September 23, 2004

Mood
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Just here, thinking about what Tuor wrote. When I first read the LOTR, the mood was everything, especially at the start, Shadow of the Past (chapter name if memory serves). Here is a sunny day, but a dark room with curtains drawn. History is retold and a creeping menance is perceived by Frodo and the reader. The Dark Lord I felt was afar off threat but one growing. A threat that had nearly swallowed all in ages past, was now returning stronger still. Nearly always the elements reflected the protagonists, or at very least, like the aforementioned chapter, gave a contrast between the secure and happy to the oncoming storm. Sunny day to darkened room.
The movies, failed to capture this, at least TTT and ROTK did. FOTR made a very good attempt at it. If the rest had made as much effort then I'd be completely happy as regards to mood. I suppose I still am annoyed at the failure of The Pelennor Fields. Why no Darkness from Mt Doom? Not the most difficult of things to create given they managed to create armies of thousands etc. Jackson made great movies, but did miss beautiful shots. I could see it... straight after the signal is given from Minas Morgul, a boiling brownish black bank of clouds come rising over the mountains of Mordor. The impact of the sun piercing the blackened sky, with the arrival of the Rohirrim, the darkening later when the Witch King and beast decend on Theoden etc etc.
Not to mention after Grond smashing the gates, the Witch King riding in. A black silhouette against the flames beyond. Slow motion, background sound reduced, horse and rider noise amplified, hooves cracking wood and bone as they ride in. Ahhhhh and the voice.... "Old Fool..."

*wipes away a tear, My God, it would be beautiful!

Anyways better head again :) Ash Nazg...

P.s I wonder will the word Crabid now spread around the world?
Crabid (Pro: kra'bid) - Cranky, cross, snappy, cantankerous, irritable
Possible sentence (donegal speak) One individual remarking how snappy another person is:
"Jasus!, you're wil' crabid!"

Here endith the lesson.