February 24, 2002

Uncanny Similarities
Brett C.

What can I say, David? I guess great minds really do think alike, re: your statements about both the Balrog wings and Elrond's sons sitting in at the council.

I actually thought the ring Galadriel holds up in the farewell to Lorien was just holding her sleeve, since the ring should be invisible to mortal eyes, but you could well be right about it being Nenya. I haven't been able to spot Elrond wearing Vilya for what I figured was the same reason [i.e. invisible]but that doesn't mean he isn't. The promo shots I have access to show no sign of the ring. Gandalf is definitley not 'visibly' wearing Narya, but whether that is because PJ is omitting that detail or reamining true to the Professor's revealing this at the very end of the saga reamins to be seen.

Gil-Galad certainly was shot on film in the battle on Mount Doom. One of the German sites had a picture of him and Citadel miniatures has released a figure of him holding the spear Aiglos in its movie tie-in series.

And yes, in the movie Aragorn's ring is the ring of Barahir David mentioned. It is shown on his finger in the 'Visual Companion' released with the movie. As described in the novel it has two serpent heads entwined set with emeralds for eyes, another PJ homage to detail. The irony, of course, is that in the original story Aragorn gives this ring to Arwen in Lorien about 30 years before Fellowship takes place, but just seeing it is pretty cool.

So, Balrogs with 'wings' of smoke and shadow. Imagine that. :]