Lord of the Rings, rated PGP

[Elianna]

It's after Tuesday, so here's the other one I promised:

Legolas shooting Gríma on the top of Orthanc! *Rant on why I don't like what PJ did...* and besides that, I've calculated it: it is physically impossible. In order to gain enough initial velocity to get to the top of Orthanc, at the moment of being released the arrow would have had to withstand an acceleration of 22,227.4 m/sq. s. Not even Lego's spiffy little elf arrow could do that.

[Ainaserkewen]

My dad pointed this out when he saw the movie:

(It would be weird book-wise too) Frodo and Sam were mere meters away from the boiling lava on Mount Doom. My Dad says they shouldn't have been able to survive. That, and Gollum would have vapourised when he hit the pools of lava, not slowly burned to death. But all this would have seriously rearranged the story, so I guess it's okay.

[Elianna]

Add to that the Ring not melting on top of a small solidified glob surrounded by molten lava.

[Nukapei]

Hmm, the Leggy walking on snow part: perhaps Elves have hollow bones?

Another one that's bothered me since I saw it is this: Gandalf survives the fall when he's battling the Balrog because he falls into water, right? Well, when your fall is more than a certain height (100 ft, I think, though I may be pulling that number from thin air), unless you land juuuuust right, water is as hard as concrete. And I didn't exactly see him and the Balrog stop fighting long enough to make sure they hit the water right! Think about it in terms of the hardest bellyflop in recorded history. They'd snap their spine!

Oh, not to mention the fact that they fell so far and still lived, no matter what they hit. Because gravity is an acceleration, not velocity, the longer you fall the faster you go. Wouldn't it reach a point long before they hit the water that the pressure was just too much for them to stand, and (especially Gandalf's scrawny self) would've literally been crushed to death by the speed?

[Lalwendë]

(It would be weird book-wise too) Frodo and Sam were mere meters away from the boiling lava on Mount Doom. My Dad says they shouldn't have been able to survive.

Your dad could be right there, certainly in terms of the films. The overwhelming amount of sulphur in the air would have choked them to death. And there is the volcanic phenomenon known as pyroclastic flow - when gasses are released under tremendous pressure and overwhelm all in their path, even eagles wouldn't have been able to withstand such forces.

[Mithalwen]

Wonderful if slightly scary thread .. actually Helms Deep isn't so far from Lorien (though still a fair step) - don't forget that the Three Hunters backtracked a lot..


And I think that the escape from the volcano is a bit implausible especially as portrayed in the films ... Gollum would have just gone Phzzz in a nano second even before he hit the lava - not sunk still looking quite pleased to have the ring back

[Ainaserkewen]

Your dad could be right there

My Dad is very knowing about such things, and apparently I listen...