One never expects a surprisingly brave Hobbit and a disguised Shield Maiden.
In the books, does Aragorn look into the palantir? (and what about the necklace-does he lose that as well? I don’t remember the necklace in the books)
I know the answer is to reread the books, but abide with me, ok?
Thanks.
I would assume that because he was "in charge’ on the field, he would be a target. In the book, he had just slain the Southron chieftain, rallied the troops and “suddenly in the midst of his glory, his golden shield was dimmed” - from the shadow of the beast as it swooped in for the kill.
Aragorn decides to look in the Palantir, mainly to cause Sauron some panic and to move too quickly. He was hoping it would help Frodo & Sam.
I don’t know if you noticed, many of us are happy to answer Tolkien questions. So not only do you not have to worry about asking them, thank you for giving us the opportunity.
Jim
Yes, Aragorn looks into the Palantir - as was his right. Necklace - not in the books IIR.
Ok. But I meant that since Aragorn refused the path of kingship for most of his life, and while he possess all the kingly virtues (and is hot as hell to boot), he had to learn how to act as a king. Theoden subtley reprimands him at Helm’s Deep when they are preparing for battle (the “their courage hangs by a thread speech”.) Then Aragorn internalizes those lessons and shows his true self in ROTK. Just a comment.
And I still say that the scene where Sam, Gollum and Frodo see the gates of Mordor for the first time (Minas Morgul I think I mean), it looks just like when the Scarerow and the Lion King etc see the gates to the Wicked Witch’s palace or whatever. I keep expecting to see Flying Monkeys.
Ooh, little hobbit princeling speech now…that guy needs some Crest, badly.
I love that so many people are answering my questions. May I say that Aragorn’s hair looks great pulled back? Coming up on the “I can’t carry it, but I can carry you”–love that speech.
and I love Gandalf’s “far green country” speech to Pippin. I want that spoken at my funeral. aragorn is making his speech now–good egg.
Is he shown Arwen in the books? (afterall, she wasn’t dying in the books). So many questions…
There is something wrong with the endings to these films. Kind of anti-climatic. I still love them, though.
Overall, I prefer the book the Hobbit, though…guess I’ll never grow up!
What is whispered to Aragorn just before he says, “For Frodo?” More of the ancient tongue or just more evil thoughts?
“Smeagol lied.” cracks me up every time.
Tower about to implode.
(and I can’t help but think that these Eagles–never seen in ME except when needed, considering their size, are a bit of plot device for JRRT).
Well she certainly dies – very poignantly with her laying down in the same grove of trees in Lothlorien where she & Aragorn plighted troth and giving up her life. It all goes down in Appendix A of Return of the King: The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen. PJ cribbed from the Tale in the LOTR movies (particularly the scene where Aragorn’s death is fortold by Elrond) but did not follow it very closely overall.
For example, as is explained in the Tale, at the time of the War of the Rings, Elrond had already made a bargain with Aragorn that he could marry Arwen when/if he became king of both Arnor and Gondor. As this does not fit in at all with PJ’s “reluctant king” theme for Aragorn… it has no place in the movie. In the books Aragorn is not particularly reluctant and has been groomed since birth for the position.
What is Aragorn singing (or intoning)? And are the falling flower petals from the Tree of the King? (I wish the movie had him go to the snowbank and find the flower there).
true love now–she’s not dead yet! (only a flesh wound)
Awwwwwww.
I think I have THE message of this story. If you’re shy and can’t ask the girl you love to dance, go on an impossible quest, face death and monsters, and then come back and you’ll be able to ask her…
All in all, a good tale. Nice way to spend a weekend. Next up, Harry Potter!
What happend to Gandalf? I understand he’s sort of like an angel–where does he go?
(kidding)
Glad to hear that Aragorn wasn’t reluctant (why then didn’t he take his throne then?) It’s been years since I read the books–only the main points stay with me.
Gandalf was of the Maiar. Maiar are sort of like the Valar but of lesser ability and status (although quite powerful just the same). They are not mortal in the same terms as men and such are.
The wizards were sent to Middle Earth by the Valar about 1,000 years into the Third Age to help fight Sauron. Of those Sarumon was considered the leader of the lot of them but I think even then it was deemed Gandalf was somehow superior as he is given the Red Ring (not sure).
Gandalf is sort of killed in his battle with the Balrog but you cannot really “kill” a Maiar. Just make is spirit leave that body. The Valar send his spirit back to finish the job.
At the last he leaves Middle Earth with Frodo and Bilbo. Dunno what he got up to after that.
I don’t think that Frodo failed his task per se, but that the evil in the Ring overcame him at the last. I think it was fated in some way for Gollum to be the one who ulitmately destroys the Ring. Frodo was the currier. I think I’ll have to dig out my books and reread them.
Okay, here’s another question.
There are male Men and female. Male Elves and female. Male Dwarves and female (this is mentioned in the Appendices). Male Hobbits and female. Male Ents, who are pining for their lost females.
Where are the female Orcs?
The movie implies that Orcs are grown possibly asexually (that scene at Isengard where they’re ripping the new Orc out of a sac), but there’s nothing like it in the books. The books only mention that the Dark Lord ‘bred’ the Orcs. Were they never a complete self-perpetuating species, and required the Dark Lord or someone else evil to create more?
Why didn’t the Three Rings of Power subvert the Elves?
The Nine Rings of Power of course thoroughly corrupted the men using them and turned them into Ring Wraiths. While dwarves were not susceptible in that way to the Seven Rings those still undid the dwarves pretty well.
So why not the Three Rings? I assume they were still subject to the One Ring’s power. Is it just that the Elves were resistant to them?
I think so. I thought that orcs were originally elves gone bad (unlike goblins–where are the goblins in LOTR? another point I have to figure out).
I thought that the Orc that kills Boromir–the nasty one with the braids, smirk and swagger was a female. Maybe I just mistook male battle swagger, but /she looks female to me. (body language). But, that makes no sense since I think that orcs are reproduced asexually–unless that s/he orc was genetically neuter. Gah-this gets complicated quickly. 
You also don’t see elvish children–but I think that’s because they’re dying off.
Also, all the people in these films have curly hair. What are the odds? I have “Celtic” hair–thick, curly and red/blonde, but come on–I know plenty of WASPS and Celts who have nice, straight hair…
Good question, Whack–I have no idea. Plus, we only see one of the three rings (Galadriel’s wearing it)–or is Aragorn’s ring one of the Three as well? And if so, why does he get to wear it–it’s an Elvish ring. Wait-Elrond probably had one, did Mr. Galadriel (can’t remember his name-not well done in the films)
Orcs originally were normal Elves who Melkor corrupted after he captured them. One presumes they still had a male/female relationship. Maybe the females are just breeding stock in their evil culture and we never see them. I dunno.
Uruk-hai were the things we see “grown” in the pods and were sort of super orcs (they could tolerate being out in the sun for one thing).
He’s reciting (in Quenya) the words his ancestor Elendil uttered when the surviving Numenorian ships washed ashore on the banks of Middle earth after the Valar sunk Numenor. (Translated) “Out of the Great Sea unto Middle earth I am come. Here I will abide, and my heirs, until the ending of the world.”
Yes.
Sauron (in his disguise as Annatar) played a direct role in the forging of the Nine and the Seven, and so directly tainted them. Celebrimbor forged the Three without any aid from Sauron, so while the Three can be controlled by the One Ring when the One is under Sauron’s direct control, they aren’t inherently ‘flawed’ the way the other rings of power are.
Elrond, Galadriel and Gandalf each had one (Gandalf got his from Cirdan the Shipwright when Gandalf arrived in Middle Earth).
After the destruction of the One Ring the other rings lost their power. They all took them to Valinor when they departed Middle Earth.
Generally I do not think you can see the rings. Frodo sees Galadriel’s ring because Frodo was a ring bearer but Samwise could not see it.