Why did Gandalf let go and fall off the cliff?

[Melephelwen]

I think I was lost halfway through the threat, but...

You are thinking of the bastardised Hollywood version. In the text, the Balrog's whip of fire pulls him down.

It also does in the movie! In the book, the whip is around Gandalf's knee(sp?), in the movie, it's around his ancle(sp?) (boy, I should really find my dictionary instead of this 'I don't know how to spell it and I'm too lazy to look it up'-stuff [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img] )
But anyway I don't think he really had a choice but to let go [img]smilies/eek.gif[/img]

[ August 13, 2002: Message edited by: Melephelwen ]