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SCOD - Aragorn vs Sauron



One Ringer
Tol Eressea


May 8 2014, 12:54pm


Views: 1325
SCOD - Aragorn vs Sauron
Aragorn confronts Sauron via the palantir.





In the first screencap Aragorn appears quite strong/brave given the undertaking of this task, but as we see by the end of the sequence, that image is shattered completely. Was Aragorn truly performing an act of bravery, or was he being a bit arrogant? i.e. "Hey, Sauron! Look at me, I got the biggest, baddest sword of them all just waiting to poke out your eye! Oh, wait - no, not my girlfriend! I mean - no, I'm still cool, I'm cool! Right?"

Obviously it was Frodo he was doing this for, and the job still gets accomplished, but in the moment what dangers does this sequence pose to Aragorn's safety? Is he now acting out for the sake of Frodo, or of Arwen? Or does it all just further fuel the fire within? But we all know the dangers of wildfires, right?

What's the old Tolkien line? "The hasty stroke oft goes astray." Who said that? Wink

Any other thoughts?

"You do not let your eyes see nor your ears hear, and that which is outside your daily life is not of account to you. Ah, it is the fault of our science that it wants to explain all; and if it explain not, then it says there is nothing to explain."

(This post was edited by One Ringer on May 8 2014, 12:56pm)


SaulComposer
Rohan


May 8 2014, 4:03pm


Views: 954
Well it seems
That Aragorn was inviting Sauron for a one on one bowling match…
I'm no preacher or a politician…



Darkstone
Immortal


May 8 2014, 6:00pm


Views: 947
Better than the book.
In the book it always struck me as a dangerous bit of hubris. Gandalf warned Aragorn not to mess with it, he did anyway, he admits he almost failed, and he is uncharactersitically and defensively grumpy when his companions call him on it. Whatever possible advantage to be gained was far outweighed by the greater possibility that he might have let the secret about Frodo slip. That's something Aragorn had to keep in mind all throughout the mental contest with Sauron. And remember the old conundrum:, "For the next two minutes, whatever you do, don't think about zebras!" Whoops!

In the film (or rather the EE) the challenge is made directly after the Last Debate rather than just before the Paths of the Dead so it does seem to have more of an immediate tactical purpose rather than just someone messing with a new toy.

Still, like most of the additional scenes of the ROTK EE, it doesn't really seem integrated into the overall narrative, but rather a disconnected sequence dropped in just because "Hey! More Tolkien!"
******************************************
Philosoraptor sez:

It has been said that fiction is often held to a higher standard of logic than real life.



CuriousG
Half-elven


May 9 2014, 11:51am


Views: 913
For some reason
I seem to like the atmosphere of the moment more than the action. The way that Aragorn's face is slightly shadowed (confronting the Dark Lord) with all that light streaming behind him in a halo effect--it's a nice contrast of the good v. evil duel here. The setting is nicely dramatic: he's in a stately court setting here, and you get the sense that Gondor is at stake along with everything else.


Salmacis81
Tol Eressea


May 9 2014, 6:23pm


Views: 865
Disagree...
Quote
Still, like most of the additional scenes of the ROTK EE, it doesn't really seem integrated into the overall narrative, but rather a disconnected sequence dropped in just because "Hey! More Tolkien!"

I think it fit into the narrative of the film just fine. It came right after the debate on whether or not to march on the Black Gate to create a diversion, during which Gandalf warns Aragorn that Sauron "will not take the bait", to which Aragorn replies "Oh, I think he will." Then it commences to show Aragorn revealing himself and Anduril to Sauron, to show us that Sauron will "take the bait".


Elessar
Valinor


May 9 2014, 8:00pm


Views: 862
Agreed
Felt perfect to me.


ElendilTheShort
Gondor


May 10 2014, 11:51am


Views: 1156
in the book Aragorns actions fully serve their purpose
it seems to Sauron they are the actions of one perhaps over arrogant that may now hold the ring, which was the whole idea. The thought of Aragorn as an emerging power and possibly having the ring became a distraction for Sauron. Aragorn also notably wrests control of the Palantir from Sauron which was a blow to Sauron, whereas movie Aragorn weakly gives up and drops it like a hot potato, so to Sauron he would be less of a threat and less of a distraction, a foe that was easily defeated in this confrontation, at that point movie Sauron probably thought Aragorn was no real threat, and being so weak willed if he did have the ring he would have revealed it, he did not reveal it and therefore Sauron could rightly deduce the ring was not with Aragorn or any of the others present for it would be the possessor of the One Ring that would be the one to challenge him, not someone else.

Based on this event alone the score is

Tolkiens Aragorn 2

PJ's Aragorn 0.