Nazguls vs. Eagles in the Black Gate

[gorthaur_cruel]

I was rewatching RotK, and found something rather interesting, and to me, somewhat disappointing.

I don't know if anybody else noticed, but in the Battle of the Morannon, the Eagles fight the Nazguls. If you look carefully, as one of the Eagles battle a Fell Beast, a Nazgul falls off and drops to the ground. If you know what to look for, it's clear, and it's unmistakable. I'd post a screenshot, but I don't know how. Just look carefully and you'll see it. Also, when Sauron summons the Nazguls back, only 3 of them are seen in the movie. I'm guessing that's the reason.

I don't know what anybody else thinks, but somehow, I find the thought that the Nazguls are defeated so easily disappointing. Of course, they may not have died after falling, but I wonder what would happen to it after.

[Boromir88]

First of all PJ had the fell beasts done wrong. The fell Beast weren't huge dragon sized animals they were much smaller then the dragons in size.

2nd of all the Nazgul's main weapon is fear. They are formidable opponents at fighting and not many people could take on all 9 Nazgul at once (Glorfindel, Gandalf were the only ones that tried who were able to). But their main weapon was their fear, the shriek that they yelled was loud and destroyed the hearts of men. Lastly, the black breath was their most devastating attack, thats what Faramir, Merry, and Eowyn suffered from.

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

I agree with you as regards fear not fighting Boromir88, however I'm not sure I agree with your other point. There are certainly other artists' impressions of the winged beasts that are similarly huge in size.

[The Only Real Estel]

First of all PJ had the fell beasts done wrong. The fell Beast weren't huge dragon sized animals they were much smaller then the dragons in size.

I believe you're correct in that point, even John Howe himself (who was in charge of drawing up the fell beast, among many other things, for Peter) admitted that he thought he'd gone quite wide of Tolkien's fell beasts. But still, I had no problem with any of the changes to the fell beasts, other than the beast-to-arrow ratio is rather high when Faramir drives one of at Osgiliath (the only problem with the beasts I had was at Osgiliath, which was one of my least favorite scenes...makes sense ). But I'm also inclined to agree with Eomer in that I think there are plenty of concept drawings out there that portray them as rather large. What a pity Tolkien himself wasn't a great artist who could've copied down what all his characters/creatures/cities looked like.

They are formidable opponents at fighting and not many people could take on all 9 Nazgul at once (Glorfindel, Gandalf were the only ones that tried who were able to).

If you're talking about at the fords, each had quite a bit of help. They both benefited from the other's presence (Gandalf himself admitted it wasn't likely that we would've been able to withstand them had all 9 attacked him on Weathertop), not to mention the flood, which played a huge part.

I didn't like the Nazgul vs. Eagles scene if only because (& correct me if I'm wrong here) in every scene were an Eagle was attacking a fell beast, the Eagle was dominating. Personally, I don't think 9 Eagles could even hope to take down 9 fell beasts, perhaps I'm wrong, but that's always been my opinion. And I also agree that I thought it was pretty stupid to show a Ringwraith falling off his steed, though it's not a big issue with me.

[Son of Númenor]

Personally, I don't think 9 Eagles could even hope to take down 9 fell beasts, perhaps I'm wrong, but that's always been my opinion.

I think you underestimate Gwaihir's host.

There came Gwaihir the Windlord, and Landroval his brother, greatest of all the Eagles of the North, mightiest of the descendants of Thorondor, who built his eyries in the inaccessible peaks of the Encircling Mountains when Middle-earth was young. Behind them in long siwft lines came all their vassals from the mountains speeding on a gathering wind. Straight down upon the Nazgûl they bore, stooping suddenly out of the high airs, and the rush of their wide wings as they passed over was like a gale.

But the Nazgûl turned and fled, and vanished into Mordor's shadows..." (The Return of the King, "The Field of Cormallen", 927)(italics mine).

I personally enjoyed the scene of the coming of the Eagles and their fight with the Nazgûl. It was one of the more exciting scenes, and the CGI Eagles were incredible.

Also, where did you get the idea that there were nine Eagles pitted against the nine Ringwraiths?

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Yes, I agree that it's not too important a detail. I quite liked the scene, it was an impressive visual. I didn't notice that the Wraith fell off though. Next time I see the movie that's going to bug me.