leave they announced that there were about 30 tickets left. So, about an hour after I arrived, I left the theater with a ticket to the premiere of The Return of the King: December 17 at 19:00 (I know—there was no midnight run in Lidköping; it would have been fun if there had been). The theater would have a giveaway where three winners would be randomly selected among the premiere audience (seat numbers).
I awoke on the morning of December 17 with an unusual feeling: this was the day I had been looking forward to for so long. The hours seemed to just rush by, and at 18:30 I was at the theater. I actually did not expect any people would be wearing costumes, but some of them were. As I sat down in my seat I was full of anticipation in a way that I have never been before for a movie. At 19:00 the manager came in to draw the three winners of the giveaway; each received a huge Return of the King poster and free movie passes. I was unfortunately not one of the three lucky people. After that the manager quickly exited and the room went dark. The final part of The Lord of the Rings was about to begin.
Everything went fine to start with, but after a while someone started crying angrily. More and more people became annoyed and shouted, and eventually a man got up and told the mom that she was responsible for the kid and that they should get out of there now. The mom and the child left, and I do not know if they came back in.
On the row behind me were a few young girls who—judging from their comments during the movie—were obviously not familiar with the story. It was interesting to hear their whispers regarding what happened on the screen.
When the movie was over it certainly did not feel like three hours and twenty minutes had passed until I got up and began to walk. I noticed the changed credits: a changing background image (previously there had only been a black background). It was not until the next day that I fully realized what I had seen and the effect it had had on me.
I thought The Return of the King was a fantastic movie. The overall impression was as high as it could possibly be. I incredibly much enjoyed seeing it. I had read a number of reviews of The Return of the King before I saw it, so I had sky-high expectations, expectations which were satisfactorily met when I saw The Return of the King. My biggest complaint was that The Return of the King felt too rushed and a bit thin in some places. I wanted more. The movie left out parts that I felt were important for the overall impression.
I saw The Return of the King once more in the theater, on February 8. I had a movie pass that was about to expire, so I decided to use it to see The Return of the King again. The movie was even better the second time.
This was the end of the theatrical experience of The Lord of the Rings, and what an end it was. One of my first thoughts after seeing the movie was that The Return of the King really was a worthy end to Peter Jackson's movies. It was magnificent, excellent, beautiful, emotional, impressive, and fantastic in all aspects. It was a spectacular movie the like of which had never before been seen on the screen. An epic tale had reached its end, with great sacrifices having been made for what had ultimately been gained.
3.3.2 DVD
The theatrical edition of The Return of the King was released on May 25, 2004, but as I only wanted the extended edition I did not purchase the theatrical version. I preordered the extended edition collector's box on August 27. One thing I found interesting was that the release date was December 10 in Sweden (and some other countries) and December 14 in the United States (and some other countries).
The package arrived at the post office on December 10, but I did not receive a dispatch note until Monday, December 13. I could probably have picked it up without the dispatch note, but I had some things to do over the weekend that I wanted to finish before I immersed myself into The Return of the King, so I waited until Monday. I watched the movie for the first time that afternoon.
The same day, December 13, I read in a review of the movie on a DVD store Web site that there was a watermark in the movie in the form of the number 821 a little more than 21 minutes into the movie. When I read this I immediately inserted the first DVD into my computer's DVD drive and watched for about a minute from 21 minutes into it. I did not notice any watermark, so I figured I would wait and see. The next day I read that the region 2 and region 4 PAL versions were indeed watermarked: the number 821 appears very briefly at 21:31 into the movie. The watermark is not noticeable if you do not know about it, but now that I do know that it is there, I will always notice it whenever I watch the movie.
3.3.3 Specific Scenes
Saruman's absence in the theatrical edition works pretty well, but it does feel a bit weird not to see his ultimate fate since he is a major evil character. Fortunately, Saruman is in the extended edition.
One great scene is the one where Gandalf and Pippin come to Minas Tirith and ride through the city to the Citadel where Denethor dwells. The visuals and the music go so well together, and Minas Tirith looks really amazing. Shivers go down my spine ever time I watch it.
The scene where the beacon fires are lit is great. Stunning visuals and very suitable music make this scene memorable and, I think, quite emotional. Just as with the scene described in the previous paragraph, this one also makes shivers go down my spine.
The scene where Gandalf rides out from Minas Tirith to protect the incoming people from the Nazgûl and his staff lightens up is great, but I wonder why Gandalf brings Pippin with him. Is Pippin not safer inside the city walls? Perhaps not. One explanation could be that it is easier to get Pippin and Faramir to meet this way. Also, on the "Director and Writers" audio commentary for the extended edition, they mention that originally, Gandalf and Pippin were supposed to see the soldiers being attacked as Shadowfax rode up over the hill and Minas Tirith came into view, and Gandalf protected the soldiers as he and Pippin rode with them to the city.
A powerful and emotional scene is the one which alternates between Pippin singing to Denethor as he eats and Faramir et al. riding toward Osgiliath on a hopeless mission. The stark contrast between the visuals and the soft singing as the riders approach Osgiliath heightens the scene and shows that loud and powerful music for this kind of scenes is not always the best option. The scene which precedes this one, where Faramir et al. ride toward the gates of Minas Tirith as a pan flute melody is heard, is equally powerful and emotional.
I do not fully approve of the scene where Gandalf knocks down Denethor when the latter orders the soldiers to abandon their posts. It just does not seem to be something Gandalf would do.
The battle of the Pelennor Fields is breathtaking and makes the battle at Helm's Deep in The Two Towers seem rather small. The scene where the Rohirrim arrive at the battle and, after Théoden's great words, charge down the hill is a favorite scene of mine.
The fight between Gandalf and the Witch-king was pretty cool, though I am not convinced Gandalf that would have lost as easily as he does in the movie, nor do I think that the Witch-king has the power to destroy Gandalf's staff, at least not at a distance. Gandalf does not appear to be at a disadvantage in the book, but we will never know since the Witch-king leaves before anything happens between the two.
One scene I will probably always be annoyed at is where Denethor runs like a human torch to his death. This is a scene where I feel that the book should have been followed. Peter Jackson does, however, say on the "Directors and Writers" audio commentary for the extended edition that this scene was one he really wanted to see despite the fact that the distance to the end of the prow is too long for the burning Denethor to run.
A full explanation of Denethor's madness is not given in the movie. In the book it is quite clear that he has used his palantír several times and what he has seen has been planted in his mind by Sauron to weaken Denethor; in other words, Denethor sees what Sauron wants him to see. Denethor's character gets some more depth in the extended edition, but the fact that he has used the White Tower palantír is only hinted at.
The scene where Gandalf and Pippin talk about death as the enemies are about to break into Minas Tirith is one I liked a lot, even though what Gandalf is saying is not entirely in accordance with how things work in Tolkien's universe. Perhaps he is saying this just to comfort Pippin, in which case Gandalf need not be completely accurate.
Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli's arrival with the Army of the Dead is another scene I enjoyed, as is the earlier scene in the extended edition where the Army of the Dead ensures victory over the Corsairs of Umbar arriving in their ships. The first demonstration of the Army's deadliness when they defeat the Corsairs does reduce somewhat the impact of their appearance at the Pelennor Fields, but that is better than not having the Corsairs scene at all.
It appears Merry is able to hurt the Witch-king with a normal blade, but in the book he uses one of the special blades of Westernesse that he and the other hobbits acquire in the Barrow-downs in The Fellowship of the Ring; the Witch-king cannot be harmed by ordinary weapons (though obviously he becomes vulnerable to such weapons after Merry sticks his blade into the Witch-king's knee). It is difficult to explain this in the movie.
It is not clear that Aragorn has healing powers by virtue of being the king of Gondor. This is very clear in the book, where Ioreth says The hands of the king are the hands of a healer. And so the rightful king could ever be known.
I would have liked to see this made clear in the extended edition of the movie, but as it is now it does not seem like Aragorn is doing anything special to heal Éowyn.
The Mouth of Sauron scene was one of the scenes I was really looking forward to. Unfortunately it did not turn out to be as powerful as it could have been, and I was a little disappointed that the Messenger just throws Frodo's mithril mail to Gandalf rather than, as in the book, Gandalf showing his powers and taking the mail from the Messenger after everybody thinks Gandalf is finally defeated. I do, however, realize that if this had been done, things would not have looked quite as hopeless since Gandalf triumphs over the Messenger, but that triumph means little in the greater scheme of things: they still believe that Frodo is captured and that the quest has failed. Also, if that had happened, there would not have been any real reason for Aragorn to approach and decapitate the Messenger, and perhaps that was something the filmmakers really wanted to include in the movie. By the way, what happened with the body of the Mouth of Sauron since it is not there when the gate opens?
Aragorn's speech before the Morannon, the Black Gate, is yet another memorable scene.
The destruction of Barad-dûr and Mordor is quite a majestic scene and a suitable end to the evil that has been present throughout the story.
A powerful scene is the one on the slopes of Mount Doom where Sam says that he cannot carry the Ring for Frodo, but he can carry him.
One of the most rememberable scenes is where the hobbits bow to Aragorn after he has been crowned king and Aragorn says, My friends, you bow to no one,
and then he, together with everyone else, bows to them. A great scene that always sends shivers down my spine.
The Grey Havens scene at the end of the movie is beautiful and really emotional, both as the end of this movie and as the end of the entire Lord of the Rings movie trilogy.
I cannot understand people who complain that the movie has many endings. It is not only the end of this movie that has to be told but also that of the previous two movies, and there are things that need to be told for the story to end in a satisfactory way. I have no complaints on how the movie ends.
Swedish title: Härskarringen - Sagan om konungens återkomst.
IMDb.com • Metacritic.com • Kritiker.se • Amazon.com • Ginza.se
3.3.4 Poster and Soundtrack
I was unable to get the Return of the King theatrical poster from the theater because they had no posters left at the time I asked them (too late). Fortunately, I was able to get my hands on the poster on my birthday 2004 as I got it as a birthday gift, and the poster had been obtained through the same acquaintance that had provided me with the Fellowship of the Ring poster.
I received the Return of the King soundtrack on November 26 (preordered it November 15) and listed to it the first time the same day. The last track, "Into The West," was made available for download on November 18, so I had already listened to it several times. Hearing the last track was moving and it conveyed a sad feeling. I could imagine hearing the song as the credits rolled on the screen at the movie theater. As with the two previous soundtracks, this one was excellent and contained beautiful and powerful tracks. There was of course new music on the CD, but there were also bits and pieces of music from the other two soundtracks; a successful combination of new music and previous tracks.
3.4 General Thoughts and Comments
I wish I had read The Lord of the Rings before seeing the first movie. By reading the book after having seen The Fellowship of the Ring, I did not get a chance to make my own images of the characters and environments in The Fellowship of the Ring; instead the ones in the movie were the ones that came to mind as I read the book. It must have been a great experience to have read the book and then see how well one's imagination corresponded to the movie. From now on, whenever I read the book I will undoubtedly see in my mind the characters as they are portrayed by the actors and actresses in the movies.
There have been many changes made in the movies, but nevertheless I think that the spirit of Tolkien's work is present in them. Even though I do not agree with every single change, I am still of the opinion that Peter Jackson and everybody else involved in the Lord of the Rings movies should be lauded for bringing Middle-earth to life on the screen. Compared to this, the changes, errors, and omissions that have been made seem to be an issue of less importance, especially when the fact that movies can never capture the complex book in its entirety is taken into account.
After having seen all three movies, I am beginning to wonder if there really had not been better to portray Sauron in another way, rather than as a giant eye. As I have understood it, Sauron actually had a physical body during the War of the Ring, and to imagine him actually being a giant eye at the top of Barad-dûr as opposed to the eye merely being a metaphor is incorrect and also leads to problems such as how Sauron could wield the Ring. Furthermore, how does Aragorn expect Sauron, being a disembodied eye, to come forth from the Black Gate so that justice can be done upon him?
The idea with extended editions is great. The theatrical versions work, but to me it is the extended editions that are the real movies. For those not familiar with the book the theatrical versions may suffice, but the extended editions contain additional scenes, and so are a must for anyone who wants the most out of these movies. In addition to the longer movies, the bonus stuff that comes with the extended editions has been of very high quality and given many informative and enjoying insights into the production of these historical movies.
I can honestly say that no movies have ever touched me like these have. All the various elements have come together in a fantastic way in these movies. This movie trilogy is truly the best trilogy I have ever seen, and I am quite sure that I will never have a movie experience that surpasses this one, save possibly a remake of The Lord of the Rings. Let there be no doubt that The Return of the King is the best movie ever, ever, and I cannot fully express in words my experience and all my feelings when it comes to the trilogy as a whole.
My thanks, appreciation, and admiration go to the cast and crew and everyone else involved in making these fantastic movies. Your dedication and interest permeate this project, and without them I believe it would not have been possible to bring The Lord of the Rings to the screen. I am very happy to have experienced the movies and the whole Lord of the Rings phenomenon, and I can honestly say that it has been a life-changing experience.
4 Final Thoughts
It has been an interesting journey for me to discover the book The Lord of the Rings at the same time as it was being transferred to the screen. The book is certainly a literary masterpiece and the movies a cinematic masterpiece. It has been, and still is, a profound experience at the beginning of which I had no idea what awaited me, and now I am a full-fledged Tolkien fan.
Now that all three movies are out in their extended versions, it is time to reread the book, something I will do in a not-too-distant future. The book and the movies have become entangled in my mind, and each contributes to the other: whenever I read the book, scenes from the movies will come to mind; whenever I watch the movies, changes, omissions, and passages from the book will come to mind.
Now, two years after I first published this document on the Web and a little more than three years after I saw The Fellowship of the Ring in the theater, my story comes to an end. Writing this account of my experience of the Lord of the Rings book and movies has been very interesting and I have learned a great deal as the document has developed alongside the movies. Though this story ends here, my interest in Tolkien's work continues unabated. It will certainly be there for the rest of my life.