Filmmaker reacts to The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 31 มี.ค. 2022
- Hope you enjoy my filmmaker reaction to Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. :D
Full length reactions & Patreon only polls: / jamesvscinema
Original Movie: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
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Absolute God-tier films. The writing, acting, cinematography, CGI, props, score. There will never be a movie like this again.
Couldn’t agree more!!!!
Absolutely agree! To this day no fantasy movie has made me feel the same way LOTR trilogy did and there has been nothing like it and there probably never will be like you said. The movies truly deserved the oscars! Seeing how most fantasy movie adaptations have really missed the mark, LOTR is truly a special gem.
Just remember that Theoden wanted to see Eowyn smile again instead of cry. So she smiled and waited until after he passed before she shed a tear.
Ugh. Someone always points something out about my favorite trilogy that i never noticed or considered for 20 years. Thank you for this. 😍😭
And he says "I know your face" because he finally got to see that smile again 😢
@@BryGoose I also wonder if he was letting her know that he knew she'd come to the battle.
@@BryGoose Nothing says alot. It's not a word.
No matter how many times I see it, it brings me to tears to realise that Gandalf brought three eagles... He never gave up on Smeagol.
RIP Sméagol 😭☹️💔
Damn I didn’t pick up on that until you mentioned it. Nice catch!
Gandalf never knew that someone named Smeagol was with Sam & frodo right? Frodo & Sam found Smeagol after they seperated from the Fellowship.
@@umairrashid9345 Smeagol had been following them at least since Moria, Gandalf himself told Frodo about it when they talked about Bilbo having pity on him :)
@@umairrashid9345 after the escape from Osgiliath, Faramir tells Gandalf that Frodo and Sam were taking the path through Cirith Ungol, and Gandalf demanded he tell him everything. It’s possible he told Gandalf about Sméagol at that point.
Tolkien was an officer in WW1 , Sam was based on the ordinary soldiers he commanded , who just got on with life , trying to make it as normal as possible with humour and stoicism, despite all the horrors of trench warfare , they were Tolkiens heroes
Specifically Sam is modelled after the Batmen of WW1. Each British officer had an ordinary soldier assigned to them, called Batmen, who served as the officers assistant/valet. Tolkien had the utmost respect for the role these gentlemen played in the war, and modeled Samwise and Frodo's relationship after them.
A favorite story I heard from the making of these films was when Dominic Monaghan (Merry) was on a talk show, and said that it was like the biggest budget student film he had been on. Not in terms of quality, but in terms of how everyone pitched in almost naturally, so that even actors were helping carry out big electrical cables for lighting. And from watching the “behind the scenes”, it rings true - just about everyone treated this as a passion project. I don’t think I’ve seen a series of movie created with so much genuine love from so many hundreds (thousands?) of people. Seeing how these movies got made is a wonderful education and somehow never seems to lessen the magic. Sometimes, it makes the magic even greater.
Couldn’t agree more mate. This was a enmasse work of love. And it shines through every frame.
We have not yet seen it’s equal.
The making of series included with the extended edition I was honestly shocked to find that I was more on the edge of my seat watching them than the actual movies. This coming from someone who, when it came out, watched every single showing every single day it was in theaters. It is just wild how crazy close they cut to make the deadlines and what everyone went through to pull this off.
Stark contrast to what we're seeing from Amazon right now.
the making of it IS a magical movie by itself, just amazing
”You bow to no one”
The part where everyone ugly cries.
Great reactions on these films, I really enjoyed it. Thank you for taking us with you on your journey!
I love that even in his utter last moments, Smeagol still held the ring above the lava to preserve his precious. The influence the ring has is scary!!
right? a testament to our own weaknesses
That's also why Frodo hesitated so much to grab Sam's hand. The ring was screaming at Frodo to save it while it was sitting on that lava.
The ring also didn't melt until Frodo rdecided not to go after it.
Fun thing about the term “wizard”: The suffix “ard” really just means someone that does something a lot/is an example of the type, but almost all of the examples we still have are negative (“drunkard,” “bastard,” “dullard,” “sluggard,” etc.). So it’s thought that “wizard” may have basically been a term for something like “too smart for their own good” or “giving wisdom no one wants” or “wise ass.”
Eh, a wise guy, huh?
Cool I love learning about language and the origins of words. Thanks
Good thing Tolkien didnt refer to them as wizards in his writing, huh??
@@SnailHatan its not how Tolkien referred to his kind in the actual lore. But people just dont knoq
@@upsidedownlogic175 Yes he did.
The part where Sam talks about how he would have married Rosie gets me every time. The acting is so good, and I think it's the first time we really see Sam truly give up hope of surviving and going home.
I was lucky enough to watch this in the theater on opening weekend. The entire place went wild when Sam's scene at 34:08 happened. What a movie.
I was at an Opening Day showing, and yeah, packed house lost its collective mind.
22:10 Frodo chooses not to kill Smeagol because Frodo has to keep the belief that Smeagol can come back. He needs to keep this belief because the ring continues to corrupt Frodo, just like how it did to Smeagol. Frodo already knows the evil of the ring is corrupting him, and that he could easily become just like Smeagol. If he believes that Smeagol can come back to being good, then Frodo can also keep the belief that he can come back from the corruption of the ring.
not only that is true, if you go back, Gandalf told frodo that anyone has a role to play for good or bad so whos to judge?, and the fact that frodo spared smeagol many times, actually led to the destruction of the ring, when frodo put the ring on, only smeagol could sense him (through his connection to it) and cut his finger off (sam wouldnt be able to do it), so smeagol with all his faults actually is the reason the ring was able being destroyed
(this is based only on the movies not the books btw)
I love that Theoden led his army into battle, despite the odds being stacked against them. It’s such a powerful moment. When Sam picks up Frodo, man, I tear up every time. To sum it up, this movie is so emotionally satisfying, on so many levels.
I always love when a king is in the front lines of his army. I bet that does great for morale to see your leader being in the rather than safe sitting on his throne.
@@DanielFernandez-gv6iy “Death.. DEATH!!”
I love it too. In the books Theoden even outpaces the rest of his army in the first charge, his wrath is so great.
The book version -
"At that sound the bent shape of the king sprang suddenly erect. Tall and proud he seemed again; and rising in his stirrups he cried in a loud voice, more clear than any there had ever heard a mortal man achieve before:
Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden! Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter! spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered, a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises! Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!
With that he seized a great horn from Guthláf his banner-bearer, and he blew such a blast upon it that it burst asunder. And straightway all the horns in the host were lifted up in music, and the blowing of the horns of Rohan in that hour was like a storm upon the plain and a thunder in the mountains. Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor! Suddenly the king cried to Snowmane and the horse sprang away. Behind him his banner blew in the wind, white horse upon a field of green, but he outpaced it. After him thundered the knights of his house, but he was ever before them. Éomer rode there, the white horsetail on his helm floating in his speed, and the front of the first éored roared like a breaker foaming to the shore, but Théoden could not be overtaken. Fey he seemed, or the battle-fury of his fathers ran like new fire in his veins, and he was borne up on Snowmane like a god of old, even as Oromë the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young. His golden shield was uncovered, and lo! it shone like an image of the Sun, and the grass flamed into green about the white feet of his steed. For morning came, morning and a wind from the sea; and darkness was removed, and the hosts of Mordor wailed, and terror took them, and they fled, and died, and the hoofs of wrath rode over them. And then all the host of Rohan burst into song, and they sang as they slew, for the joy of battle was on them, and the sound of their singing that was fair and terrible came even to the City."
I read most of the LOTR back in the mid to late 60"s and was so happy to watch the progression of CGI over the years. When Jackson and his people saw the possibilities for creating the visuals for these stories I just knew it would actually come true. Glad all you young whippersnappers get to see it all, brand new. (73year old man)
No new movies come remotely close to this trilogy. Sadly we’re about to watch Amazon defile this franchise aswell...
@@TheLevitatingFleem I have hope, but not too much hope 😭 when does it air?
@@DanielFernandez-gv6iy September 22
This movie took home 11 Oscars including Best Picture. It was the last and final epic film to win Best Picture, and the first fantasy film.
The Shape Of Water would be the second to win in 2018.
Wasn't it 13?
It's from the tail end of the era when they actually gave Oscars to great popular movies. Now Oscars only go to movies specifically made to get Oscars, not for audiences, and that's a damn shame :(
@@TJMiton No, it was still nonsense back then. The other two films barely picked up any awards - then they gave a ton to this because they had to acknowledge it. FotR is probably the better movie but it got, like, Video Editing or something.
@@Deimos2k5 i think all the Oscars this trilogy won were warranted. Apart from being films good enough to win, the sheer scale and scope of these films, the technology was basically cutting edge and created (or perfected) as they went, plus the score, cinematography, acting, etc. The intangible aspects go a long way too. Rather than just Oscar-bait, the amount of effort, passion, and commitment by everyone involved is something almost non-existent in modern Oscar winning films. Obviously, there's exceptions to that, but the Oscars are pretty much just a popularity and/or inclusion contest over nearly the last decade
@@Deimos2k5 I mean...fellowship was nominated for 13 oscars and won 4, two towers won 2 out of 6 nominations, return of the king won 11 out of 11 nominations. imo this follows the order of the quality of the movies pretty well and giving the recognition to the last in a series that was really just 1 long epic movie makes a lot of sense.
these days there are WAY more movies nominated and ive never even heard of like 90% of them. there's a clear difference in what the oscars are now.
"Where was this shot?" The long shots of the white city of Minas Tirith are a "miniature." If you call a 25 foot model "miniature" But the size gives room for more detail and why it stands up as a real place. Jackson used large miniatures through the entire trilogy.
They actually called it a “bigature” in the BTS
Yup, 'Bigatures'
Someone actually did a gofundme to build the white city in real life; despite raising a lit, they fell short of the amount needed. Would be wonderful - they should build it in New Zealand as an epic tourism Hotel & resort. I would go!
New Zealand is where they shot it.
I love how the scene of Sam saving Frodo from the lava by reaching their hands parallels with the scene in the end of the first movie where Frodo saves Sam from drowning
Oh my GOD! Watched these movies countless times and fresh insights just never stop coming.
“I love how he is shadowing an imperfect king.”
In the extended addition of The Two Towers, Arwen is surprised to learn that Aragon is 87 years old and fought in a battle with her grandfather. He (Aragon) knew the present king when the king was but a child.
You mean Eowyn,
Aragon is Dúnedain, race with longer lifespan. Denethor and his sons also Dúnedain.
@@njemawut Yes, you’re correct. My fault, but I blame it on ADHD… oh, and that I’m from the southern states so the A’s and E’s sound very similar to each other. But thank you for the correction. 😬
Was about to say Arwens Granddad? Aragorn is old but not THAT old
@@Jmassey95 Yea, the pit falls of ADHD. Sometimes it takes a bit to catch up on my errors. I sometimes get motion sickness when I edit things I writings and find silly little stupid spelling errors and I roll my eyes at each one. Don’t get me stated on Sauron and Saruman. They both sound the same no matter how slowly one says them.
@@cozenw3236 haha it’s all good my man 😃 mistakes happen. But I feel it haha when I first was watching the movie I would piss off my friend who was a big fan because I kept mixing the names up because they sounded so similar 😂😂 whoopsie
Now that you’ve finished the trilogy, as a filmmaker and reaction content creator, we need reaction videos of you watching the behind the scenes. You’re going to love the work that went into this series, especially with the miniatures and the practical effects for scaling the hobbits vs people
I second this, they are as mind-blowing as the films themselves. Such creative solutions to practical effects and such amazing innovations for the CGI.
My favorite bits are the ones between Aragorn and the Uruk-Hai stunt team. Beautiful stuff. Lol
@@beetlebob4675 lol, the headbutts ❤
I was thinking that myself. Those Doc's are so good.
@@TotallySquirrel
Ugh yyeesss😭😭😍
“My friends, you bow to no one.”
😢 Every frigging time man.
35:41 the advances made in CG acting can be seen in the subtleties in that one shot. Gollum goes from cradling his precious, joy on his face, to hitting the lava and looking confused, to a moment of pure anger at being betrayed, to the blank expression of death just before he’s consumed entirely… all in a handful of frames.
That's very true, but I'm not sure that's so much an advancement of the CG acting, as an advancement on the CG not hindering or obstructing an actor's performance. I know it's a CG character, but if you watch Lord of the Rings, Planet of the Apes, and The Last Jedi.... you can still see a LOT of Andy Serkis in Gollum.
Gollum swore an oath on the Ring to serve Frodo, and as he is bound to the Ring, the Ring is bound to him, and when he breaks his oath, the evil of the ring claims Gollum's life by making him fall into the volcano. Treachery begets treachery, and evil destroys itself in the end.
Almost twenty years later and this movie still gives me goosebumps. It makes you feel hopeful for a better world.
Why does everyone always miss the part when Sam gives Frodo back the ring? To this point, he is the single person with the strength to give it up without a fight.
In the books the ring tempts Sam, but since he is such a simple person all the ring can do is try to tempt him with making the entire world one big garden. After a moment Sam just decides that is just silly.
@@telynns8490 Right, and still, he decides. Right up to the very end when he says "I'm home", he's the only one in the whole book with the strength to let go, not just of the ring but of all the metaphorical things that weigh people down.
To be fair Frodo was willing to give the Ring to Gandalf and Galadriel in Fellowship. Impossible for me to say whether the Ring would have affected Sam more if he and Frodo had switched roles but am sure Sam would have been very different person by the time they reached Mordor if it had been him carrying the Ring for all that time.
@@Belisarius1967People keep forgetting that carry the ring for so long will affect anyone wearing, Sam included. The fact that Bilbo was able to give it up after so long, took true strength. The fact that Frodo tried to give it up 2 times with that sword wound affecting him, takes true strength.
I don't think I can adequately express how Lord of the Rings makes me feel, other than to say, every time I finish watching it, I am hit with a deep, painful sadness that I don't live in that world.
Sometimes I just put it on again because I don’t want too stop watching. I want too live in hobbiton
@@themoviehobbit355 These recent times have been really bad and depressive, so LOTR as a type of escapism is something that all of us, big fans, want more than anything in their lives.
Same.
I sobbed when I finished the book because I didn’t want it to end!
If not for this feeling, i don't think i would have started writing my own stories. Harry Potter opened me up to books when i was 9, but this world turned me into a writer at 12. Hands down.
Re: Giant Spider
Shelob is the intelligent spawn of a monstrous spider so big and powerful that even the ancients aren’t sure if she was a fallen “angel” or something from the darkness at the edge of creation. Her momma spider wove shadows so dark even the creator could only see so far into it, she sucked the light from the trees that predated the moon & sun, and when Sauron’s old boss betrayed her she would have eaten him if not for a whole squad of balarogs (the big shadowy fire thing that almost killed Gandalf).
Oh shit 😳😅😅 that’s fuckin scary lol and there’s a spider even bigger than her?? Fuck that 😂😭
Ungoliant
@@colleenross8752 Yep. A big yikes who helped breed a whole new line of scary giant spiders north of Mirkwood and then went into the south… where, considering people and life still exist, she disappeared. IIRC it was posited that her hunger grew so great that it consumed her from the inside out.
@@DanielFernandez-gv6iy Seriously, she terrified everyone. 😆
@@AnotherScribbler that'll be her name from now on: the big yikes
When you are going to watch the making of stuff, realize that Gimli is actually, in rl, the tallest cast member. He is also the voice of Treebeard. Epic production methods. They literally invented filming technology and techniques never before used & inspired filmmaking ever since. Amazing.
No matter how many times I re-watch these movies (and I do this every year more than thrice) I always cry at the "my friends, you bow to no one" every single time😂😂😂 like I know it's coming and I still cry, and the only other scene that does this Tony's death
Here Lies Tony the Orc.
I cry the whole 4 hours every time 😆😅
But the Charge of Rohirim and Sam begging Frodo to reach his hand are climaxes for me.
@@louginko4432 The Charge of the Rohirim gives me chills every time.
@@leslie2149 I remember watching this scene in the theatre, everyone in the theatre started screaming and cheering when they charged. Its like we were all there together with them, legendary moment.
Same. For both scenes.
There are so many good parts to this trilogy, but the two lines that slay me every time:
1. "I can carry you!"
2. "You bow to no one."
Epic. Imagine a world where people lived that way. I feel it's a challenge to each of us to live up to this standard.
I cry at both of those scenes. every time.
To live as a man like Aragorn is a challenge worth living up to for a lifetime. It's a calling to be a man more true and good than almost anything I've ever seen in history.
This is, bar none, my absolute favourite film of all time, so happy to see you cover this whole trilogy, James
Damn this movie is a hell of a journey when you see this for the first time. The charge of the Roharrim always gives me an adrenaline rush every time I see /hear it. Some combination of the score and the visuals just hits exactly right every time. To this day, one of the most visceral and powerful scenes I’ve seen on the big screen.
Charge of the Rohirrim is my favorite scene in cinema ever. I’ve seen the trilogy at least 30x all the way through, and it’s easily the goat
31:28 Years ago my household was marathoning the DVDs of the trilogy, and we had been joined by one of the sweet little grey tabbycat sisters we had at the time. She was curled up on my spouse's lap, pointed right at the TV. We didn't know how intently she'd been watching the film until we got to Theoden's death scene. Out of nowhere, she let out the saddest mournful wail a small cat could muster and there were actual tears running down her cheeks. She calmed down after we gave her cuddly hugs, but that's how we found out that the King of Rohan had been her favorite.
Ok. I just cried.
I had a cat that would sit and watch LOTR with me...
And when the birds, crébain from Dunland, the spies of Sauruman flew over the Fellowship as they hid, in the first movie, my little cat would duck and cover and get behind me on the bed and peer around me to watch it!
i absolutely LOVE this trilogy but my husband had never gotten into it so last month we did a rewatch and as soon as it ended he said “let’s watch it again”. I’ve never loved him more LOL
Just rewatched the whole trilogy. and I am a tad bit embarrassed to admit it, but I had tears in my eyes at multiple points. These movies are both epic and beautiful, they are true labors of love. I have all the respect to the director, cast and crew, who gave us this flawless trilogy.
I can still get the chills and tears if I watch the scenes every day. Every factor of the film makes that possible. It's amazing to experience.
Should definitely check out the behind the scenes on them, there is a ridiculous amount of content that they recorded while making them and they're probably some of my most watched videos
@@stairwaytoholiday I have seen the behind the scenes stuff, and it is so heartwarming. Everyone was doing their best, and giving it their all, to make these movies. Hell, if they didn't have the technology to do this or that, they just invented the tech. I wish we got more movies with this much heart behind them.
No need to be embarrassed. I think if someone doesn’t cry or even tear/choke up at multiple points in this trilogy there is something wrong with them.
Never be ashamed of tears mate. The fact that these movies promote that reaction just affirms your humanity. May your house hold strong.✊
The 4 hour version of this is absolutely insanely incredible… I’ll never go back lol
Love the reviews and praise for Theoden. Our flaws are what make us, he didn't want to go to battle and he knows his death is the end of his line and despite the fact he knows he will lose and die, he faces his death like a G
And yes, Sam is the best person to not exist
Denethor is actually a great Steward and man in the books. He falls into many of the same traps as Boromir; he is using one of the palantíri to defend his kingdom, and he is so afraid of losing it and his family to Sauron that it had droven him mad.
Yeah he is meant to be like this Shakespearean tragic character that you feel really sorry for, but the movie version is so over the top jerk that you are just happy to see him die.
Yea Denethor was probably one of the most different characters from book to film. Yet, I love both iterations with so many quotable lines haha
aw spoilers
He is a much more tragic figure in the books, but he still treats Faramir like crap. So still a bit of a jerk, but just not as bad. His mental decline is explained better in the books, being driven to using the palantiri and since Sauron had control of one of the seeing stones he was able to drive Denethor to despair and madness.
You learn in the extended that Aragorn is 87 years old. Part of the Dunedain people who were blessed with long life. He knew Theoden as a kid and rode out with Eowyn's grandfather years ago.
I forgot that was an extended scene, I only watch that nowadays so I forget what others are missing
Each movie of the trilogy is epic. All three of the movies together is a legendary experience.
James I love how you mentioned the difference between the two kings in this story and how they’re imperfect characters. I heard somewhere that the two kings (and many characters in this story, actually) follow different paths based on their reaction to despair. All of them are facing a seemingly hopeless situation (as Gandalf says, “only a fools’ hope”) but where Denethor chooses to give in to the despair and go down a path of self-destruction, Théoden rallies his people together and leads them to war even though he knows that they will all likely die (“if this is to be our end, then I would have them make such an end”). I think the same difference can be seen (in part) between Frodo and Sam. It’s am interesting question to ask - why do some people possess a certain resilience against despair? I think that Tolkien really admired this form of moral courage (Mordor is supposedly based on the battlegrounds of WWI) and elevated this nobility above the nobility that society cared about (ie, Denethor was supposed to be more powerful than Théoden, Sam is a true nobody and would prefer to be at home gardening). These characters believe in something greater than themselves (“there’s still some good in this world, Mr.Frodo”) and that’s where they get that moral courage
" My friend's, You bow to no one" then that music goes on. I tear up never time. Sometimes cry a little 😢 its so good.
when sam says " ..but i can carry you" u know who the hero is. we all need a friend like sam
By not watching the extended editions you did miss what I feel is an important scene that shouldn’t have been cut. The death of Saruman. The scene also has the best behind the scenes story of Sir Christopher Lee basically telling Peter Jackson that he killed Nazis in WW2 and thus, is intimately aware of what sound a person makes being stabbed in the back.
Things just got cut because the theatre industry didn't want to sell tickets for 4 hours. The Extended Edition is simply the Intended Edition. Not just some bonus content. I wish this info would have reached some first time watchers.
So glad someone mentioned this. James, if you ever want a random, fun, 30-minute rabbit hole, look into the life of Christopher Lee. Amazing.
The extended editions suck dude. They're children's movies. Theatrical is all savage.
@@DestinyAwaits19 What a bizarre take. You genuinely don't think they're better? I don't want to assume you're trolling, but I'm leaning towards it pretty strongly.
@@Pink.andahalf No dude I'm dead serious. Not a hint of trolling about it. I'll say it once and I'll say it again. The theatricals are far better than the extended editions.
I don’t think I’ve clicked on any video faster-so glad you’re doing the LotR trilogy. Epic! 😁
Damn memorable experience!
@@JamesVSCinema Glad you think so! Also, *totally* agree that Berserk getting the LotR treatment would be beyond awesome.
@@JamesVSCinema let’s gooooo.. hobbit trilogy is next bro!
@@JamesVSCinema lol merry is not pippins brother, but its cool.
We need to talk about Pippen’s song…*goosebumps*
People who think these movies are lame have a special level of hell reserved for them. For them, and people who talk at the theater.
The Special Hell…
I remember someone telling me they didn’t like these movies because “all they did was walk and travel to the end”. And it just blew me away. That’s like saying every movie and story ever made is the same because it’s a journey to the end 😂 like what
@@DrakengardGirl Well, trying to keep an open mind, I'd guess that if you like soap operas, probably movies with a end aren't your cake? idk
There are TV series that ended as planned (not cancelled) and the finale leaves a lot of open questions. To me, those are worse than soap operas.
@@TheMule71 maybe but I got the impression it wasn’t the fact that it ended that was the problem, it was the fact that there was physically a lot of walking and running they couldn’t stand lol. Like the actual physical journey. They told me that was the whole movie and they didn’t like it
Glad to know that as a lifelong fan of LotR, who has read it many times and doesn't enjoy the liberties that the film took and would much rather read the books, that I get to experience eternal torment.
You know all these epic lines like "I am no man!" and "But I can carry you!"? They read just as epic as they sound. I watched Fellowship and Two Towers but read Return before it came out and yes, those lines really leap out from the page. So there's about 1,000 pages worth of you to read if you feel up to it. Of course, then you have extended works like The Hobbit, Silmarillion, The Unfinished Tales, The History of Middle-Earth vol. 1-12, The Children of Húrin, Beren and Lúthien, etc. etc. :)
The prophecy spoken of by Gandalf is "Far off yet is his doom, and not by the hand of man shall he fall." Merry also participated in the Witch-King's death, he stabs the wraith in the back while Eowyn strikes the final blow thus making the prophecy doubly true. The Witch-King is killed by a woman and a Hobbit, one is not a man and the other is not a Man.
7:55 The sword being forge by the elves was Andúril, re-forged from the shards of Narsil. Narsil (the Sword that was Broken) was the sword that cut the ring from Sauron's hand.
One of the reasons the Lord of the Rings stories flow so well together is because Tolkien originally wrote it as a single novel but publishers didn’t believe anyone would read something that long, and they probably wanted more money too.
Still to this day the Ride of the Rohirrim is the most amazing thing I've experienced watching a movie in theaters. The whole crowd just went wild and it was amazing.
One of the smartest things Peter Jackson did on these films was shooting principal photography on all three films at the same time. And then using the 11 months between releases to focus on the more intimate close up scenes. That way you didn’t have the issue of actors aging between films especially on a trilogy that’s happening on a concurrent timeline. My hands down favorite movie (I view it as one long movie) of all time! I’ve thoroughly enjoyed your reaction to all three films!
I love your channel and every time i think, “he can’t surely watch another banger of a movie” here I am, loving every minute of your reactions. Much love man
I had the absolute pleasure of watching all 3 of these films at the cinema when they were released and since then I can honestly say that I haven`t seen anything at the cinema that has enthralled me like these 3 films did...an absolute masterclass in story telling, acting and cinematography!
The scene at the swearing in of the king where Aragorn looks at the Hobbits and says "My Friends, You bow to no one" still smacks me right in the feels!
What a time to be alive. I saw Phantom Menace (1999), Fellowship of the Ring (2001), Attack of the Clones (2002), Two Towers (2002), Return of the King (2003)
@@brettcloud8550 I was 22 in 99, I watched The Matrix in the summer (after meeting some very colorful Rasta types on Brighton Beach in the U.K and having a rather strong spliff, then saw The Sixth Sense and Fight Club up in Manchester U.K, on the same night...after that my mind was mush....🤣
Dude, if you ever get a chance, come to Minneapolis to the Riverview Theater on the last Sunday of the year. This single-screen theater hosts a LotR marathon - the extended editions! They haven't done it the last two years because of covid, obviously. Hoping they bring it back this year.
@@darthpiette2893 I`d kill to do that!!!
#addedtobucketlist
@@ca9968 they have drawings in-between each film and a costume contest. The last winner was a guy in a motion capture suit 😆
I remember watching the first movie. I was so entranced that it led me to read the whole series including the hobbit and similarian etc that when I went to see the two towers I was all in and ready for the journey. The cinematography and story line literally captured me and I was hooked!
Shelob isn't even the biggest spider in Tolkien lore.
The biggest was a spider called ungoliant. She grew so huge she eventually took over the southern half of a continent and spun her webs so vast that the land was completely covered in darkness.
She was so powerful she was even able to restrain morgoth (saurons boss) and had to be driven away from him by an army of balrogs. She eventually died after becoming so hungry she ate herself
Ungoliant was a beast!
The shots with Gollum at 3:18 and Merry at 6:17 are important foreshadowing.
They show how even simple pure proto-Hobbits and Hobbits, can be drawn to, and controlled by, Sauron.
"The One Ring" or "The Palantir" are a direct line to Dark Lord Sauron, and even the "pure souls" are products of "Earth tainted by Morgoth" aka Sauron's demi-god-level boss, who ensured that everything good in Middle Earth still has a seasoning of dissonant evil to spice things up.
"a seasoning of dissonant evil to spice things up"
🤣😂🤣
Excellent description
These 3 films still hold up so well, unlike others made in the same time
It's always insane to me how after TWENTY YEARS this CG still holds up as well as it does. What can be said that hasn't been said a thousand times about this trilogy.. So many characters you can't relate to just one! Every character is acted so perfectly, the sets, costumes, HUGE scale choreography - all done so perfectly. From a basic art perspective, it's hard to touch.
At the time of release, I was 9 to 11 years old and my parents would go see these movies in theaters for their anniversary each year, so my siblings and I didn't get to see them until we bought them on DVD a bit later. When we finally watched the movies, man we all bonded over these movies for years following and I absolutely expect to bond with my grandchildren over these films in the exact same way.
I loved your take on this. Lord of the Rings means so much to me, and these films were truly masterworks. There are of course issues to me in comparison to the books, but also great strengths. They're different beasts.
If you consider The Hobbit films, people will spam you about how terrible they are. Don't listen to the haters. They're excellent.
Honestly I'd watch you reacting to the Making Of - the craft involved is going to awe you.
You are so right, a Berserk adaptation would be incredible! I still have hope there will be a full adaptation one day. It deserves so much better than what it has gotten.
If that were as well done as this, it would traumatize everyone who saw it. Berserk is amazing, no doubt, but it would wreck the populace.
@@wesleyking6713 lol true, but that’s the point.
Be careful what you wish for.. if they tried it now they would ruin it most likely
What an end to the journey!! And I’m with you in that I don’t even know what to say because it’s so satisfying to see someone as invested and appreciative of this masterpiece. Not everyone is, I get it (which is hard to fathom why not) but I was experiencing all the thoughts and emotion you were. Can’t tell you how great this was, thank you for watching these again with new eyes. 😊
When you asked where are they going at the end there - they’re basically sailing to the Undying Lands, which is in essence, Paradise, a land untouched by evil, as Gandalf describes them “white shores and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise”. It was only meant for Elves to sail across and remain there since they are immortal, but special exception was made for ring bearers, which is why Bilbo and Frodo were allowed to go
I've seen these movies so many times that the way I view them is completely different from how I first saw them. Getting to go with you on your first real sit-down of all three films brought me back to those first few times seeing LotR.
Lowkey, a Berserk adaptation with this level of production would be out of this world!
Amazing reactions man. It was fun watching you appreciate the greatness that are these movies. I saw them in theaters when they first came out and was absolutely blown away. I've probably seen them 100 times each at this point and still never get tired of them. The level of detail in every single aspect of the film is unmatched as far as I know.
Having watched all of them now, I'd still recommend the extended edition's deleted scenes, they add a LOT of good stuff, especially in Return of the King; there's a critical scene involving Saruman that was cut, as well as a scene involving an emissary of Sauron's riding out to meet Aragorn before the final battle, both of which are utterly fantastic. Plus the Boromir scenes that, IIRC, are cut from the theatrical version of The Two Towers...
"Be vulnerable about how art inspires you" is such an awesome thing to say. Loved your reactions man.
LOTR still has the best score of all time in my opinion, everything fits the scene perfectly and the emotions it still evokes after countless rewatches is just incredible to me
Couldn’t agree more. The score and it’s implementation is top class. I have yet to see it’s equal.
"You bow to no one." That line makes me tear up every time. Incredible.
Story, screenplay, directing, acting, musical score,… All nearly perfect. I am so glad that you were appreciated it all.
Been waiting all week for this, lemme grab my popcorn
You know the vibes!!
I know you're watching the theatrical edition and this didn't come up in Two Towers but Aragorn is 87, older than King Theoden who was only a small child the last time Aragorn was in Rohan. He's been leading armies and the remnants of his people for over 50 years by this point.
So many iconic scenes in this movie!!!! I always love "you bow for no one."
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 James always coming in clutch with a great reaction keep it up brother.
My guy Cory!
The day of the midnight showing for this, I got to the cinema in the morning so I could be first in line and then waited the whole day while I read the book. Great reaction!
That’s an awesome memory right there!
@@JamesVSCinema That it is!
I appreciate the love for every aspect of a production like that and pretty much all of the movies you react to. It is rare to see people (on youtube anyway) praise the cgi artist for example. Keep it up James.
I adore how you keep calling Gandalf 'saucy'! Great reaction as always 💜 -x-
These are my favorite films of all time and your reactions have kind of been like watching them for the first time. Loved that you appreciated Howard Shore's score throughout these reactions! It really does add so much and the use of leitmotifs for the characters is so brilliant. I resonate with your thoughts at the end as well, there are themes in fantasy that can be applicable to any of us and hit us in our very core. That to me is what Lord of the Rings does so well. Just the one theme of how Bilbo's one simple act of kindness can have a major effect in the world is something I thought was so awesome that was shown in the films and books. And oh man you are going to love the behind the scenes of these films!
"Where are they going?" Valinor son, valinor. This highlights how the lord of the rings is just the smallest tip of the overall story tolkien and his son Christopher spent their whole lives grappling with. I read the silmarillion in middle school for the first time and I've read it on average once a year since then. If you are a book reader and want the true context for these movies, do it. I'd glad ship you a copy, it's my personal bible
I just started reading it, I feel like I'm gonna convert to Tolkienism. His vision of the Creation of the world makes much more senses than any other myths.
They didn't go to Valinor but rather to Tol Eressëa. At any rate, they surely had to stop there first
@@hrotha I thought as ring bearers, him and sam, are allowed in to valinor. I remember reading that in the appendices and the one ring wiki seems to support that as well. There are so many versions of stories though that I could see it being Tol Eressea also, I think in The Lost Tales, the earlier versions of the story, that's where the narrator lives so it's central to Tolkien
@@louginko4432 My heart lies in Gondolin, in the vale of Tumladen. My favorite place in all of literature
@@wonderboy13579 I can't wait to read these chapters! I've seen so many people talked about Gondolin and the burning boats 😭 So far I'm just after the creation of the Dwarves by the Vala Aulë
The Lord of the Rings is as close as you can get to the perfect film. They stayed true to the source material. The performances were great. They used every tool in the toolbox; CGI, miniatures, practical effects; just using whatever worked best, without over relying on any single technique. The film score is absolutely perfect.
Thank you for reacting to this trilogy! I can't wait to see/hear your thoughts on the hours of behind the scenes content the extended editions have!
I literally found this LOTR reaction like 3 hours ago, watched both 1 and 2 and boom, you post #3. Hells yes!!
On Tarantulas, something that helped me with them is watching tarantula pet owners on TH-cam. Seeing how inactive they are (as mostly ambush hunters), how uninterested in human beings (don’t see us as prey, we’re like moving trees) and the thing that really disturbs me is very minimal on a tarantula (the eyes of a spider). They’re basically like the beefy jocks of the spider kingdom, like how scorpions get beefier the less venomous their sting is? So a smaller scorpion is way more trouble for us. A big chunky spider or scorpion is just all muscle. That helped me anyway
You deserve a sit down with Peter Jackson. I'm sure he'd love to answer your questions from a person who freshly seen it. I wish I could see it for the first time all over again. Cheers James.
Not only did Sam kill a giant tarantula, it just so happened to be the daughter of the literal manifestation of an all consuming void and pretty much one of the most powerful beings in Middle Earth, rivaling Sauron.
Her mother helped Sauron's master Morgoth really F up the elves in the early eras, basically consuming their magic trees to put it briefly. It's actually a really interesting story though.
«There are so many people on horses» you have all the horse girls of NZ to thank for that. They showed up in full force, got dragged up in Rohirrim armor and delivered. Greatest extras of all time.
Your reactions always come across as quite genuine but that little arachnophobia episode was amazing haha
I’m sure the “my friends, you bow to no-one” scene was voted to be the number one scene in any movie to make men cry; it gets me every time and I’m not ashamed to admit that
Same with Sam's speech, with all the cutaways to the different battles, especially combines with the music gets me every time
First time commenting here James but I’ve loved watching your react videos. You’re immediate commentaries always so intellectual and perceptive, it doesn’t need reflection and time to process. Sound, camera, editing, pacing, atmosphere, characters arcs. Thanks for allowing me to enjoy so many films/series all over again like it’s the first time.
Thoroughly enjoyed rewatching these films with you bro, you've got a real sharp, astute way of observing cinema and I vibe with it! Keep them coming James
Funny you talked about a Legolas spinnoff... they shoe horned him into The Hobbit trilogy even though he's not supposed to be part of that story haha
They're making a prequel series called The Rings of Power, I'm not sure who will show up in it yet
Do we know when that show will air yet?
@@DanielFernandez-gv6iy I believe the first episode comes out in September 2022
@@DanielFernandez-gv6iy I really wish it aired never
@@MickeyValenz okay cool thank you
@@ComradeCommissarYuri 😂😂i feel it
I think of all of the trilogy, this is the one that benefits the most from the extended versions. Especially the sequence in the tunnels of the dead. There’s a literal avalanche of skulls in the ex version.
Boromir flashback in Two Towers and Saruman's ending in ROTK are essential.
While I do prefer the extended editions overall I actually kind of dislike the extra stuff with the army of the dead. In the theatrical edition it's cuts away after Aragorn issues his ultimatum to the king of the dead and the audience doesn't know what the answer was until the dead surge off the ships at Minas Tirith; whereas with the extended cut we lose some of the tension in the battle because without that cliffhanger we already know that Aragorn is now on the way with an unstoppable army of reinforcements. It's the only bit in the trilogy where I think the extended footage doesn't really improve the movie - although I don't know if I'd go as far as saying it actually makes it worse. In the theatrical cut there's tension because we don't know if Aragorn is even still alive, whereas in the extended cut the tension is about whether he'll arrive in time, it's a case of 'different' rather than 'better/worse' and personally I think I like the not-knowing version a little more.
@@stevedowdy1 I 100% agree.
Incredible. Found myself tearing up again.
Also, seeing your (practically) first time reactions to all the amazing moments was an experience all on its own.
It's amazing how, despite these movies being beloved by millions upon millions the world over they still feel so personal to me. I'm sure I'm not the only person that feels this way.
That moment when Rohan is riding down the hill, my number one theater experience. Even over endgame.
That 🎶 music.....chills. Absolute chils. My favorite track - "The Battle of Pelennor Fields".
Never ever play it while driving you'll end up with a speeding ticket lol
When the poeple who helptwith special effects and stuff went on corridor digitals " VFX artitsts react to good and bad CGI" He explained that most of the big set pieces were miniature work. Which I found extremely fascinating. Im born 1995 and I watched these movies pretty much as they came out. And in my head I remember thinking. "this is normal they do it in compuiters now adays. But after growing up and understanding how god damn hard and how many people it takes to make a movie and especially i a trilogy of this size..... is completely mind blowing. I dont know if you watch Corridor digitals vfx artist reacts series? If you dont then I higly highly recomend you start and go back. They have the main people from weta there visiting them and all the other massive VFX studios. Even Adam savage who helps build the miniature sets for almost all massively sucess full movies :)
berserk getting this treatment would be beyond amazing, couldn't agree with you more James. Another great reaction dude! love your channel, keep well. much love from Banff Canada :)
the dvd extras have some of the best behind the scenes documentaries ever made about movies. Gotta see them on your own time to get lots of answers. Thanks for sharing your reactions James,
11:27 So many horses. They had a much bigger budget for that kind of thing than Monty Python had for The Holy Grail. I don't think it would have had quite as much of an impact if King Theodin had his squire running behind him with a pair of coconuts.
I'm D-E-D! 🤣😂🤣😂
@@Cameron5043 But...you got better?
@@SaulOhio 😂🤣😂🤣!!!!
46:28 Hear, hear!!! Well said. Anyone that doesn’t appreciate filmmaking like this deserves scorn, ridicule, and yes, a good slapping as well. 😎👍
I love seeing you watch these, especially the ones you see for the first time. I'm going to be moving to Canad for a year soon and having your videos will be like bringing a friend along to experience the things I love too.