August 18, 2004

The 'Last Ship', and the 'Last' DVD
Bob Praz

Lilly, you are quite right. After all, Legolas crosses the sea with Gimli many years later, so that alone is proof. But I guess PJ did not want to complicate things too much, and he simply wanted to put emphasis on the fact that the ship was carrying the last of the High-Elves/Noldor from Middle-Earth, and that it was the end of the Third Age. Perhaps Elrond's fatherly worries in the movie would be less justified or understandable if we didn't think that Arwen would be missing her last chance tp leave Middle-Earth.

I have another related question however, which comes to mind: does anyone know whether or not Cirdan himself left the Grey Havens with Elrond and the others, if not shortly after? I don't remember the last chapter of the book very well anymore.

On a last note, I believe the ROTK Extended Edition is being released slightly later this year because they'll be adding certain things that weren't normally put in, and which they had to wait for. For example, we will apparently see footage of Howard Shore's LOTR Symphony being performed in Montreal, and who knows if they'll want to say a word or two about the Oscars? By the way, Danny, don't brake your fingers and toes on my account, but all evidence and rumors do indicate that Gandalf's staff will be broken, therefore brace yourself. Personally, I will wait until I see it before judging it, but I agree with everything you have said (especially with Saruman’s scene put back in; also, in FOTR, we were given the impression that Gandalf was rendered powerless when Saruman stole his staff during their duel within Orthanc, and used it against him). What still kindles doubt in my mind, though, is how Gandalf obtained a new staff (or repaired/rebuilt the old) before the Grey Havens. It is all rather odd and contradictory.