Orc lumberjacks-an inconsitensy?
 

I'm sure everyone notices the scene early in TTT when the Orcs are camping out and they proceed to cut some trees. Now, I have a problem with this scene since it serves no logical purpose other than to show that trees/ents/hurons don't like having their branches cut <P>Now, we all assume they're cutting branches for a fire but why would orcs build a fire? They knew they were being purused b y the Rohirrim so they wouldn't start a fire because that would attract them. And they don't need fires to cook their food because they don't seem to have an aversion to raw food . They don't seem to need it for warmth either. <P>Just wondering what other peoples thoughts are on this little inconsistensy...<P>(if this is another redudant post of mine i apologize but i couldn't find anything close to this under the search option)

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> Now, I have a problem with this scene since it serves no logical purpose other than to show that trees/ents/hurons don't like having their branches cut. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>I believe you answered your own question. Considering it was stuff like this that was the whole reason Ents and Huorns get involved at all, it was important to show it. I know there was more scenes of orcs tearing down trees earlier in the film, but obviously Jackson felt another incident was needed.<P>By the way, they light fires in the book as well.<P>H.C.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>They knew they were being purused b y the Rohirrim so they wouldn't start a fire because that would attract them.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Actually, I don't think they knew they were being pursued by anyone other than people that spelled like manflesh. & I don't think they thought Aragorn, Gimli, & Legolas were Rohirrim either. Since he said, "<I>They've</I> picked up our trail!" (at the very start), I'm pretty sure they assumed it was the men they had to fight through to get to the hobbits. As to them lighting the fire in the first place, like HC said, they did it in the book too. & I thought PJ did a good job of explaining the Ents/Hurons anger at the orcs for their branch-cutting antics.

Even had they known the "strawheads" were pursuing them, a fire would hardly have mattered. A band of horseriding trackers would not pick up or lose the trail of a large, noisy, boot-wearing band of orcs just because of a small fire being kindled.

Either way, they knew that they were being pursued, and with a fire at their back, they had a chance to get a little "refreshments" or what constitute refreshments for an Orc, and thus, fight a little better. I'm applying normal, rational logic to Orcs, so probably, my reasoning will be faulty. <P>*stops babbling and slinks off*

Plus, even if they didn't need the wood for a fire, which they did, I don't think the orcs would be adverse to a little senseless destruction of the surrounding plant-life.

It was strange, however, that they could smell Aragorn and co. when they were several hours behind them, yet could not smell the Rohirrim who were but metres away, ready to chop the Uruks into little pieces.

Good point Sauron 666. Add to your points that green wood don't burn too well anyway. Thats why you find deadwood for fires.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>It was strange, however, that they could smell Aragorn and co. when they were several hours behind them, yet could not smell the Rohirrim who were but metres away, ready to chop the Uruks into little pieces. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Perhaps it was because they were preoccupied? I dunno, but that's my only guess.

Maybe the wind was from the back?

All together now...<P>'I'm an Uruk Hai and I'm OK,<BR>I run all night and I run all day

I hold on to my belief that the Uruk-hai weren't as stupid as they were made out to be.<P>In the book they were prepared for battle, after all.