January 27, 2003

Sauron and Strategy
Brett C.

Well, here we go - my first intensive article on TTT movie.

I've read some articles already talking about the incident with Frodo and the Nazgul at Osgiliath. There seems to be some concern that this would have tipped Sauron off right away what was going on with the Ring. My initial reaction was the same, but after some thought I've decided it can actaully be rationalized within the context of the book, the foundation for all see on screen.

The confusion, I think, lies in that in the cinema's my favourite chapter of TTT, The White Rider, is much abridged. For those of you who haven't read the book, Gandalf gives a detailed and insightful account of the state of things at that point in terms of Sauron's strategy. Essentially he says that Sauron knows now that the Ring is abroad, is being carried by a hobbit, and that it left Rivendell in a company of nine, whose natures, though in most cases not exact identities, are known.

Gandalf goes on to say that what Sauron expects, based on the movements of the Fellowship, is that the Ring is going to Minas Tirith. Why? Because is their situation that is exactly what the Dark Lord would have done: get your most powerful weapon to your mightiest stronghold, conveniently located within striking distance of Mordor. Thus Sauron is rushing to complete his preparations for war, as is seen in the movie, and pressing hard against Gondor in the belief he has not a moment to spare.

Now if you consider the movie, there is nothing in the spying of Frodo by the Nazgul that would alter this belief. Here is a hobbit, with the Ring, and a stones throw from Minas Tirith. If anything, this would affirm Sauron's asessment of the situation. It is therefore understandable in the context of the movie if Sauron continues to press his attack on Gondor, hopeful that he can reduce the citadel and retrieve the One before his enemies can fully utilize it's power against him.

The only problem I can forsee at the moment within the movie story [BEWARE SPOILER HERE] is if/when Pippin stares into the Palantir of Orthanc. In the books I felt that this was what galvanized Sauron into action, believing that Pippin was the ringbearer. Of course, the timleine in TTT cinema version is skewed anyway [the sequence where Frodo and Sam are before the Black Gate is actually set in the book after the battle of Helm's Deep] so PJ may have a creative way to still incorporate this into the movies.