The One Ring Forums: Tolkien Topics: Movie Discussion: The Hobbit:
Will Oin be the first dwarf that has contact with Roac/ravens in TABA?



Avandel
Half-elven

Feb 21 2014, 4:32pm


Views: 433
Will Oin be the first dwarf that has contact with Roac/ravens in TABA?
I can't remember how Roac ends up actually interacting with Thorin in the book - but re the Appendices Oin is described something of a mystic, close to nature and can read signs and symbols and we've already seen him noticing the birds of Erebor.

So - assuming (HOPE) that PJ keeps the ravens in (and there is no reason he shouldn't w. the skills of WETA) was wondering if Oin - currently stuck in Laketown - might be the one who remembers the ravens as messengers and is the first point of contact, so to speak. Perhaps while fleeing Laketown Oin notices ravens overhead (as they tend to congregate over scenes of carnage, usually battlefields) and uses them to find out what is going on in Erebor - e.g. if the dwarves go there for all they know Gloin, Thorin, Bilbo etc. are dead

Or the ravens are near Erebor, watching, but the audience hasn't seen them yet.

Re DOS I didn't notice any ravens flying around the heights of Erebor "Ravens have been seen flying back to the mountain as it was foretold."


Eruvandi
Tol Eressea


Feb 21 2014, 6:03pm


Views: 286
Balin talks about the ravens in the book.
It's right at the beginning of Chapter XV: The Gathering of the Clouds where the dwarves start noticing how many birds are returning to the mountain and the thrush starts trying to talk to the dwarves, but they can't understand him:

"'I only wish he was a raven!' said Balin...'There used to be a great friendship between them and the people of Thror; and they often brought us secret news, and were rewarded with such bright things as they coveted to hide in their dwelling. They lived many a year, and their memories are long, and they hand on their wisdom to their children. I knew many among the ravens of the rocks when I was a dwarf-lad. This very height was once named Ravenhill, because there was a wise and famous pair, old Carc and his wife, that lived here above the guard-chamber. But I don't suppose that any of that ancient breed linger here now.'
No sooner had he finished speaking than the old thrush gave a loud call, and immediately flew away.
'We may not understand him, but that old bird understands us, I am sure,' said Balin. 'Keep watch now, and see what happens!'
Before long there was a fluttering of wings, and back came the thrush; and with him came a most decrepit old bird. He was getting blind, he could hardly fly, and the top of his head was bald. He was an aged raven of great size. He alighted stiffly on the ground before them, slowly flapped his wings, and bobbed towards Thorin.
'O Thorin son of Thrain, and Balin son of Fundin,' he croaked...'I am Roac son of Carc....'"

Although I too hope PJ keeps the ravens, I seriously doubt that they'll talk since no other animals have spoken except the spiders. But then again, maybe Bilbo could put the Ring on and be able to understand them in a similar manner. Another option may be that the Ravens will act like carrier pigeons and take messages back and forth from the dwarves in Lake-Town to the dwarves in Erebor.
"And we find what we're made of
Through the open door
Is it fear you're afraid of?
What are you waiting for?
Love alone is worth the fight."
-Switchfoot


Avandel
Half-elven

Feb 21 2014, 8:32pm


Views: 241
Eruvndi - how nice of you!
Very kind of you to take the time to post this whole passage - there are sections of the book that stick in my head, but his isn't one of them. To me this would be very filmable - I've gotten fixated on the ravens since another thread brought them up. They are a favorite motif of mine in film or literature. Thank you!EvilEvilEvil

I can see tho where it could be hard to film a talking bird where there is a danger of it looking (on film) silly or cute. Especially since TABA is supposed to be very dark in tone - so perhaps PJ will opt for the messenger bird idea. Just hope they keep the ravens, in my imagination I can see a huge flock ominously around Erebor.


BalrogTrainer
Rivendell

Feb 22 2014, 1:31am


Views: 205
Maybe...
... Radagast could come along and interpret for them, since in AUJ he could understand the robin telling him the spiders came from Dol Guldur. Tongue


Quote
Although I too hope PJ keeps the ravens, I seriously doubt that they'll talk since no other animals have spoken except the spiders. But then again, maybe Bilbo could put the Ring on and be able to understand them in a similar manner. Another option may be that the Ravens will act like carrier pigeons and take messages back and forth from the dwarves in Lake-Town to the dwarves in Erebor.


Otaku-sempai
Immortal


Feb 22 2014, 3:11pm


Views: 165
Radagast has better things to do
In Reply To
... Radagast could come along and interpret for them, since in AUJ he could understand the robin telling him the spiders came from Dol Guldur. Tongue

Radagast should remain part of the White Council/Dol Guldur subplot. He has no business rabbiting off to Erebor and I would not want to see him there. I am fine with talking Ravens; there is no reason why they should not be able to work in the setting of Middle-earth--especially under the control of the special-effects wizards at WETA.
'There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world.' - Gandalf the Grey, The Fellowship of the Ring


BalrogTrainer
Rivendell

Feb 22 2014, 3:18pm


Views: 161
I was being...
... entirely sarcastic, of course (hence the emoticon at the end) Crazy, but, yes, I highly doubt either Bilbo or the Dwarves will ever see him again.


Otaku-sempai
Immortal


Feb 22 2014, 3:43pm


Views: 164
Sorry, didn't catch the sarcasm.
I did not take note of the emoticon. I blame glare from the window behind me!
'There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world.' - Gandalf the Grey, The Fellowship of the Ring