THE RETURN OF THE KING | DISCUSSION | LOTR
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
- Ya girls first time watching The Lord of the Rings, Extended editions, now on to The Return of the King part 3
Full Reaction Here:
/ diegesischad
Maple's Instagram:
/ mapledivine
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is a 2003 epic fantasy adventure film directed by Peter Jackson, based on the third volume of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. The film is the final entry in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and was produced by Barrie M. Osborne, Jackson and Fran Walsh, from a screenplay by Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Jackson. Continuing the plot of The Two Towers, Frodo, Sam and Gollum are making their final way toward Mount Doom in Mordor in order to destroy the One Ring, unaware of Gollum's true intentions, while Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and the rest are joining forces together against Sauron and his legions in Minas Tirith. It was preceded by The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) and The Two Towers (2002).
#LOTR #Movie #Reaction
One should never EVER be ashamed about crying to this movie. Sam's act of carrying Frodo still brings tears to my eyes every single time without fail. Honestly, there's something about this movie that speaks to the better natures of people - and there is something very precious about that.
Boromir's death, Theoden's death and even occasionally Gandalf's (kind of) death always gives me teary eyes, and that's a lot for me, I don't shed tears lightly when it comes to external stories
When Aragorn says... My friends you bow to no one. Gets me every time.
And the music dont help 😭 ! One of THE best reactions out there ! 👍🥰
Tolkien himself admitted he cried over his own book. So relax, nothing's wrong. 'I will not say "don't weep", for not all tears are an evil.'
''you bow to no one'' gets me every time fuck
it should offer you some measure of comfort to know that after rosie dies and his kids are grown Sam goes to join Frodo in Valinor as he was a ring-bearer too, if only for a little while
@Keki Stani and Gimli didn't have to face Middle Earth without Legolas, because when Legolas' time to live came he took Gimli with him. He is the only dwarve to ever receive such an honor.
I reject this story. I fully believe Sam just showed up in Valinor with a frying pan in either hand, and the Valar wisely kept their mouths shut and just let him stay.
@@MrBendylaw That's closer to what happened with Gimli. They basically smuggled him in, and everyone was like "....I...but... he's a... you know what? Fine!" Lol
@@kateiannacone2698 Aulë is probably the only one who was happy to see him. But on the other hand the Valar don't care for anyone who isn't elf so...
Why didn't he just fuck off to Valinor from the start if he was a ring bearer? That's some bullshit
"you just sat and watched me"... No, we cried (again) with you...
Not only were you one of the most in tune emotionally with this wonderful story, you UNDERSTOOD, and were amazingly sharp and perceptive at times. This was great.
Yup, you have to explain of lot of the extended lore to people to get them to understand what SHE did understand on her FIRST view. Big props to her, she's very clever.
Has to be the best reaction to these movies I've ever seen. So cool to know I'm not the only one so impacted by them.
The very first time I read J.J.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings Trilogy, was when my father handed me the books when I was 11 years old.
So I sprawled on my bed and began to read, with no expectations or idea of what was to come.
I have no memory of the passage of time for next three days...I don't even remember food or daylight or dark.
All I knew was the Road I was on and the gentleness of the Shire and the horror of the Ringwraiths.
And the ease and peace of Rivendell contrasted with the desperate, hopeless plans they laid there.
The long dark of Moria, and the time spent out of time in Lothlorian...
The deep sonorous voices and the endless depths in the eyes of the Ents.
And the leap of the flames of the watch towers across the mountains. And the charge of the Rohirrim, and the desperation of the last battle in Mordor.
The heartbroken failure and stunning redemption of one small hobbit...
And the lesson that you cannot always go home, and that sometimes you can only save things for others, but not for yourself...
And then the gentle shock of the ending - "Well, I'm back."
And then I sat back down and read it straight through all over again.
And that is Love.
So, decades later, a group of friends and I went to see a random movie, which to this day I have no memory of what it was.
Because as we walked across the foyer, heading for the popcorn concession, I glanced up and saw one of the giant banners that advertises movies yet to come, suspended from the ceiling...and my heart stopped.
It was a single, simple image.
A somber young face under dark curly hair, holding up a gold ring in the palm of his hand.
I was across the floor standing under the banner, and gazing up at it with tears starting in my eyes and my heart pounding.
I knew it was Frodo holding the One Ring before I ever saw the words "The Lord of the Rings" across the bottom.
I swear my heart stopped. I knew instantly from the power of that image, that whoever was the director, the studio, the driving minds behind the production, they were going to get it right.
My friends had to circle back - having acquired my popcorn, bless them - to drag me into the movie we had come to see.
Which I haven't the faintest memory of to this day, because I was actually off in Middle Earth, instead of a darkened theater.
So when day FINALLY came that I was sitting in the opening of The Fellowship of the Ring, and we came to the scene where all Hobbiton opened out before Gandalf's horse and cart, green and golden in the light, with the rolling hills of the Hobbit Holes...
I started crying right then and there.
I was home. And my heart knew it.
That is my home.
It always will be.
Yup, the books took me in to that World like nothing else, just like you described. BUT, this " I knew instantly from the power of that image, that whoever was the director, the studio, the driving minds behind the production, they were going to get it right." Can't agree with that.
I like the movies, they give visually in some aspects what I saw in my mind when I read the books, and for the most part, they got the Spirit of the books alright, but imo, PJ did not get it right. The movie is a pale shadow of how great and Epic the Story is, as presented in the books. I don't think anything can come close.
i nearly never leave any comments,.. but after reading yours i just had to say that i wish i could love something, anything, to the extend you dicribe here! quite beautiful to see, and also a bit sad, but not in a bad way.. all the best to you, may you keep getting so passionate about things in live! (and to the gramar police : yes english is not my mother language..)
A simple thumbs up reaction does not come close to my love for your words. Alas, sometimes knowledge is a burden because I knew the movie was being made before seeing the posters. But oh, my lord! If I didn't know and I saw that poster. BOOM! Mind blowing awesome! Just as you described, and I'm fairly certain that tears would've come to me too.
I have one question for you - in the poster, was Frodo looking out at you or down at the ring? Because most of those posters and the replicas you can buy these days all have him looking out at the viewer, but a book store I visited at the time had a variation where his eyes were fixed on the ring and that was so, SO much more engaging an impactful to me, also a fan since I was about the same age as you were when I first read it.
I will cherish your story and share mine: When my wife and I watched FotR in the theaters for the 11th or 12th time it was a special viewing that was the first to add the little sizzle trailer for The Two Towers at the end. I recall the theater was more full than the last several viewings we had gone to and at the end, and the end was approaching. Sam and Frodo were starting out across Emyn Muil towards Mordor. There was tension so thick in the theater you could cut it with Sting. And I could tell, in my heart and soul, that every person in that theater was waiting for the same thing that I was. For that moment this film had made the hundred or so of us in the theater into one being, sitting on the edge of our chair, desperately hoping we weren't wrong or that they hadn't got the new film sequence.... Then it happened. The music changed and as one we let out our breath and trembled with excitement as Aragorn bent to pick up a small leaf-shaped clasp that had been trodden in the muddy grass by the Uruk Hai. "Not idly do the leaves of Lorien fall." It was a shared moment of humanity that I have only experienced one other time in my life but it was magical. And it was brought to me thanks to the works of a World War 1 veteran who died when I was still a little boy, but his works are still with me, and will be. If Heaven is what you want it to be and I get there, then I will get to Middle Earth at last when my final ship sets sail. Namarie!
@@Elurin you have an excellent point! And I agree with you theoretically.
I was an odd case. With one or two exceptions, Peter Jackson seems to have caught the mental images that have always been in my head.
So maybe that shared coincidence of vision is why it impacted me so hard.
@@gorramnelf he was looking down in the giant banner.
And now that you point it out, yes, that image has been changed over the years!
Oh my, yes! Had the exact same experience, waiting for that preview tacked on at the end...and brought to tears to see it!
What a time we lived through!
You knowing the movie was being made while I was stunned by finding out in the theater lobby...
That a lot like watching the movie when you've read the book first, or see the movies having never seen movie...what different experience that is!
I never had the ability to unsee what I knew from the books and know what was to come.
That's what I love about when first time reactors watch the Trilogy...they are sharing with us the power of the first time through Middle Earth. And I bless them for it! Elen síla lúmenn’ omentielmo, melon!
Namárië!
denethor was actually a really good steward but sauron poisoned his mind trough a palantir. this is something the movie doesn't touch on but it is still a really importand detail for his character
yea wish they would have portrayed that a little bit better but i understand they cut it since the movie is already quite long.
@@prettyokandy230 yeah it just gives people the wrong impression of him
Even though Peter Jackson took that valuable piece of information out of the movie Denethor’s behaviour in the movie still made sense.
I was so happy that Denethor achieved his lifelong dream. He set the world record for longest distance ever sprinted by a man fully engulfed in flames. Many have tried to equal his amazing run of 289 meters (316 yards), but none have ever come close. Most succumb to the searing flames and collapse in well under 100 meters.
Many people, including his proud son Faramir, were there to bear witness and cheer him on in accomplishing this inspirational feat of sheer willpower and endurance.
It's not that important to the story at all, hence why they omitted it.
OK, so, Frodo leaving to the Elven Isles. Tolkien very much wrote with an eye towards the trauma he had witnessed and experienced in the trenches of WW1. The movie ends differently to the books, the novels go on to a section called the Scouring of the Shire, where the Hobbits return home only to discover it has been overrun with bandits (led by Wormtongue and Saruman, who in the books are not dead - this is the reason the Hobbits find Shire tobacco at Isengard, Saruman knowing Gandalf visits the Shire was also watching it and after his defeat this is his vengeance). Sam, Merry and Pippin step forward, they rally the Hobbits and lead them to crush the bandits in the climactic Battle for the Shire. This is a crucial moment, it secures for all the Shire that the Fellowship Hobbits are true heroes, Sam and Rosie's family work and battle together, Merry and Pippin become important members of their families. But crucially, Frodo devastated that the darkness has still reached the Shire, exhausted still in body and spirit does not contribute much.
Step forward over a year, Sam is married, Merry and Pippin are successful hobbits, but Frodo still struggles, he cannot lift his spirits, on the anniversary dates of his wounding by the Nazgul and Shelob he sickens physically for extended periods, he is a still broken man due to his experiences (the PTSD link). He watches the others, Sam most especially, struggle to care for their new families and also care for and attend to him, and he feels guilty, that he is dividing his loved companions away from the full and wholesome life they each deserve, but that he cannot seem to fully share. Thus as a ring-bearer when he is afforded an invitation to go and live out his days in the Elven Isles he accepts, taking with him another ring-bearer, Bilbo. This allows Sam, Merry and Pippin to enjoy the bounteous lives they have so richly earned, this is Frodo's final gift to Sam, the true and stalwart hero.
But it does not end, the books also give a full accounting of every member of the Fellowships lives, all live very well. Samwise Gamgee has a large family, a beloved Rosie and many grand-hobbits before Rosie passes peacefully, because Sam also has a very, very long life, similar to Frodo and Bilbo. Sam was a ring-bearer in his own right, he carried the burden always beside Frodo, but also for a time Sam alone bore the ring after Shelob wounded Frodo and Sam thought him dead (hence its critical link, making Sam a true ring-bearer). Sam is thus also, finally after Rosie dies and his many children and their offspring have gone on to good lives, offered a place on a ship to travel to the Elven Isles. It is thus that he, the last of the ring-bearers in Middle Earth takes the honour he so richly deserves and travels across the sea to live out his final days in peace and tranquillity.
THIS so much THIS!! I read the books a long long time ago, but I remember the bandits being orcs, I can be totally wrong. The fact that when Frodo watched in the "well" with Galadriel, was "things that have not yet come to pass" not "things that may come to pass".
Together with what other have written about the stevart of gondor being poisoned by sauron.
Also wasn't Sam's marriage day the same day that Frodo got stabbed by the morgul blade? I remember that but again long long ago. So Frodo's worst day of the year is one Sam's happiest day.
@@mahliz Yes, the bandits were mostly Half-orcs from Isengard.
Also, Sam and Bilbo, both Hobbits, were the only ring bearers ever who gave it up of their own free will (both being asked three times by Gandalf and Frodo). Bilbo, however did not know that this was The One Ring. Sam did. Right before he gave it back to Frodo, for a brief moment Sam realised exactly what the Ring was and how powerful, corrupting and insanely evil it was to everything and everyone that touches it from the get go. This is acted out very well in the movie. That is why, when Frodo was unable to complete his mission a following time on the slopes of Mt. Doom, he didn't choose to carry the Ring in his place like before but rather to carry Frodo himself to make sure the Ring reaches its fiery end. He knew that it would try to corrupt him again and most probably it would succeed, being at its most powerful right there and then.
Now Frodo himself realises that he suffered so much only to fail his mission in the end and giving in to the will of the Ring because he is addicted to it. Sméagol/Gollum had the same. Frodo's same tendency to violently fight for the Ring was made obvious in The Two Towers (several fights with Sam). Bilbo also displayed this behaviour. Sam did not.
The way Tolkien depicts evil is so insanely intricate, compelling and well written.
Tolkien NEVER wrote allegories. He is famous for his distaste of all things allegorical.
Anyone who pierces the unseen flesh of the Witch-King with a weapon becomes ill. In the book both Eowyn and Merry, who stab the Witch King, fall into a coma and almost die. This is not really made clear in the movie. That's why Eomer screams in dispair when he finds his sister on the battlefield, she seems to be dead. Aragorn cares for them and he alone can bring them back from death's door because "the hands of the King are the hands of a healer". This is foreshadowed by Faramir, who in the book is injured not by Orc arrows but by getting too close to the flying Nazgul, and also falls into a coma and is healed by Aragorn. Faramir and Eowyn meet and fall in love in the hospital as they recover
Actually, he was injured by both.
And the reason Eowyn was able to kill the Witch King was the stab wound he received from merry from the dagger which he received which was orginally forged by the men (Dunedain) of Arnor/Arthedain which were forged for that purpose
@DanielJJ @kaserkin Oh that’s right, very true. 👍
@@kasrkin519 Yes! "Wound about with spells for the bane of Mordor"
@@kasrkin519 I thought witch king was yoloing around because there was prophecy that no man can kill him. Not literally that no weapon could kill him. Kind of like knowing you have plot armor.
I love it. Maple's the only first time reactor who understood Frodo's burden and pain. Almost everyone I watched vilified Frodo for failing at the last step, forgetting how he carried the burden up until that point.
Tolkien points out in his writings that NONE of the characters in the book had the strength to actually willfully destroy the ring. Not even Sam, who was more resistant to its seduction than anyone.
Yep Frodo carried it as far as he could and that counts for something.
Frodo had PTSD. The Shire does not change but the hobbits are not the same. Tue same feelings as the soldiers have when they come back home.
Makes me think about Tolkien coming home from WWI and finding that almost all his friends are dead.
@@LadyIarConnacht Yes, it is precisely reflective of that fact. Tolkien's war experiences, understandably, had a profound impact on his writings.
@@darinsingleton3553 Yeah. The scene at the end when they're drinking at the bar gets more meaningful knowing Tolkien fought in the WWI, and I'm sure he felt the same after returning.
Yes, but in the Story, he has super-PTSD. Not only has this gentile hearted well-to-do hobbit of 50 years, forced into a war-zone and had to embark on a special-forces type mission without any real training, but the burden of the Ring, and wound of the Morgul blade, damaged his very essence, his soul. To say that he just didn't fit in the Shire anymore is kind of an understatement.
Well, while I'm not saying Frodo does _not_ have PTSD, I just kinda feel like today's almost obsession to label everything with a psychological diagnosis diminishes Tolkien's point which works on a much broader scale. Even without a pathological _disorder_ Tolkien picks up the ages old topic of the impossible return to innocence. Some things you see when looking over the rim of your teacup can't be unseen and make it impossible to go back to being a happy-go-lucky hobbit. It's a topic at least as old as the biblical tree of knowledge. (Likewise, even if Tolkien did not wake up at night from nightmares or had panic attacks, the first-hand experience of what people are capable of doing to each other in two world wars, must have made it very hard to go back to living a normal life and seeing the importance in this weekend's football results. Whether or not you end up with a disorder is an issue separate from the lessons you derive from that life-changing experience. Not every time somebody questions the meaning of fundamental things in life or life itself, it's something that requires treatment.)
I wonder if you all noticed, in The Two Towers, when Smeagol swears 'upon the Precious' to be good, Frodo warns him "The Ring is treacherous. It will hold you to your word." And boy-howdee, didn't it do just that?
obligatory notes: after rosie dies sam also goes to valinor ( he was also briefly a ringbearer) and so does gimli when he's really old together with legolas because they helped mend the broken relation between dwarfs and elves.
obligatory note: "dwarfs" is the correct plural for people with dwarfism or small stars, but "dwarves" is the correct plural for the short, hardy, precious metal and ale obsessed race in middle earth
@@ergopropterhoc really! I didn’t know that they separated the two versions like that. Thank you because I’ll definitely have to keep it in mind.
@@ergopropterhoc sorry, in warhammer short bearded fellas with a lust for precious metals are called dwarfs with just 's' for plural.
@@prettyokandy230 dwarfs is the correct form in every way except lord of the rings because jrr tolkien says dwarfs doesnt make sense and it should be dwarves. i agree tho. dwarfs is wack
One of the key philosophical underpinnings of this story was articulated by Sam earlier -- what makes someone Good is not huge heroic deeds; it's continuing to make the best decision you can in the face of Evil, even if it's not perfect.
It's not the responsibility of Good to vanquish Evil, and often, the attempt to destroy Evil can lead you toward Evil actions (for example, Gandalf saying in Fellowship that he would use the Ring to do good, but through him it would do a terrible evil). But if you can just keep doing the best you can, keep *trying* to do Good, then ultimately, the greed and desire that fuels Evil will ultimately cause it to destroy itself.
The Ring poisoned the minds of both Gollum and Frodo, ultimately causing Frodo to claim the Ring for himself, and because of that, Evil ends up destroying Evil -- Gollum and Frodo fight for it, and the Ring is destroyed in the process.
But that wouldn't have been possible if Frodo and Sam hadn't continuously been making an effort to do Good at every turn.
Actually it was Gandalf who said that...in The Hobbit.
6:45 If you want to know exactly why she and Merry where so badly wounded after fighting the Nazgul you should read the books. Basically the Nazgul infect a deadly disease on everyone who strikes at them - and only Aragorn was able to cure them.
He's able to cure them because of a couple of reasons: he is the King, and "the hands of the King are the hands of a healer". And because he's blood related to Melian the maia, an angelic being of the same order as Gandalf. This is also why Elrond was able to heal Frodo. But Elrond is only a couple of generations removed from Melian, whereas Aragorn is thousands of years removed by relation, so the power is more diluted in him.
@@jimmyboy131 Yeah, it's actually a thing that Aragon and Arwen are related. By a whole lot of grands on his side, but only a parent on her side.
@@telynns8490 - Well, an _uncle,_ but yes, a “parent’s” generation.
@@mena94x3 Yes, that is what I meant, her fathers generation. Aragorn's ancestor was her uncle.
Further, Eowyn was only able to kill the Lord of the Nazgul after Merry wounded him, breaking the spells that protected him from the hands of Men.
In my opinion, Maple's reaction is one of the best. Full of emotion, something I expected seeing her reaction. I must admit that I love watching Maple with her reactions, so please give me more reactions with her
Her reaction most certainly is the best!
Exacto. Aunque debo admitir que también vi otra reaccion en otro canal de otra chica increíble que se llama Magic Magy. Fue épica como esta. I love 💕
@@viajandoencamara1751 yes, Magy's reaction was also so good.
Wow, Alita: Battle Angel? I guess the taste IS like the butt -- divided. Me and a couple of friends laughed throughout that entire movie :-P
I think she'd do a good Braveheart reaction.
sam and frodo are reunited. when sam is very old, he goes to the undying lands as well. all ring bearers get a free ticket
Denethor (Boromir and Faramir's dad) doesn't get the backstory in the film that he gets in the book. In the book, you learn that he has a Palantir (the crystal ball thingy) which he's been using to watch Mordor, but through which Sauron has been filling his mind with doom and despair.
Yeah the movie just makes him a total jerk face. But in the books it's a bit of a sad story of someone trying to use whatever necessary to protect the kingdom he is steward over and uses the wrong tool, it is used to mess with his mind.
Yeah, the books have him as a tragic figure. His will was strong enough to prevent him from being dominated by Sauron (which Sauruman was not).
Book Denethor had a stronger will to resist the palantir than Sauraman. Denethor never turned evil, he just lost hope after losing his wife, son, and seeing the supposed "future" destruction of men in the palantir.
One of the few problems with the movie. Making Denethor a cartoonish villain was more than simply a disservice to his character - Tolkien created three characters who faced apparent doom and responded in different ways - Denethor despaired, Saraman turned to evil, and Theoden hoped against all odds.
yeah, and I dont remember him being such a jerk to Faramir either, I mean its kinda obvious he favours Boromir, but he is not THAT mean to Faramir
The one thing that I heard someone say about this movie was - Everyone wants a friend like Sam but really we should be striving to BE a friend like Sam.
Maple's reaction may be the best LOTR reaction on RUclips. Even with all the tears, watching her watch the films felt very immersive. I have shared the films with friends over the years, and (in my experience) not everyone who has somehow avoided the films this long "gets it" as much as her. And so because her reaction comes so close to that of a die hard fan, it's really endearing. Also, in the books Eowyn and Merry were both dying after the Witch King. The Nazgul infected people with a wasting disease called the "Black Breath" and it was killing them. By the time Eomer found her they thought she was already dead (but Aragorn, as King, has healing powers that saved them, which they so sort of show).
The wound Frodo got on Weathertop would hurt a lot each year on the anniversary of the event, and on that day he would fall into a deep depression, but that wasn't the main reason he had to leave. He gave in to the ring at the end, it got him and he was wounded to the soul from that plus the PTSD fo the whole quest. He could not find peace back home, he couldn't go back to who he was before, so he had to leave. In the undying lands the grace of the Valor would give him peace and heal his heart. That smile he gave boarding the ship was the first smile from him in very many years.
Toward the end when they are all in the Green Dragon (pub) and they just look around and see the safe and quiet world of the shire, it is reminiscent of PTSD. “How do you go back to the way things were when so much bad happened?” It’s a nod to the trauma that WW1 soldiers (Tolkien) had to go through. It’s a beautifully depicted movie through and through and there’s a reason why is one of the most awarded movie franchises of all time.
You don't get it from the movies, but Denethor had access to one of the palantiri and this is what corrupted him. It's also how he was aware of so much of what was happening.
You get only a hint. One of the statues in his hall is holding one in his hand.
@@Telthar Ah! Nice catch. I'll watch for that next time.
Denethor did not have the strength of will to take control of the palantir and could only see what Sauron wanted him to see, thus he fell into despair. However, Aragorn did have the strength and turned the tables of Sauron showing the sword Anduril reforged. I'm glad to hear that Maple plans to read the books.
@@Telthar I never noticed that. But denethor also makes a sly reference to it when he talks to Gandalf the first time. Why they didn’t explain that baffles me.
@@tileux I always think that too. But then I remember just how much they *did* manage to squeeze in. I'm sure it was challenging determining what to include.
Hey, I know this is some time after you recorded this, but I want to say that I appreciate how very emotionally intelligent you are, and that anyone who can appreciate these films and its characters the way you did has my complete respect. Thanks for going on a journey through these wonderful films and taking us with you
Thanks for being here :)
Gandalf and the other wizards were in essence angels from the undying lands. They were sent to middle earth to oppose Sauron. They weren't given human form but they're not human or elf or any other. His mission complete it was time to return to his home. The story of gandalf and the other wizards (this istari) is quite cool and worth youtubing some background lore on.
Sauron and the balrog too are essentially angels but corrupted by Melkor (the first dark Lord and one of the "gods") so they're somewhat on the same "level"
Gandalf returns home, resolute in his mission and victorious against all odds and hope. After I think 3000 years as a man in middle earth slowly and meticulously Influencing middle earth bit by bit towards its eventual triumph.
Thanks for this explanation
Yes. Gandalf, Saruman, Radagast and the two blue Wizards are Maiar, the highest form of being behind Eru Illuvatar (God) and the Valar (Manwe for example is the leader of the Valar and the guy who sends the Eagles). Also Sauron and the Balrog are Maiar but fallen.
Gandalfs Maiar name is Olorin by the way. When you read the Silmarillion you might notice :)
Melkor was renamed "Morgoth" by the elf, Feanor, which is why Gandalf describes the Balrog as "A Balrog of Morgoth" because Morgoth could command them, as the were merely Maia and Morgoth was a Valar and far more powerful than the Maia. (the Valar are immensely powerful beings who assisted Eru (God) when creating the world, and one, Melkor, through his greed, ego and selfish desire for recognition, worked to despoil the creation. The Maiar were essentially workers who assisted the Valar when required and Melkor corrupted more than a few of them.
The best thing about the reaction was Maple's love for Frodo. I feel like most of the other reactors dismiss his role in this and see him as whiny. I know he's very simplified but to not understand his role is just absurd. Frodo is tied as my favorite character with Sam.
I'm 28 and watched these movies when they released. Back in the days I was flabbergasted by the fights scene and it instantly became my all time favorite. Now I'm older and cry for a good half of the movie because it's so deep, and meaningful, and sad, and uplifting and..... I have no words. This day i watched it with you and no words need to be said. just tears of both sadness and happiness.
Same here. I grew up with Lotr but mostly cared for the fights and epic moments, and now that I am 28 y/o, I still love the battles but the teachable moments of LOTR give me tears because they help me when I am down.
When this movie came out, i suffered from serious cabin fever as I was a single parent of a 2 y/o at the time LORT-FOTR came out. Took a risk and took her. She actually sat in place for the whole movie, and she only said "uh ohhhh" when the bucket dropped.. which the entire theatre laughed. She had nightmares of the Balrog for years, and she cried for nearly month for Gandalf. She was raised on LOTR... and the Harry Potter Series. Today at 21 she is trying to get into the film industry.
There is a comedy group called Studio C with a skit " Lord of the Potter". Fans of Harry Potter and LOTR will appreciate their humor.
@@rimasmuliolis1136 - that’s a fun skit.
Good luck to her
🤣Thats a lot to take in for a two year old. Traumatizing. Well, if it should be any movie, at least it was LOTR right?
@@LumenP1023 yes it the first time we went to the movies. Shes 21 today and trying to get into digital arts. She was at San Francisco studying until COVID shut that college down.
I love the statement by Gandalf in Fellowship that "the pity of Bilbo will rule the fates of many" re: Gollum, and it's true, because Sam could've never killed Frodo or thrown him into the Fire. Only Gollum being there at the end, because Bilbo spared his life, allows the Quest to come to its fulfillment.
And then you get that great little dialogue at the end that almost no one ever picks up on where Bilbo asks about the Ring and Frodo says he lost it, and Bilbo says, "Oh. Pity." As in, he's sorry it's gone, but there's the little subtext of, "Oh, right, pity is the reason the Ring was able to be destroyed aka 'lost'."
The books actually had the fight between Eowyn and The Witch King played out differently. Glorfindel (not in the movies) who actually took Frodo to Rivendell(rather than Arwen) had delivered a prophecy that no man could ever kill the Witch King. In the fight, the Witch King challenges Eowyn immediately telling her no man can slay him, at which point she reveals she isn't one (neither is Merry as he is a Halfling) and then they fight. Her revelation unsettles The Witch King.
One of the main themes in The Lord of the Rings is that pity and forgiveness are powerful in their own right. You could argue that Frodo failed because he doesn't have the willpower to destroy the ring, but Gollum being there and "accidentally" falling with the ring was not an accident. Both Bilbo and Frodo had many chances to kill Bilbo, but they didn't, specially Frodo realises what Gollum has been through and he pities him. That's why Frodo didn't fail, indirectly but so importantly.
And then there's the theme about not being able to live normally after traumatic experiences: Tolkien fought in World War 1 and I think he wanted to make a statement on feelings that he himself knew. Bilbo and Frodo had the rings for many years, and it left a deep scar in both of them, a scar that wouldn't heal, even if they wouldn't have ended up like Gollum. The Valar, the divine beings of Tolkien's world, recognise the incredible hardship that Bilbo and Frodo had been through and offer a trip to Valinor, a sacred, heaven-like continent where the elves of Middle Earth go when they become too weary of their immortal existence, and Valinor is the only place where Bilbo and Frodo can find true healing and solace. But in the book's appendixes, Sam, after living a long life with his family is also affected by the ring, because he was, for a short time, carrying the ring himself, and he too is allowed to travel to Valinor at the end of his life.
@Jim Henderson True, it was a typo, thank you for pointing it out! I'll correct it.
The hands of the king are hands of the healer is a great part of the books.
Its Tolkiens take on Jesus and his return as a king... with healing hands...
Love that!
@@robertbretschneider765
I guess that there is some aspect of messianic figure - or Jesus if you like - in every one of Jackson's triad of heroes. Apart from my (long) reasoning based on european myths that Jackson's movies (all 6 of them) are full of archetypal, Indoeuropean triad of Dumezil (it was triad of values and classes of society represented in myths by different gods and heroes - a French anthropologist George Dumezil pointed it as the main sructure of all Indoeuropean cultures), Gandalf, Aragorn and Frodo each got one of aspects of messianic figure. They are saviours.
If we separate mythical hero in 3 roles or the "messianic type" of hero in 3 aspects we can see that the film done it too :
+ Gandalf was "teaching Sage"
and the first aspect of "messianic figure", the one who plans and inspires. In myths and fairytales this aspect is represented by prophets, sages, wizards and mages.
It is also 1th function of Dumezilian triad of heroes (gods/classes/virtues)
+ Aragorn was "judging King"
and the leader of "heavenly hosts" and the second aspect of this "messianic figure". In myths and fairytales this aspect is represented by kings, warrior-kings or judges. Or the kings who seek justice and truth.
Its also 2d function of Dumezilian triad of heroes (gods/classes/virtues)
+ Frodo was "suffering Servant"
in the aspects of "messianic figure". In myths and fairytales this aspect is represented by "youngest brothers", peasants, farmers, heroes like Galahad - innocent and sanctified but also most defenceless of the triad.
Its also the 3d function of Dumezilian triad of heroes (gods/classes/virtues).
As we consider the Indoeuropean triad we can assume that every aspect of it represents not only one type of heroes, and not only one type of values of society but also one type of psychological needs of our minds.
+ The first need of our psyche is the need of Sense.
Of plan. Of focus. Of purpose.
This need is created and exploited by the heroes of 1th level of the Triad. The heroes of higher mind, of plan-makers and teachers and inspirational to others. Like Gandalf. Who was basicaly an angelic messanger. And the steward of gods in mortal land.
Its the "heaven aspect" of the Indoeuropean Triad of values.
+ The second need of our psyche is the need of Truth.
But also the need of Justice. They are connected. Or even intertwined.
Becouse - as I found - in cultures rooted in indoeuropean mindset the seek of Truth is neccesary before the execusion of Justice. There is no chance of Justice if we dont find what was true - for example in any legal procedure. Thats why the heroes of 2d level are judges or warriors and kings who care for seeking truth and then executing justice. Aragorn as king is the "seek of justice" impersonated. That is why his sentence in Beregond's case - a soldier of the tower guard - is so just and merciful. This need is created and exploited by the charachters of kings-judges or warriors who seek truth. In popculture the main figure of 2d Dumezilian function is in many of our TV series - its the policeman or detective - equipped with warrior skills and with the need to seek the truth in order to deliver justice.
Its the "hero aspect" of Indoeuropean Triad of values.
+ The third need of our psyche is the need of Beauty.
But it means also Harmony and Wellbeing.
Its the "happiness aspect" of Indoeuropean Triad of values.
This need is created and exploited by the charachters of farmers, gardeners and all kinds of heroes who connect us with "that which grows". And with "good tilled earth." These type of heroes represent harmony with nature, vitality, longevity, peace, family so generaly all aspects of wellbeing. There is much room here for our heroes of the Shire. As the Shire is such place of harmony, wellbeing and beauty.
Harmony becouse its utopian place of peace without strife for "power and riches" (and in film adaptation even more than in the book),
Wellbeing becouse its the place of plenty, big families and happy children.
Beauty becouse all citizens are in charge of expanding the beauty of the Shire. :) In mythologies 3d function of Dumezilian triad is often "operated" by twin brothers (gods or heroes), who protect the peasants, and the nature, and the families. So we got here Frodo and Sam - not twins but ultimate brothers who care for their green land.
And that is the reason for my guess that Jackson's filmmakers gave us these archetypes as different ages - old, middleaged and young - which was not something obvious in Tolkien's novel.
Anyone felt that there is a strange order in the depictions of Jackson’s heroes? IMO they are this kind of triad. The mind, the will, and the heart. The protectors of the Earth. :)
@@robertbretschneider765 "Its Tolkiens take on Jesus " - yes, possibly a religious metaphor. But Tolkien is also being a monarchist, putting forward the idea that people need a king, and that kings have divine right to be what they are, kings.
@@TheDanEdwards Even though god initially was completely against it when his people wanted a king for themselves like all the other nations.... because he was their true king after all. He warned them that a king might get bad ideas about forcing them under his command.
Faramir, Eowyn and Merry were all afflicted by the "Black Breath" which only Aragorn could heal. All three of them had contact with the Nazgul in person. The hands of the King are the hands of a healer. They were all close to death and being taken by Sauron but Aragorn was able to save them just in time. So it wasn't actually a fake out, it just wasn't explained at all in the film.
Not so. In the chapter in the Return of the King "The Houses of Healing" Aragorn states that he wished Elrond was there, for he was the Eldest of his Line and had the greater power.
@@Elurin Was Elrond there? NO. So who was the ONLY one in the area that could save them? Aragorn. Quit trying to be superior using semantics. It's ugly.
@@booboo8577 Oh, don't be silly! Of course Elrond wasn't there! You said only Aragorn could heal the black breath, I corrected you. Not in the Least, trying to be superior, but you need to be more precise in your English. I mean, really!, no need to get bent out of shape!
Holy shit, I just finished the whole reaction, and you made me feel as if I was watching it for the first time again. Thank You so much for giving that feeling again. You made me cry with you so much. I need a moment too.
When Merry and Eowyn strike the witch king they are wounded by the Black Breath, like the evil in him was conducted through their weapon into their own arm. Merry was only affected a little but Eowyn was deeply hurt by it and would have died from it had Aragon not known how to heal her.
Watch the bonus features from all of the movies. They're insanely long but it's all so good and it's a great way to relive the movies.
One of the big discussions is about how Tolkien based so much of this on his experiences fighting World War I. All of his buddies from the town he grew up in were all in the same unit, and they pretty much all died in the war. A lot of the dialogue in the battles and when Frodo is hopeless and Sam is trying to support him and "the end of all things" discussion on the rocky outcropping with the lava flowing by them... All based on his memories of being in the literal trenches of World War I with the friends he grew up with.
What stands out to me as the journey progresses, is the Strength of Aragorn to rise above the weakness of his ancestors and become the king the everyone needs to lead us this battle against the forces of darkness. If Aragorn doesn't venture into that mountain cave and faces an army of tormented ghosts. There would be no chance of victory at Minus Therit or Helms Deep. Aragorn was also pushed by Lord Elron and Arawen to fulfill his destiny.
Lord of the Rings literally changed my life. Tolkien was there for me in the darkest times in my youth. One could say it's a light in dark places when all other lights go out. Never be ashamed of crying over this movie. It's a story filled with moral, spirit, heart and emotion and it should be felt and experienced. The fact you did feel it is beautiful. Wonderful reaction.
Love Gandalf’s riff on Churchill’s WWII speech;
The Battle of France is over: the Battle of Britain is about to begin
The Battle of Helms Deep is over. The Battle for Middle Earth is about to begin
I'm glad you mention Gollum, and the fact that Frodo claimed the ring and would have failed.. if not for Gollum. Could any ring bearer throw it in willingly?
What Gandalf told Frodo in Moria... 'Gollum may still have a part to play'.
At the end, Sam's daughter that he picks up, is the actual daughter of Sean Astin, the actor who plays Sam. When Legolas finally takes his trip to Valinor, Gimli is given special dispensation to accompany him, they're friends for eternity.
A few comments:
- Remember what Gandalf said to Frodo in Moria in “Fellowship” about Gollum (paraphrasing)?: “Do not be so quick to deal out death and judgment! Even the very wise cannot see all ends. My heart tells me that Gollum has some part to play yet, for good or I’ll. Before this is over, the pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many.” At the end, if there was no Gollum, all would have been lost.
- this gets overlooked by most folks, but did you notice how Treebeard addressed Gandalf when he and Aragorn/Legolas/Gimli arrived at the now-destroyed Isengard?: “Young Master Gandalf!” Think about that. Gandalf was like 2,000 years old at the time of the events in LOTR (even older as a Maia). How freaking old was Treebeard?
- the reason the Three Rings for the Elves did not corrupt wearers is because they were never touched by Sauron. The Nine were given out to men by Sauron (as the fair Annatar, Lord of Gifts). Most of the Dwarf Rings were either consumed by dragons or recovered by Sauron.
Read the “Silmarillion” if you really want to get lost in Middle Earth and it’s history.
Yes, Treebeard is known as the Eldest (although there's some debate as to whether he or Tom Bombadil was older, but that's not really relevant) and in that context a "mere" 2,000 years in Middle Earth is nothing - although of course, Gandalf's Maia form, Olorin, was there since before the beginning of Arda. Actually, there were a few people much older than "Gandalf" - Elrond refers to having been there 3,000 years ago when Isildur failed, but next to Celeborn and Galadriel even he is just a youngster.
Back to the first point you made, I think it was critical that Gandalf/Olorin was who he was. Olorin spent a lot of time learning from the Vala Nienna, the Lady of Mercy, Grief and Pity. As her greatest pupil, he was able to transfer those lessons of wisdom to those he met, including memorably in this scene to Frodo re: Gollum.
"you just sat and watched me" - yeah, but through about as many tears as you were shedding. Thank you for sharing the heartache and joy that is the last half hour of that film with me through your reaction. Namarie!
3:57
And the only reason Gollum was alive was because Bilbo took pity on him and let him live back during The Hobbit. One single act of kindness saved the world.
Every single act of kindness in this movie saved the world actually. Even ones offscreen, like Aragorn healing Faramir, Eowyn and Merry.
Read the books, and seriously, watch the behind the scenes stuff for the movies, they'll make you like the movies even more.
The appendices for the books are great too.
I'd like to read the books, bur I've heard that if you watch the movies first the books will kind of take away from the movies. And, the movies are master pieces in my mind
@@johnstewart7920 I read the books after I've watched the movies. I still think the movies are perfect! I understand that theres just so much in the books, but they've done the best that they possibly could to adapt it into film. I love the books and I love the films, reading the books just made me appreciate the decisions they made and things they changed to better translate the story into film. I just love how they still made the movies so in-tune with the books even though they're a bit different. The essence of Tolkien's writing flows through the movies and I'm always in awe that Peter Jackson and the crew understood it so perfectly.
Tldr: Reading the books just made me appreciate the films more! I wouldn't change the films if I could.
Sauron lost the ring by having his finger forcibly removed, and so too did Frodo lose the ring in the same way.. kind of interesting. when there is some evil in your life, it can become an addiction. You know you need to destroy it, but you don't have the strength to do it alone.
Maple, it takes great strength to be vulnerable on video; Just realize that there were many that cried along with you! Thank you for baring your soul.
Well said. I couldn't do it.
In the book, Frodo and Gollum don't fight over the ring after Frodo's finger is bitten off. Instead, Gollum slips and falls into the volcano while he's dancing with joy, but Peter Jackson didn't think that was dramatic enough
And Tolkien's point was missed.
the prophesy about the end of Which-king was spoken by Glorfindel (an important ancient elf from the book) and it was about that he can not be killed by any man or any human, so to full the prophesy there was need of a lady and a halfling.
I’m a grown man who loves football and hockey and who plays rock and roll on the drums and eats burgers and tells fart jokes. I cry every time I watch this movie.
Edit: lol someone else already said this.
The books explore this more, but Denethor had one of the 7 palantirs. He used it and looked at Mordor and Sauron’s forces (which is hinted at when he asks Gandalf if he thought the eyes of the white tower were blind). Sauron perceived him spying on him and poisoned his mind over time, the same way Saruman was poisoned
Sam is the true hero of this film I think the world would be a better place if everybody had a friend like Sam.
Also if everyone tried to be a friend like Sam
Even Tolkien admitted that Sam was the true hero.
@@CJR-wv8kc too true mate.
I would be happy to be a Sam ❤️
Sam is the MVP, but let's get real. The MIP award goes to the one who really punched above their weight: the Moth
Since we're talking about what these books mean to us...my dad loved stories and books, especially fantasy and sci-fi. But he was blind. This was before audiobooks could just be downloaded on your phone too, so he would have "books on tape" mailed to him by "the library for the blind," and I remember his reading machine, which was really just a cassette player that let him adjust the speed. He would sit in his chair and listen, and I could usually hear it even if he had headphones on if I tried. But whenever we went on long drives, my parents would play audio books in the car for us and it kept me and my siblings quiet because we all just devoured those stories too. And The Hobbit/Lord of the Rings was our favorite.
Also, there's the fact that my brother is incredibly smart, and taught himself to read when he was 3. So when I was about that age, he dropped a copy of "The Hobbit" in front of me, and said "It's high time you learned to read." (Spoiler alert: it wasn't as simple as he thought it would be to teach me, lol).
Bottom line: LotR, to me, is something I associate with my childhood and my family
Saw ROTK 3 times in the theater, every time with a packed audience. You knew when you were watching it you were seeing cinematic history. There wasn’t anything like it again for 15 years, with infinity war and endgame. Great stuff, a very rare thing.
The more I watch these movies the more I appreciate the little things. Pippin’s «Edge of night» is so beautiful and is a big highlight. Also, as sad as Frodo’s departure is, his smile before he goes, makes my heart whole again. When I watched this moment the first time, I wanted Frodo to stay. I am much older now and I realize that I wanted him to stay because of me. Now I see why he has to go with the elves.
The tune was written by Billy who actually plays Pippin and he sings it as well! Lyrics are from Tolkien.
The Mouth of Sauron was played by the great New Zealand character actor Bruce Spence, who spent most of his career working in Australia. Besides The Lord of the Rings, other major film series he was in are Mad Max, Star Wars, The Matrix, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Chronicles of Narnia as well as Finding Nemo and Ace Ventura. Somebody really needs to cast him in the MCU.
As always your reaction also moved me to tears. I was read this story when I was 10 and that was 65 years ago, soon after it was published. I have to say that it has influenced my whole life; trying to be a true friend like Sam, a leader like Aragorn, courageous like Gimli, and especially his and Legolas's rapprochement as former enemies. Particularly recognizing the higher qualities of wisdom and patience that Gandalf reflected and how important those are. I hope you will react to the Hobbit movies, it really is a great backstory, and seeing or reading it I think you will find it generally more whimsical since Tolkien wrote it first, for his own children. Thanks again for your sweet and honest reaction. Cheers!
Hope You will watch The Hobbit Trilogy if you haven't seen them. There are fun films too.
I bow to you, Nemesis Gray Helm, I am a mere lad of 71. I first read the books when I was 13. I was going through some really bad times (bad family stuff) and saw myself in Frodo -- "I wish none of this had ever happened". Like you, the books influenced me greatly and got me through bad times. Funny thing is that for many years, I wished they could make a movie of it, but it would be impossible. I was so wrong!
"I am wounded with blade and sting and tooth." (Maybe not the exact quote, but as best as I can remember it.)
Yes, read the books!
I read the books and watch the movies every couple of years but I'm always amazed at the stuff I still learn from reading the comments.
Now that you are through, I can drop a spoiler that the Wizards (Istari) are not just wise old men who had learned the ways of magic through long and arcane study, but were incarnate Maiar (angels). They were sent to Middle-earth by the Valar (archangels/powers who men called small 'g' gods) to contest the will of Sauron to dominate the world. They were clothed in the bodies of men, seemingly aged, yet still vigorous. Their mission was to advise the free peoples with wise council; not to dominate them through displays of power nor to directly challenge Sauron. However, they were also subject to the temptations and weariness of the world and of the five, only Gandalf remained true to his mission. Few in Middle-earth knew the true nature of the Wizards, save perhaps a few of the Elves (probably Cirdan the Shipwright (who had met Gandalf, Sauruman, and Radagast when they arrived at the Grey Havens), possibly Lady Galadriel, and maybe Lord Elrond). Sauron was also a Maiar, but without the constraints placed upon the Wizards by the Valar.
May I recommend that you watch the extensive behind the scenes material on the discs, awesome in and of themselves.
Those making of disks had my heart beating as hard as the movie! How they ever pulled it off just is just incredible. Down to the literal last moments.
Going to the "undying lands" is basically like going to heaven. And the only place where a ringbearer such as Frodo could find peace. That is how heavy the burden of carrying the ring is like. The fact that he could resist its temptations for so long and in the face of everything he went through, speaks such volumes of his character. Gandalf was basically the enemy of Sauron, send to middle-earth to defeat him. So when Sauron was finally destroyed, he was without purpose and thus returned to the undying lands with the elves, where he too could find rest and peace.
Edit: Also, let's not forget that Gandalf basically called Smeagol/Gollums role from the first movie. What a G.
"Go live in Portland"
All this time, I've been living in Mordor-lite.
This story isn't a story of good overcoming evil, it is evil foiling itself.
Without Gollum's need for the Ring no chasing after Frodo and Sam, no guiding them through Emyn Muil, no stopping them from getting through the blackgate, no using the pass of Cirith Ungol (Shelob), no final struggle and biting his finger off.
It is also why the doorway isn't guarded, because the Ring will overcome any will Within Mt. Doom.
The actor who played Sam used his real daughter to play his daughter in the movie. The little girl that ran to him when he returned home from sending Frodo off.
And the little boy is the son of the actress that played Rosie.
@@ronweber1402 Actually the little boy is a girl she is the daughter of Sarah (Rosie)😃
Tolkien himself admitted he cried over his own book. So relax, nothing's wrong. 'I will not say "don't weep", for not all tears are an evil.' That amount of tissue is very respectable.
Just so you know, after Rosie passes and their children are successful, Sam also sails to the West to meet Frodo again.
On Denethor, as shown in the book, he had a _palantír_ with which, in his pride, he tried to mentally battle Sauron, and essentially went insane.
On reading the LotR I strongly recommend you do. You may want to start with The Hobbit, which is a lovely children's book, to warm you up a little, but you can also start with the LotR, as I did.
The Hobbit (book) came out first and then Lord of the Rings. These books became the basic stories of other fantasy books and movies. I use to watch the animated movie of the Hobbit. Television would show it every year in November.
These movies are so amazing, I think, because they understand so well a theme that's so central to the work they're adapting: namely the immeasurable value of the small, unassuming shreds of goodness, and sincere gentleness, love and hope that exist in the world and how the beauty of those things can help people to persevere through even the bleakest of circumstances. "A light in darkness, when all other lights go out."
They get that the point of the story isn't the grandness of the battles or the drama of the war, but the value of the overlooked bonds and acts of genuine love and hope for which these things merely form a dramatic backdrop. That, amidst all the horribleness: "there's still some good left in this world, and it's worth fightin' for" - and that that goodness isn't found in the false promises of glory or power or prestige (such as the Ring might offer you) but in love and fellowship, deep and sincere.
'Gollum's Song' by Emiliano Torrini:
Where once was light
Now darkness falls
Where once was love
Love is no more
Don't say goodbye
Don't say, I didn't try...
These tears we cry
Are falling rain
For all the lies
You told us
The hurt, the blame!
And we will weep
To be so alone
We are lost!
We can never go home
So in the end
I will be, what I will be
No loyal friend
Was ever there for me
Now we say, goodbye
We say, you didn't try
These tears you cry
Have come too late
Take back the lies
The hurt, the blame!
And you will weep
When you face the end alone
You are lost!
You can never go home
You are lost!
You can never go home.
These movies are the only flawless movies ever made. The fact that they filmed a live action 12-hour epic, without missing a single beat is astonishing to me. And it tops it all of with some of the most incredible moral lessons I’ve ever seen in any story. Friendship, honor, sacrifice, duty, redemption, hope, and courage. FFS its just so emotionally charged. It’s one of those movies that makes people better for watching it. Thank you for taking us with you for your first time. I’d give a great deal to be able to watch these with fresh eyes, and what you have done is as close to that as I can get. Your reaction was so pure and so connected, it was incredible to witness.
Denethor acted out of despair. He had been "conned" by Sauron (using a palantir) into believing that all was doomed. This is why he shouted for everyone to "abandon their posts" because he believed that their was no winning. One could even argue, perverse as it might seem, that his burning of Faramir was an act of love. An attempt at sparing his son from the horrors that were to come.
He was trying to finish his bloodline on his terms not that of Mordor's
Frodo never fully healed from his wounds, which means he could never stay happy in Middle-Earth. He, Gandalf, Bilbo, and the rest are going to the undying lands (Elf heaven essentially), where mortal beings usually aren't allowed. An exception is made for Frodo and Bilbo because they were ring bearers. In the appendices we learn that Sam becomes mayor of the Shire and lives a long and happy life. After his wife dies, he also sails west to the undying lands because he was briefly a ring bearer. So Frodo and Sam do meet again. Merry and Pippin spend their days with Aragorn in Gondor, and when they die they are buried next to Aragorn's grave. Legolas and Gimli remain friends, and their friendship heals the rift between Dwarf and Elf. When they reach their end, they also sail to the undying lands together. It's a massive honor for Gimli, being a dwarf, and never a ring bearer. Once they leave, the fellowship is gone from Middle Earth forever.
Denethor was a very complex character in LOTR he'd been fighting a losing battle for decades & what made it worse is he had a Palantir [ a seeing stone ] which Sauron had been showing him Gondor's downfall destroying any hope he had
In the book Gollum knows that if the ring is destroyed he will immediately crumble into dust. The ring has kept him alive for so long past his normal lifespan that he cannot survive its destruction for a second. It's much worse than Bilbo who had the ring for only 60 years but starts ageing as soon as he discards it and is at the point of death a year later.
This is one reason Gollum is frantic to save the ring from being thrown into the fire.
This is also the reason why the Nazgul disintegrated when the ring was destroyed. The One Ring controlled the other rings and its link to them meant that when it was destroyed the other rings lost their power. The Nazgul had been held together by their rings for thousands of years so they would have vaporised in an instant.
I can never listen to “The Grey Havens” and *not* cry. It is a modern masterpiece.
I think the thing about the ring in Mount Doom is that it is utterly impossible to let go of the ring in that particular place. It requires intervention in some way for it to be dropped in the fire. People (not you) give Frodo a hard time for not just letting it go, but it was simply not possible.
Since LotR has many allegorical references to the Bible (Tolkien himself being Catholic and even converted CS Lewis to Christianity), I think the impossibility of dropping the ring is symbolic of the impossibility to let go of our own sins and burdens, and that it requires intervention. It perhaps required for someone to actually die with the ring, much like how Christ died bearing the sins and burdens of His followers. This could easily be interpreted in many ways, but I think it is consistent with Tolkien’s worldview.
Loved your reaction and that you got to experience this masterpiece of a trilogy!
Its utterly impossible too let the ring go basically everywhere.
The ring is sub-concious and uses your desire against you that you think, you can only achieve it with him.
If its necessary it grasps harder, but it also can do it slow.
And it depends how strong your attachements are.
That frodo(and bilbo) could wear it this long is quite unique.
@@seimen4348 totally agree!
Okay with all of this except the claim that LotR contains allegory. Tolkien flatly denied this. He wasn't a fan of allegory. If you change it to applicability(Tolkien's preferred term) references...
@@Telthar that’s fine, I mean to use “allegory” for that exact reason, but it undoubtedly has many symbolic themes drawn from Scripture.
@@CarrotHawk Allegory usually means direct, obvious parallels, like CS Lewis Chronicles of Narnia are Very allegorical, (spoiler ALERT) Aslan IS Jesus Christ, for example. But in LotR, elements of Christ's character can be seen in Gandalf, Aragorn, and Frodo.
Even after 30+ watches, I still can’t hold back the tears when everyone bows to the hobbits.
Something that is usually missed when people talk about the destruction of the ring is that the story is not driven by the plot, but rather, it is driven by character and theme. The thing that destroys the ring, or at least sends it over the edge, is the corruption of the ring itself. The very greed that corrupts the ring bearers and is the ring’s secret weapon, is precisely what lays it low. In this, Tolkien can be heard telling us that evil is self defeating. That said, the ring does not dissolve fully into the magma until Frodo and Sam re-affirm their love and devotion for one another by saving each other. It’s almost as if the act of joining hands is really the act that destroys the ring, every bit as much as the magma does.
It is absolutely beautiful.
The ghost army wouldn’t have helped them at the Black Gate if Aragorn refused to release them at Pelennor anyway.
In the books, they don’t even turn up at Pelennor, they just help capture the boats and are then released.
With the Witch King in the books, it was never the case of a man can’t kill him. It was a prophecy spoken by Glorfindel, that a man ‘won’t’ kill him, rather than can’t
There are scenes/speeches that get me crying just by thinking about them.
In the book Eowyn is poisoned by her contact with the Witch King and is at the point of death - and looks dead when Eomer finds her. Even though Aragorn partially brings her back, she is still dying, having lost all hope, until she finds Faramir.
It's not explained but Merry's dagger came from a barrow-wights barrow and was forged during the wars with Angmar and had spells cast on it that allowed it to damage the witch king of Angmar. It also made him "mortal" so to speak.
In the books there's one more battle after the ring is destroyed and Aragorn is crowned king.
When they get back to the Shire they discover it has been taken over by evil men, so Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pip have to lead the Hobbits of the Shire in a rebellion against them to retake their land.
Taken over and run by sorumon and wormtounge
I understand why it was cut (would have added like 45 more minutes to the film) but I feel like getting rid of the Scouring of the Shire sort of lessens the impact of the films. in the books it's to show the reality that Tolkien learned after he came home from WWI: Nothing escapes the horrors of war, not even the pristine land you grew up in or the people you fight to protect.
Tolkien modeled Orthanc and Saruman's Scouring after the big industrial factories that went up through the English countryside when he was a boy. He deeply loved nature and hated the modernization that he felt ruined the connection with the land itself that all people ought to have. At least in his stories, the Forest gets a chance to fight back.
It's not explained because they cut Tom Bombadil from the movies so Old Man Willow was moved to Fangorn ( I appreciated that) but the barrow wights were also cut.
The Army of the Dead isn't a plot hole in the book because they can't actually affect anything physically, their effect is through terror, so Aragorn uses them to take the ships (he has more people with him)
You are completely right. But unfortunately, the depiction of them in the movie was a little disappointing, even though I understand why they decided to implement them in this way. So the battle is technically won by this undestroyable deus ex machina and not because Aragorn unites the southern regions of Gondor in using the ghosts against mainly human foes.
@@christianmayer7432 Jackson is a idiot. For a lot of people over 12..this was the cringe point of the movies. Made it seem like Tolkien was cheap. I much prefer the book version.
@@jallakka7149 Nah, not an idiot. In the book the Oathbreakers were invisible and their primary weapon was causing fear. They had a whole, well-known history where their reputation preceded them. That's easy to describe in a book but so hard to show in an epic tale like this.
There's zero way they could've shown the whole side-quest that took a week in the book, or shown how just knowing the army of the dead was marching with Aragorn cleared a path for them, or taken the time to show how most of the Haradrim and the Corsairs noped out of there because basically, they were scared of ghosts. Just telling all the parts of the story they did in the extended edition took 4 hours.
I mean, in the book, they Deus Ex Machina-ed the enemy's reinforcements anyway with a big ole "Boo!". Without them they would've lost the whole war, per the book. So why not combine all that in the Battle at Pelennor Fields - make them visible and show them conquering the enemy?
@@lunacouer I understand your point. I'm stating that a lot adults were turn off by that scene. If you disagree good on ya.
@@jallakka7149 Fair. I'm just not sure how else Peter and Fran could've squished all that down other than how they did.
The film did not have time to give Denethor's story. In the book Denethor has a Palantir (crystal ball) that Sauron tries to use to corrupt him. Denethor is more resilient to the palantir than even Sauraman was, but the palatir takes a toll on him. Denethor's story is more tragic from the books perspective.
Combine the palantir with losing his wife and Boromir, and what appears to be a defeat at Minas Tirith make him lose all hope.
The slaying of the witch King has more depth than the films. In the book the hobbits are given ancient daggers from a tomb from the 1st age after a passage in book 1 through the barrow downs. They're special as they were forged and imbued with magic against weights somewhat.
In that first age, an elf called glorfindel (doesn't feature in the films but is the one who takes frodo after he's stabbed to rivendell, not arwen) he is the one who makes the prophecy no man will kill him.
The dagger stab by Merry seems to break some protection of the witch King, and eowen gives the finishing blow. Neither are man or men and the prophecy is complete.
The act poisons the two of them basically, which Aragorn uniquely heals.
About Denethor and the way he acted in general. The thing not shown or said in the films is that he also had a Palantir and was corrupted by Sauron for many years. In the books he doesn't run through the city to jump off while on fire but burns on his pyre while holding his Palantir. His is also a sad tale.
There is a lot in the books that they left out or just hinted at, it would be well worth it to read them.
Definitely one of the best reactions I've seen. Feels good to see people feel these movies as I have felt them. I always get a little teary eyed reliving them with reactors lol.
Maple, I know you love the friendship between Frodo and Sam. I know it will break your soul when Frodo sends him away after being manipulated by Gollum and the darkness of the ring. It's just so heartbreaking. I have had friends send me away when I was telling them the tough truth. It's heartbreaking for sure, but you have to trust that time will heal the wounds and have them come back to you with love and care. Gosh, this movie gets me every time. GODDAMNIT.
You are a true friend. 😘
"Will"? She's already seen it.
What was the deal with Faramir's dad?
Why has he been so frightened and such a psyco?
Well, they just did not have the time to explain everything on the movie. But it makes sense in the book, so... Here is the background:
I'm sure you remember the seeing stone that Pipin just wanted to look at... At the beginning of the movie. That's called a Palanthir. You even might remember that Saruman showed the Palanthir to Gandalf, in the first movie. Gandalf hasitates to use it, and he tells Saruman "We don't know where the other seeing stones are. We don't know who else is watching."
It turns out that the dark lord got a Palanthir for himself. And everyone who looks into a Palanthir will be connected directly to Sauron, because of that.
Well, Denethor - Faramir's father and the Stewart of Gondor - is in possession of a seeing stone, too!
And he's using his Palanthir for decades to find out about Sauron's plans.
But the dark lord is aware of that hes been spied on. So he turns the tables. He presents lies and lies about the strength of Mordor to denethor. And by that he poisons his mind.
The Denethor, whom we meet in the movies is already totally manipulated by Sauron. Weakened by decades of spyonage and mental fights against an overpowered enemy.
So, Denethor had an Palanthir for himself. And it turned him mad.
Out of all the LOTR reaciton videos, it seems she actually understands the characters! Even Denethor, which NOBODY from my experience watching, does
Get the audio versions of the book done by Andy Serkis. Amazing, can listen walking, running, sitting, or whatever. He does an amazing job.
There is a bit in the book that I did not understand at first. At the Black Gate, just after the ring is destroyed, Gandalf summons Gwaihir the lord of the eagles and asks him to help pick up Frodo and Sam. Gandalf states that Gwaihir will find him a lite burden. Bear in mind, Gwaihir himself is a servant of the Valar and was rather - cranky - in the past when ask to assist Gandalf. But now Gandalf has finished his task (deal with Sauron). And Gwaihir replies, "I would bear you wither you will, were you made of stone".
I have watched this movie over 200 times over a decade and a half and it still gets me everytime.
I remember, when I was kid like 11year old and saw first movie at home. Then I read first 2 books and after I finished that second, there was 3. movie in cinemas, so I was like 12 at premiere. I never enjoyed anything more like that movie and I think, there will be nothing better in my life. But one funny thing is, I didnt cried at that time. But now I am almost 30 year old and last years I always cry, when I am watching this movie.
Truly one of those works that will go down in the canon of human story telling for all time, up there with the Iliad, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, etc...
6:40 - Eowyn and Merry almost dying wasn't a fake out. They were mortally wounded, from the battle, but also from stabbing the witch-king, which isn't something you do without consequences. Eowyn could only be pulled back from the brink of death by Aragorn, because he has healing powers as king of Gondor.
they dont explain any of that in the movie so in the book maybe its less of a fake out but in the movie its a fake out
Sure, I was just giving some background.
In the books, long after the war, it’s said that Merry and Pippin spent their twilight years in Rohan and Gondor respectively, and when they passed away they were laid to rest among the Kings of Gondor in Minas Tirith, both set right next to Aragorn for their services.