Shelob’s Lair Pt. 1 ~ Entering the tunnel (#1 of 9).

[mechtild]

~*~

This is the first in a series of nine for Shelob's tunnel and the pass of Cirith Ungol up until the moment when Shelob is hovering over Frodo's head. I liked so many of the screencaps, even after eliminating half of them, there were too many to squeeze into fewer posts.

I think this an excellent piece of filmmaking.

Comments

[mechtild]

Thanks, Mews. I love the expressiveness of his face generally, but I think all the shots of him with a dirty face tend to bring out his eyes because of the contrast. I think he should think of playing someone with a darker complexion one of these days. It should make a splendid effect, bringing out his features all the better. He won't look like Frodo, but he won't be playing Frodo!

[aussiepeach]

Oooh, the last shot, of Frodo and Gollum against the round hole of the tunnel, nicely echoes Bag End's round door and its suggestion of the Ring. Didn't pick that up before.

And that Elijah guy's not bad either.

[mechtild]

Thanks, Peachy, that's a cool observation. Jan-u-wine read your comment and emailed me a link that touched on your remark. Here it is, a site called "The Art of the Rings":

http://www.angelfire.com/film/stormcrow/

Scroll down to the entry about "Frodo within the Eye" -- he is shown standing within the doorway of Bag End.

The writer does not discuss the image you noticed, of Frodo within the round of the mouth of Shelob's tunnel, but it fits the article's thesis beautifully. I think you are an astute observer, Peachy.

[mechtild]

...boy, am I glad to see you check in!

Thank you, Pearl. As you know by now I got your email. Yes, I was tucked safely into my home in northern Minnesota when the bridge collapsed so horrifically over the river in Minneapolis. I felt rather LotR-ish (what's new?) over the news, which I only read about in the morning's paper. One never knows when Doom is going to come knocking on one's door, for good or ill--or both.

[earths_daughter]

There are certain lines of which Elijah’s delivery encompasses an entire paragraph from the book. “I can’t go back.” is one of them. It covers Frodo’s whole speech to Faramir after the latter advises him not to go to Cirith Ungol but fails to offer any viable alternative.

And if I turn back, refusing the road in the bitter end, where then shall I go among Elves or Men? Would you have me come to Gondor with this Thing, the Thing which drove your brother mad with desire? What spell would it work in Minas Tirith? Shall there be two cities of Minas Morgul, grinning at each other across a dead land filled with rottenness?

.....

On reflection, it is more than that. The book passage one reads, one understands, one sympathises. With four words, Elijah hits you in the gut and makes you feel it.
I can't go back

[mechling]

Oooh, Brummie, you give me chills. That is so well observed. And the quote from Frodo's departure from Faramir is just perfect. That really is a wonderful moment, and a wonderful encapsulation of what works best in the entire film, when it works: the way it can portray so much with so little in terms of actual dialogue.

P.S. I replied to your Stairs of Cirith Ungol comment, another piece of excellence, and, thinking I had to leave ten minutes earlier than I had to, made a response that doesn't make complete sense even to me. I may redo it when I get home, if only to clarify my thoughts for myself. There is no need for you to reply to it though.

Thanks so much for sharing your perceptive thoughts, Brummie.

~ Mechtild

[earths_daughter]

You are too kind. My efforts pale into insignificance compared with your masterly work :)

[julchen11]

What a post ...

"I cannot go back"

Only those four (4!!!) words knocked me out!
Because there's Frodo's power I missed sometimes very dearly.

Dirty face and blue eyes - the filmmakers knew what they were doing, perfect!

[mechtild]

Julchen, hi! I've been out of town and am just now answering your comments that were posted a few days ago. I'm so glad you got to see these. :)