LotR3-RotK-Seq04

[Essex]

Originally Posted by alatar

Gandalf and Pip ride south to Gondor. The scenery on the way is breathtaking, as is now the standard.

The 2 second shot as shadowfax crosses the stream at dawn or dusk is breathtaking. A wonder of cinematography

We see the White City gleaming across the plain of the Pelennor. The Rammas is noticeably missing. Also the fortress, for that is what it truly is, sticks out from the mountain more than I had imagined that it would.

I think move Minas Tirith is the City and movie osgiliath is the garrison? (as Gandalf calls it)

He and Pip ride round and up the city levels, and it’s here that you see the detail on this bigature.

It is stunning - the whole scene, the music building up as they move up the city - marvelous. very stirring.

....it’s comic that Gandalf eventually comes to the conclusion that it would be best if Pip were just silent. A funny moment, and not a belching dwarf in sight.

exactly. this makes me laugh. gimli, unfortunately, does not.

Pip, moved by the memory of Boromir, gets the courage to speak, and tells Denethor of Boromir’s last moments. He kneels before the Steward and offers his service, basically his life, in place of the one who will not return..... Gandalf in seconds has had enough – maybe he’s prompted to get the scene rolling again – and so he pushes young Peregrin back with his staff.

Gandalf doing this REALLY grates with me. I hate it every time I see it. It's up there in my top 10 disliked bits of the movie (yes, I do have parts of the movie I dislkie LOL) - I can't even fathom out a reason for Gandalf to do this here. I've played devil's advocate on many an occasion in noting reasons WHY PJ changed things (farmir to gondor / wk gandalf fight / gandalf wacking denethor etc) - but I can't think of one for Gandalf's action here......... Elladan makes a good stab at the reason above, but I still can't excuse this action.

Note the faint hint of stubble on Denethor’s face. Are we being given a small clue that this man is starting to let go of his duties, and of this life?

you can also notice it vaguely on closeups of Sam's face from now on.....

agree with your points on the next scene re Minas Tirith's decay, Alatar. good stuff. only issue for me is that it was a bit too bright when they filmed this scene, what with the clouds hanging overhead (or nearby at least). Picky, I know.....