It blew my mind to learn that the moment when Lurtz appears holding his bow is synced to 'bilin a las' (arrow for its swiftness) ..... makes you wonder if it was actually intentional or just super good luck
I'm gonna go with coincidence, since Philippa Boyens wrote the line and David Salo translated it. Howard Shore mainly works with the phonetics of the vocals, he often jumbles words and sentences to get the right phonemes in the right places.
@@jessicazhang2771 Sometimes it's obvious that I've put a bit too much effort into trying to make the lyrical translations eligible, when the creator clearly didn't XD
These scenes are so amazing, and are made even more so by knowing all thought behind the soundtrack. Very interesting to see speculations around the somewhat random piece in the middle!
ADDENDUM 8:31 The lyrics are taken from a part of Faramir's dialogue in the books, where he explains that he does not fight for fighting's sake, but to protect his homeland. Thanks for watching!
In my mind, one of the most profound passages in Tolkien's writing, perfectly encapsulating his approach to war. Battles are rarely the focus of the book, and never glorified in themselves, though individual moments of heroism and bravery, usually in the face of hopeless odds and fear, certainly are.
As a child, I always knew there was something to this music when I first heard it in cinema. Only now do I realize what they meant! Thanks for these explanations! Really blows my heart everytime I hear it. I can see how much love for Tolkien's work has been invested in making every scenes of these movies.
Something that entered my mind while reading the analysis for the "Seduction of the Ring" is the multiple ways in which the choir reflects its victims. The first couple of times we hear it, it's very innocent-sounding, like boys in a church choir. Likewise, the Hobbits' desires, even the selfish ones, are innocent. For example, Frodo wants to protect the Shire, but he also secretly wants to go on an adventure like his uncle. However, when Boromir picks up the Ring, the choir starts singing. It's still young boys but it's more solemn. I get the sense that Boromir is envisioning all the boys he grew up with who are now either dead or suffering, and the many future boys who will meet the same fate if he fails. For Aragorn, the choir includes women because of his love for Arwen. He wants to be with her, and he wants her to be safe and happy. Including the women alongside the boys' choir also makes me think of Aragorn's future son.
One of the most dramatic choices of the movies.... Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimlii AND the orcs all stop fighting each other at the top of the hill and instead tear off for the bottom of the hill after the same thing: the hobbits. The orcs to capture, the fellowship to protect. The shift in focus is powerful and adds real tension and weight to the battle.
One of the best battle sequences of the trilogy. And that's saying something. Also, maybe the only time that Gimli got to just fight without being made into comic relief.
I remember being really confused when I heard the nature's reclamation chords but it wasn't mentioned in Doug Adams' book. It seems odd for such an iconic chord progression from an important theme to be used without intending to reference that theme. Imo tho, anyone fighting against Saruman is fighting on the side of Nature
It's probably the prime example of why even the composer's own words can be taken with a grain of salt. Neither he nor Doug is infallible, which gives a little more room for fan speculation.
It blew my mind to learn that the moment when Lurtz appears holding his bow is synced to 'bilin a las' (arrow for its swiftness) ..... makes you wonder if it was actually intentional or just super good luck
I'm gonna go with coincidence, since Philippa Boyens wrote the line and David Salo translated it. Howard Shore mainly works with the phonetics of the vocals, he often jumbles words and sentences to get the right phonemes in the right places.
@@monoverantus That has always annoyed me a little bit (the jumbling of the lyrics) but I understand why it happens.
@@jessicazhang2771 Sometimes it's obvious that I've put a bit too much effort into trying to make the lyrical translations eligible, when the creator clearly didn't XD
7:16 is quite something special. From dark foreboding male choir to women singing as Boromir comes to the rescue. Quite the superhero moment.
These scenes are so amazing, and are made even more so by knowing all thought behind the soundtrack. Very interesting to see speculations around the somewhat random piece in the middle!
ADDENDUM
8:31 The lyrics are taken from a part of Faramir's dialogue in the books, where he explains that he does not fight for fighting's sake, but to protect his homeland.
Thanks for watching!
In my mind, one of the most profound passages in Tolkien's writing, perfectly encapsulating his approach to war. Battles are rarely the focus of the book, and never glorified in themselves, though individual moments of heroism and bravery, usually in the face of hopeless odds and fear, certainly are.
As a child, I always knew there was something to this music when I first heard it in cinema. Only now do I realize what they meant! Thanks for these explanations! Really blows my heart everytime I hear it. I can see how much love for Tolkien's work has been invested in making every scenes of these movies.
Knowing the lyrics just adds a whole new layer. Be it Faramirs words here, be it Aragorns oath at the Black Gate, it's just incredible
Something that entered my mind while reading the analysis for the "Seduction of the Ring" is the multiple ways in which the choir reflects its victims. The first couple of times we hear it, it's very innocent-sounding, like boys in a church choir. Likewise, the Hobbits' desires, even the selfish ones, are innocent. For example, Frodo wants to protect the Shire, but he also secretly wants to go on an adventure like his uncle.
However, when Boromir picks up the Ring, the choir starts singing. It's still young boys but it's more solemn. I get the sense that Boromir is envisioning all the boys he grew up with who are now either dead or suffering, and the many future boys who will meet the same fate if he fails. For Aragorn, the choir includes women because of his love for Arwen. He wants to be with her, and he wants her to be safe and happy. Including the women alongside the boys' choir also makes me think of Aragorn's future son.
4:40 the moment when Aragorn really becomes a King ❤
4:48
Best part
One of the most dramatic choices of the movies.... Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimlii AND the orcs all stop fighting each other at the top of the hill and instead tear off for the bottom of the hill after the same thing: the hobbits. The orcs to capture, the fellowship to protect. The shift in focus is powerful and adds real tension and weight to the battle.
One of the best battle sequences of the trilogy. And that's saying something. Also, maybe the only time that Gimli got to just fight without being made into comic relief.
I remember being really confused when I heard the nature's reclamation chords but it wasn't mentioned in Doug Adams' book. It seems odd for such an iconic chord progression from an important theme to be used without intending to reference that theme.
Imo tho, anyone fighting against Saruman is fighting on the side of Nature
It's probably the prime example of why even the composer's own words can be taken with a grain of salt. Neither he nor Doug is infallible, which gives a little more room for fan speculation.
I wonder if it's a hint towards the bravery of Merry and Pippin rising in this moment, which leads to them to inspire the Ents in the next movie.