Our Sponsor Sideshow Send us News
Lord of the Rings Tolkien
Search Tolkien
Lord of The RingsTheOneRing.net - Forged By And For Fans Of JRR Tolkien
Lord of The Rings Serving Middle-Earth Since The First Age

Lord of the Rings Movie News - J.R.R. Tolkien

  Main Index   Search Posts   Who's Online   Log in
The One Ring Forums: Tolkien Topics: Movie Discussion: The Lord of the Rings:
Even though Saruman's death was changed for the movie,

Eruonen
Half-elven


Jul 19 2015, 2:08am

Post #1 of 7 (1139 views)
Shortcut
Even though Saruman's death was changed for the movie, Can't Post

I still wish we had the scene of his spirit rising, looking to the West and then a wind comes and blows it away..It would have been more fitting for an Istari as the movie audience is led to believe he died with his physical body.


Harold.of.Whoa
Rivendell


Jul 20 2015, 4:09am

Post #2 of 7 (1069 views)
Shortcut
[nods vigorously] [In reply to] Can't Post

I agree. It's a very eerie and powerful moment from the book and the kind of thing that would likely translate well to film. Weta could have killed it, I think, as long as there was no green glow involved. Wink

I think it would have given a great deal more...um, impact to the death scene, which is perhaps lacking in the EE version we have.


the 13th warrior
Rivendell


Jul 21 2015, 8:43pm

Post #3 of 7 (957 views)
Shortcut
Lack of Saruman was shocking..... [In reply to] Can't Post

Hello Eruonen, great idea on the spirit rising. Was a powerful book moment, especially with the compassion of Frodo towards the once great wizard, who appreciates and hates Frodo's gesture at the same time.

No reason they couldn't have had him drop and perhaps land somewhere other than the spikey wheel and have the ghostly essence rise up.

Still can't believe and I totally understand the anger of the late Christopher Lee at being left out of the theatrical edition. The whole sequence of Theoden and Gandalf confronting Saruman takes what, 7-10 mins??? Like they couldn't have trimmed out that length from the battles that went on forever, or started the picture with it and shoved how Gollum became Gollum somewhere else.

Really a strange, absurd decision. PJ did more things right than wrong, but this was a poor choice. Thank goodness for the Extended dvd's!!

The 13th Warrior, thanks, regards,
"From the scroll rooms of Gondor....."


Eruonen
Half-elven


Jul 22 2015, 9:56pm

Post #4 of 7 (911 views)
Shortcut
It seems like they wanted Treebeards punchline to end the scene.... [In reply to] Can't Post

where he says the filth of Isengard is being washed away or something like that. It would have been great for the EE to show that specter arise and dissipate. It would have wrapped up his fate for the audience and have shown his immortal state as a wisp of darkness.


the 13th warrior
Rivendell


Jul 25 2015, 9:56pm

Post #5 of 7 (825 views)
Shortcut
On further review..... [In reply to] Can't Post

Hello Eruonen, anything would have helped. Instead, Saruman and Grima, seen panicking at end of TTT, simply vanish. It's a movie and story continuity gap as big as the Grand Canyon. Would have settled for Grima being abused by Saruman after the big defeat, knifing him to death, then drowning trying to get away, or crushed by Ent, something, anything.

Still feel that the entire extended dvd scene could have been in theatrical ROTK intact, with cuts made to battles, trim Aragorn and King of the Dead a bit, speed up death of Sauron and Mordor falling apart/Sam and Frodo and eagle rescue. A little cutting here and there and the Company vs. Saruman would have played out just fine.

The 13th Warrior, Left Field Caliphate,
"From the scroll rooms of Gondor...."


Eruonen
Half-elven


Jul 27 2015, 10:51pm

Post #6 of 7 (783 views)
Shortcut
Though I understand why The Scouring of the Shire was not included, it would [In reply to] Can't Post

have been a nice chapter to see filmed.


the 13th warrior
Rivendell


Jul 28 2015, 8:34am

Post #7 of 7 (762 views)
Shortcut
Tough call on the Scouring.... [In reply to] Can't Post

Hello Eruonen, IMHO Scouring totally works in the books. Shows Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin have grown into heroes and literal knights of the realm, and Gandalf hints there will be work to do in shire, that he won't help them this time. So they end up defeating the last ditch effort of Saruman to ruin their homeland by themselves.

In the movies, I give PJ credit for a nice transition with map back to a tranquil shire that didn't even know there was a War of the Ring. Great pub scene, the 4 heroes looking drained, thoughtful, bittersweet, the adventure is over, shire life renewed.

Again it gets into length and cutting stuff elsewhere to fit in a shortened Scouring segment. Not sure how PJ would find time to weave in the hobbits, organizing, rebelling vs. Saruman. Plus the wizard taking control in the first place would be time consuming too.

A compromise would have been to have the 4 heroes confront Saruman and Grima and a orc henchman or two on the road, as in the books, when the travelling party of Galadriel, Gandalf, hobbits encountered Saruman and Grima in the wilderness.

Some final spiteful talk from Saruman and then his death, at hands of Grima, or struck down by Sam? In books, Saruman took a stab at Frodo on the way out, and Frodo gave him the final absolution that the wizard hated. In movies maybe Sam could defend his master a final time. That would be good drama.

The 13th Warrior, Left Field Caliphate,
"From the scroll rooms of Gondor...."

 
 

Search for (options) Powered by Gossamer Forum v.1.2.3

home | advertising | contact us | back to top | search news | join list | Content Rating

This site is maintained and updated by fans of The Lord of the Rings, and is in no way affiliated with Tolkien Enterprises or the Tolkien Estate. We in no way claim the artwork displayed to be our own. Copyrights and trademarks for the books, films, articles, and other promotional materials are held by their respective owners and their use is allowed under the fair use clause of the Copyright Law. Design and original photography however are copyright © 1999-2012 TheOneRing.net. Binary hosting provided by Nexcess.net

Do not follow this link, or your host will be blocked from this site. This is a spider trap.