Our fellow geeks make some ROTK observations
There's a huge, long list of geeky observations about the ROTK film, over on TORN. I've picked out the best ones for you.
46. Merry wears the armour of Rohan and Pippin wears the armour of Gondor. [I list this one just so I can say: "DUH!"]
61. In Shelob's lair, Frodo cries as he holds up the phial: "Aiya Eärendil Elenion Ancalima! (Hail Eärendil, brightest of stars!)" exactly as in the book.
63. Frodo loses the phial when he slides down the hole evading Shelob and loses Sting as he cuts away the web he's tangled in. Sam shows up with both of them later, which shows how well he tracked Frodo in the dark. [I was wondering when he dropped those...]
85. Sam reaching for Frodo as he hangs off the cliff echoes Frodo when he rescues Sam from the Anduin in FotR. Reader update: Notice the elements in the key scenes when Frodo and Sam held/helped each other throughout the trilogy? Sam's drowning, the Nazgul at Osgiliath, 'I can carry you,' and Frodo's fall in Mount Doom. They're the FOUR ELEMENTS - water, wind, earth and fire. I have a feeling even PJ didn't intentionally mean to do that.
89. Film version: "I'm glad to be with you, Samwise Gamgee. Here at the end of all things." Book version: "I am glad you are here with me. Here at the end of all things, Sam." Given the dynamics of the film's Frodo and Sam, I like the focus to be Frodo being glad to be with Sam instead of being glad that Sam's there with him ... Frodo's putting Sam ahead of himself.
100. The hobbits are wearing their clothes from the Shire during Aragorn's coronation.
Reader update: Other coronation observations.
a) Arwen's clothes change into spring colors (bright spring green), as a symbol of her new beginning, as Aragorn's queen.
b) Eowyn goes from dark or white (cold) to sunny bright yellow, also spring colors symbolic of her emotional change. Also Faramir looks more like a prince than a warrior.
c) Eomer has on much richer and fancier clothing and armour at the Coronation. He looks like the King.
d) Gimli does not hold crown, Frodo does in book. However we would have missed the wonderful line of not bowing to anyone.
e) Legolas wears a "crown" for the first time denoting his royal status.
f) Aragorn's royal clothes are much less rich than Theoden's or Eomer's, except in Arwen's vision of her son where Aragorn is better dressed.
105. Pippin gets the wedding bouquet at the wedding of Sam and Rosie. And indeed Pippin is the next to be married of the four hobbits.
108. Part of what Frodo's written in the Redbook of Westmarch includes, "...can finally ask for the hand of the fair Rosie Cotton." and "...the bravest things he's ever done." and "... Samwise Gamgee was elected mayor." ALL of these need to be expanded upon and verified!
115. Is Pippin wearing tartan at the Grey Havens? PJ told Billy early on that the Tooks were Scots, which meant he could keep his native accent. Looks like he also donned some Scottish garb as well!
126. TIDBIT: English translation of Renee Fleming's solo as the eagles swoop down to rescue Frodo and Sam:
In a dream I was lifted up.
Borne from the darkness
Above the rivers of fire.
On wings soft as the wind.
What's happened to the world?
Is everything sad going to come untrue?
129. TIDBIT: There's a suggestion of some relationship between Frodo's choice and the fate of the ring. NOTICE THAT THE RING DOES NOT SUCCUMB to the fires until Frodo decides to live. In fact, there is a moment just as we see complete resignation in Frodo's eyes when the inscription on the ring shines forth as though in victory. As soon as Frodo grabs Sam's hand, the ring dissolves in the fire.
Upcoming in this journal eventually: a hilarious fic recommendation, and, yeah, the FOTR parody script, which I am working on.
46. Merry wears the armour of Rohan and Pippin wears the armour of Gondor. [I list this one just so I can say: "DUH!"]
61. In Shelob's lair, Frodo cries as he holds up the phial: "Aiya Eärendil Elenion Ancalima! (Hail Eärendil, brightest of stars!)" exactly as in the book.
63. Frodo loses the phial when he slides down the hole evading Shelob and loses Sting as he cuts away the web he's tangled in. Sam shows up with both of them later, which shows how well he tracked Frodo in the dark. [I was wondering when he dropped those...]
85. Sam reaching for Frodo as he hangs off the cliff echoes Frodo when he rescues Sam from the Anduin in FotR. Reader update: Notice the elements in the key scenes when Frodo and Sam held/helped each other throughout the trilogy? Sam's drowning, the Nazgul at Osgiliath, 'I can carry you,' and Frodo's fall in Mount Doom. They're the FOUR ELEMENTS - water, wind, earth and fire. I have a feeling even PJ didn't intentionally mean to do that.
89. Film version: "I'm glad to be with you, Samwise Gamgee. Here at the end of all things." Book version: "I am glad you are here with me. Here at the end of all things, Sam." Given the dynamics of the film's Frodo and Sam, I like the focus to be Frodo being glad to be with Sam instead of being glad that Sam's there with him ... Frodo's putting Sam ahead of himself.
100. The hobbits are wearing their clothes from the Shire during Aragorn's coronation.
Reader update: Other coronation observations.
a) Arwen's clothes change into spring colors (bright spring green), as a symbol of her new beginning, as Aragorn's queen.
b) Eowyn goes from dark or white (cold) to sunny bright yellow, also spring colors symbolic of her emotional change. Also Faramir looks more like a prince than a warrior.
c) Eomer has on much richer and fancier clothing and armour at the Coronation. He looks like the King.
d) Gimli does not hold crown, Frodo does in book. However we would have missed the wonderful line of not bowing to anyone.
e) Legolas wears a "crown" for the first time denoting his royal status.
f) Aragorn's royal clothes are much less rich than Theoden's or Eomer's, except in Arwen's vision of her son where Aragorn is better dressed.
105. Pippin gets the wedding bouquet at the wedding of Sam and Rosie. And indeed Pippin is the next to be married of the four hobbits.
108. Part of what Frodo's written in the Redbook of Westmarch includes, "...can finally ask for the hand of the fair Rosie Cotton." and "...the bravest things he's ever done." and "... Samwise Gamgee was elected mayor." ALL of these need to be expanded upon and verified!
115. Is Pippin wearing tartan at the Grey Havens? PJ told Billy early on that the Tooks were Scots, which meant he could keep his native accent. Looks like he also donned some Scottish garb as well!
126. TIDBIT: English translation of Renee Fleming's solo as the eagles swoop down to rescue Frodo and Sam:
In a dream I was lifted up.
Borne from the darkness
Above the rivers of fire.
On wings soft as the wind.
What's happened to the world?
Is everything sad going to come untrue?
129. TIDBIT: There's a suggestion of some relationship between Frodo's choice and the fate of the ring. NOTICE THAT THE RING DOES NOT SUCCUMB to the fires until Frodo decides to live. In fact, there is a moment just as we see complete resignation in Frodo's eyes when the inscription on the ring shines forth as though in victory. As soon as Frodo grabs Sam's hand, the ring dissolves in the fire.
Upcoming in this journal eventually: a hilarious fic recommendation, and, yeah, the FOTR parody script, which I am working on.