December 27, 2003

RotK EE: Extended Scenes (very Long List)
Bob Praz

Ok, since we're sort of on the subject, with all the discussions of scenes that were cut from ROTK, I've made a list of all the possible extended stuff we might see in the ROTK special edition; basically everything, big or little, that I could think of. I did it before with the TTT EE, but now there's so much stuff that I'm not going to elaborate unless it's necessary. Keep in mind, some of these points are just rumours, while others are only small shots or lines that we've seen/heard in the trailers but which I don't recall in the movie. So here I go:

- Saruman’s death. Gandalf and his companions confront Saruman who is up on his balcony. Gandalf brakes Saruman’s staff. Wormtongue possibly throws the Palantir out of the tower (Pippin finds it later on, as in the movie, or he will chase after it in an alternate sequence like in the book). Wormtongue stabs Saruman upon the top of Orthanc, and the wizard falls to his death and is impaled upon the "Round Spiked Wheelie Dealie". Wormtongue is then possibly shot down by Legolas.
- Elrond saying the line: "This is your test, every path you have trod through wilderness, through war, has led to this road." etc. (Unless this WAS in the movie and I missed it...)
- Merry pledging to Theoden before the Golden Hall
- More Paths of the Dead, with Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli walking and exploring in the tunnels, probably leading up to them running into the main hall where the meet the King of the Dead.
- Arwen standing upon a small bridge in Rivendell, Elrond saying: "You gave away your life’s grace, I cannot protect you anymore."
- Shot of Gandalf and Pippin looking out from the battlements of the Citadel, Mordor looming in the distance (seen in the trailer, but not in the movie as far as I can recall).
- More of Aragorn speaking to Eowyn just before taking the Dimholt road (seen in the trailer, but once again I can’t recall it in the movie, so correct me if I’m wrong: he touches Eowyn’s face as tears well in her eyes).
- Eomer mourns Eowyn/Theoden on the battlefield, then leads the Rohirrim front as they chant "Death!"
- More of the Rohirrim leaving Edoras (there’s a shot in the trailer where the camera focuses on Legolas, who is on horseback with Gimli, while the riders of Rohan pass in the background).
- Merry telling Pippin before they are parted: "We shall see the Shire again."
- A shot of Aragorn kneeling down in grief while Legolas comforts him (seen in trailer and pictures), perhaps at the exit of the Paths of the Dead.
- Gandalf confronts the Witch-King as he and Pippin ride through Minas Tirith to save Faramir. The Witch-King apparently brakes Gandalf’s staff, but is then distracted by the arrival of the Rohirrim and flies away (to kill Theoden, I suppose). This latter point was part of a spy report on AICN, so it may be just a false rumour. Anyhow, I’d have to look at Gandalf during the battle at the Black Gate, because I don’t think he actually has his staff (which would support this), yet I know he has it at the Grey Havens, which complicates things. Also, if the Witch-King does leave with the arrival of the Rohirrim, then the chronology of events in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields may be altered for the EE, because in the movie the Rohirrim arrive as the men of Gondor are retreating from the first level, before Pippin tells Gandalf of Denethor’s madness.
- Aragorn and his companions meet the Mouth of Sauron before the Black Gate. The latter shows them the mithril vest and tells them that Frodo been captured, and perhaps also that Sauron has regained the ring. They believe him and think that they are truly doomed, and thus Aragorn’s line "For Frodo" refers to Frodo’s sacrifice rather than to buying time.
- A longer version of Gandalf’s line "things are now in motion..." which is heard in the DVD preview.
- At Edoras, Aragorn tells Gandalf: "He has gone unchallenged long enough."
- Aragorn reveals himself to Sauron in the Palantir. Sauron may show him Arwen’s sickness, although this was probably used in the Aragorn’s dream sequence just before Elrond arrives in Dunharrow.
- Gamling dies on the Pelennor Fields (once again, a rumour from AICN).
- The Houses of Healing scene. Aragorn heals Faramir, Eowyn, and Merry. Faramir and Eowyn fall in love.
- Aragorn walks up to the throne of Gondor in the White Tower (seen in the DVD preview).
- Frodo and Sam, in orc disguise, join a group of marching orcs on their way to Mount Doom.
- The scene of the Crossroads and the king’s head crowned with flowers.
- Orcs attempt to breach the Great Gate of Minas Tirith with a small battering ram earlier in the siege (seen in pictures and previews). This little sequence probably demonstrates the strength of the main gate and thus the necessity for a greater siege engine: Grond.

There you have it; I hope it was long enough (hehe; I may have broken my own record). Correct me if I'm mistaken in some points, and please post any other extended scenes you can think of, because I'm keeping track of the list. Maybe this is excessive, but that's what being a hardcore fan means, I suppose.

PS: In one of the recent reports posted on TORn, Peter Jackson said that the ROTK EE would probably be four hours and fifty minutes long. Sounds a little absurd, but keep in mind that the original rough cut of ROTK was indeed over four hours long, and that PJ edited the movie by cutting out stuff from this initial version. Do you guys think this is too long for the EE, or is it fine by you?