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swordwhale
Dor-Lomin
Jan 6 2013, 5:48am
Post #1 of 9
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While I'll have to run the darn thing slo-mo through a DVD player to nitpick the CG, I found myself making a few observations about the wargs.
1. Whattheheck are those things? Tolkien was writing in the beginning of the 20th century, The Big Bad Wolf was a viable stereotype. Now, we see Wolf as more of a symbol of how we've wreaked havoc on the natural world, so orcs must ride wargs, not wolves of any sort. They sort of resemble hyenas (the new bad guys, apparently, since Lion King)... but not quite. Look up a prehistoric mammal called Andrewsarchus (totally sounds like Andy Serkis). 6' at the shoulder, meter long head, big pointy teeth, carnivore, or perhaps scavenger too. Oh wait, it had hooves (where the claws would be on a canine).
And then there's the bridle issue.
In LOTR (book) we have Legolas tossing a perfectly good saddle and bridle onto the plains of Rohan because "I need them not.." and riding off to war with a bow and an armoured Dwarf bouncing at his back on a naked horse. "For such is the Elvish way with all good beasts" quotes the Professor. In the Hobbit film, we have Thranduil astride a megaloceros, with a bridle (the durn thing's CG, so he doesn't have the "I'm on a real horse with no bridle" issue Orlando Bloom would have had in LOTR)... and orcs riding wargs with none... no bridles, no elephant pick thingies, no bullwhips... just orcs on nekkid wargs. What are they using, telepathy??? The orcish way with all bad beasties...
Go outside and play...
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Vaire
Lindon
Jan 6 2013, 6:01am
Post #2 of 9
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I recall that wargs are supposed to have their own language, so the orcs could just tell them where to go. It's quite likely that such an intellegent (and vicious) animal would not tolerate any kind of whip or bridle.
As for the other thing, it's just a result of changing perceptions. As you say, back in the 30's wolves were seen as evil creatures that should be exterminated. These days most people think wolves are cute, so wargs must have a more "demonic" look to convey that they are evil creatures.
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swordwhale
Dor-Lomin
Jan 6 2013, 7:16am
Post #3 of 9
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I have forgotten about that detail... the film would, to the general audience, indicate that the orcs and wargs have a common goal, at least.
Go outside and play...
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Bladerunner
Mithlond
Jan 6 2013, 4:01pm
Post #4 of 9
(709 views)
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Also, the Wargs act indpendently of the Orcs.
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Wargs allow the Orcs to ride them, but act of their own will.
I've read other posts suggesting that Orcs bred the Gundabad Wargs, but that is not accurate.
Wargs form alliances with Orcs on common purpose but they are not subservient to Orcs.
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Entwife Wandlimb
Menegroth
Jan 6 2013, 4:15pm
Post #5 of 9
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"warg" came from a word that meant both wolf and outlaw
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Here is a short but thorough article about the difference between wargs and wolves. http://thainsbook.net/animals.html#Wargs
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swordwhale
Dor-Lomin
Jan 6 2013, 5:16pm
Post #6 of 9
(691 views)
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Go outside and play...
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Neekloz Brownbeard
Lindon
Jan 6 2013, 7:34pm
Post #7 of 9
(672 views)
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I absolutly love the Wargs from TTT and ROTK, and was pretty down on the new ones when I saw the action figure,
but in the movie they are great! If the Gundabad Wargs are willing to let orcs ride on their backs, it stands to reason
that they are more inteligent than the TTT/ROTK Wargs, who have saddles on them.
Also, Thranduil with the big Elky fella? I reckon he wears a saddle because he enjoys the prestige. His saddle probably
cost a lot of money, and he likes to show off.
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flameofudun
Menegroth
Jan 7 2013, 3:33am
Post #8 of 9
(637 views)
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And besides it states in The Hobbit that these are especially evil and cunning Wargs living in the shadow under the mountain.
''We are very dangerous over short distances''
-Gimli
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saddles...
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