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SCOD - Real Elf On Rope.

Darkstone Immortal May 15 2013, 1:23pm Views: 2059 SCOD - Real Elf On Rope. Original screencap here. 1. Compare this rope-climbing scene with the earlier rope-climbing scene of Frodo and Sam in the Emyn Muil. 2. So. Why aren’t the Uruk-hai archers picking off the low-hanging fruit? 3. As weaver once pointed out, the following seems to be the most comparable passage in the book: "A broad stairway, climbed from the Deep up to the Rock and the rear-gate of the Hornburg. Near the bottom stood Aragorn. In his hand still Anduril gleamed, and the terror of the sword for a while held back the enemy, as one by one all who could gain the stair passed up towards the gate. Behind on the upper steps knelt Legolas. His bow was bent, but one gleaned arrow was all that he had left, and he peered out now, ready to shoot the first Orc that should dare to approach the stair. 'All who can have now got safe within, Aragorn,' he called. 'Come back!' Aragorn turned and sped up the stair; but as he ran he stumbled in his weariness. At once his enemies leapt forward. Up came the Orcs, yelling, with their long arms stretched out to seize him. The foremost fell with Legolas' last arrow in his throat. but the rest sprang over him. Then a great boulder, cast from the outer wall above, crashed down upon the stair, and hurled them back into the Deep. Aragorn gained the door, and swiftly it clanged to behind him." Compare/contrast. 4. Other thoughts? (I especially like how climbing Aragorn/Gimli mirror the climbing Uruks in the background.) ****************************************** The audacious proposal stirred his heart. And the stirring became a song, and it mingled with the songs of Gil-galad and Celebrian, and with those of Feanor and Fingon. The song-weaving created a larger song, and then another, until suddenly it was as if a long forgotten memory woke and for one breathtaking moment the Music of the Ainur revealed itself in all glory. He opened his lips to sing and share this song. Then he realized that the others would not understand. Not even Mithrandir given his current state of mind. So he smiled and simply said "A diversion.”

Brethil Half-elven May 15 2013, 9:03pm Views: 1583 Another interesting set of questions Darkstone. Hmmm, we this rope-scene is a bit more desperate, and more of an expression of the raw power of Aragorn and Legolas in fighting for their lives. Frodo and Sam are more tentative, and of course they are alone, no one is puling them up or along: they are finding their own way, in their quiet Hobbit fashion. An interesting corollary to how they all respectively fight the War of the Ring. Well if the Uruk's pick them off we are missing some key cast... but I would say from a realistic perspective only Lurtz seemed singular in being a particularly skilled, targeted bowman. The rest of the Uruks seem to just fling arrows more at will, hoping to hit something. There is much less skill and specialization in all of the Dark minions: individuals I think just aren't worth that much, its the force of the mass that counts. A broad stairway, climbed from the Deep up to the Rock and the rear-gate of the Hornburg. Near the bottom stood Aragorn. In his hand still Anduril gleamed, and the terror of the sword for a while held back the enemy, as one by one all who could gain the stair passed up towards the gate. Behind on the upper steps knelt Legolas. His bow was bent, but one gleaned arrow was all that he had left, and he peered out now, ready to shoot the first Orc that should dare to approach the stair. 'All who can have now got safe within, Aragorn,' he called. 'Come back!' Aragorn turned and sped up the stair; but as he ran he stumbled in his weariness. At once his enemies leapt forward. Up came the Orcs, yelling, with their long arms stretched out to seize him. The foremost fell with Legolas' last arrow in his throat. but the rest sprang over him. Then a great boulder, cast from the outer wall above, crashed down upon the stair, and hurled them back into the Deep. Aragorn gained the door, and swiftly it clanged to behind him." Legolas has an active role in both the film and the text version of their retreat; but in Text, with only one arrow left, so much depends on luck and circumstance. In Film, the premise of the rope-escape leans much more heavily and visually on Legolas as Gimli and Aragorn's last hope (last rope?) for safety. Some of the physical action of the scene therefore has shifted from Aragorn onto Legolas. I think the change is a typical one we can see at times when adapting the subtlety of text to the visual metaphor of film: Legolas can be read as a guardian angel in text, but on Film a stumbling, tired Aragorn and a Legolas with no arrows may cause the scene's momentum to stumble as well. Yes, the parallel climbing is neat, and also mirrors the parallel of the Uruk Hai and Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli all racing side by side (for different reasons) to the sound of Boromir's horn. War makes for odd bedfellows. * Many thanks Darkstone! * Manwe, when asked a simple "Yes" or "No" question, contemplated, and responded "the middle one."

Loresilme Valinor May 15 2013, 11:36pm Views: 1563 Bwa ha ha! Love the pun! 1. Compare this rope-climbing scene with the earlier rope-climbing scene of Frodo and Sam in the Emyn Muil. Frodo and Sam saved by an Elf-made rope, Aragorn and Gimli saved by an Elf-pulled rope. Expressed by your most perfect pun: Frodo and Sam saved by real Elven rope, Aragorn and Gimil saved by real Elf on rope. Awesome :)! 2. So. Why aren’t the Uruk-hai archers picking off the low-hanging fruit? They are a bit preoccupied at the moment. The Uruks at the door don't appear to be archers, and the ones on the ladders need their hands for climbing. The rest of them below are caught in a tightly packed swarm pushing forward. Probably not much elbow room there for clearing a good arrow shot. 3. As weaver once pointed out, the following seems to be the most comparable passage in the book: I would agree this is probably the inspiration for this scene, just spiced up for more of a visual impact. Although that "one gleaned arrow was all that he had left" moment would have been great to have in there somewhere! "A broad stairway, climbed from the Deep up to the Rock and the rear-gate of the Hornburg. Near the bottom stood Aragorn. In his hand still Anduril gleamed, and the terror of the sword for a while held back the enemy, as one by one all who could gain the stair passed up towards the gate. Behind on the upper steps knelt Legolas. His bow was bent, but one gleaned arrow was all that he had left, and he peered out now, ready to shoot the first Orc that should dare to approach the stair. 'All who can have now got safe within, Aragorn,' he called. 'Come back!' Aragorn turned and sped up the stair; but as he ran he stumbled in his weariness. At once his enemies leapt forward. Up came the Orcs, yelling, with their long arms stretched out to seize him. The foremost fell with Legolas' last arrow in his throat. but the rest sprang over him. Then a great boulder, cast from the outer wall above, crashed down upon the stair, and hurled them back into the Deep. Aragorn gained the door, and swiftly it clanged to behind him." 4. Other thoughts? (I especially like how climbing Aragorn/Gimli mirror the climbing Uruks in the background.) I always marvel at how much physical strength it would take for Aragorn to hang on with one hand while holding onto a Dwarf, and ditto for Legolas, pulling them both up by himself. Thanks Darkstone!

Brethil Half-elven May 16 2013, 12:10am Views: 1541 Loresilme, I completely missed that lovely pun! Great job Darkstone. And thank you for the catch Loresilme! Manwe, when asked a simple "Yes" or "No" question, contemplated, and responded "the middle one."

Loresilme Valinor May 16 2013, 11:40am Views: 1524 You're quite welcome It was a great one, Darkstone! I always like a good pun . (This post was edited by Loresilme on May 16 2013, 11:41am)

Darkstone Immortal May 16 2013, 1:56pm Views: 1506 Thanks! It's always nice when someone gets it! Also, great answers everyone! ****************************************** I met a Balrog on the stair. He had some wings that weren't there. They weren't there again today. I wish he would just fly away.

Riven Delve Tol Eressea May 16 2013, 6:13pm Views: 1542 Not playing by the rules here, but I must share that I could never take this scene in LOTR very seriously. I had been forever ruined by this rope-climbing scene. I kept watching for the Man in Black behind Aragorn. "I left the night, with its remote and singing stars, and came in, to the glow of the fire, and the chair where he had been sitting, and the unstrung harp." --The Last Enchantment

batik Tol Eressea May 16 2013, 10:09pm Views: 1491 Hmm and well..when I read... ....Real Elf on a Soap --I actually thought there was a tie in to The Hands of a Healer (but wash first). I think maybe I'll wait a bit and see if anyone else possibly had the same thought!

elaen32 Gondor May 17 2013, 7:56am Views: 1477 Guilty as charged... I read it as Real Elven Soap on a Rope! Opens up a whole new world of tacky Christmas stocking fillers "Beneath the roof of sleeping leaves the dreams of trees unfold"

Yngwulff Gondor May 17 2013, 8:09am Views: 1486 Pope on a rope for Roman catholics works just as well Take this Brother May it Serve you Well Vote for Pedro!

batik Tol Eressea May 17 2013, 9:17pm Views: 1489 We have a winner!... of sorts

tolkiennerd Lorien May 18 2013, 11:19pm Views: 1501 Archers 2. So. Why aren’t the Uruk-hai archers picking off the low-hanging fruit? In medieval warfare archers didn't really pick targets they just shoot arrows at the enemy and hope some hit. Guess Aragorn and Gimli got lucky.