TW Blog :: Archives for August 2003

In Memory Of Samwise Gamgee

Relates to Movies

The wait is finally over, and I have seen those tender last minutes of The Two Towers - last Christmas the Odean dramatically ground to a halt just as Gollum once more overpowered Smeagol in the wooded foothills of the Ephel Duath. As it happened, what I missed was a minute of dialogue as the most impressive animated character of all time concoted his trap in Jackson & Co's interpretation of events.

As the poignant lyrics of Gollum's Theme played over the final credits, I couldn't help but wonder whether the choice of ending fell short of the emotion that just leaps off those last few pages of Tolkien's book. At the end of the first installment, in 2002, the expression on those in the audience, who knew not the story, had just left me thinking what are they going to be like when that door is slammed shut in Sam's face come next year. Well of course, it did not happen. The screen writers have decided to hold off the battle with Shelob, and the instance the real hero of the story takes hold of the ring to, I guess, the opening segment of the ROTK.

I dont think The Two Towers can really be assessed until the final piece of the Trilogy fits into place. On its own, it is a masterful piece of cinematography with phenomenal action sequences, set designs, makeup, costumes and, of course, supperior CGIs. As an interpretation of the book, it has clearly been presented as part of the whole - this is not the Two Towers as Tolkien wrote it, it is the Two Towers purely by nomenclature. Some parts of the book are emphatically bought to the screen version - the growing relationship between Legolas and Gimli, the conflict of Gollum, and Frodo's struggle as he follows a similar demise. Aragorn's own conflict with his regal future is somewhat blurred by the Hollywood-esque love triangle with Arwen and Eowyn (Arwen a particularly unusual inclusion being only a four page appendix of the original book. But then without these two characters the film would be entirely male cast). Of course Eowyn's true moment is, hopefully, yet to come in the final part as she changes the course of the Great Battle, one of many tear wrenching moments! Perhaps, the wisdom of the Ents that is somewhat downplayed will come to light in the additional thirty minutes footage of the extended version. One oddity I felt was the unusual portrayal of Faramir, almost a replica of his brother, desiring the Ring of Power and almost ignorant to its effects. His knowledge was implicity demonstrated by his association of the One Ring with Gollum's Precious - the name preserved in parchment by Isildur. But Faramir's own lust for the Ring and reluctance to release the three made him just another man of Gondor, a shadow of his brother.

Still, everyone will interpret Tolkien's book differently and to translate it into over 600 minutes of movie is a phenomenal acheivement. The ROTK is surely going to be a true classic. A trilogy that does not lose energy, as happens in most trilogies (Indy J excluded!), reching the ultimate cinematic triumph in the battle of the Pelennor and the fall of the Black Gate. Perhaps, for once, in contrast to the Hollywood mould of movie making, the final words, that were denied Samwise Gamgee in the Fellowship and The Two Towers, might rightfully be allowed him this Christmas. For surely, the Lord of the Rings, while a tale of good staving of evil in a fantastical world of heros and villains, has one legend above all others. The simple poorly gardener from Bagend, Hobitton in the Shire, Samwise the stouthearted, Samwise the Brave.

Posted on Sunday, Aug 24, 2003 at 14:05:24.