Time to fix Gandalf versus the Witchking

[CSteefel]

Originally Posted by obloquy

Obviously you're correct about Olorin being immeasurably greater in power than the WK, but there is no Olorin in the film, only Gandalf. "Gandalf" has not been established as a primeval spirit who knew Sauron as a peer before Middle-earth existed. He's just a cranky old wizard who is sometimes impressive, but clearly not up to dealing with the WK.

As I mentioned in passing and others mentioned more specifically, PJ takes virtually verbatim the scene from Tolkien in which Gandalf is resurrected. How does a resurrection, following as I say the script written by Tolkien, jive with a cranky old wizard. This is clearly either a resurrected Maia, or another higher order being (like Glorfindel). And if this was not enough, the scene in which Gandalf (now the White Wizard) shows himself to Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas is a clear statement that a higher order being (again a Maia in fact) has returned, because it is stated he is now "Saruman as he should have been". And if this is not enough, we later see Gandalf reinforce this point by breaking Saruman's staff. Hardly your typical cranky wizard.

In fact, the original point was that PJ has no coherent and consistent representation of Gandalf, particularly after he returned. You cannot borrow entire scenes from Tolkien implying clearly the return of a Maia, and then drop it suddenly in front of the Gates of Minas Tirith...