hidden bits

[Harad]

Careful analysis of the "Scarecrow" scene in the National Geographic Video reveals:


No Car.


Perhaps the entire movie scene is not reproduced in the video, or perhaps it was digitally cleaned up in the pre-release video but left in the theatrical release to annoy.

[PRH]

Originally posted by Harad
Careful analysis of the "Scarecrow" scene in the National Geographic Video reveals:

No Car.
My analysis concurs. The burden of proof is now on you folks who insist there is one.

Perhaps the entire movie scene is not reproduced in the video, or perhaps it was digitally cleaned up in the pre-release video but left in the theatrical release to annoy.
Not likely.

Please, if someone really wants to prove this at the very minimum try to get an exact point in time when it is seen (the very line spoken).

[Mormegil]

PRH,
I have given an exact point in the scene to look at for the car. See my post above. But as I have stated above, it appears to be only a flash of white light to me, and not clearly a car.
However, something must have created this flash of light. It could have been the reflection off of a car window.

Harad,
At least tell me you saw the flash of white light.

Am I going crazy??

[PRH]

Originally posted by Mormegil
I think I see the car. It happens a microsecond after Frodo says
"It's a dangerous business, Frodo", right at the end of the scarecrowe scene.
There is a flash of white light, right at the top right-hand corner of the screen, to the right of the smoke. It is only there for a microsecond, so whatever it is is moving fast. I'm not sure if you can clearly define a car from it though.

Hmmm...the scene on the National Geographic special did not go this far (unless it was extended on the DVD - Harad?)(I taped it off tv - which was about 15 minutes shorter than the DVD).

Anyone else concur that this is the exact point to watch?

[Harad]

Originally posted by Mormegil
I think I see the car. It happens a microsecond after Frodo says
"It's a dangerous business, Frodo",

Youre making it hard on the researchers since Frodo certainly did not make that quote. Also there are TWO different claims for where the car is:

1. between a gap in the hedge which would be background center

2. upper right background

In the upper right background there is a source of smoke which blows in the wind in one direction and may appear to "flash" as the sun hits it. Perhaps that is what was interpreted in #2. That occurs near the end of the DVD scene, but there is no dialog on the DVD so I cant match it up easily.

[Bill the Pony]

Remember the picture I posted a while (http://www.thetolkienforum.com/showthread.php?postid=55121&highlight=smoke#post55121) ago? This guy said he would send me some clearer pictures, so I'm waiting for them. As soon as I get them, I'll post them here.
They claim (I've not seen the thing myself) that these shots are the first time you see the car. They put a little red line in the top right corner, and above that you can see a light flash. That's the first sighting.
They say:
After this the camera-view changes, so you can't see the horizon for a little while. Next, you see this wide shot again, en then you really see a car driving from the right to the left. And not only a flash, you really see it driving by for half a screen. And it's 100% sure not a smoke cloud floating by.

So start with the scene given in the picture, and then look immediately after it. That's the best description of 'where to look' I can come up with for now. Sorry, don't have any dialogue.

edit:
Youre making it hard on the researchers since Frodo certainly did not make that quote
There is definitely a quote like that in the movie. The complete dialogue around this area goes:
If I take one more step, it'll be the farthest away from home I've ever been.
Frodo:
(Walks back towards Sam) Come on, Sam.
Sam:
(Takes step)
Frodo:
(Puts his hand onto Sam's shoulder)
You remember what Bilbo used to say?
(They continue walking)
Bilbo:
It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step out onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.
(from the typed up script)

[Snaga]

Is there room for a two-car scenario, with one emerging from behind a grassy knoll?:D

[Harad]

OK
The dialog that goes with the moving picture in BtP's link is "Come on Sam" by Frodo.

Yes, there is something moving above the smoke from right to left. The smoke below this is moving from left to right. What is moving above the smoke is not clear on the DVD nor in the BtP link. It has the same light properties as the smoke. It is not seen in the subsequent view of that area of the background.

Now who has a DVD ripper, will download those images, and expand them to the extent the pixels allow, and read the license plate so we can ask the owner?

[Snaga]

Along time ago we were talking about things in the movie that were hidden references to things in the book...

How about this: I think Aragorn throwing apples to Merry and Pip, is meant to allude to Sam hitting Bill Ferny on the nose with one as they leave Bree.

I love that bit in the book, but I don't think you could introduce Bill Ferny, establish him as a bad guy, and then humble him with a well directed apple, without adding at least an extra half an hour. Shame really, but Pip gets it on head as homage.:) Poor old Pippin!

[PRH]

Ah, good one VoK!

[Ged]

PRH, Mormegil,

Re: Gollum at the Argonath.

I've read somewhere else that as the camera sweeps past the face of the giant Statue (Isildur or Anarion? I'm not sure) Gollum is to be seen clinging limpet-like somewhere near one of the eyes. Presumably he is watching the passage of the boats far below.

I've looked for this myself several times, but haven't seen it yet. Maybe it isn't true. Anyone else seen it?


The mysterious flash of light: yes, there is a brief intense flash, consistent in the 21st century with sunlight off a speeding car window. But remember folks: this is Middle Earth in the third age. There just weren't any cars! What are you folks talking about? How could there have been a car in that scene?

My own theory is that it was a flash of goodbye / farewell from Gandalf's ring as he rode away from the Shire on a different path.

[Snaga]

I've seen Gollum at the Argonath. I'm going again tonight and I'll post you specifics. Plus I'll be on the look out for any cars. I'm hoping to get the plates: I'm betting it was Thorin on a wrecking mission!:D

[Mormegil]

Originally posted by Harad

In the upper right background there is a source of smoke which blows in the wind in one direction and may appear to "flash" as the sun hits it. Perhaps that is what was interpreted in #2. That occurs near the end of the DVD scene, but there is no dialog on the DVD so I cant match it up easily.

Harad,
The flash of light is definately independant of the smoke. It is near the smoke.

Also Frodo says the line "It's a dangerous business, Frodo", because he is telling sam what Bilbo used to say to him.

Ged, VOK
I have studied the scene with the Arganath in it very closely and can see no Gollum, be he near the eyes of either statue or otherwise.

[Harad]

Read my subsequent post.

The dialog line is "Come on Sam."

There is smoke and above the smoke, some movement in the opposite direction with the same light properities as the smoke, and not resolvable at the DVD resolution.

[Goldberry]

I saw the movie again and this time I finally saw the trolls, big as day. I also saw the car. I wouldn't swear it was a car, but it did really look like one, and not like smoke. (It was in the upper right part of the screen, at the horizon). I thought I might have seen something at the bottom of one of the eyes of the Argonath but I could not tell what it was.

Someone mentioned that Aragorn wears Barahir's ring in the movie, but in Appendix B, under the year 2980, it says, regarding Aragorn's second meeting with Arwen in Lorien:

"Aragorn gives her the ring of Barahir, and they plight their troth..."

[Snaga]

Just got home from seeing it again....

I saw something that might be a car in exactly the same spot. My money's on Farmer Maggot's tractor.

As for Gollum... I didn't see him this time. Arrrggghhh! I'm doubting myself now.:( Oh well, I'll just have to go again sometime! (When the trailer is added!)