karohemd: by LJ user gothindulgence (Default)
[personal profile] karohemd
Just saw it for the second time and am still utterly in awe.

Big advantage this time: big screen and prime seat (in the first row up from the aisle, no seats in front and railing to put feet on). It's been running for almost a month now and Screen 7 was still fully booked.
An observation about the audience: I was amazed to see so many middle-aged and even older people there (at least 10, 15 were retirement age), I felt young for a change. Hm, most likely people who read the book when it first came out in the fifties...

Anyway, back to the film:
- Elrond: I tried to blank my mind and wait objectively for him to come on but as soon as he started speaking, I thought he'd say "Welcome to Rivendell, Mr. Anderson." It gets better later but some expressions are just so Agent Smith.
- Gimli: I again couldn't see it properly, but unless he had two axes to start with, he suddenly has a new axe when he swears allegiance to Frodo after his first one shattered.
- Second time round, the cave troll and the Balrog look pretty dodgy CGI wise, the Balrog is still the better, though, and it has style and atmosphere.
- In the fight scene against the Uruk-hai on Amon Hen, Legolas shoots an arrow every other second. His fighting style with the two short swords still rocks and he moves like an Elf should, the most obvious of this is not sinking into the snow on Carathras.
- To my German friends who might read this: Already the first time round I had to think of Fernet Branca when Gandalf is rescued by Gwaihir. ;o)
- Sean Bean as Boromir is the best cast, followed by Ian McKellen and Christopher Lee.
- Where the hell does Bill the pony suddenly come from at the gate of Moria? When Frodo and Sam set out, it's not with them.
- IIRC, Aragorn shouldn't really use a sword until Rivendell because he has the shards of Narsil in his scabbard. Again, this is IIRC. I so need to read it again.
- The sets, the scenery, all the costumes, armour and weapons are just perfect. The Elven blades are elegant but look decidedly lethal, The Orc weapons are rough and brutal etc.
- The battle scenes are great especially the flashback at the beginning with the first row in the Elven army with their halberds (or whatever they are).

Right, time to watch it again until some other must see movie comes along, Ice Age most likely.

Date: 10/1/02 06:18 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kingnat.livejournal.com
the axe he grabs to smash the ring is in fact the axe of the dwarf next to him (it's probably his axe, but an axebearer)

Nowhere does it say that Aragorn has only one sword. I'm pretty sure that the book mentioned him fighting avec sword. Not the broken blade, but with a sword none the less. after all, what sort of idiot goes out armed only with a broken sword?

I am the ubergeek

Date: 10/1/02 09:32 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] susanofstohelit.livejournal.com
So having nothing better to do I looked through LotR for quotes about strider and swords. On page 187 "Throwing back his cloak, he laid his hand on the hilt of a sword that had hung concealed by his side." and on 188 "He drew out his sword, and they saw that the blade was indeed broken a foot below the hilt. 'Not much use is it, Sam?' said Strider. 'But the time is near when it shall be forged anew.'" On page 296 (of the Tolkein's Birthday edition) itsays "Aragorn had Anduril butno other weapon, and he went forth clad only in rusty green and brown, as a Ranger of the wilderness."

So... far's I can tell, both before and after Rivendell the only references are to 'his sword'. I thought I remembered a part where it said he carried two sword at the Prancing Pony, but if it's there I couldn't find it. So my supposition is that perhaps he only carries the Sword That Was Broken.

And I think Gimli had two axes during the council.

elfies kicking off

Date: 11/1/02 02:13 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] raggedyman.livejournal.com
Legolas does fire off and arrow about every 2 seconds, however he dosnt 'cheat'. Those are full loads, draws and aims: no corners are cut and no movements are missed out. Its just done exceptionaly fast and with deadly accuracy, like you'd expect from an elf archer. The one to really watch is the Uruk-hai, that guy is a near perfect skirmishing archer, positioning and tactics wise, which is not something you see much in the movies. Whilst Legolas is good in technique he does suffer 'hero syndrome' and stand there like a very hitable lemon.

And with regards to casting: Christopher Lee is perfect for any roll

Re: elfies kicking off

Date: 11/1/02 02:31 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jonnyargles.livejournal.com
He'd make a pretty poor Barmin Butterbur, I reckon.

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