Fun trivia: Aragorn's actor (Viggo) loved his movie horse so much that he bought it. So this is truly HIS horse. It became his companion in real life too.
One small detail that most people miss, is that the kid’s sword that Aragorn says is a good sword, is the same sword that he throws down in disgust in his previous scene. He is actively deciding to have hope, and to impart hope to others.
Aragorn is nicknamed "King Elessar", Elessar being the elvish word for "Hope". It was the nickname his mother gave to him and to which he always became remembered. Aragorn is the personification of hope.
More interesting background on Gollum in the book not represented in the film. After losing his ring Gollum finally left the caves to spend years hopelessly searching for it. Eventually Gandalf heard rumors of something like Gollum lurking around, and asked Aragorn to hunt him down. Aragorn captured him and Gandalf interrogated him. That’s how Gandalf knew Gollum had once been captured by Sauron, tortured, and then set free, even knew his name had been Sméagol - those things he tells Frodo in the 1st movie (how the heck else could Gandalf had known those things?) Gandalf then asked Legolas’s people to imprison Gollum for safekeeping. But they were too nice about it and some orcs were able to set him free. In book, the reason Legolas came to Rivendell in the first place was to get word to Gandalf that Gollum escaped. So at this point in the book, Gandalf, Aragorn, and probably Legolas all had spent time with Gollum.
Small correction: Boromir and Faramir's father, Denethor, is not a king, he's the latest STEWARD, a line of caretakers of the throne of Gondor, until the rightful king shows up.
Gandalf is what is called a Maia in the lore of LOTR. That means he is sort of an angel, a very powerful spirit sent out by the gods to watch over the people of middle-earth. As a Maia, Gandalf is immortal, but he inhabits a human body wich more or less has the same physical limitations as a human, but he has magic powers, and he wields one of the magic rings, one of the three given to the elves. This ring gives him special powers over the ability to inspire friendship and loyalty. This is an often over-looked aspect of the character: Gandalf is not actually allowed to use his magic as a weapon, and he rarely does. Instead, he uses his wisdom, his humor and his charisma to inspire others to become heroes, to fight for themselves.
Fun side note, and more proof that Jackson did his homework, we never see the ring Gandalf wears until the final scene in Return of the King. The 3 greater rings were invisible unless you were a bearer yourself (when Galadriel shows hers in the books Frodo can see it but Sam is confused). After the One Ring is destroyed they lose their power and become visible. At the end of RotK, when they’re boarding the ship, you see Gandalf’s ring for the first time. It’s a tiny detail but just shows how much Jackson reallllly cared about these movies.
Not only did "Game of Thrones" pull a lot of inspiration from this, but so have nearly every fantasy story for the last 70 years; JRR Tolkien basically invented the genre with "Lord of the Rings". Often I hear the uninformed say that "Lord of the Rings" is full of used tropes and cliches, that they've seen it before in other movies and books. The reason is that when "Lord of the Rings" was written they were not tropes and cliches because it invented the tropes and cliches.
Not true though, folklore was invented centuries before that, but English folklore had Scandinavian roots, not Anglo-Saxon, he wanted to create Epic story originally from England, even though he was inspired by Celts, vikings stories and other folklore. You guys need to stop make things up, especially when you read zero books your entire life. Homer would die again if he saw your message 😂
bro JRR literally invented dwarfs and orcs while yes he used euro folklore it wasn't in a bad way he completely embraced it and wanted it to be apart of his story. People like you using this argument is just sad and shows you just a hater. compare these works to other Fantasy works where they literally use his ideas in full like Warhammer@@Sindamsc
@Sindamsc "Fantasy" as we know it as a genre was basically started my tolkein.. before him you would go to magical lands in fairytales/folk tales an such as a device to teach a lesson, before coming back to reality, after Tolkien the fantasy setting IS the reality. Also whenever you think of "Orcs" or "dwarves" and "elves" all of those came from Him as well. He literally invented orcs. So... way to show how much you "don't" know.
CANNOT WAIT TO SEE PART 3! Film 3 goes 10x harder than both the first two combined. You guys will be an absolute wreck. Best and most emotional movie of all time.
@@thekittygoesmeow9652 Schindler's List is in there, i haven't watch Sophie's Choice, Saving Private Ryan? it's somehow emotional but not in the level of LOTR and Schindler's List.
@@thekittygoesmeow9652 Schindler was just super emotional, particularly ending scene. But LOTR subletly, by the pacing and the lenght of it, had tons of its moments. Didn't see Sophie's choice but for knowing purpose of it, seems to be overdrama-drama. Not my cup of tea at all. Make movies to just buy some crying... And i cannot get out of my head words Ricky Gervais had for this particular movie on Oscars introduction, when he slammed entire Hollywoodpancake. figures. LOTR is for me a quiet river of emotions spreading all his feels of an endless journey at peacefull rythm, even if there is obvious peak through the end.. All of that magnified by width and heaviness of the story, plus some increasing epicness degree through entire time.
@@EDWARD-zd7lb right on. SPR effects some people differently based on life experiences. I absolutely love LOTR trilogy. When I was a kid all we had was the Hobbit cartoon. Gollum was a dick in that one too. Sophie’s Choice will tear your heart out.
As an old man ;-) i had the chance to see them in the cinema, and i have done that maybe 10times each of them. Remember the films came up every december, so you have to wait one year...the third one will be the best for sure. Music, pictures, story-telling, battles, laughing, crying...its an rollercoaster of emotions.
So excited! It makes me happy when after so much time these films are still appreciated and loved by new people. I'm 29 but my parents had these on VHS lolll so I've had the privilege of watching them since I was little and it still effects me so much. Best battle sequence in all cinema history!
That’s because they stuck to the powerful and lofty themes and ideals of Tolkiens work. and because of that these films have touched many hearts around the world. To live on. To better their life. To keep going etc. so many great stories of read and listened to regarding the impact of Tolkiens many books as well as all the games out there too that have been a part of our lives for so long now.
@Quotenwagnerianer Yes my parents were very old school lol I grew up in the late 90s so we didn't have a DVD player when LOTR came out. They did eventually get the DVDs but I know it's very rare to say I've seen LOTR in every form possible haha. I just looked it up and yeah Fellowship came out on August 2002 on VHS 😂
The wonderful thing about Gimli and Legolas is that their races held big grudges against one another for a long time, but between them, things are changing and will blossom in the last movie. Now I can't wait for you to watch the last one. 😁
You made a really good point regarding Helm's Deep - just before 44:12 - about the design of the keep; your idea regarding 'another gate' was basically how actual castles/ keeps were designed..! A series of what were essentially deathtraps/ funnels/ killzones leading up to the main structure.. As a result; actually storming them seems like it was less common - rather, easier to take the river/ water source, post up outside and beat the defenders down with starvation and disease.
Since it's probably not clear, the wizards are essentially angels sent into the world to help in the fight against Sauron. They weren't supposed to try and take him on directly or try to dominate people, but Saruman got corrupted.
This knowledge will help make sense of the future movies. Gandalf is the same species of being as the Balrogs/Sauron before twisted by Melkor[Morgoth]. They are all Maiar (primordial spirits). Gandalf named Olórin created by Eru’s Thought (extensions of Eru Îlluvatar himself whilst they had their own free will and individuality. He essentially got the chance to experience and study other parts of himself through this.) among the other Ainur before the Years of the Lamps roughly 9,000+ years before arriving in Middle-earth; In Valinor he was known as Olórin.(Remember though he formally existed before the world existed and his form becoming Gandalf hadn’t happened yet. He was sent to Middle-earth in human form around the year 1000 of the Third Age. So his many forms had different ages in length of existing. He’s very cool right! Could he get any cooler!? 😎❤️ Another thing is when he arrived in middle earth he was disguised as an elf and lived among them whilst they were unknowing and he became to be known as Mithrandir to the Quendi/Eldar❤️ He could have very well dwelled with the elves far earlier just do to his curiosity and simple desire to explore and be around the firstborn (TheElves) Gandalf The Grey/White Estimated at 15,000 years old (following his quote "300 lives of men, I have walked this earth"), It says that Gandalf was the wisest of the Maiar besides Melian herself. There were a lot of Maiar that were considered really great and powerful. However, there is a much longer answer. Like Sauron(former name is Mairon) and the other Istari (the order sent around the same time and of which he was appointed leader but he being who he is and a student of the Vala by the name Nienna and Lorien(Irmo). Gandalf was a Maiar, an angelic spirit created by Eru at the beginning of time and therefor one of the many Ainur who sang the world into being and Eru just helped their creation take shape and basically stated “behold YOUR creation” and basically what happens in that world goes sort of preordained as by that song eons ago so really only the ages after Dagor Dagorath will truly be an age that isn’t full of strife and sadness and longing. Also. These lamps are what were before even the two trees. These were Giant mountains but also like light houses but housing a great power but it may have also been where two special Maia lived that helped in the creation in the sun and moon after Melkor With eldrich terror Ungoliant killed the trees, so yea Arien is the Maia who basically exists with the sun and her brother and or lover of sorts is the one who wanders with and guides the moon.
22:22 Don't forget how much the themes of mercy and fate are important to this author. Some that live deserve death, and some that die deserve life. Don't be too eager to deal out death in judgement, for even the very wise cannot see all ends.
I went to New Zeeland the year after seeing the last of the films. Bought a LOTR location guide book and visited a lot of the places where the movie was shot. Standing in a place you recognize from the movies is a totally surreal feeling! Spent 3 weeks there but could have stayed for a year. If you get the chance - GO!!
I love how you hold hands all the time and sit practically on top of each other. My husband and I are like this too. Still dizzy in love after 26+ years. ❤️
No cannons at Helm's Deep....they didn't know about gunpowder....that was Sarumon's secret weapon inside the bomb...remember the black powder that he showed Wormtongue?? So, Sarumon was the only one who had gunpowder. That's why no one had ever taken Helm's Deep, and why they were so astonished when the bomb went off.
Sam is the champ of champs. Basically just some country boy, built and wired for humbler things like gardening. Barely understands most of what he's going through, but his eye's always on keeping his friend safe.
This has been fun! Can't wait for you to see the last film. Actually, Gandalf the Gray did die. Not from the fall but from wounds during his fight with the Balrog. He was sent back to complete his task, taking on the mantle of Gandalf the White. He is a Maia spirit (plural Maiar), an immortal that can be given mortal forms to interact with Middle Earth. All the wizards of his order including Saruman, as well as the Balrogs and even Sauron are Maiar.
I'm so happy to see you guys watching this, you catch things that others don't. There is no filler dialog in these movies, the smallest of conversation is used to explain something that had happened or something that will be happening. Love the reactions.
Saruman is the wizard who is making Urukai and Orcs, and he used to be Gandalf's peer. Sauron is the dark lord who got his finger cut off and separated from the ring. Once he was separated from that, his physical manifestation somewhat disappeared, and he is now just the eye on the tower of Minas Morgul which is in Mordor. He wants the ring to regain power and manifest once more in his complete physical form.
The author of the novels that Game of Thrones is based on is a tremendous fan of Lord of the Rings. He has read the novels over and over since he was a child. So you are correct that the story influenced Game of Thrones. And it is not silly that you called the Sam of this story Samwell. I am quite sure that Sam was an inspiration for Samwell, as they are both the loyal friend of one of the main heroes, and have other similar personality traits. This Sam is Sam Wise Gamgee and the other one is Samwell Tarly. Everyone should have a Sam in their life.
The cloaks were imbued with the Elves' love of everything in nature. As a result, they can camouflage the wearer in virtually any natural environment. The elves don't even actively enchant them. Basically they just think "These will be useful for stealth in the wild" and it just causes the desired effect to take hold. In Tolkien's world, magic is heavily based on willpower
That final shot is awesome. After all Sam and Frodo have been through you might think the road is getting easier, but the camera drifts up and shows where they're going -- and its terrifying.
“Dead faces in the water” Tolkien was a soldier during World War I. His inspiration for the dead marshes was “No man’s land” wherein there were dead soldiers (either British, German, French etc) and dead faces coming out from mud and puddles of water.
In this it is a pretty good bet if you don't see a body the person is still alive. 14:00 Tolkien fought in the Battle of the Somme, the bloodiest battle of the First World War. The dead marshes were partly inspired by his experience there, with the dead and the dying lying in the mud. 14:55 Elrond did a lot to heal him, but Frodo does not recover fully from the wound he suffered on Weathertop, even at the end. 26:00 The Oliphaunts are way bigger than even African Elephants and even the largest Mammoths that existed. 27:30 The Wargs were originally envisioned as monstrous wolves, but in the last few decades wolves have been seen in a more sympathetic light, so in the movie they made them much more hyena-like. 42:34 No, he wasn't, he was the son of the current ruler, but he is not the King, his title is 'Steward'. The Steward rules while there is no king, which has been the case for a long time, but Aragorn is the true heir to the throne.
43:13 Most keeps and castles would have two gates/doors and in between the ceiling above would have a hole where the defenders would pour boiling oil and so on through onto the invading enemies. This hole was historically known as the Murder Hole.
Random fun fact: The actor who plays Gimli - John Rhys-Davies - also voices the ent Treebeard :) Thanks for sharing your awesome, guys :* See you for the next one /Lizz
great movie. I guess elvish cloaks have intuitive camouflage abilities lol. and Hugo Weaving is an amazing actor, he can adopt so MANY different character types - Elrond, Agent Smith, the Red Skull, etc. Also voice of Rex in Babe!!!
The Fellowship of the Ring was the first of your videos I have watched and this is the second. The two of you are possibly the most perceptive first time viewers I have seen and I truly hope that you enjoy the finale as well. It would not hurt you to know that in the Tolkein world, wizards are not just humans who use magic. They are semi-divine beings called Maiar. You could think of them as "angels". 5 were sent to Middle Earth to help against the dark lord. Only Gandalf remained completely true to his calling. It is also interested to note that Sauron and the balrogs were also maiar. You can think of them as fallen angels. Also, Sauron was not the original dark lord. That was Morgoth who was a Valar. The easiest analogy would be that the Valar are like arc-angels while the Maiar are a step down and just plain angels. Sauron was a disciple of Morgoth. Boromir and Faromir were not sons of the king of Gondor. That title belonged to Aragorn who has not claimed it. Instead, they were the sons of the hereditary Steward of Gondor. The stewards were left in control when the kings went into exile. Over time, they assumed more and more of the trappings of kingship but never went all the way. You will see later on that the Steward sits on a throne but, in the background, without any attention, there is the much grander throne of the kings. The "hyenas" in the movie are wargs. In the movies, they definitely resemble hyenas but in the books were a particularly vicious type of wolf. One brief suggestion, from my perspective: your sound mix could use a boost for the movie sound to more closely match the levels of your voices.
And you two now understand how funny Tony Starks remark to Hawkeye was in that first avengers movie. Right before he flies him to the roof "clench up legolas"
Man, the first time I saw a Black Rider stop a Fell Beast (the flying creature) as a kid was the first time I asked myself, “Why do the bad guys always get the good shit?” 🤣
Also keep in mind there’s a lot of allegory for the world we live in. Tolkien was a pained man who saw the very worse of what man can do to one another and his writings were his therapy. You can see his love for nature and his disdain for the war machine as it chews and spits out both nature and man. This is illustrated with the orcs of Isengard as the war machine turns. The ring itself is a metaphor for the all the sin in the world. As Frodo is a Christ like character who must suffer for the worlds being. And the different kingdoms of men, elves, and dwarves parallel our world in the way of countries. How we fight and kill each other when im the end we all struggle with sin and imperfection.
Eomer played by Karl Urban was outcast with his Rohirrim! His name actually means "Horse Famous" in old English! 🙄 People forget he was/is a BadAss Warrior with his 3000 Heavy Cavalry! 🤨😎
Fun trivia: Gandalf fought the Balrog for 8 days straight before killing it. Also, Gandalf and the Balrog are the same race, so is Saruman. They are Maia. Which are basically angels. The difference between Gandalf and Saruman and The Balrog is that the Balrog is currupted by dark magic from Morgoth, the ORIGINAL Dark Lord. Sauron's master. And there were many more Balrogs during Morgoth's reign. The one we saw Gandalf fight was the weakest of them.
This is not a spoiler because they do not explain this whatsoever in These movies. Minas Tirith is the city Boromir is from. The place with the white tree. That is the city Aragorn is meant to rule from. You were discussing the construction of this wall And different designs you might use to defend it. That city I mentioned has 7 levels That move upwards Along the mountainside from the ground to the top. Like layers on a cake. Each level is defensible from the all the levels above it with the arrows. And each level only has one gate that leads up to the next level. And each gate is located on the opposite side of the city from the one below it. So to take the city they have to snake their way slowly through these 7 levels of hell.
A little explanation as to Aragorn’s age: In a past age, Elves who fought in the war against Morgoth (Sauron’s previous master and original Dark Lord) we’re gifted by the gods with a choice: To be Men or Elves. Those that chose to be Elves (Like Elrond) are immortal, their spirits return to The Undying Lands when they “die”, and this choice is past down to their descendants. Those that chose to be Men (Like Elrond’s brother Elros) have long mortal lives, giving up the immortality and place in The Undying Lands of themselves and their descendants. Aragorn is descended from Elros. It makes Arwen’s decision even more poignant, as when she dies she’ll be dead forever, and won’t see her family again.
J.R.R. Tolkien, the author of the books, said that Sam was the real hero of the story. Tolkien believed in 'the little man', the working class people who were the backbone of his country as they are the backbone of every nation.
Magic is still strong in this world. In the first movies, The Elves says that this Elvish cloak would hide them from unfriendly eyes. The clock can magically turn them into rock, tree or anything basically camouflage them and hide them from any unfriendly eyes. Just like Sam's Elvish ropes that untie themselves nicely and hurting Gollum (because he's unfriendly). Sorry for my bad english
As a big fan of the books and someone who knows every single frame of these movies by heart it is certainly a refreshing but also weird experience to see the naive and surprised reactions of newcomers
When air going legless in Gimli, meet with the riders of Rohan right near the end of the conversation, see if you notice anything that happens when the guy in the horses do not trust a hope, watch the sword
Gandalf is a "Maia". One of five _Maiar_ that the _Valar_ sent to Middle Earth thousands of years ago. The Valar (the "Gods") sent five Maiar (think of them as Angels or Demigods) to Middle-earth to help fight the evil of the *_"Fallen Maiar"_* (Sauron, Balrog, etc). So yes, in a sense, Gandalf, Saruman, Sauron and the Balrog are brothers. They had great skills of hand and mind and took on the appearance of Men, seemingly old, but of great strength and vigor. Their mission was to guide Elves and Men by gaining trust and spreading knowledge, not by ruling them with fear and force. They were known as the _"Istari"_ or Wizards. These Maiar/Istari were: *_Gandalf the Grey_* (later Gandalf the White) *_Saruman the White_* (Curumo or Curunír; later "Saruman of Many Colors") *_Radagast the Brown_* (Aiwendil) *_Alatar_* and *_Pallando_* the "Blue Wizards" (for their sea-blue robes, they went East and disappeared) Gandalf was known by the following names: *_Olórin_* (his "true name" as a Maia) *_Gandalf_* (Men, Hobbits, in the North) *_Mithrandir_* (Elves : "Grey Pilgrim" or "Grey Wanderer") *_Incánus_* (Gondor / in the South, possibly "Mind Ruler" or "Mind Master") *_Tharkûn_* (Dwarves : "Staff Man") *_Greyhame_* (Rohan : "Grey Cloak") *_The Grey Pilgrim_* (Elves & friends of elves) *_Stormcrow_* (by King Théoden of Rohan, due to Gandalf chasing trouble) *_White Rider_* (by some of Edoras) *_Láthspell_* (derogatory name by Grima Wormtongue : "Bad News") *_Old Greybeard_* *_Gandalf the Wandering Wizard_*
I'm usually good with separating books from movies, and this film is phenomenal on its own merits... but there is one thing that still bothers me a lot about the choices they made here. In the books, Faramir never tries to bring the ring to Gondor. I know they were going for more drama, but I think that really changes his character a lot.
Yeah. I love these movies, but making the Ring instantly more powerful is just plain stupid. When Sam says in Osgiliath: "We shouldn't be here!" my reaction from the first time I saw this movie has always been the same: "Damn straight Sam! Because this entire scene is not by Tolkien." ;)
It kind of makes sense though, he wants his father approval And now he can get that by doing the thing his brother failed at. It’s not until the third movie where he actually accepts he’ll never get that
@@Quotenwagnerianer For the movies to work, the Ring needed to be an urgent and immediate threat that needed to be dealt with as soon as possible. It removes the suspense and the threat if there are people who can easily resist it. Its why the movies shrunk the timeline down unlike the books where Frodo had the Ring for decades and kept staying for a few months even after knowing that it was the One Ring.
That's not just the guy from the Matrix, that is also V under the Guy Fawkes mask. Helm's deep is weak. You are right, the inside of the deepening wall shouldn't of had a direct link to the castle. You are right, the gate should of had a "gatehouse" with murder holes and oil. And, where is the draw bridge? Just to Clarify, there are two kingdoms, Rohan at Edoras and Gondor at Minas Tirith. Sarauman sent him army to take out Rohan while Mordor (Sauron) is going to fight Gondor. You already saw some of the initial fighting of Gondor with Boromir's brother when the Nazgal arrived. Hope you are enjoying the series.
SAURON - The main villain. He's the evil warrior lord who gets his ring finger cut off at the beginning of the first movie. We soon learn that he did not die, and he has returned. But not yet in physical shape. We see him now as a flaming eye, overlooking his realm of Mordor from the top of his tower. SARUMAN - The head of Gandalf's wizard council and master of Isenguard, (the OTHER tower). He betrays Gandalf and joins forces with Sauron, doing his bidding and building an army of URU-KAI (super-orcs). Saruman and Sauron communicate via PALANTIRS, magic orbs, somewhat similar to crystal balls. When Pippin picks one up, he is quickly overwhelmed by Sauron, who is always on the other side of the connection.
I have to put in a good word for one ANDY SERKIS, the actor who plays Smeagol and Gollum. His Gollum character is part CGI and part MOTION CAPTURE. During filming, the actor, Andy, wears a dark suit with white patches on his joints and other body areas that get mapped into a computer, "joined together" to make fluid, human movements and then Gollum's digital skin is placed over the key white points and, VOILA!, you have Gollum walking, jumping, eating raw fish, etc. SAURON is the dude whose fingers and ring got cut off; Saruman lives in Isengard and is known as The White Wizard, Gandalf the Gray's superior in the Tolkien trilogy. King Theoden, the wrinkly-faced guy who Gandalf releases from Saruman's spell, is played by the actor who was the Captain of the Titanic in "Titanic."
That look that both o youse had on your faces around 41:50… if you pause it right there and get a still shot, that’s exactly how the wifey and I looked throughout the entire length of all three films from start to finish lol. We love how naturally organic your reactions are on every film! Thanks for sincerely sharing your thoughts and your living room with us! ❤❤❤Remember, Stay in the love Stay in the light
*Boromir was not the son of the king,* *he was the son of the steward of Gondor,* there isn't a king in Gondor *YET,* the *only rightful heir to the Throne of Gondor is Aragorn,* the rightful King of Gondor. Galadriel showed Boromir that there was still hope for his people, she didn't show him war, he was the one that felt hopeless (he admitted it when he was talking to Aragorn in the movie) because all the battles Gondor has fought, he was a good Men who was tempted by the ring, because it's hard to to resist the temptation of the ring especially for the race of Men. Also they don't show it in the movies (it's in the books though) but Aragorn served Gondor as an exceptional warrior and captain for many years but using the alias Toronguil and it was when Boromir's grandfather was the steward and Boromir's father was very young, Aragorn served the same way to Rohan when the father of King Theodan was the King (Thengel just like they briefly mentioned in the movie) and Theodan was just a child, he served Rohan for many years also lead them to many victories. Aragorn has been protecting the people, even the shire (at Gandalf's request since Aragorn is the chieftain/leader of the Dunedains) with his kinsmen (the Dunedains, descents of Numenor which are blessed with long lives) from the evils of Mordor. That's what the Dunedains do, they protect the free lands of middle earth, the best they can and are friends of the elves, Aragorn in particular aas raised in Rivendell (with the elves) because Lord Elrond and Aragorn's mother wanted to protected him since Aragorn's father was killed by the orcs when Aragorn was only 2 years old, because Sauron wanted to eliminate Isildur's lineage, son Elrond change Aragorn's name for a time, he changed it to and Elvish name which was ESTEL that translated to English means HOPE, he didn't even told Aragorn about his true name and heritage until he considered Aragorn old enough to know the truth and his real name which was at his 20 years old, it was for Aragorn's safety until that age he was educated in Rivendell, Elrond was preparing him for the throne without Aragorn even knowing he was, he was also trained how to use weapons by highly skill elves) he met Arwen when he was 20, prior to that she was living in Lothlorien with her grandmother Galadriel (she is an elf that's why she doesn't look like Arwen's grandma 😁) and after he knew who he really was he left Rivendell and went with the Dunedain, because living in the wild protecting the people getting to know his people he received a different training and could also put to good used the weapon skills he had learned with the elves.. That's *ONE* of the reasons Aragorn kept using alias when he was even and adult, like in the first movie when we were first introduced to his character was under the alias of Strider, for protection because Sauron wants him dead. 🚨 *I apologize for my bad engilsh, it's not my native language.*
Just to clarify, Gandalf *did* die. Who you see now is not exactly Gandalf, he says that himself. He was sent back to take up Sauroman's mantle as he has fallen to darkness.
This movie is why "Glow up" became a thing, the moment Gandalf comes back, thousands of years wiser is because he literally Glowed up in the first introduction .
when Aragorn kicked that helmet, Viggo Mortensen actually broke his toe, and his yell afterwards was real! 15:36 funny that you should mention Game of Thrones... well, Epic Rap Battles of History had J.R.R. Tolkien going against George R.R. Martin! Here's the link: ua-cam.com/video/XAAp_luluo0/v-deo.html
For the next one, could you guys please turn 'your' volume down a tad? We're trying to hear the movie as well. but to turn it up in order to do so, our ears (or at least, my ears) are blasted when you two talk). I'm loving your commentary, though! :)
43:22 that's literally a thing most real castles in the past did, I don't get why writers make all their architects stupid and not use this commonly held practice which was made with the explicit purpose of giving the defenders more time, and a narrow space to kill the attackers in.
Just an fyi Gandalf isn't a Human that can do magic him aswell as Sarumon (other wizard not main evil lord) are a race called Maia. (Maiar is plural) They are more Spirits than flesh and bone hence why Gandalf the Grey died and was reborn as Gandalf the White with his memories of past lives. He was sent back to replace Sarumon. But to most people of middle earth they are simply known as wizards. Elves know a bit more about them and call them by other names one for Gandalf is Mithrandir which means Grey Pilgrim
Yes the elves cloak gives +2 to stealth and combined with their racial +2 to stealth bonus +Frodo choose rogue +2 more stealth but luckily Samwise as a hobbit paladin caught up with him in the first movie to keep up the heals and keep the poison and diseases at bay....imagine Frodo having to eat raw and wriggling meals all trip??....Thank god for Samwise!!!!😊😂
Orcs were derived from elves, yes, but literal ages ago. There is nothing left of elves in them at this point. Sauron is the dark lord. Number 1 bad guy. He is the eye AND got the ring cut off his finger. Saruman is a wizard who just recently turned to the dark side and says he’s working for/with Sauron but the truth is, he’s also looking for the ring. But for himself. To become a new dark lord. Sauron is actually the 2nd dark lord in middle earth. He was the number 2 to the original dark lord(originally called Melkor but later named Morgoth). And you are right. Frodo fell into the bog because of the ring. Evil always seems to target him but it’s because of the ring. Even when the evil against him doesn’t know it’s the ring they feel it’s power and manipulation. Remember. The ring has a Will of its own. The wound doesn’t draw the Nazgûl. The ring does. But being closer to the one who wounded him does pain Frodo. As do the anniversaries later. GOT author has said many times he’s a huge LOTR fan and it greatly influenced his writing ☺️ Gandalf just returned. He says he fought a Balrog of Morgoth. Morgoth, as mentioned earlier, is the original dark lord. He made orcs, balrogs and dragons. The “giants” that open the gate of Mordor are actually Trolls ☺️ There are many kinds of trolls, so can look different, but they’re Trolls. They were able to remain unseen(Frodo n sam) because the cloaks are elvish n chameleon to any natural landscape. If you recall, when they get the cloaks, Celeborn says May they guard you from unfriendly eyes 😉 The reason Frodo wants to believe he can help Gollum is cause if Gollum can come back from the effects of the ring Frodo thinks he, Frodo, will be able to bounce back from the rings effects. He’s scared at this point he’s losing himself to the ring like Gollum. Aragorn is the King of Gondor, tho unclaimed. Boromir and Faramir are the sons of the Steward, who’s line was left to watch the kingdom when the last king was lost. Until The Return of the King. I don’t think your guy meant wormtongues exile. He means Eomer. The king’s nephew who leads a large group of warriors. Eowyns brother, btw. Something not explained well in the movies. One of Sauron’s powers is he sent a darkness over all the lands. It strengthens his army, that doesn’t like light, and weakens the will of those that live in the light. When Gandalf shows up n the light breaks through the darkness, it’s a sign to the creatures of evil their masters power is faltering. It creates fear n chaos. The light breaking through the darkness is much more meaningful than the movie explains. I’m Lmao right now at Treehead 😂😂😂 Laughing with you of course!! It’s Treebeard 😉 lol. Fun story. Tolkien, the author, didn’t like Shakespeare’s work. In a famous monologue of Shakespeare’s, he mocks magical, talking trees. So Tolkien created Ents as a literary 🖕🏻 to Shakespeare ☺️
A short excursion into Tolkien's legendarium, now that you are in the know that Gandalf isn't dead: Tolkien's world is inspired by real myths and religions and basically a fusion that seeks to reconcile a pagan pantheon with multiple Gods with the existance of one God. So there is one God: Illúvatar (The Allfather). The one God that was always there. He created the Ainur and the Maiar. Celestial, eternal beings just like what the Jews, Christians and Muslims would know as Angels. The Ainur are basically the arch-angels, the Maiar are lesser angels. The Ainur created the Universe and the World. Then they took on phsyical form to shape Middle-Earth in person. In this physical form they are known as Valar and are being revered as Gods by the races of Middle-Earth. And just like in the polytheistic pantheon of Norse myth each of the Gods has a specific field. One of them named Melkor (just like Lucifer) had his own ideas, was an agent of chaos and discontent. He basically brought so much trouble and sorrow over Middle-Earth over the course of the first age, that he was banished and his name was cursed and he was no longer refered to as Melkor, but instead was given the name Morgoth (Black Enemy). See the similarities? Like Lucifer is now being refered to as Satan. On his path many Maiar followed him. Those were basically now Demons. Sauron is one of them. As are the Balrogs. On the good side some Maiar were sent to Middle-Earth in physical human form to watch over things. And these are the Wizards. So Saruman and Gandalf are basically Angels in human form. And they can't really die. And that is why Gandalf can come back and take Saruman's place as the white wizard. So as for rank: The Wizards, Balrogs and Sauron are all of the same celestial origin and rank. They just fight on different sides of the eternal fight of good vs. evil, chaos against order.
I’m so glad you enjoyed this second part of this timeless trilogy!! Can’t wait for your reactions to the final part of Tolkien’s amazing story! See you then.
We’re with you all the way. And I for one will fill you in on things as you go. But you’ll be just as gobsmacked as Moviejoob and OmarioRPG was when they began their journey into the lore and themes of JRR Tolkien’s Work. Whole fleshed out languages and anthologies too.
Sauron: the dark lord who made and poured much of his strength into the ring. Saruman: was the leader of the wizards, but turned to evil and began making orcs of his own. He allied himself with Sauron. Both know a hobbit has the ring so both are pursuing hobbits. However the only hobbits they know of right now are merry and pippin. So both are looking in the wrong place 🙂. In the books people were not beating up Gollum, though the scene at the pool happened. I think the filmmakers used the beatings to make us sympathetic to Gollum, but it was excessive. I was both distrustful and sympathetic to Gollum in the books, without the beatings.
I love you guys & your reactions, & enjoy rediscovering these films through your eyes. I fell in love with the books when I was young, & then with Peter Jackson's movie adaptations when they came out. As great as the films are, we shouldn't forget they had a firm foundation to build on with Tolkien's mammoth world building in his writings. The Fellowship of the Ring was first published in 1954 & his novels set the bench mark for all subsequent fantasy fiction (hence, Gandalf doesn't look like Dumbledore, Dumbledore looks like Gandalf, LOL!); and yes, George R R Martin, author of Game of Thrones, etc. was inspired by the works of J R R Tolkien. In answer to one of your questions/comments, the films are a little misleading when collectively referring to the world of Men. There are many lands & races of Men, some good, some bad. Aragorn's race, The Dunedain (originally from an Island called Numenor) are considered a "higher race of Men," with a more advanced infrastructure & technology, & a longer life span. Originally, there were two separate but related kingdoms, Arnor, in the North & Gondor, in the South. The southern, Gondorian line of kings failed, leaving no heirs, while the northern, Arnorian kingdom was broken up & destroyed in a history of conflict. The Dunedain wandered the wilds as Rangers, acting as guardians in secret of the north. Aragorn's lineage is a direct line from the northern Dunedain Kings &, as Gondor's line failed, is heir to the crown of Gondor also. Rohan is a separate race & kingdom of Men, ruled at this time by Theoden. Historically The Rohirrim have been staunch allies of Gondor. If you remember in Fellowship, Boromir states at Rivendell that, "Gondor has no King, Gondor needs no king!" He & Faramir are sons of Denethor, Steward of Gondor" The Stewards rule Gondor in the king's stead, awaiting the king's return. Apologies for the waffle, I've tried to precis this as much as possible believe it or not, !
Yeah, you guys got it right after the moment 19:15 but my understanding is that it’s a visual representation that shows how the cloak hides a person. But they do it in that way so the viewer gets tricked, at first, in the same way the soldiers do.
That balrog wasnt the only thing Gandalf fought when they reached the bottom of that pit. There were old horrors of the world down there, some gnarly lovecraftian shit.
Fun trivia:
Aragorn's actor (Viggo) loved his movie horse so much that he bought it.
So this is truly HIS horse. It became his companion in real life too.
Which horse? Brego or the one Eymer gave him?
@@juzujuzu4555 Brego
He also bought the white horse from the first movie that Arwen's stunt double rode, because she loved that horse but couldn't afford him.
@@Valandar2I didn’t know that till recently but it made me love him a tad bit more
i bet he bought Hidalgo also
One small detail that most people miss, is that the kid’s sword that Aragorn says is a good sword, is the same sword that he throws down in disgust in his previous scene. He is actively deciding to have hope, and to impart hope to others.
That's Also Viggo Mortensen's kid!
Aragorn is nicknamed "King Elessar", Elessar being the elvish word for "Hope". It was the nickname his mother gave to him and to which he always became remembered.
Aragorn is the personification of hope.
after like 600 rewatches, I never noticed that!
@@duckslapper12 I don't believe that is correct. The internet says the actor is Calum Gittins
@@duckslapper12 That's not true, but Henry Mortensen does have a small cameo in this movie as one of the other kids that trains with Haleth.
More interesting background on Gollum in the book not represented in the film. After losing his ring Gollum finally left the caves to spend years hopelessly searching for it. Eventually Gandalf heard rumors of something like Gollum lurking around, and asked Aragorn to hunt him down. Aragorn captured him and Gandalf interrogated him. That’s how Gandalf knew Gollum had once been captured by Sauron, tortured, and then set free, even knew his name had been Sméagol - those things he tells Frodo in the 1st movie (how the heck else could Gandalf had known those things?)
Gandalf then asked Legolas’s people to imprison Gollum for safekeeping. But they were too nice about it and some orcs were able to set him free. In book, the reason Legolas came to Rivendell in the first place was to get word to Gandalf that Gollum escaped. So at this point in the book, Gandalf, Aragorn, and probably Legolas all had spent time with Gollum.
That would be too much to add to the movie
I've seen many LOTR reactions on YT, but this is the first comment to mention this about gollum. Thanks!
Legolas' *
Small correction: Boromir and Faramir's father, Denethor, is not a king, he's the latest STEWARD, a line of caretakers of the throne of Gondor, until the rightful king shows up.
Kind of like the shogun in Japan if you think about it (the emperors of Japan didn't "disappear", but lost all their political power).
@@samrevlej9331 They only lost their political power after WW2.
Gandalf is what is called a Maia in the lore of LOTR. That means he is sort of an angel, a very powerful spirit sent out by the gods to watch over the people of middle-earth. As a Maia, Gandalf is immortal, but he inhabits a human body wich more or less has the same physical limitations as a human, but he has magic powers, and he wields one of the magic rings, one of the three given to the elves. This ring gives him special powers over the ability to inspire friendship and loyalty.
This is an often over-looked aspect of the character: Gandalf is not actually allowed to use his magic as a weapon, and he rarely does. Instead, he uses his wisdom, his humor and his charisma to inspire others to become heroes, to fight for themselves.
Fun side note, and more proof that Jackson did his homework, we never see the ring Gandalf wears until the final scene in Return of the King.
The 3 greater rings were invisible unless you were a bearer yourself (when Galadriel shows hers in the books Frodo can see it but Sam is confused).
After the One Ring is destroyed they lose their power and become visible. At the end of RotK, when they’re boarding the ship, you see Gandalf’s ring for the first time. It’s a tiny detail but just shows how much Jackson reallllly cared about these movies.
Not only did "Game of Thrones" pull a lot of inspiration from this, but so have nearly every fantasy story for the last 70 years; JRR Tolkien basically invented the genre with "Lord of the Rings". Often I hear the uninformed say that "Lord of the Rings" is full of used tropes and cliches, that they've seen it before in other movies and books. The reason is that when "Lord of the Rings" was written they were not tropes and cliches because it invented the tropes and cliches.
Not true though, folklore was invented centuries before that, but English folklore had Scandinavian roots, not Anglo-Saxon, he wanted to create Epic story originally from England, even though he was inspired by Celts, vikings stories and other folklore.
You guys need to stop make things up, especially when you read zero books your entire life. Homer would die again if he saw your message 😂
@@Sindamsc For real! I really like LoTR...but Tolkien did NOT invent the genre and I've got no idea where people get that idea -.-
bro JRR literally invented dwarfs and orcs while yes he used euro folklore it wasn't in a bad way he completely embraced it and wanted it to be apart of his story. People like you using this argument is just sad and shows you just a hater. compare these works to other Fantasy works where they literally use his ideas in full like Warhammer@@Sindamsc
@@Ronin.97no they had both been used in mythology before this
@Sindamsc "Fantasy" as we know it as a genre was basically started my tolkein.. before him you would go to magical lands in fairytales/folk tales an such as a device to teach a lesson, before coming back to reality, after Tolkien the fantasy setting IS the reality. Also whenever you think of "Orcs" or "dwarves" and "elves" all of those came from Him as well. He literally invented orcs. So... way to show how much you "don't" know.
CANNOT WAIT TO SEE PART 3! Film 3 goes 10x harder than both the first two combined. You guys will be an absolute wreck. Best and most emotional movie of all time.
Most emotional movie of all time? Have you even seen Schindler’s List, Sophie’s Choice or Saving Private Ryan?
@@thekittygoesmeow9652 Schindler's List is in there, i haven't watch Sophie's Choice, Saving Private Ryan? it's somehow emotional but not in the level of LOTR and Schindler's List.
@@thekittygoesmeow9652 Schindler was just super emotional, particularly ending scene. But LOTR subletly, by the pacing and the lenght of it, had tons of its moments.
Didn't see Sophie's choice but for knowing purpose of it, seems to be overdrama-drama. Not my cup of tea at all. Make movies to just buy some crying...
And i cannot get out of my head words Ricky Gervais had for this particular movie on Oscars introduction, when he slammed entire Hollywoodpancake. figures.
LOTR is for me a quiet river of emotions spreading all his feels of an endless journey at peacefull rythm, even if there is obvious peak through the end..
All of that magnified by width and heaviness of the story, plus some increasing epicness degree through entire time.
@@EDWARD-zd7lb right on. SPR effects some people differently based on life experiences. I absolutely love LOTR trilogy. When I was a kid all we had was the Hobbit cartoon. Gollum was a dick in that one too. Sophie’s Choice will tear your heart out.
@@samwisehuluberlu2210 couldn’t agree more. The acting was top tier along with the direction. Great casting too.
As an old man ;-) i had the chance to see them in the cinema, and i have done that maybe 10times each of them. Remember the films came up every december, so you have to wait one year...the third one will be the best for sure. Music, pictures, story-telling, battles, laughing, crying...its an rollercoaster of emotions.
So excited! It makes me happy when after so much time these films are still appreciated and loved by new people. I'm 29 but my parents had these on VHS lolll so I've had the privilege of watching them since I was little and it still effects me so much. Best battle sequence in all cinema history!
That’s because they stuck to the powerful and lofty themes and ideals of Tolkiens work. and because of that these films have touched many hearts around the world. To live on. To better their life. To keep going etc. so many great stories of read and listened to regarding the impact of Tolkiens many books as well as all the games out there too that have been a part of our lives for so long now.
VHS? Your parents were kind of oldschool, weren't they? Back when those movies were new DVD's already dominated the market. ;)
I didn't know that these were even released on VHS. I had the extended DVDs back then.
@@TheCrazyCloon As far as I recall they were one of the last films ever to be released on VHS.
@Quotenwagnerianer Yes my parents were very old school lol I grew up in the late 90s so we didn't have a DVD player when LOTR came out. They did eventually get the DVDs but I know it's very rare to say I've seen LOTR in every form possible haha. I just looked it up and yeah Fellowship came out on August 2002 on VHS 😂
The wonderful thing about Gimli and Legolas is that their races held big grudges against one another for a long time, but between them, things are changing and will blossom in the last movie. Now I can't wait for you to watch the last one. 😁
You made a really good point regarding Helm's Deep - just before 44:12 - about the design of the keep; your idea regarding 'another gate' was basically how actual castles/ keeps were designed..! A series of what were essentially deathtraps/ funnels/ killzones leading up to the main structure.. As a result; actually storming them seems like it was less common - rather, easier to take the river/ water source, post up outside and beat the defenders down with starvation and disease.
Since it's probably not clear, the wizards are essentially angels sent into the world to help in the fight against Sauron. They weren't supposed to try and take him on directly or try to dominate people, but Saruman got corrupted.
This knowledge will help make sense of the future movies. Gandalf is the same species of being as the Balrogs/Sauron before twisted by Melkor[Morgoth]. They are all Maiar (primordial spirits). Gandalf named Olórin created by Eru’s Thought (extensions of Eru Îlluvatar himself whilst they had their own free will and individuality. He essentially got the chance to experience and study other parts of himself through this.) among the other Ainur before the Years of the Lamps roughly 9,000+ years before arriving in Middle-earth; In Valinor he was known as Olórin.(Remember though he formally existed before the world existed and his form becoming Gandalf hadn’t happened yet. He was sent to Middle-earth in human form around the year 1000 of the Third Age. So his many forms had different ages in length of existing. He’s very cool right! Could he get any cooler!? 😎❤️ Another thing is when he arrived in middle earth he was disguised as an elf and lived among them whilst they were unknowing and he became to be known as Mithrandir to the Quendi/Eldar❤️ He could have very well dwelled with the elves far earlier just do to his curiosity and simple desire to explore and be around the firstborn (TheElves)
Gandalf The Grey/White
Estimated at 15,000 years old (following his quote "300 lives of men, I have walked this earth"), It says that Gandalf was the wisest of the Maiar besides Melian herself. There were a lot of Maiar that were considered really great and powerful.
However, there is a much longer answer. Like Sauron(former name is Mairon) and the other Istari (the order sent around the same time and of which he was appointed leader but he being who he is and a student of the Vala by the name Nienna and Lorien(Irmo). Gandalf was a Maiar, an angelic spirit created by Eru at the beginning of time and therefor one of the many Ainur who sang the world into being and Eru just helped their creation take shape and basically stated “behold YOUR creation” and basically what happens in that world goes sort of preordained as by that song eons ago so really only the ages after Dagor Dagorath will truly be an age that isn’t full of strife and sadness and longing.
Also. These lamps are what were before even the two trees. These were Giant mountains but also like light houses but housing a great power but it may have also been where two special Maia lived that helped in the creation in the sun and moon after Melkor With eldrich terror Ungoliant killed the trees, so yea Arien is the Maia who basically exists with the sun and her brother and or lover of sorts is the one who wanders with and guides the moon.
22:22 Don't forget how much the themes of mercy and fate are important to this author. Some that live deserve death, and some that die deserve life. Don't be too eager to deal out death in judgement, for even the very wise cannot see all ends.
I went to New Zeeland the year after seeing the last of the films. Bought a LOTR location guide book and visited a lot of the places where the movie was shot. Standing in a place you recognize from the movies is a totally surreal feeling! Spent 3 weeks there but could have stayed for a year. If you get the chance - GO!!
I love how you hold hands all the time and sit practically on top of each other. My husband and I are like this too. Still dizzy in love after 26+ years.
❤️
No cannons at Helm's Deep....they didn't know about gunpowder....that was Sarumon's secret weapon inside the bomb...remember the black powder that he showed Wormtongue?? So, Sarumon was the only one who had gunpowder. That's why no one had ever taken Helm's Deep, and why they were so astonished when the bomb went off.
Sam is the champ of champs.
Basically just some country boy, built and wired for humbler things like gardening.
Barely understands most of what he's going through, but his eye's always on keeping his friend safe.
This has been fun! Can't wait for you to see the last film. Actually, Gandalf the Gray did die. Not from the fall but from wounds during his fight with the Balrog. He was sent back to complete his task, taking on the mantle of Gandalf the White. He is a Maia spirit (plural Maiar), an immortal that can be given mortal forms to interact with Middle Earth. All the wizards of his order including Saruman, as well as the Balrogs and even Sauron are Maiar.
I'm so happy to see you guys watching this, you catch things that others don't. There is no filler dialog in these movies, the smallest of conversation is used to explain something that had happened or something that will be happening. Love the reactions.
Sauron (sour - on) = The Eye
Saruman (sah-roo-mon) = The White Wizard
Hope this helps:
Aragorn (ah - reh - gorn) = Also known as Strider
Legolas (leh - go - lahs) = "Pointy Eared Elvish Princeling"
Arwen (ar - wen) = Aregorn's Elvish bride & daughter of Elrond
Eowyn (eh - oh - wen) = Shield-maiden of Rohan
The fact you need to explain it to this pair only shows their intellect isn't up to reading Tolkien.
It's all our fault for allowing the government to be in control of education.
@@mikelarsen5836 I got confused the first time I watched it in theaters. Let them enjoy it.
@@mikelarsen5836 What a socially inept thing to say.
Saruman is the wizard who is making Urukai and Orcs, and he used to be Gandalf's peer. Sauron is the dark lord who got his finger cut off and separated from the ring. Once he was separated from that, his physical manifestation somewhat disappeared, and he is now just the eye on the tower of Minas Morgul which is in Mordor. He wants the ring to regain power and manifest once more in his complete physical form.
The author of the novels that Game of Thrones is based on is a tremendous fan of Lord of the Rings. He has read the novels over and over since he was a child. So you are correct that the story influenced Game of Thrones. And it is not silly that you called the Sam of this story Samwell. I am quite sure that Sam was an inspiration for Samwell, as they are both the loyal friend of one of the main heroes, and have other similar personality traits. This Sam is Sam Wise Gamgee and the other one is Samwell Tarly. Everyone should have a Sam in their life.
The cloaks were imbued with the Elves' love of everything in nature. As a result, they can camouflage the wearer in virtually any natural environment. The elves don't even actively enchant them. Basically they just think "These will be useful for stealth in the wild" and it just causes the desired effect to take hold.
In Tolkien's world, magic is heavily based on willpower
That final shot is awesome. After all Sam and Frodo have been through you might think the road is getting easier, but the camera drifts up and shows where they're going -- and its terrifying.
“Dead faces in the water”
Tolkien was a soldier during World War I. His inspiration for the dead marshes was “No man’s land” wherein there were dead soldiers (either British, German, French etc) and dead faces coming out from mud and puddles of water.
In this it is a pretty good bet if you don't see a body the person is still alive.
14:00 Tolkien fought in the Battle of the Somme, the bloodiest battle of the First World War. The dead marshes were partly inspired by his experience there, with the dead and the dying lying in the mud.
14:55 Elrond did a lot to heal him, but Frodo does not recover fully from the wound he suffered on Weathertop, even at the end.
26:00 The Oliphaunts are way bigger than even African Elephants and even the largest Mammoths that existed.
27:30 The Wargs were originally envisioned as monstrous wolves, but in the last few decades wolves have been seen in a more sympathetic light, so in the movie they made them much more hyena-like.
42:34 No, he wasn't, he was the son of the current ruler, but he is not the King, his title is 'Steward'. The Steward rules while there is no king, which has been the case for a long time, but Aragorn is the true heir to the throne.
28:34 "that is so smart" WAIT FOR IT HAHAHAH
43:13 Most keeps and castles would have two gates/doors and in between the ceiling above would have a hole where the defenders would pour boiling oil and so on through onto the invading enemies. This hole was historically known as the Murder Hole.
Great reaction guys... LOTR's is the greatest trilogy of all time. Can't wait for the third one tbh. U got my sub 💪
47:21 I love how the ent on fire dives into the water lol
Random fun fact: The actor who plays Gimli - John Rhys-Davies - also voices the ent Treebeard :)
Thanks for sharing your awesome, guys :*
See you for the next one
/Lizz
I too smote my enemie's ruin on the mountainside. That's how I roll.
great movie. I guess elvish cloaks have intuitive camouflage abilities lol. and Hugo Weaving is an amazing actor, he can adopt so MANY different character types - Elrond, Agent Smith, the Red Skull, etc. Also voice of Rex in Babe!!!
Love watching along. You two are great. Very observant. The next one is full of guaranteed joy, and tears.
The Fellowship of the Ring was the first of your videos I have watched and this is the second. The two of you are possibly the most perceptive first time viewers I have seen and I truly hope that you enjoy the finale as well.
It would not hurt you to know that in the Tolkein world, wizards are not just humans who use magic. They are semi-divine beings called Maiar. You could think of them as "angels". 5 were sent to Middle Earth to help against the dark lord. Only Gandalf remained completely true to his calling. It is also interested to note that Sauron and the balrogs were also maiar. You can think of them as fallen angels. Also, Sauron was not the original dark lord. That was Morgoth who was a Valar. The easiest analogy would be that the Valar are like arc-angels while the Maiar are a step down and just plain angels. Sauron was a disciple of Morgoth.
Boromir and Faromir were not sons of the king of Gondor. That title belonged to Aragorn who has not claimed it. Instead, they were the sons of the hereditary Steward of Gondor. The stewards were left in control when the kings went into exile. Over time, they assumed more and more of the trappings of kingship but never went all the way. You will see later on that the Steward sits on a throne but, in the background, without any attention, there is the much grander throne of the kings.
The "hyenas" in the movie are wargs. In the movies, they definitely resemble hyenas but in the books were a particularly vicious type of wolf.
One brief suggestion, from my perspective: your sound mix could use a boost for the movie sound to more closely match the levels of your voices.
And you two now understand how funny Tony Starks remark to Hawkeye was in that first avengers movie. Right before he flies him to the roof "clench up legolas"
The one who was exiled is named Éomer. Grima Wormtongue is the slimy guy that did it and helps Saruman.
Man, the first time I saw a Black Rider stop a Fell Beast (the flying creature) as a kid was the first time I asked myself, “Why do the bad guys always get the good shit?” 🤣
Also keep in mind there’s a lot of allegory for the world we live in. Tolkien was a pained man who saw the very worse of what man can do to one another and his writings were his therapy. You can see his love for nature and his disdain for the war machine as it chews and spits out both nature and man. This is illustrated with the orcs of Isengard as the war machine turns. The ring itself is a metaphor for the all the sin in the world. As Frodo is a Christ like character who must suffer for the worlds being. And the different kingdoms of men, elves, and dwarves parallel our world in the way of countries. How we fight and kill each other when im the end we all struggle with sin and imperfection.
4:59 Technically they are still orcs, but Saruman bred them to be able to go outside in the daylight. Regular orcs can not be in the daylight.
Eomer played by Karl Urban was outcast with his Rohirrim! His name actually means "Horse Famous" in old English! 🙄 People forget he was/is a BadAss Warrior with his 3000 Heavy Cavalry! 🤨😎
In the extended version, you learn of Saruman’s fate which is very different than the books.
Fun trivia: Gandalf fought the Balrog for 8 days straight before killing it. Also, Gandalf and the Balrog are the same race, so is Saruman. They are Maia. Which are basically angels. The difference between Gandalf and Saruman and The Balrog is that the Balrog is currupted by dark magic from Morgoth, the ORIGINAL Dark Lord. Sauron's master. And there were many more Balrogs during Morgoth's reign. The one we saw Gandalf fight was the weakest of them.
Some cool little info about the dead marshes, its been said that that Tolkien was inspired by what he had seen in WWI when he came up with them.
The way I came up with to remember which is which is Saruman kinda sounds like "sour man", and that would be the wizard. Sauron is the eye.
This is not a spoiler because they do not explain this whatsoever in These movies.
Minas Tirith is the city Boromir is from. The place with the white tree. That is the city Aragorn is meant to rule from. You were discussing the construction of this wall And different designs you might use to defend it.
That city I mentioned has 7 levels That move upwards Along the mountainside from the ground to the top. Like layers on a cake. Each level is defensible from the all the levels above it with the arrows. And each level only has one gate that leads up to the next level. And each gate is located on the opposite side of the city from the one below it. So to take the city they have to snake their way slowly through these 7 levels of hell.
A little explanation as to Aragorn’s age: In a past age, Elves who fought in the war against Morgoth (Sauron’s previous master and original Dark Lord) we’re gifted by the gods with a choice: To be Men or Elves. Those that chose to be Elves (Like Elrond) are immortal, their spirits return to The Undying Lands when they “die”, and this choice is past down to their descendants.
Those that chose to be Men (Like Elrond’s brother Elros) have long mortal lives, giving up the immortality and place in The Undying Lands of themselves and their descendants. Aragorn is descended from Elros. It makes Arwen’s decision even more poignant, as when she dies she’ll be dead forever, and won’t see her family again.
J.R.R. Tolkien, the author of the books, said that Sam was the real hero of the story. Tolkien believed in 'the little man', the working class people who were the backbone of his country as they are the backbone of every nation.
Magic is still strong in this world.
In the first movies, The Elves says that this Elvish cloak would hide them from unfriendly eyes. The clock can magically turn them into rock, tree or anything basically camouflage them and hide them from any unfriendly eyes.
Just like Sam's Elvish ropes that untie themselves nicely and hurting Gollum (because he's unfriendly).
Sorry for my bad english
Not sure if anyone told you or not but from then lord of rings movies Arwen is play by Liv Tyler who is Steven Tyler daughter he in the band Aerosmith
As a big fan of the books and someone who knows every single frame of these movies by heart it is certainly a refreshing but also weird experience to see the naive and surprised reactions of newcomers
Legolas: "They're taking the Hobbits to Isengard"
When air going legless in Gimli, meet with the riders of Rohan right near the end of the conversation, see if you notice anything that happens when the guy in the horses do not trust a hope, watch the sword
Gandalf is a "Maia". One of five _Maiar_ that the _Valar_ sent to Middle Earth thousands of years ago.
The Valar (the "Gods") sent five Maiar (think of them as Angels or Demigods) to Middle-earth to help fight the evil of the *_"Fallen Maiar"_* (Sauron, Balrog, etc). So yes, in a sense, Gandalf, Saruman, Sauron and the Balrog are brothers. They had great skills of hand and mind and took on the appearance of Men, seemingly old, but of great strength and vigor. Their mission was to guide Elves and Men by gaining trust and spreading knowledge, not by ruling them with fear and force. They were known as the _"Istari"_ or Wizards.
These Maiar/Istari were:
*_Gandalf the Grey_* (later Gandalf the White)
*_Saruman the White_* (Curumo or Curunír; later "Saruman of Many Colors")
*_Radagast the Brown_* (Aiwendil)
*_Alatar_* and *_Pallando_* the "Blue Wizards" (for their sea-blue robes, they went East and disappeared)
Gandalf was known by the following names:
*_Olórin_* (his "true name" as a Maia)
*_Gandalf_* (Men, Hobbits, in the North)
*_Mithrandir_* (Elves : "Grey Pilgrim" or "Grey Wanderer")
*_Incánus_* (Gondor / in the South, possibly "Mind Ruler" or "Mind Master")
*_Tharkûn_* (Dwarves : "Staff Man")
*_Greyhame_* (Rohan : "Grey Cloak")
*_The Grey Pilgrim_* (Elves & friends of elves)
*_Stormcrow_* (by King Théoden of Rohan, due to Gandalf chasing trouble)
*_White Rider_* (by some of Edoras)
*_Láthspell_* (derogatory name by Grima Wormtongue : "Bad News")
*_Old Greybeard_*
*_Gandalf the Wandering Wizard_*
Dayum. Love your reactions. By the way I'm not sure if you realised but the eye is sauron who had the ring cut from his hand in the beginning.
The charge of the Rohirrim is to this day, the best movie scene of all time.
I'm usually good with separating books from movies, and this film is phenomenal on its own merits... but there is one thing that still bothers me a lot about the choices they made here. In the books, Faramir never tries to bring the ring to Gondor. I know they were going for more drama, but I think that really changes his character a lot.
Glorfindel was robbed.
Yeah. I love these movies, but making the Ring instantly more powerful is just plain stupid. When Sam says in Osgiliath: "We shouldn't be here!" my reaction from the first time I saw this movie has always been the same: "Damn straight Sam! Because this entire scene is not by Tolkien." ;)
It kind of makes sense though, he wants his father approval
And now he can get that by doing the thing his brother failed at.
It’s not until the third movie where he actually accepts he’ll never get that
@@GrimrDirgehe never added anything to the story
@@Quotenwagnerianer For the movies to work, the Ring needed to be an urgent and immediate threat that needed to be dealt with as soon as possible. It removes the suspense and the threat if there are people who can easily resist it. Its why the movies shrunk the timeline down unlike the books where Frodo had the Ring for decades and kept staying for a few months even after knowing that it was the One Ring.
That's not just the guy from the Matrix, that is also V under the Guy Fawkes mask.
Helm's deep is weak. You are right, the inside of the deepening wall shouldn't of had a direct link to the castle. You are right, the gate should of had a "gatehouse" with murder holes and oil. And, where is the draw bridge?
Just to Clarify, there are two kingdoms, Rohan at Edoras and Gondor at Minas Tirith. Sarauman sent him army to take out Rohan while Mordor (Sauron) is going to fight Gondor. You already saw some of the initial fighting of Gondor with Boromir's brother when the Nazgal arrived.
Hope you are enjoying the series.
SAURON - The main villain. He's the evil warrior lord who gets his ring finger cut off at the beginning of the first movie. We soon learn that he did not die, and he has returned. But not yet in physical shape. We see him now as a flaming eye, overlooking his realm of Mordor from the top of his tower. SARUMAN - The head of Gandalf's wizard council and master of Isenguard, (the OTHER tower). He betrays Gandalf and joins forces with Sauron, doing his bidding and building an army of URU-KAI (super-orcs). Saruman and Sauron communicate via PALANTIRS, magic orbs, somewhat similar to crystal balls. When Pippin picks one up, he is quickly overwhelmed by Sauron, who is always on the other side of the connection.
I have to put in a good word for one ANDY SERKIS, the actor who plays Smeagol and Gollum. His Gollum character is part CGI and part MOTION CAPTURE. During filming, the actor, Andy, wears a dark suit with white patches on his joints and other body areas that get mapped into a computer, "joined together" to make fluid, human movements and then Gollum's digital skin is placed over the key white points and, VOILA!, you have Gollum walking, jumping, eating raw fish, etc. SAURON is the dude whose fingers and ring got cut off; Saruman lives in Isengard and is known as The White Wizard, Gandalf the Gray's superior in the Tolkien trilogy. King Theoden, the wrinkly-faced guy who Gandalf releases from Saruman's spell, is played by the actor who was the Captain of the Titanic in "Titanic."
Amazing reaction, can't wait for The Return of the King!
14:04 Technically, it was the ring, not Frodo, that Gollum was saving.
Also to note, Illuvatar(the god who created all gods) was the only one who had the power to revive Gandalf so he did.
If I remember correctly I believe the guy that played Aragorn ended up buying that horse.
"Where the warg howls, there also the orc prowls.
Aragorn ©
That look that both o youse had on your faces around 41:50… if you pause it right there and get a still shot, that’s exactly how the wifey and I looked throughout the entire length of all three films from start to finish lol. We love how naturally organic your reactions are on every film! Thanks for sincerely sharing your thoughts and your living room with us! ❤❤❤Remember,
Stay in the love
Stay in the light
Eomer is King Theoden’s nephew, Eowyn is his niece.
Your faces when you saw Gandalf were priceless. 😊
You two are GOING to cry in the next one. And my only advice is just let it out. It's worth it!
*Boromir was not the son of the king,* *he was the son of the steward of Gondor,* there isn't a king in Gondor *YET,* the *only rightful heir to the Throne of Gondor is Aragorn,* the rightful King of Gondor.
Galadriel showed Boromir that there was still hope for his people, she didn't show him war, he was the one that felt hopeless (he admitted it when he was talking to Aragorn in the movie) because all the battles Gondor has fought, he was a good Men who was tempted by the ring, because it's hard to to resist the temptation of the ring especially for the race of Men.
Also they don't show it in the movies (it's in the books though) but Aragorn served Gondor as an exceptional warrior and captain for many years but using the alias Toronguil and it was when Boromir's grandfather was the steward and Boromir's father was very young, Aragorn served the same way to Rohan when the father of King Theodan was the King (Thengel just like they briefly mentioned in the movie) and Theodan was just a child, he served Rohan for many years also lead them to many victories. Aragorn has been protecting the people, even the shire (at Gandalf's request since Aragorn is the chieftain/leader of the Dunedains) with his kinsmen (the Dunedains, descents of Numenor which are blessed with long lives) from the evils of Mordor.
That's what the Dunedains do, they protect the free lands of middle earth, the best they can and are friends of the elves, Aragorn in particular aas raised in Rivendell (with the elves) because Lord Elrond and Aragorn's mother wanted to protected him since Aragorn's father was killed by the orcs when Aragorn was only 2 years old, because Sauron wanted to eliminate Isildur's lineage, son Elrond change Aragorn's name for a time, he changed it to and Elvish name which was ESTEL that translated to English means HOPE, he didn't even told Aragorn about his true name and heritage until he considered Aragorn old enough to know the truth and his real name which was at his 20 years old, it was for Aragorn's safety until that age he was educated in Rivendell, Elrond was preparing him for the throne without Aragorn even knowing he was, he was also trained how to use weapons by highly skill elves) he met Arwen when he was 20, prior to that she was living in Lothlorien with her grandmother Galadriel (she is an elf that's why she doesn't look like Arwen's grandma 😁) and after he knew who he really was he left Rivendell and went with the Dunedain, because living in the wild protecting the people getting to know his people he received a different training and could also put to good used the weapon skills he had learned with the elves.. That's *ONE* of the reasons Aragorn kept using alias when he was even and adult, like in the first movie when we were first introduced to his character was under the alias of Strider, for protection because Sauron wants him dead.
🚨 *I apologize for my bad engilsh, it's not my native language.*
Maybe it's expanded in the books but the trees weren't communicating with each other about Sauraman?
43:00 Never heard anyone pronounce "damn" with four syllables before. Well done.
Just to clarify, Gandalf *did* die. Who you see now is not exactly Gandalf, he says that himself. He was sent back to take up Sauroman's mantle as he has fallen to darkness.
This movie is why "Glow up" became a thing, the moment Gandalf comes back, thousands of years wiser is because he literally Glowed up in the first introduction
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Just wanna support you by commenting... im really enjoying your reactions to my loved movies...
Great watching my favorite movies with you guys!
when Aragorn kicked that helmet, Viggo Mortensen actually broke his toe, and his yell afterwards was real!
15:36 funny that you should mention Game of Thrones... well, Epic Rap Battles of History had J.R.R. Tolkien going against George R.R. Martin! Here's the link:
ua-cam.com/video/XAAp_luluo0/v-deo.html
Flank meats back on the menu boys :) Best orc line
You make me wanna keep watching reaction clips😘
For the next one, could you guys please turn 'your' volume down a tad? We're trying to hear the movie as well. but to turn it up in order to do so, our ears (or at least, my ears) are blasted when you two talk). I'm loving your commentary, though! :)
43:22 that's literally a thing most real castles in the past did, I don't get why writers make all their architects stupid and not use this commonly held practice which was made with the explicit purpose of giving the defenders more time, and a narrow space to kill the attackers in.
5:03 Exactly 😊 Morgoth , this is going waay back, can only corrupt pre-existing life not create new life. The Orks are corrupted Elves
Just an fyi Gandalf isn't a Human that can do magic him aswell as Sarumon (other wizard not main evil lord) are a race called Maia. (Maiar is plural) They are more Spirits than flesh and bone hence why Gandalf the Grey died and was reborn as Gandalf the White with his memories of past lives. He was sent back to replace Sarumon. But to most people of middle earth they are simply known as wizards. Elves know a bit more about them and call them by other names one for Gandalf is Mithrandir which means Grey Pilgrim
Yeah, Gimli and Legolas didn't like each other at first, but by this movie Aragorn basically facilitated them becoming total bros.
Yes the elves cloak gives +2 to stealth and combined with their racial +2 to stealth bonus +Frodo choose rogue +2 more stealth but luckily Samwise as a hobbit paladin caught up with him in the first movie to keep up the heals and keep the poison and diseases at bay....imagine Frodo having to eat raw and wriggling meals all trip??....Thank god for Samwise!!!!😊😂
It's such a joy to watch reactions to this, but the 3rd one will blow you mind. ❤
Orcs were derived from elves, yes, but literal ages ago. There is nothing left of elves in them at this point.
Sauron is the dark lord. Number 1 bad guy. He is the eye AND got the ring cut off his finger. Saruman is a wizard who just recently turned to the dark side and says he’s working for/with Sauron but the truth is, he’s also looking for the ring. But for himself. To become a new dark lord. Sauron is actually the 2nd dark lord in middle earth. He was the number 2 to the original dark lord(originally called Melkor but later named Morgoth).
And you are right. Frodo fell into the bog because of the ring. Evil always seems to target him but it’s because of the ring. Even when the evil against him doesn’t know it’s the ring they feel it’s power and manipulation. Remember. The ring has a Will of its own.
The wound doesn’t draw the Nazgûl. The ring does. But being closer to the one who wounded him does pain Frodo. As do the anniversaries later.
GOT author has said many times he’s a huge LOTR fan and it greatly influenced his writing ☺️
Gandalf just returned. He says he fought a Balrog of Morgoth. Morgoth, as mentioned earlier, is the original dark lord. He made orcs, balrogs and dragons.
The “giants” that open the gate of Mordor are actually Trolls ☺️ There are many kinds of trolls, so can look different, but they’re Trolls.
They were able to remain unseen(Frodo n sam) because the cloaks are elvish n chameleon to any natural landscape. If you recall, when they get the cloaks, Celeborn says May they guard you from unfriendly eyes 😉
The reason Frodo wants to believe he can help Gollum is cause if Gollum can come back from the effects of the ring Frodo thinks he, Frodo, will be able to bounce back from the rings effects. He’s scared at this point he’s losing himself to the ring like Gollum.
Aragorn is the King of Gondor, tho unclaimed. Boromir and Faramir are the sons of the Steward, who’s line was left to watch the kingdom when the last king was lost. Until The Return of the King.
I don’t think your guy meant wormtongues exile. He means Eomer. The king’s nephew who leads a large group of warriors. Eowyns brother, btw.
Something not explained well in the movies. One of Sauron’s powers is he sent a darkness over all the lands. It strengthens his army, that doesn’t like light, and weakens the will of those that live in the light. When Gandalf shows up n the light breaks through the darkness, it’s a sign to the creatures of evil their masters power is faltering. It creates fear n chaos. The light breaking through the darkness is much more meaningful than the movie explains.
I’m Lmao right now at Treehead 😂😂😂 Laughing with you of course!! It’s Treebeard 😉 lol. Fun story. Tolkien, the author, didn’t like Shakespeare’s work. In a famous monologue of Shakespeare’s, he mocks magical, talking trees. So Tolkien created Ents as a literary 🖕🏻 to Shakespeare ☺️
A short excursion into Tolkien's legendarium, now that you are in the know that Gandalf isn't dead:
Tolkien's world is inspired by real myths and religions and basically a fusion that seeks to reconcile a pagan pantheon with multiple Gods with the existance of one God.
So there is one God: Illúvatar (The Allfather). The one God that was always there.
He created the Ainur and the Maiar. Celestial, eternal beings just like what the Jews, Christians and Muslims would know as Angels. The Ainur are basically the arch-angels, the Maiar are lesser angels.
The Ainur created the Universe and the World. Then they took on phsyical form to shape Middle-Earth in person. In this physical form they are known as Valar and are being revered as Gods by the races of Middle-Earth. And just like in the polytheistic pantheon of Norse myth each of the Gods has a specific field.
One of them named Melkor (just like Lucifer) had his own ideas, was an agent of chaos and discontent. He basically brought so much trouble and sorrow over Middle-Earth over the course of the first age, that he was banished and his name was cursed and he was no longer refered to as Melkor, but instead was given the name Morgoth (Black Enemy). See the similarities? Like Lucifer is now being refered to as Satan. On his path many Maiar followed him. Those were basically now Demons. Sauron is one of them. As are the Balrogs.
On the good side some Maiar were sent to Middle-Earth in physical human form to watch over things. And these are the Wizards. So Saruman and Gandalf are basically Angels in human form.
And they can't really die. And that is why Gandalf can come back and take Saruman's place as the white wizard.
So as for rank: The Wizards, Balrogs and Sauron are all of the same celestial origin and rank. They just fight on different sides of the eternal fight of good vs. evil, chaos against order.
I’m so glad you enjoyed this second part of this timeless trilogy!! Can’t wait for your reactions to the final part of Tolkien’s amazing story!
See you then.
We’re with you all the way. And I for one will fill you in on things as you go. But you’ll be just as gobsmacked as Moviejoob and OmarioRPG was when they began their journey into the lore and themes of JRR Tolkien’s Work. Whole fleshed out languages and anthologies too.
Next The Lord Of The Ring Extended Edition Of The Return Of The King Extended Edition
Sauron: the dark lord who made and poured much of his strength into the ring. Saruman: was the leader of the wizards, but turned to evil and began making orcs of his own. He allied himself with Sauron. Both know a hobbit has the ring so both are pursuing hobbits. However the only hobbits they know of right now are merry and pippin. So both are looking in the wrong place 🙂.
In the books people were not beating up Gollum, though the scene at the pool happened. I think the filmmakers used the beatings to make us sympathetic to Gollum, but it was excessive. I was both distrustful and sympathetic to Gollum in the books, without the beatings.
That location for Rohans' settlement, is no CGI by the way, it exists fully, I've been there, it's surreal and absolutely amazing :)
"theyre here" - Frodo
I love you guys & your reactions, & enjoy rediscovering these films through your eyes.
I fell in love with the books when I was young, & then with Peter Jackson's movie adaptations when they came out. As great as the films are, we shouldn't forget they had a firm foundation to build on with Tolkien's mammoth world building in his writings. The Fellowship of the Ring was first published in 1954 & his novels set the bench mark for all subsequent fantasy fiction (hence, Gandalf doesn't look like Dumbledore, Dumbledore looks like Gandalf, LOL!); and yes, George R R Martin, author of Game of Thrones, etc. was inspired by the works of J R R Tolkien.
In answer to one of your questions/comments, the films are a little misleading when collectively referring to the world of Men. There are many lands & races of Men, some good, some bad. Aragorn's race, The Dunedain (originally from an Island called Numenor) are considered a "higher race of Men," with a more advanced infrastructure & technology, & a longer life span. Originally, there were two separate but related kingdoms, Arnor, in the North & Gondor, in the South. The southern, Gondorian line of kings failed, leaving no heirs, while the northern, Arnorian kingdom was broken up & destroyed in a history of conflict.
The Dunedain wandered the wilds as Rangers, acting as guardians in secret of the north. Aragorn's lineage is a direct line from the northern Dunedain Kings &, as Gondor's line failed, is heir to the crown of Gondor also. Rohan is a separate race & kingdom of Men, ruled at this time by Theoden. Historically The Rohirrim have been staunch allies of Gondor.
If you remember in Fellowship, Boromir states at Rivendell that, "Gondor has no King, Gondor needs no king!" He & Faramir are sons of Denethor, Steward of Gondor" The Stewards rule Gondor in the king's stead, awaiting the king's return.
Apologies for the waffle, I've tried to precis this as much as possible believe it or not, !
Yeah, you guys got it right after the moment 19:15 but my understanding is that it’s a visual representation that shows how the cloak hides a person. But they do it in that way so the viewer gets tricked, at first, in the same way the soldiers do.
That balrog wasnt the only thing Gandalf fought when they reached the bottom of that pit. There were old horrors of the world down there, some gnarly lovecraftian shit.
They talk over all the best bits!
Legolas is actually alf-elf and alf-cheatcode XD