June 19, 2003

The Battle Scenes to Come.
Manofwesternesse

Just picking up on G's point:- ". Helm's Deep was devoted 40 minutes so by rights Pelennor Fields and the Black Gate should have about an hour each".
I would have to agree on the Pelennor, and would expect that to run an hour or close to it(& boy am I looking forward to that).
On the Battle of the Black Gate however I do'nt think we have any reason to expect the same. In the Book there is little time given to the battle. The host marches from Gondor, thru Osgiliath, north thru Ithillien,(so far the movie can cope by giving up snapshots at critical moments, eg. setting fires in the Morgul Vale en-route etc....)
Then they arrive at the Black Gate, exchange nicities with the Mouth of Sauron, draw up their ranks & immediately face a full frontal attack. They look like getting swamped very early in the attack... & then.... the Eagles & the downfall of Sauron as the Ring meets its doom.
Unless PJ & co expand on the action here there is no way the battle scene itself will run for anything over say 10 mins?