May 27, 2003

Anicipation (warning: Story Spoilers)
Lilly

As a HUGE Sam and Frodo fan, it makes sense that the scenes in the ROTK that I look forward to most would be mainly about them. But, what might be called odd about my anticipation is what it is in those scenes that I'm actually looking forward to...

The first scene that I cannot wait to see is Frodo's 'death' scene where grief-stricken Sam has a meltdown. I love this scene in the book. The first time I read Sam's despairing revelation: "But he's not asleep..He's Dead! (or something to that effect)" I felt like I had been hit with a ton of bricks! Usually during death scenes in books I get a little teary (ever read "Where the Red Fern Grows"?) but when I read that I felt completely stunned: almost as if someone I really knew had died. And Sam's line "Don't go where I can't follow" broke my heart to bits. Of course we find out later that Frodo wasn't dead and when I read that I was knocked to the wall. But the 'death' scene remains my favorite because of the emotions it evokes. I've never, never, never been so moved by a work of fiction before or after that.

So, when the movie comes out, I look forward to a good cry. But how? I'm going to know that Frodo isn't dead...I know the scene and I've heard the rumors as to how it might be changed and I have no problems with them...do you know what it is I look forward to being moved by?

THE MUSIC! The music in Moria when Gandalf fell into the chasm (coupled with Elija Wood's heartwrenching performance) made me get teary, despite the fact that I knew Gandalf would be coming back next movie (if the book had anything to do with it). I really look forward to the music in this scene. I can sort of picture it: high and sad...or maybe lower and flowing...when Sam makes his choice to go on and take the ring himself...all the themes Shore has written are perfect. He can do no wrong in my eyes. ….ack! I've gotten myself all worked up now: I'd better leave off there lest I make myself cry!

The next scene I look forward to seeing (and hearing)is the scene where the Ring is destroyed...Gollum falls into the depths of Mount Doom, taking the Ring with him...Sam runs up (beware: I'm writing off the top of my head so I'm not sure this is actually the sequence of events. Check your books) Frodo is finally, finally himself again! The two stumble down the mountainside and wait for death...

Can you just IMAGINE the fantastic music here?? Perhaps it will be sweet and sad...maybe a rendition of Sam's theme...Or perhaps they'll focus more on Gandalf's flight to rescue them! Something more heroic, like the Fellowship theme, or maybe the yet-unheard Gondor theme (which is bound to be heroic). Who knows, it might be something new and unheard by anyone in any of the movies before it! I can hardly wait!

Also, I really look forward to the scene (I really apologize for the length of this: this is the last scene, I promise!) where the Hobbits return to the Shire. It's pretty clear that the Shire will be unharmed in the ROTK movie so that the little heroes can look forward to a peaceful homecoming. The Shire theme will come back, and I hope it will be played by a recorder, like in the FOTR (at least I'm almost sure it was a recorder or something related to one). That sweet, lilting melody hasn't been heard since the very last scene of the FOTR...in the TT it was always the soft and sad sound of the clarinet (or something close to one: I'm a poor judge of sound) that took up the tune.

In the books a lot of emotion was conveyed by the narrator's lines and the thoughts of the characters. Since these are impossible to have in a movie, I believe that the music takes this job, controlling emotions and stirring the soul. Howard Shore is amazing, and I really look forward to the music of the ROTK. Are there any particular themes or scenes you guys look forward to? I am still enthusiastically yours.

~Lilly