October 27, 2004

re: Evil shadowfax
Lilly

Yeah, Shadowfax was a little out of line pushing Denethor onto the fire and all...but I guess the bad example was set by Gandalf, what with the repeated staff-blows to the head. Really, the whole Denethor's Death thing irked me out of my mind...

Denethor: (running)Ack! I'm on fire!

Gandalf: so passes Denethor...

Denethor: (still running) FIRE!! OW, OW!!

Gandalf: What a shame.

Denethor: (still running) OWEE OWEE OWEEEEEE!! FIRE!!

Guard: Umm...shouldn't someone stop him?

Gandalf: No, he's passed.

Guard: ...but--

Gandalf: really. trust me.

Denethor: (still running) AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!

Gandalf...

Guard:...

Denethor: (still running) I'M SORRY ALREADY!! AAAAAACK!!(finally falls)

Orcs: (looking up) OOh! Look! Fire works!

I mean, wasn't that kind of dumb? Gee, let's not stop Denethor as he runs the 200-meter dash of DEATH!! It's not like the horse could catch up with him or anything!! Don't anybody to shout, "Stop, drop and roll, my lord! stop, drop, and roll!"

Actually, I think the whole of Denethor's part was a little too Monty Python for me...

Denethor: My son is dead!

Pip: But he's still alive!

Denethor: My line is ended!

Pip: Actually, I think he might make it!

Denethor: No, my son is dead!

Pip: he just needs medicine!

Denethor: MY LINE IS ENDED!!!

Pip:...fine. forget it, you old fart.

Denethor: (gets beaten by Gandalf).

Just a bit TOO over-the-top for me.

As to gollum getting pushed over the edge, I always kind of hoped that if they were going to change the ending to something like that, that Sam would push him. That was actually one of Tolkien's original ideas: Frodo collapses, Sam runs up and shoves Gollum over.

I think he changed the end to it's present "accident" state because it sort of lets us know that, even though the ring was destroyed because of the will and courage of two hobbits, there was a greater, good force at work in the end. If you understand me.

yours.

Lilly