October 7, 2003

Galdriel and Trolls [and Theoden]
Brett C.

Frodo Lives , you are right in that the scene with Galadriel is definitley not in the encounter with Shelob. I have only my own deductions for why it is in the movie, but here they are.

In the book, Tolkien often makes references to thougths coming apparently unbidden to the minds of Sam and Frodo in times of crisis, thoughts which help them overome they're situation when coupled with their natural courage and loyalty to each other. On Weathertop in the book, Frodo shouts the name of Elbereth, helping to drive off the Nazgul despite his wound [a shame this was not in them movie] and in Shelob's lair, while he is holding the star-glass the text runs

"Aiya Earendil Elenion Ancalima! he cried, and knew not what he had spoken; for it seemed that anohter voice spoke through his, clear, untroubled by the foul air of the pit."

There are a large number of people who see this and other such incidents as examples of how Eru, Tolkien's name for the One God of Middle Earth, is helping and guiding the champions of the free peoples in their sturggle, while still leaving them with the precious gift of free will. Gandalf in the movie refers to such in saying "There are other forces at work, besides the will of Evil."

Now this works very well in print, but such metaphysical ideas can be very complex in transferring to screen with the subtlty that the Professor uses, especially in an already very complicated storyline. So my guess is that the vision of Galadriel is meant to show the audience how the powers of good are helping Frodo from afar, while while still relying on him to overcome the terrible obstacles in his path. Frodo does historically call out to Galadriel in his face-down wiht Shelob, making her a good chioce for this kind of vision.

On a side note, my biggest puzzler in the trailer is the apparent transferring of Theoden's rousing call [to the Rohirrim] to Aragorn. Theoden is a favourite of mine and I had been waiting avidly to hear him crying out "Ride now, Ride now - Ride to Gondor!" It is to my mind the most stirring cry of the entire trilogy, and I must admit I will be bitterly disappointed if it is taken from him.

Niphredil, if you look closely the Toll falls through the shaft of sunlight but does not calcify. This is a mistake. Oh well. As to how much sunlight is needed to trun trolls to stone, the Great Olog-hai of Mordor fought during the daytime at the battle of the Black Gate, with no more than the fumes of Mordor the cloud the sun. Also, the Mountain trolls that swung Grond at Minas Tirith would probably have had to travel in daytime to keep up with the advancing army of Mordor, but were apparently protected by the darkness from Mt. Doom that covered the lands. So I would guess heavy cloud cover would protect them.