Close-up of Thranduil's eyes mirroring shots of Galadriel in FotR?

M

MatthewJer18

Rohan
As I recall, FotR used close-ups of Galadriel's eyes as she looked upon the Fellowship, perceiving their inner thoughts and weaknesses. It conveyed wisdom and had a slightly uneasy effect. I thought this visual was unique to Galadriel, but the same shot is used in the DoS trailer for Thranduil. Will it serve a similar purpose?
 
I don't know if they will have Thranduil use semi-telepathic powers like Galadriel, but the image of his eyes definitely recalls the fellowship's journey to Lothlorien. An interesting visual nod to LOTR if nothing else.
 
Since they thought it was such a great idea to make Galadriel seem menacing and evil at first, maybe they think it would be fabulous to do the same with Thranduil.
 
Thorin is (at least at this point) the leader of the party that Bilbo (the title character) is a part of. This means that his enemies are, at first meeting, Bilbo's. Thranduil will be introduced as an antagonistic figure, and so it's appropriate that he be, if not menacing, at least intimidating. Later on, he and Thorin will bury the hatchet at least long enough to fight goblins together, and the Elvenking and Bilbo become friends, or at least exchange kind words and gifts.

So it's fitting, and entirely book-canon, for the Elvenking to seem hostile at first meeting. I don't think there's any reason to blame that portrayal on anything in LOTR. If they'd used the "Galadriel lights" for Thranduil, that would be another matter but as far as I can see they didn't.
 
They may have. In the close-up of Thranduil, you can see lights sparkling in his eyes. Could just be reflections from the torches but it definitely made me pause and think "Was that the Galadri-light?"

Seems unlikely that they would use that effect though. I always assumed that was unique to Galadriel and a side effect of her ring's powers.
 
There could be some connection to that kind of light being associated with sojourning in Valinor for a time.
I'm trying to remember the examples where there were lights associated with elves:

Gildor (found by Frodo and Sam on their way from the Shire to the Prancing Pony)
Glorfindel (after being revealed when fighting the nine and through the distorted view of wearing the ring - not sure if any light was or was not seen by the others who weren't wearing a ring)

I also can't help but think of other accounts / legends / folklore / faery-tales that put lights around elves of this style - so maybe I am getting some details a little mixed ...
 
From what I can gather, Thranduil is of a line of Sindarin elves. The only Sinda to have seen the light of the Two Trees was Thingol. Therefore, in my opinion, he is the only Sindar that should "glow."

I guess one could argue whether Celeborn should glow or not, but his lineage seems to be much more uncertain.
 
Last edited:
Galadriel lights were not just pinpoint light reflections but a specific array of multiple lights. What I can see from the trailer looks like normal light reflections rather than the constellation-like effect of the Galadriel lighting.
 
* Galadriel, with the "Galadriel lights" in her eyes (as noted above, a special cluster of lights to make her eyes look other-worldly).

* Thranduil

Yes, it's a similar effect, maybe not as extreme. Perhaps Jackson is doing that with Elves in general?
 
Last edited:
You are correct that Thranduil is hostile in the book.

But one can be hostile without being evil. That's what I didn't like about Galadriel.

They're doing a good job so far with emphasizing the fact that elves and dwarves don't like each other. But I hope they don't make people wonder whether the elves are actually on the "dark side."
 
First of all ... I wasn't assuming that you thought that this was Hellboy or that Legolas was Nuada.
Second of all, it was my inept way of agreeing with you - I don't want to see the elves turned into the antagonists - and especially not "evil". I'm fine with conflict - but I really hope things don't have to become so oversimplified as to make them the "badguys" - I don't think they will do that from what I have seen - flaws and conflict is how I would take it - which is awesome if that's what it is.
Finally, "Hellboy" was a famous movie made by Del Toro and in that series there is a character named "Nuada" who has been compared by many folks to Legolas - but Nuada is the antagonist ... and kind of evil ...
 
and the audience is expected to know that he's a good guy and Tauriel's getting a pretty favorable build-up, so unless they are both shown as being at odds with his father, I don't think the Mirkwood elves are going to be introduced as evil.

I personally didn't get the sense of evil from Thranduil's appearance in AUJ or from the trailer. What they have shown is Thorin's blind antagonism toward all Elves, not only Thranduil's people but also Elrond, so I think it's Thorin's attitude that is going to be the most significant factor. Thorin's and Gandalf have had some prickly exchanges too, so being on the wrong side of Thorin certainly doesn't indicate good/bad status.

If I had to guess, I would predict that in the confrontation with the Elvenking Thorin would be sullenly hostile and Thranduil disdainful in return.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top