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first thoughts.....
I find it very interesting the way that gollum acts like a dog and is treated in some ways like a dog in these scenes.
the way he cowers away at the start of the scene as he says 'nice hobbit' to Sam is very much like a dog showing his owner he is the master.
and the way frodo reacts to him by throwing the lembas on the floor a few feet from him. again like throwing your scraps to your dog.
the only time I ever feel remorse for gollum is in these scenes where frodo pushes him away, and we have the shocked, sad look on his face. marvelous 'acting' here.
the dead marshes are one of the scenes where the film has pushed it's way into my head taking over from the book. in other words, I could have SWORN frodo falls into the water in the marshes in the book, but on my last reading it's not there! much like Gandalf stating a wizard is never late, etc. I just KNEW this was stated in the book when I watched the film, but lo and behold it's not anywhere in tolkien's works......!
I love the shot of the hobbits and gollum under the gorse bush hiding from the nazgul, especially the way you see the shadow of the fell beast fly over them!
and the overhead shot of the marshes you mention alatar, I've only just now on this viewing seen the hobbits trudging through it in the distance! amazing what you don't pick up after numerous viewings....
the production of the shots in fangorn is superb. I love the close up shots of aragorn unsheathing his sword, gimli getting ready his axe and legolas feeling the feathers on his bow as 'Saruman' is about to arrive on the scene.
the short scene with gandalf and the balrog works well. I reckon the balrog was dead before his body smote the mountainside, Alatar.....
and the acting from ian mckellen as he returns from the dead - great - very much like a person recovering after a heart attack or a near drowning. the sudden intake of breath and realisation you are alive!
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