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Brethil
Half-elven
Oct 25 2013, 5:20pm
Views: 993
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"The Misty Mountains Cold": a turning point?
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Can't Post
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The magnificent scene in which Thorin leads the Company in song. One of my favorite moments.
Firstly, what did you think of the choice of acapella for this rendition?
Each Dwarf is pictured here, as the camera pans slowly around the room. I would like to touch upon their reactions and their characterizations as we see them revealed without dialogue, plus the net effect of the scene.
It begins at Kili's back, entering the room; where we see Bifur stand first among all the Dwarves.
Thorin begins to sing, with his back half to the Company,
and we pan slowly to Balin - sitting, looking very, very sadly into the fire.
[Fili was in this shot was not Dean O'Gorman. His figure is wreathed in smoke, and we get no other close up, presumably due to the casting change.]
Dori stands half in, half out of the room - with one foot on the step and looking down the hall and away from the Company; it is like he is halfway to departing in some way - quite literally with one foot out of the door.
Oin sits in he back with shadow covering his face, across from his brother. Interesting n(and perhaps a foreshadowing?) - of all the Dwarves his reaction is the most hidden.
Kili's seems to be trying very hard to look grim and determined, from his tense posture to his frown. In the firelight his youth and slenderness seems very apparent. The song has even brought Bombur from the table.
Gandalf is deep in thought, but not with the Dwarves - he sits quite alone, frowning.
Nori, whose back was to the others, has turned very slowly, by degrees and almost against his will it seems, called away from the window to join in the low hum.
Ori rises, with his book in hand, clear-eyed and curious yet seemingly untouched; Dwalin still remains seated, watching Thorin silently. He does not sing.
 
Bilbo is also sitting alone, his brow furrowed, listening.
Balin has finally slowly (almost painfully) risen to stand beside Thorin, and Thorin now turns towards the Company to face them. His has raised his hand to just below his heart, covering the viscera. As Balin sings, standing at Thorin's side, his eyes do not look at anyone, particularly Thorin it seems, but into some distance to the left of the fire.
Dori is looking closely and with deep significance at Ori,
and Nori has moved forward and joined his brothers. Playful Bofur is quite serious here and chooses to clearly sing the words, not the harmonized hum - perhaps the most clearly heard of the singers next to Thorin. He is utterly sincere.
Dwalin has now stood, his mighty arms closed and locked across his chest; as he stands, now not looking at Thorin, but somewhere off to the side. His lips move only slightly. Gloin's eyes are very far away, and he looks deep in memory.
Bilbo is against the bedrail, with a sad and weary look as he watches his tiny fire. The shot closes beautifully with the small, hot sparks joining the larger night sky, jewelled with cold stars. Voices fade into silence.
Thorin's song has impacted all the Dwarves in the room; Dwarves moved around, their eyes and their postures told stories . What patterns can you see in the above reactions?
- For example, with the brothers Ori, Nori and Dori?
- What do Balin's actions say about how he is feeling about the Quest?
- Bifur rising first. Does this change your perceptions of him from earlier in the film?
- What does Thorin himself tell you with his movements?
- Dwalin's reaction is complex and multilayered. What's happening here?
- Our chipper class clown, Bofur: quite a different view here isn't it?
- Can you tell who was at the Mountain the day Smaug came from their reactions? Or no?
- The net reaction to Thorin's singing - what do you see?
Gandalf later says he did not doubt Bilbo joining. Yet as the Dwarves sing, do you think Gandalf is feeling at all confident?
Bilbo starts listening with a frown, and as the song closes he looks drained and sad - undecided perhaps? Touching again on influences on Bilbo: how much do you think the song had upon him? In relation to Gandalf's words earlier - more influence or less?
What do you think about the choice of the sparks in the sky as the closing shot here? What does that image say to you?
Is there a Tolkien topic that you have wanted to look into more deeply, and write about your thoughts on it? If so, we'd like to hear from you for the next TORn Amateur Symposium- coming in November. Happy writing!
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Time
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CHOWS Chapter: Bilbo's Choice
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Brethil
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Oct 25 2013, 4:58pm
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"The Misty Mountains Cold": a turning point?
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Brethil
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Oct 25 2013, 5:20pm
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Heh, heh- yes, another favourite moment indeed!
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elaen32
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Oct 25 2013, 6:49pm
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Politics behind the emotion
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Brethil
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Oct 26 2013, 12:10am
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Since you asked...
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Dame Ioreth
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Oct 25 2013, 9:23pm
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Congrats on making it to Rivendell!
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Kim
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Oct 25 2013, 11:36pm
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Congrats on your 100th post!!!!
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Brethil
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Oct 26 2013, 12:22am
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Wonderful scenes, all three of them. The song, in particular, ranks as one of my favorite Middle-earth moments.
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Macfeast
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Oct 26 2013, 12:28am
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Your wonderful avatar is almost back in season Macfeast!
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Brethil
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Oct 26 2013, 1:03am
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Jingle beards, jingle beards, jingle all the way! //
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Macfeast
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Oct 26 2013, 1:29am
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This *needs* to be a Holiday song!!!! //
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Brethil
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Oct 26 2013, 5:02pm
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Where Bilbo's choice really occurs
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Riven Delve
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Oct 26 2013, 12:09pm
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The Misty Mountains song is possibly my favourite moment in AUJ.
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Noria
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Oct 26 2013, 1:42pm
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The Dwarves and the song...
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Brethil
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Oct 26 2013, 5:01pm
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The sparks
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Nunilo
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Oct 31 2013, 11:28pm
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Nice take on the spark shot Nunilo!
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Brethil
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Nov 1 2013, 12:52am
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Well.....
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elaen32
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Oct 25 2013, 6:32pm
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Ok: to start with...
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Brethil
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Oct 26 2013, 12:01am
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One of my favorite sequences :-)
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Kim
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Oct 25 2013, 11:28pm
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Such a great scene - how did I know you'd love it???
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Brethil
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Oct 26 2013, 12:37am
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* Rubs hands* Now for Thorin (...oh and Balin too)
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Dame Ioreth
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Oct 25 2013, 11:32pm
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Wonderful post Dame Ioreth!
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Kim
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Oct 25 2013, 11:43pm
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Well, garsh....
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Dame Ioreth
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Oct 26 2013, 1:21am
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Again, I have to agree with you
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Kim
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Oct 26 2013, 2:05am
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I so agree with you Kim & Ioreth + spoilers+
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elaen32
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Oct 26 2013, 8:09am
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Not all who wander are lost...some OT is just fine!!! //
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Brethil
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Oct 26 2013, 5:03pm
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Thanks Brethil
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Noria
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Oct 25 2013, 11:55pm
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Speaking of Golf!
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Brethil
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Oct 26 2013, 12:49am
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My choice too (for best chapter, that is!)
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Riven Delve
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Oct 26 2013, 11:41am
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The Bullroarer: what a good catch R-D
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Brethil
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Oct 26 2013, 4:47pm
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Really beautiful moments!
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Silwen_Peredhil
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Oct 28 2013, 8:44pm
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Wow Silwen, what a wonderful post!
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Kim
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Oct 28 2013, 9:40pm
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Oh, thank you Kim!
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Silwen_Peredhil
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Oct 30 2013, 4:39pm
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Thanks to YOU Silwen!
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Brethil
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Oct 29 2013, 12:45am
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Thank you. :)
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Silwen_Peredhil
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Oct 30 2013, 4:51pm
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Yes, I see you in Rivendell!!!!
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Brethil
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Oct 30 2013, 8:27pm
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Another one of my all-time favourite scenes from The Hobbit (I think we all know why)
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FaramirAndEowynMorningStar
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Oct 29 2013, 6:35pm
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Great responses Morningstar!
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Brethil
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Oct 30 2013, 12:44am
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Aww, thank you, Brethil.
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FaramirAndEowynMorningStar
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Oct 30 2013, 9:46pm
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I agree.. and feel lucky to enjoy it all!
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Brethil
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Oct 31 2013, 12:27am
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Agree 100% with you there.
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FaramirAndEowynMorningStar
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Oct 31 2013, 5:54pm
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All I really have to add is ...
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DanielLB
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Oct 30 2013, 8:32pm
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Great summary Daniel...
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Brethil
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Oct 30 2013, 9:05pm
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