The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post

mark12_30 · 11-19-2003, 02:57 PM

Dear HCIsland:Gee, how nice. I was a physics major too. You wrote: <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> It is physically impossible for Gandalf to catch up with the sword. ... While we are at it, it's also impossible for Legolas to walk on the snow. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>While both your points are valid from a Newtonian standpoint, from a Tolkienian standpoint I must disagree with the latter statement. Tolkien clearly and specifically SAID that Legolas walked AND ran lightly on top of the snow. He even described his fancy elvish shoes at the time. If you accept The Ring, you can accept Legolas on the snow.However, I do not recall any statement by Tolkien that Gandalf's rate of descent outstripped his sword's rate of descent.(Personally, I had always imagined that the Balrog (whether accidentally or intentionally) gave a few nasty yanks on the whip and thus on Gandalf's ankle. increasing his rate of descent. )(EDIT):The norses running down the hill: they filmed it on a gentler slope and then adjusted the angle. That was published ... somewhere... but I can't remember where.[ November 19, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

11-19-2003, 02:57 PM	#17
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	Dear HCIsland:<P>Gee, how nice. I was a physics major too. You wrote:<P> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> It is physically impossible for Gandalf to catch up with the sword.<BR>... <P>While we are at it, it's also impossible for Legolas to walk on the snow. <BR> <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>While both your points are valid from a Newtonian standpoint, from a Tolkienian standpoint I must disagree with the latter statement. Tolkien clearly and specifically SAID that Legolas walked AND ran lightly on top of the snow. He even described his fancy elvish shoes at the time. If you accept The Ring, you can accept Legolas on the snow.<P>However, I do not recall any statement by Tolkien that Gandalf's rate of descent outstripped his sword's rate of descent.<P>(Personally, I had always imagined that the Balrog (whether accidentally or intentionally) gave a few nasty yanks on the whip and thus on Gandalf's ankle. increasing his rate of descent. )<P>(EDIT):<P>The norses running down the hill: they filmed it on a gentler slope and then adjusted the angle. That was published ... somewhere... but I can't remember where.<p>[ November 19, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ] __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.