TRIVIA from last blog: Name 2 unrelated actors who appeared in 2 different films as father and son.
My answer: David Strathairn and Joseph Mazzello in The River Wild and Simon Birch. Walkingtobars also gave an answer of: Sam Shepard and Ethan Hawke in Snow Falling on Cedars and Hamlet.
Last Christmas I was invited to a Lord of the Rings marathon by a good friend. (I had seen them before at least once.) What could have been a very long day at the movies (with the first 2 being extended editions), made for a really nice winter Sunday that my friend and I shared. I thought I would fall asleep, or get a bladder infection from sitting so long - but none of that happened at all. I was completely engrossed in the story which was made better having the audience there with me, to cry and cheer at all the same parts. It was also fun making 3 meals out of movie theater food like nachos, popcorn, candy, pop, hot dogs, and pizza. My insides were screaming at me at the end of the night, but it was worth it.
I still remember going home afterwards. I was thinking about the end of Return of the King and remembering Frodo’s words, and the image of the ship sailing away. I sang Annie Lennox’s song to myself as I walked up to my apartment in the calm, snowy night. I looked up and felt peace.
To pay tribute to this wonderful trilogy of films (which is marathon-ing again this same time of year), I am posting the scenes from it which have moved me the most.
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS
Screenplay by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens
Based on “The Lord of The Rings” trilogy by J.R.R Tolkien.
1
GANDALF
Théoden, son of Thengel, too long have you sat in the shadows.
[Gríma tries to crawl away unnoticed, but Gimli catches him and pins him to the floor.]
GIMLI
[Growls] I would stay still, if I were you.
GANDALF
Hearken to me! I release you from the spell. [Gestures with his hand]
THÉODEN
[Menacingly] Hahahhhahahahah! [Gandalf opens his eyes in surprise.] You have no power here, Gandalf the Grey!
[Gandalf throws back his grey cloak, exuding blinding white light. Théoden is thrown back against his seat.]
THÉODEN
Argh!
GANDALF
[Points his staff towards Théoden.] I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound.
[Éowyn rushes in. Seeing her uncle threatened, she tries to go to him but is held back by Aragorn.]
ARAGORN
Wait.
THÉODEN
[In Saruman’s voice.] If I go. . . Théoden dies.
[Gandalf moves his staff sharply and Théoden flies back against the chair again.]
GANDALF
You did not kill me, you will not kill him!
THÉODEN
[in Saruman's voice] Rohan is mine!
GANDALF
Be gone!!
[Gandalf smites Théoden as he lunges at him. Théoden is thrown back into the chair and the shot changes to Saruman flying backwards from the Palantír which he used to manipulate Théoden. He lands landing hard on the floor of Orthanc, bleeding from a gash in his forehead. In the hall, Théoden lets out a moan and slumps forward in the chair. Éowyn runs to her uncle’s side as he falls. Théoden’s head rises again and his face begins to change gradually into that of a much younger-looking man. Clarity and recognition returns to his eyes.]
THÉODEN
[Looks closely at Éowyn] I know your face. Éowyn… Éowyn.
2
GRÍMA
[Following Saruman] Even if it is breached, it would take a number beyond reckoning, thousands to storm the keep.
SARUMAN
Tens of thousands.
GRÍMA
But, my lord, there is no such force.
[Both of them came onto the balcony of the tower. Gríma suddenly sees and hears the enormous armies laid out below in neat rows and is astounded and awed. He continues to hold the extinguished candle aloft as he gapes at the vast army below. A horn is sounded, announcing the appearance of Saruman. A loud cheer is heard from the army. Saruman raises a hand.]
SARUMAN
A new power is rising. Its victory is at hand!
[The army cheers and roars.]
SARUMAN
This night, the land will be stained with the blood of Rohan! March to Helms Deep! Leave none alive!
[The camera keeps zooming out from the balcony over the incredible size of Saruman’s army, past Uruk-hai, spears, and banners and yet more Uruk-hai. The camera focuses back on Saruman who then raises his hands in the air]
SARUMAN
To war!!
[The army cheers and roars even louder.]
SARUMAN
[Sneers] There will be no dawn for Men.
[A tear flows down Gríma’s cheek. The Uruk-hai army begins their march to Helm’s Deep.]
3
[Arwen is lying on her bed, deep in thought.]
ELROND
[Coming into her room] Arwen.
[Arwen hears him and sits up.]
ELROND
Tollen i lû. I chair gwannar na Valannor. Si bado, no círar. (Arwen, it is time. The ships are leaving for Valinor. Go now… before it is too late.)
ARWEN
I have made my choice.
ELROND
He is not coming back. Why do you linger here when there is no hope?
ARWEN
There is still hope.
ELROND
[Walks towards window and looks out] If Aragorn survives this war, you will still be parted. If Sauron is defeated, and Aragorn made king and all that you hope for comes true, you will still have to taste the bitterness of mortality. Whether by the sword or the slow decay of time, Aragorn will die.
[Arwen sees a vision of her future as Elrond speaks. She is dressed as a queen in mourning garb and looking down upon Aragorn, a crown on his brow, Andúril in his hand, and dead. Mourners are walking around the altar, paying their final respects. Arwen is weeping.]
ELROND
And there will be no comfort for you. No comfort to ease the pain of his passing. He will come to death, an image of the splendor of the kings of men in glory undimmed before the breaking of the world.
[The body of Aragorn is now cast as a monument in stone. Arwen stands before the monument, veiled and in black.]
ELROND
But you, my daughter, you will linger on in darkness and in doubt. As nightfall in winter that comes without a star. Here you will dwell, bound to your grief, under the fading trees, until all the world is changed and the long years of your life are utterly spent.
[Still veiled in black, Arwen is walking alone through the deserted woods of Lothlórien.]
ELROND
[Tuning to Arwen] Arwen… there is nothing for you here, only death.
[The vision ends and Arwen weeps with sadness and fear. Elrond comes to sit beside his daughter and raises a hand to her cheek.]
ELROND
A im, ú-’erin veleth lîn? (Do I not also have your love?)
ARWEN
[Crying and moving into her father’s embrace] Gerich meleth nîn, ada. (You have my love, father)
4
[Nighttime, Frodo and Sam are asleep. Gollum is crouching in a corner by himself.]
GOLLUM
We wants it. We needs it. Must have the precioussss. They stole it from us. Sneaky little hobbitsesss. Wicked, trickssssy, falssse!
SMÉAGOL
No! Not Master.
GOLLUM
Yes, precious. False. They will cheat you, hurt you, lie.
SMÉAGOL
Master’s my friend.
GOLLUM
[Tauntingly] You don’t have any friends. Nobody likes YOU…
SMÉAGOL
[Covers his ears] Not listening. I’m not listening.
GOLLUM
You’re a liar and a thief.
SMÉAGOL
[Shaking his head] Nope.
GOLLUM
Mur…derer…!
SMÉAGOL
[Starts to weep and whimper] Go away.
GOLLUM
Go away! [Cackles] HAHAHAHA!!
SMÉAGOL
[Weeping and in a small voice] I hate you. I hate you!
GOLLUM
[Fiercely] Where would you be without me? *Gollum, gollum*. I saved us. It was me. We survived because of me!
SMÉAGOL
[Resolute] Not anymore.
GOLLUM
[Startled] What did you say?
SMÉAGOL
Master looks after us now. We don’t need you.
GOLLUM
What?
SMÉAGOL
Leave now and never come back.
GOLLUM
No!!
SMÉAGOL
[Louder] Leave now and never come back!
GOLLUM
[Growls and bares his teeth] Arrrgh!!!
SMÉAGOL
LEAVE. NOW. AND. NEVER. COME. BACK!
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING
Screenplay by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson
Based on the Book by J.R.R. Tolkien
1
FRODO walks through BAG END to his STUDY …
FRODO V/0
How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on, when in your heart you begin to understand. There is no going back. There are some things that time cannot mend. Some hurts that go too deep. That have taken hold.
ANGLE ON: FRODO . . . from behind. He is HUNCHED over a DESK…
PUSH IN . . . to reveal BILBO’S RED BOOK open on FRODO’S DESK.
He is WRITING in the LAST CHAPTERS …
2
INT. TOWER HALL, MINAS TIRITH – DAY
FAST PUSH IN . . . to PIPPIN looking on as DENETHOR eats.
DENETHOR
Can you sing, Master Hobbit?
PIPPIN
(uneasy) Well . . . yes, at least, well enough for my own people … but we have no songs for great halls and evil times . . . we seldom sing of anything more terrible than wind or rain.
DENETHOR
And why should your songs be unfit for my halls, or for hours such as these. Come sing me a song!
PIPPIN’S simple, clear voice echoes through the VAST HALL.
PIPPIN V/0
Home is behind, the world ahead,
And there are many paths to tread.
Through shadow to the edge of night
Until the stars are all alight.
Mist and shadow, cloud and shade:
All shall fade, all shall fade.
INTERCUT WITH:
EXT. PELENNOR FIELDS/OSGILIATH RUINS – DAY
ANGLE ON: SLOW MOTION . . . TRACKING WITH THE 200 MOUNTED KNIGHTS.
ANGLE ON: SLOW MOTION . . . GOTHMOG rises amidst the RUINS of OSGILIATH.
ANGLE ON: SLOW MOTION . . . FARAMIR’S KNIGHTS – 75 yards away -thundering towards camera.
PULL BACK . . . to GOTHMOG . . . he turns to CAMERA and RAISES HIS BOW.
ANGLE ON: SLOW MOTION . . . Behind GOTHMOG – all over the RUINED CITY – 5000 ORC ARCHERS rise to their feet . . . BLACK ARROWS already strung on their BOWS!
CLOSE ON: SLOW MOTION . . . FARAMIR YELLING defiantly.
WIDE PROFILE: SLOW MOTION . . . FARAMIR’S 200 KNIGHTS ride straight into a BLACK WALL of FLYING ARROWS . . .
AS ONE, the HORSES and HORSEMEN collapse into a CARTWHEELING, TUMBLING HEAP . . . within seconds all are MOTIONLESS.
CLOSE ON: NORMAL SPEED . . . FAST CUTS of SCREAMING ORCS . . .
INT. TOWER HALL, MINAS TIRITH – DAY
THROUGHOUT the above sequence DENETHOR has continued to EAT.
ANGLE ON: PIPPIN finishes his bittersweet song . . . he looks up at DENETHOR who continues as if he has not sent his son to his death.
ANGLE ON: PIPPIN turns away, his SORROW etched on his YOUNG FACE …
3
ANGLE ON: GANDALF and PIPPIN sit on stone steps . . . Both covered in sweat and grime, bone-weary from fighting, spirits and hearts bruised . . .
PIPPIN looks towards the WOODEN GATES at which a NUMBER of SOLDIERS continue to build a BARRICADE . . .
PIPPIN
(quiet) I didn’t think it would end this way . . .
GANDALF looks at the SMALL HOBBIT a beat.
GANDALF
(gently) End? No, the journey doesn’t end here.
PIPPIN looks up at GANDALF, questioningly . . . .
GANDALF (cont’d)
Death is just another path, one that we all must take.
ANGLE ON: GANDALF looks down to see PIPPIN looking up at him with fear in his eyes . . .
GANDALF (cont’d)
(remembering) The grey rain curtain of this world rolls back and all turns to silver glass… (to himself) and then you see it . . .
ANGLE ON: GANDALF breaks off, lost in reverie . . .
PIPPIN
What, Gandalf? See what?
GANDALF
White shores … And beyond . . . A far green country under a swift sunrise.
PIPPIN stares up at the OLD WIZARD’S FACE, softened, quiet and full of peace . . .
PIPPIN
(quiet) Well, that isn’t so bad.
GANDALF
(gently) No . . . No, it isn’t.
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I salute your ability to sit through all 3 Lord of the Rings movies in one sitting. I find sitting through one a difficult chore, but maybe I just have a mild case of ADD.
I still haven’t even seen the third one.
Oh how I love LOTR. Life changing stuff righ there. When the trees made the decision to fight in the Two Towers….. love those movies!
I watched all three Lord of the Rings extended edition DVDs in one day on Christmas Day 2008. Being that my entire family consists of my father and myself, our Christmases are pretty simple these days, and as his favorite thing to do is watch television and movies it was something to do. It’s quite a marathon. This year we were going to do all 6 Harry Potter movies, but somehow we only got 4 in on one day and watched the other 2 the next day.
One of the parts of the trilogy I find quite emotional, and there are many, is the look on Gandalf’s face when Frodo volunteers to take the ring to Mordor at the council. He was both hoping and fearing that Frodo would volunteer, and the look on his face is heart breaking.
In high school (or college?) my friends and I watched a marathon of the Alien movies, but we did one a night for 3 nights in a row. I think that worked out pretty well because we were excited to watch the next one, but didn’t have to sit so long.
I have The Godfather Trilogy 1901-1980 laserdisc that has all three films edited together, in chronological order and including additional scenes, as one 10 1/2 hour long film. I only watched it once though.