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Ariana Undomiel
12-04-2002, 07:34 AM
Ok, I have a copy of a very cool article that I got off of the empire website. Here it is. Oh yeah, and it has spoilers so don't read further if you don't want to know anything about The Return of the King.

The Two Towers is almost upon us, which, while inordinately exciting, means that there's another twelve months until the saga is finally concluded with Return of The King. Luckily for us, Peter Jackson has a few choice morsels to share about the final film, and share he did in The Mail on Sunday yesterday.

Promising to be the most spectacular of the three films, Jackson has had to pull out all the stops for the climax, including the enhancement of the film's principal villain, the dark lord Sauron. "The Sauron in the books is sketchy at best, which makes it hard to turn him into a screen villain," says Jackson. "But imagine not really seeing Darth Vader for all three Star Wars films. You just can't do it." It's fair to say that the dark lord will have an increased presence in Jackson's adaptation, rather than being restricted to his role so far, that of a disembodied eye, but the question plaguing Jackson and his crew has been how best to represent the lord of Mordor? "You can't reduce him to being a big guy striding around in black armour, but he cannot be limited to a flaming eye, either."

Sauron's henchman, the Mouth of Sauron, will also make his debut in the third film, bedecked in a large helmet that conceals all of his face except his nose and decomposing jaws. Likewise, we'll be introduced to Boromir's father, Denethor, the Steward of Gondor, played by John Noble. ""Denethor resents never being king, and Boromir inherited that bitterness," says Noble. "It's what led Boromir to try to steal the Ring in the first film. It is my job to show the humanity of the man, he is literally driven mad by grief and fear."

What we can take for granted is that the action set-pieces, which have multiplied in scope from part one to part two, will reach an all-time high with the final leg of the tale. Jackson promises bigger and better battles that will make the fight for Helm's Deep look like a minor barny down the Rat & Parrot. "The battles will be the biggest you have ever seen," says Jackson of the third film. "We have a piece of software that allows us to have 200,000 computer-generated extras fight each other. You simply press a button, sit back and watch these enormous battles unfold before your eyes."

The final scene of the film, which takes place across the landscape of the Grey Havens is tipped by the director to be his favourite of all three films, the high point of the story and what everything has been working towards. "To me, it's a culmination of the entire story," he says." It represents what it is to give and what it is to lose. That scene is probably the most powerful part of the entire film."

Another year to wait? It is a cruel world indeed.

- Ariana

Mablung
12-04-2002, 07:55 AM
Im not a big fan of that Boromir interpretation but the film should be entertaining if nothing else.

Arvedui
12-05-2002, 03:17 PM
I agree, Mablung. That twist is rather new to me. But, of course, John Noble could have read the book more times than I have.
I'm not sure if I like the idea of the movie ending with the Grey Havens. I had hoped it ended with the return of Samwise:
He drew a deep breath. "Well, I'm back," he said.

Ariana Undomiel
12-09-2002, 10:12 PM
We should also all remember that PJ consulted the ultimate Tolkien fan throughout the entire movie making process. Christopher Lee spoke with Tolkien and he has read the entire trilogy anually for the past 40 some years. I think he probably gave PJ a little bit of help in the interpretation of characters.

- Ariana

TheFool
12-09-2002, 10:26 PM
What do you think to the whole 'enhanced Sauron' thing? Personally I would like it to be 'visual' rather than, say, 'spoken voice' . I wasn't a fan of Sauron's spoken parts in FOTR (ie some guy with a deep voice, sounded like the bad guy from Inspector Gadget), but the Last Alliance Sauron ROCKED!! Maybe some sort of 'apparition', or 'wraith' visible when/if Frodo puts on the ring on Orodruin (hate me, purists, hate me ;) )

And I wouldn't be against seeing 'more' of the Mouth of Sauron. I always liked that guy.

Odo Proudfoot
12-20-2002, 08:52 PM
Originally posted by Ariana Undomiel


The final scene of the film, which takes place across the landscape of the Grey Havens is tipped by the director to be his favourite of all three films, the high point of the story and what everything has been working towards. "To me, it's a culmination of the entire story," he says." It represents what it is to give and what it is to lose. That scene is probably the most powerful part of the entire film."

Another year to wait? It is a cruel world indeed.

- Ariana

Speculation: Arwen does go to the Grey Havens, she is after all seen to depart Rivendell in TTT. But, just in time before she boards ship, Aragorn & Co. arrive from Gondor, and she sees him, swoons, changes her mind and decides to stay and marry him. By doing this she frees up a place for Frodo who is really sick after the Ring is destroyed. Elrond is peeved off but goes along with it because Gandalf says some wise words. Sam returns home alone like in the book. The whole theatre is in tears.

Hey, I am not PJ but I could become one ;)

fG

FallenOne
12-20-2002, 11:50 PM
Sweet !!!
Thanks for the article.

I am dying to see the ROTK...

Ack... 1 more year...

Wynston
12-23-2002, 09:16 PM
I just wonder where the enhanced Sauron will be placed. Unless they end with Pelannor and don't show the battle before Morannon, Sauron really can't be at Pelannor. So either he'll be at the Morannon battle, and about to attain victory when the ring is destroyed, or he won't be at any battle, but they'll show him in some other fashion. I don't have a problem with this, as long as it fits in the movie and looks neat. I'm thinking that the Grey Haven's part will be extremely moving. At least I hope so.

Wolfshead
12-28-2002, 06:02 PM
Well, we have to see the Morannon, because the Mouth Of Sauron makes an appearance. I think we'll see Sauron as Frodo destroys the Ring, back in Barad-dur. That may not be enough though, and we have to see him at the Morannon.

Aragorns_girl00
12-29-2002, 05:18 PM
i hate sauron.

Ghan-buri-ghan
12-31-2002, 12:03 AM
I predict there will only be ONE battle in RotK, in Pelennor fields.

Just can't believe the Director will complicate the story with strategy (the Ring goes east and south to Mount Doom; to distract Sauron, the Lords of the West go North to the Black Gate.)

In the book, the Witch King leads Sauron's army from Minas Morgul to Minas Tirith. Maybe he won't lead em in the movie!
The "Mouth of Sauron" has gotta have a speaking part! (Why else is he called. . . .) Do the Minas Tirithians ask for a parley? Does Mouth lead the army? (And what does this say about the Witch king? Is he unemployed? -- Maybe too busy riding his dragon or whatever.)

Will Sauron lead his forces to Pelennor? Probably no. Else WHO will Eowyn and Merry slay?

I just canna believe there will be two battles. I canna!

Legolas254
12-31-2002, 01:20 AM
Originally posted by Aragorns_girl00
i hate sauron.

What do you mean you hate Sauron!!! Are you crazy!! Sauron is one of the coolest characters in any movie made!!! Let alone LotR!!

Darth Saruman
12-31-2002, 09:25 AM
Originally posted by Aragorns_girl00
i hate sauron. LOL. Well that's kind of the point, isn't it? He is the villain after all...

MoeGreen63
01-01-2003, 03:21 PM
Why does Sauron have to be embodied for the film? It is the implication of his presence, his evil, that embodies him in the story. That also works in film. Evil and power so great that you can feel his presence. Go with it! Perhaps as have some as suggested and reasonable would be some appearance to Frodo while wearing the ring. Sauron is still in spirit form therefore keep him in the spirit world into which Frodo steps when wearing the ring.

Waddaya say PJ, 4 hours for the final stanza? While I sit watching these films, 3 hours flies by and I find myself wanting the story to move on even as the ushers ask me to leave.

Ariana Undomiel
01-08-2003, 03:30 AM
I just am looking forward to seeing more pics and trying to figure out what is going to be in the final film. I hope they release a trailer for it in march like they did the for fellowship.


- Ariana

Ithrynluin
01-22-2003, 01:17 AM
Originally posted by Odo Proudfoot
Speculation: Arwen does go to the Grey Havens, she is after all seen to depart Rivendell in TTT. But, just in time before she boards ship, Aragorn & Co. arrive from Gondor, and she sees him, swoons, changes her mind and decides to stay and marry him. By doing this she frees up a place for Frodo who is really sick after the Ring is destroyed. Elrond is peeved off but goes along with it because Gandalf says some wise words. Sam returns home alone like in the book. The whole theatre is in tears.



Diabolical and abysmal, but at least it's pretty funny!:p