April 21, 2004

Belated Message to U
Brett C.

I seem to constantly be two steps behind these days, but as to 'U', what about tne undeeps [the area of rapids on the Anduin north of Rauros] and Undomiel [Arwen's 'surname']. Oh, and Uttermost West [same as undying Lands, I guess]. Ungoliant perhaps, Shelob's mother? Udun, the gorge located behind the Black Gate, and also the name of the ancient underworld - the Balrog was called the 'flame of Udun'.

As far as the sailing from the Haven's goes, it was a pity they used the description of the arival at Aman in Gandalf's description of to Pippin of dying, because it meant they could not use it at the end of the move without many of the audience thinking Frodo had died. Other things about the havens that may have made it not quite right are the small number of those sailing [in the books it is the bulk of Elrond's household], the presence of Celeborn, but most significantly for me the absence of Shadowfax and the fact that it was sunset, instead of nightime lit by starlight [much more Elvish, as Tolkien no doubt understood when he wrote it].