March 5, 2004

Re: Bretts Article and Finrods Comments
Magic Fire

First of all, Kudos to Brett C's comments on what he really liked about The Return of the King. I too agreed with your choices and go one step further in mentioning Sam's trek up the mountain with Frodo, the Grey Havens, and also I thought that despite some critisisms I have read about Eowyn versus the Witch King, I felt that it was extraordinarily realistic to show the fear in her eyes at the Witch King's approach, because a true hero or herowin is afraid, but acts anyway. I agree with you about the eye. I think the menacing cloud rising up would have been a lot better. I do feel however that Sauron as a character was not invisioned enough in the trilogy either. I always thought that the closest you got to Sauron was:"Tell Saruman that this dainty is not for him. Say just that..."(Pippin looking into the Palantir) I too felt that The Fellowship of the Ring was the best movie of the three, but the Extended Editions did a lot to make me like the first two more and I expect that the ROTK EE will do the same for me. I hear they are rereleasing ROTK this weekend and I want to see it one more time at the theatres!

As for Finrod Felagund's explanation of norse mythology and Beorn, I thought that was great! It really explained the movie the 13th Warrior in a way I never understood before! Appreciate that! And you probably have a very very good point about Beorn too!