The official thread for Lord Of The Rings - The Return Of The King [LOTR ROTK TROTK ROK] (NOW CONTAINS SPOILERS)

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but tell me this doesn't look the slightest porcine

I suppose a red 'x' could be a pig kiss in a way. ;-)

I thought the battering ram was kind of scary, and almost cried during the strawberries-and-cream speech. Honestly.

:-) So did Jackson when they were filming it. You are in fine company.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 00:48 (twenty-two years ago)

What, he thought the battering ram was scary or he cried at the strawberry thing?

The whole Denethor's Pyre thing was woefully anvil-handed. Even aside from that, THAT LANDING STRIP THING ON TOP OF MINAS TIRITH WAS FAR TOO LONG FOR A BURNING LUNATIC TO RUN ALONG AND JUMP OFF. It cut to a battle scene straight afterwards and I sort of expected him to hi-lariously squash an orc in the background ala the 'K' from the Kwik-E-Mart in the Simpsons.

I think Viggo Mortenson and a lot of the NZ actors forgot what their accents were supposed to sound like over the course of the three films. Mortenson was increasingly plummy-English having sounded Irish in Bree. Legolas again hardly got any lines that weren't summarising things that were already very obvious ('a DIVERSION!') - is this because Orlando Bloom can't actually act or some shit? Shame, he looked good in his big sleeved fop-gown at the end and the oliphaunt mauling was great.

The Gollum prologue was a bit dumb to start with but it was good when he got all haggard and mental. Not sure the gradual link between the SerkisHobbit and the CGI Gollum was entirely convincing though. But still, the man has gusto. And he was Martin Hannett.

Cutting out the Nazgul-Gandalf talkoff in Minas Tirith seemed a bit stupid especially when they'd already had the Witch King say he was going to fuck him up. This added to the overall impression of the Nine being total fucking pussies. They also set up that pink, porcine orc with the squashed face to be the guy everyone REALLY WANTED TO SEE GET KILLED and then didn't show him die. This is perhaps a really obtuse ploy to boost sales of the extended edition.

(Is the Mouth Of Sauron thing definitely in the extended one? In the vidyer game Aragorn just cuts him up instead of out-talking him.)

Ferrrrrrg (Ferg), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 02:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh yeah, I liked it though.

Ferrrrrrg (Ferg), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 02:45 (twenty-two years ago)

i thought the orc Ferrrrrrg described as porcine looked a bit like john merrick's character in david lynch's the elephant man.

gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 03:04 (twenty-two years ago)

What, he thought the battering ram was scary or he cried at the strawberry thing?

The latter.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 03:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Not sure the gradual link between the SerkisHobbit and the CGI Gollum was entirely convincing though.

Actually, I found in my reviewings a nice subtle touch -- the final flashback scene has protoGollum closing his eyes and then they *very* slightly CGI them so that way when reopened they are now larger and much more like Gollum's in the final state.

But still, the man has gusto. And he was Martin Hannett.

Damn straight. My sister, who saw and liked 24 Hour Party People, was very surprised when I pointed out it was the same actor!

Cutting out the Nazgul-Gandalf talkoff in Minas Tirith seemed a bit stupid especially when they'd already had the Witch King say he was going to fuck him up. This added to the overall impression of the Nine being total fucking pussies.

In the sequence as filmed, the Witchking actually defeats Gandalf by shattering his staff (this is why Gandalf is shown without his staff later on). Presumably that scene will be restored, it's too iconic not to be reincluded.

They also set up that pink, porcine orc with the squashed face to be the guy everyone REALLY WANTED TO SEE GET KILLED and then didn't show him die. This is perhaps a really obtuse ploy to boost sales of the extended edition.

I'm not so cynical...but you're correct that Gothmog (ze character's name) is obviously the 'goddamn SOMEBODY kill him bloodily!' character. I'm guessing Eomer is who offs him in the EE if that is shown.

Is the Mouth Of Sauron thing definitely in the extended one?

I'm almost positive. One of the tie-in books showed the character's helmet -- no eyeholes, only shows his mouth, which is appropriate. It's hinted in said book that Aragorn also slices him up as per the video game result.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 03:31 (twenty-two years ago)

The false endings stuff is a decompression technique for audiences who've sat through the whole 9.5 - 11 (extended editions permitting) hour thing surely!

Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 11:58 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought that the battering ram was scary, especially from the perspective of the soldiers behind the door in Minas Tirith, but I couldn't help but think "hmmm, and when the did the orcs find the time for all this nice metalworking and ornamentation?" Although I guess an apologist would say they probably pillaged it from the dwarves.

Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 14:55 (twenty-two years ago)

My mom said that Aragorm doesn't get enough respect in the movies, especially re: his woodsy ways. I think she's right. For like the first two books at least you think of him as this ultimate outdoorsman and herbal healer before you realize who he Really Is. In the movie he's just The Hunk who's really good w/sword.

Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 16:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah...I thought that came off really well in the first movie when you find out the dirty ranger has an Elvish princess for a girlfriend, but they didn't have too much time to spend on Aragorn in the third one.

There was a scene in the extended edition of the second one that was really effective, I thought, where Eowyn is giving him some soup and he lets slip that he's actually like 80s years old (I vaguely remember this being right out of the book?). It was funny too, they should have kept it.

Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 17:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Interesting article reflecting on the cuts to the theatrical ROTK and the various opinions expressed from cast and crew.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 17:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Did they only want to hold back scenes from the theatrical cut in order to be able to increase the marketing potential of the extended version?

this is kind of silly. the article writer is outraged that jackson's left an hour out, but really, the movie would be 4 1/2 hours long otherwise! it's obvious why he had to cut stuff out!

s1utsky (slutsky), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 17:50 (twenty-two years ago)

It just makes me want November to come faster. Or whenever the extended version comes out. Damnit.

Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 17:51 (twenty-two years ago)

it's obvious why he had to cut stuff out!

I'm not arguing with you there! The only way they could have put something out like that would be to include an intermission, and these days that would not fly (doesn't maximize profit, see).

Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 18:04 (twenty-two years ago)

exactly--you could only have two showings a day, really

but also, i think a 4 1/2 hour cut would perhaps be best for home viewing, my ass was pretty numb by the end!

s1utsky (slutsky), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 18:11 (twenty-two years ago)

For me (as someone who hasn't read the books -- sorry!), it was the first film where you could kind of tell where the extended material was going to be put in later. I liked the part where Sam says something like, "You just wait till we get to the bottom of that hill..." Then there's a split-second cut, a shot of some feet, and someone says "Well, now we're at the bottom of that hill..."

Chuck Tatum (Chuck Tatum), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 18:18 (twenty-two years ago)

I actually have a feeling that might be fully replaced with something else, but we'll see...

Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 18:42 (twenty-two years ago)

a song-and-dance number perhaps?

s1utsky (slutsky), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 18:43 (twenty-two years ago)

FAAAAAAAAAAAABULOUS!

Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 18:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Surely we won't have to wait until Nov. for the extended cut now that there isn't another installment to promote?

Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 18:45 (twenty-two years ago)

I wonder

s1utsky (slutsky), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 18:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Silly Jordan -- if you want to have a big selling Xmas item you release close to Xmas!

Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 18:46 (twenty-two years ago)

(More to the point, initial indications are the theatrical DVD comes out at the end of May, extended in November.)

Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 18:46 (twenty-two years ago)

maybe they'll promote as next year's big easter gift!

s1utsky (slutsky), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 18:46 (twenty-two years ago)

But wouldn't it make more sense to release it closer to my birthday, in Feb.?

Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 18:50 (twenty-two years ago)

No, because Peter Jackson hates you and specifically you.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 18:52 (twenty-two years ago)

i think that the editing has become increasingly more of a "rush-job" with each picture, at least that was my impression after listening to the director/writers commentary on the T2T.

gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 18:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, considering they were still shooting final bits and scenes (not the chief actors but various extras) as late as October, I wouldn't be surprised.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 18:56 (twenty-two years ago)

TS: Battle of Minas Tirith vs. Battle of Hoth

robster (robster), Wednesday, 31 December 2003 00:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Battle of Hoth.
AT-AT walkers have better armor and have a distance attack. One volley of turbo-laser tusks and all of Sauron's Oliphonts would be a flaming pile of meat.

Lord Custos Omicron (Lord Custos Omicron), Wednesday, 31 December 2003 14:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Yum!

Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 31 December 2003 15:09 (twenty-two years ago)

I saw this yesterday and enjoyed it much more than the second, and possibly the first (although I have yet to see that one more than once, unlike the second instalment). Just wanted to add that I saw the battering ram and immediately thought "flaming razorback hog" and then later also remarked on the fine craftsmanship of the metalwork. I got much more involved in the battle scenes in this one, thinking that the only hint of them previously was in the opening flashback to the first movie, and also thought Miranda Otto's character should've gotten some regocnition for her slaying of the witch-king--it seemed like her plot thread was dropped right afterwards (does she end up with whatshisface Faramir?) and no one gave her enough props.

sgs (sgs), Wednesday, 31 December 2003 16:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Faramir looks like my mate Dan.

Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 31 December 2003 17:00 (twenty-two years ago)

thank you sgs!

http://www.rjh.weber.k12.ut.us/new%20razor1.JPG

vs.

http://warofthering.net/images/newsimages/grond.jpg

if that doesn't work then:
http://warofthering.net/images/newsimages/grond.jpg

gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 31 December 2003 17:07 (twenty-two years ago)

You are insane. But I love your kooky ways.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 31 December 2003 17:09 (twenty-two years ago)

damn, those fukkerz really don't want you leaching their pics.
try this instead:

http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:bMXaiPDUHnAC:warofthering.net/images/newsimages/grond.jpg

or

http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:bMXaiPDUHnAC:warofthering.net/images/newsimages/grond.jpg

gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 31 December 2003 17:09 (twenty-two years ago)

I FINALLY SAW THIS AND I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS MOVIE SERIES OH YES

Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 31 December 2003 19:25 (twenty-two years ago)

:-)

Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 31 December 2003 20:54 (twenty-two years ago)

I liked the movie a lot but I was disappointed how they left out so much of Eowyn's storyline too...I particularly like her, as she's pretty much the only female character in the series (Arwen and Rosie don't count, they're just love interests) and besides that she kicks a lot of ass. In the movie she came off as less dignified, I thought. And what's up with the dead being GREEN? Neon green?

I was so scared when Frodo and Sam were cowering on the rock surrounded by lava and the screen went white and it seemed like it was the end. I like how they handled the mood of the final ending.

Maria (Maria), Wednesday, 31 December 2003 22:01 (twenty-two years ago)

oh wait I forgot Galadriel. But she isn't as active or interesting as Eowyn anyway. (I haven't read the appendices, I'm sure the elves are very active there, but that's different.)

Maria (Maria), Wednesday, 31 December 2003 22:03 (twenty-two years ago)

hey, whats the best time/scene to take a snack run/ break during the movie?

kephm, Wednesday, 31 December 2003 22:07 (twenty-two years ago)

please!

kephm, Wednesday, 31 December 2003 22:14 (twenty-two years ago)

i went to the bathroom when gandalf and pippin were standing at minis tirith staring at the sky and didn't miss much. but i was only gone for a moment, snack run would probably take longer, just sneak in food if you must.

Maria (Maria), Wednesday, 31 December 2003 22:26 (twenty-two years ago)

thanks. any idea how far into the film this is? i get terrible leg cramps , seats are way too small, etc

kephm, Wednesday, 31 December 2003 22:35 (twenty-two years ago)

i have no idea.

Maria (Maria), Wednesday, 31 December 2003 22:45 (twenty-two years ago)

kephm, I loved the film and found it riveting, but I *adore* you for making these points :)

Markelby (Mark C), Thursday, 1 January 2004 02:01 (twenty-two years ago)

To end the "is the battering ram a pig, a wolf or a dog?" the answer is None of the Above. Grom is a Worg, which is a cross between a Dire Wolf and a Wild Boar. (Funnily enough, a dead Worg tastes just like chicken.)

Lord Custos Omicron (Lord Custos Omicron), Thursday, 1 January 2004 21:51 (twenty-two years ago)

sorry if it's already been touched upon but HOW FANTASTIC is that bit where Sam is looking at Gollum sleeping and drifting off himself, then as soon as his eyes finally close fully Gollum's eyes open and his face is just an astonishingly perfect expression of solemn, evil intent

stevem (blueski), Thursday, 1 January 2004 22:44 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought those hyena-like critters that dragged Aragorn over the cliff in T2T were supposed to be Wargs. Or is a Worg a different thing?


David A. (Davant), Friday, 2 January 2004 03:11 (twenty-two years ago)

And stevem, I agree, that moment was kind of like a distant-cousin parallel of the supremely fascist shot of a single tear rolling down Wormtongue's cheek when he realizes the sheer scale (and blind obedience) of Saruman's army of Uruk-Hai at Isengard (in T2T).

David A. (Davant), Friday, 2 January 2004 03:14 (twenty-two years ago)


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