SCOD - "This way, hobbits..."

[One Ringer]

Hi all, as we draw to a close on The Two Towers, here we have our final screencap - -

This whole post is more of a general discussion, whether it be of the cap itself or the movie altogether, but here's a couple questions nonetheless:

1.) Thoughts on the framing here? Everything is sort of on an angle, save the trees. Anything stick our in particular?

2.) What's your opinion of this less than subtle cliff-hanger? If I may say, I've always loved this little stinger; very haunting and close to the chest.

3.) Any other thoughts/comments?

Many thanks to those who participated on this journey through The Two Towers (both hosting and posting). I'm currently looking for volunteers to help start up Return of the King next month here, for those who are interested to get in on the action.

Thanks evermore, and happy posting. []

 

[FrogmortonJustice65]

I think this "cliff-hanger" and Gollum's final dialogue ("we could let her do it") is a good way of foreshadowing what comes in the next movie.

The last bit of dialogue between Frodo and Sam is very heart-warming, but we are reminded of the peril they are in by Gollum's argument with himself moments later. This is *teasing* done right; perhaps if LOTR had been made in 2013 after the credits of TTT, the camera would randomly cut to Cirith Ungol, teasing Shelob eating an orc or something. Rather than TTT's foreshadowing, the trend in modern movies seems to be less than subtle "reveals" following the film's credits; like the Marvel/Avengers movies.

You are right that this is not very subtle, but it's subtle enough; the average viewer probably isn't sure of what Gollum is referencing. I've always enjoyed - and been unnerved by - this scene.

 

[Darkstone]

1.) Thoughts on the framing here?

Absolutely fantastic! This location was a great find!


Everything is sort of on an angle, save the trees.

This is called the “Dutch Angle”, misnamed from “Deutsch Angle”. German impressionist films often tilted the camera to express disorientation, confusion, or madness. The Third Man (1949) famously used the Dutch Angle to portray the protagonist’s alienation in a foreign environment.

Of course upon examination the camera is not tilted, but the actual land itself. This means something.


Anything stick out in particular?

The tilted land and the straight trees represent the dichotomy going on. Frodo and Sam are having a charming conversation about stories and their place in them. Gollum and Smeagol are having a chilling conversation about betrayal and murder.

I leave as an exercise which is the tilted conversation and which is the straight.


2.) What's your opinion of this less than subtle cliff-hanger?

I note when the film first came out many non-readers said they thought “she” was Galadriel.


If I may say, I've always loved this little stinger; very haunting and close to the chest.

It was a natural if sad end to Smeagol’s character arc. He had a chance to redeem himself, but in the end like most addicts he seized on any excuse to backslide. Change the setting from Middle-earth to any modern big city and Smeagol’s tragic story of addiction, betrayal, and death would be one of millions. I always thought Sam got a bad rap in “spoiling” Smeagol’s redemption. If not that then it would have been something else. That's just the nature of addiction.


3.) Any other thoughts/comments?

It’s interesting that the hobbits try to keep upright and oriented with the trees, while Gollum allows himself to tilt with the land. (Indeed, in this shot he tilts even more!)

 

[Loresilme]

This whole post is more of a general discussion, whether it be of the cap itself or the movie altogether, but here's a couple questions nonetheless:

1.) Thoughts on the framing here? Everything is sort of on an angle, save the trees. Anything stick our in particular?
I think of the expression, "Something's off", as in, something's not right, not what it seems. The off balance look shows how something is not right between Frodo, Sam and Gollum. Frodo is still trying to believe he can trust Gollum, Sam is talking about great tales and stories, Gollum is plotting to murder them. Everything's out of whack, off balance - tilted. That the trees are standing upright is to highlight the off-balance of everything else, however it can also mean that the world of nature is in balance, straight and true - it's the world of Men, Hobbits, etc., that is lopsided and off-balance.

2.) What's your opinion of this less than subtle cliff-hanger? If I may say, I've always loved this little stinger; very haunting and close to the chest.
It's fantastic - I do love the subtlety of not giving away who 'she' is. I was a movie-firster, so while I had absolutely no idea who 'she' was, I just was more intrigued and couldn't wait to find out. And also I found this scene very saddening, because I had gotten to feel sympathy for Gollum, and this scene really drove home that he hadn't changed at all.

Overall I thought this was such a perfect ending for the second part of a three part series. It wrapped up many threads, yet still left you hanging and wanting to know "what happens next".

3.) Any other thoughts/comments?
Loved the music at the end of these scenes. Creepy, beautiful, foreboding all at the same time.

Many thanks to those who participated on this journey through The Two Towers (both hosting and posting). I'm currently looking for volunteers to help start up Return of the King next month here, for those who are interested to get in on the action.
Thank *you* for running the SCOD show, One Ringer!