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Dec. 30th, 2003 09:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kribbanJust back from watching ROTK a second (and a half!) time. Work ended at 1, shopped, went home, rested and went to town. Was tired but bought a cup of coffee and a large golden frame for my college diploma. We were so lucky this time, because except from one incredibly reverent and quiet child, we were alone on our row. The closest person sat four rows behind us. Hallelujah! Granted we still heard rustling of candy bags (how much noise can you make?) and some chatter but mostly they staid quiet. *weeps in relief* Also after thirty minutes I stopped being drowsy and was indeed awake enough to see the whole film. I did go to the bath room but much earlier than last time so I didn't miss anything I hadn't already seen.
What can I say? I did enjoy it. It was a good matiné. I do feel better about the whole thing now, and I'm interested in seeing it one more time. Now that I really saw it, I saw how good it was.
I still haven't changed my view on certain things. Denethor's death scene should have been better, Aragorn looks dead ugly once he is made king ("keep him away from all hair products!" Malin said), the ending is too happy and I still miss the Eowyn/Faramir love story as well as a hint of what happened to the Fellowship, including Frodo's promise to Sam that all Ring bearers can go to Aman (not Valinor! Elves go to Eldamar! >_<)
I think mainly what I have problems with is the happy music on the way to Mount Doom and the bad execution of the conversation when Frodo tells Sam he doesn't remember The Oliphaunts anymore but is naked in the dark. That's such a chilling speech and Malin thought it was poorly executed as well. They play happy flute music over it! It's just like in Highlander when triumphant music starts playing when MacLoud is fighting the Kurgan, but before he has gained the upper hand! I wanted more tragedy. So there's that, and also the ending which is too happy.
Malin made a very interesting point today, which really hit the mark with me. She said she felt the film should have ended with the shot of the ship leaving. I totally agree. I mean, I still don't like the over-happiness of the ending but it would have been easier to accept if it had ended then and there, without the cutesy final scene. Either make Sam's homecoming scene as sad as it is in the book or don't have it at all. I could have accepted the film better if it had ended with that beautiful image of the ship and the beautiful music. I think that, plus making Frodo seem a bit more sick and scarred would have eased things. But who knows? Maybe there'll be some good vomit scenes in the EE! ;-)
I also agree with my friend Nef who said Gandalf was diminished as a character and made less important, as Aragorn gets all his good scenes! Aragorn steals the spotlight from the Maia, and I don't like that! *pouts*
OK, just so you don't think I only nag, I noticed a couple of things today that I actually liked (and hadn't noticed before.) Arwen is shown carrying the flag she weaved. Me like! She's also pretty and not-over-doing anything. I like Elrond's tear as he gives her away, and Oh God is he gorgeous!!
Grond is really, really cool. *pets Grond* Eh...
Gollum is very well animated and cute when he talks in his sleep.
Merry and Pippin have a slashy reunion scene! OMGthehomoeroticism!!111 I must have gone to the bath room during that scene last time!
David Wenham does a really good job and I think after what they did to poor Faramir in last film he really deserves to be shown in such a wonderful light as he is in this one. I started crying when he starts crying in front of his father. *pets Faramir* Don't worry son, you've got the shield maiden to look after you!
I also heard that there was a possibility the filmmakers would have chickened out and not have Frodo claiming the Ring and calling himself the new Dark Lord. I'm very glad they didn't! I like the fact that Frodo falls to the Ring.
What can I say? I did enjoy it. It was a good matiné. I do feel better about the whole thing now, and I'm interested in seeing it one more time. Now that I really saw it, I saw how good it was.
I still haven't changed my view on certain things. Denethor's death scene should have been better, Aragorn looks dead ugly once he is made king ("keep him away from all hair products!" Malin said), the ending is too happy and I still miss the Eowyn/Faramir love story as well as a hint of what happened to the Fellowship, including Frodo's promise to Sam that all Ring bearers can go to Aman (not Valinor! Elves go to Eldamar! >_<)
I think mainly what I have problems with is the happy music on the way to Mount Doom and the bad execution of the conversation when Frodo tells Sam he doesn't remember The Oliphaunts anymore but is naked in the dark. That's such a chilling speech and Malin thought it was poorly executed as well. They play happy flute music over it! It's just like in Highlander when triumphant music starts playing when MacLoud is fighting the Kurgan, but before he has gained the upper hand! I wanted more tragedy. So there's that, and also the ending which is too happy.
Malin made a very interesting point today, which really hit the mark with me. She said she felt the film should have ended with the shot of the ship leaving. I totally agree. I mean, I still don't like the over-happiness of the ending but it would have been easier to accept if it had ended then and there, without the cutesy final scene. Either make Sam's homecoming scene as sad as it is in the book or don't have it at all. I could have accepted the film better if it had ended with that beautiful image of the ship and the beautiful music. I think that, plus making Frodo seem a bit more sick and scarred would have eased things. But who knows? Maybe there'll be some good vomit scenes in the EE! ;-)
I also agree with my friend Nef who said Gandalf was diminished as a character and made less important, as Aragorn gets all his good scenes! Aragorn steals the spotlight from the Maia, and I don't like that! *pouts*
OK, just so you don't think I only nag, I noticed a couple of things today that I actually liked (and hadn't noticed before.) Arwen is shown carrying the flag she weaved. Me like! She's also pretty and not-over-doing anything. I like Elrond's tear as he gives her away, and Oh God is he gorgeous!!
Grond is really, really cool. *pets Grond* Eh...
Gollum is very well animated and cute when he talks in his sleep.
Merry and Pippin have a slashy reunion scene! OMGthehomoeroticism!!111 I must have gone to the bath room during that scene last time!
David Wenham does a really good job and I think after what they did to poor Faramir in last film he really deserves to be shown in such a wonderful light as he is in this one. I started crying when he starts crying in front of his father. *pets Faramir* Don't worry son, you've got the shield maiden to look after you!
I also heard that there was a possibility the filmmakers would have chickened out and not have Frodo claiming the Ring and calling himself the new Dark Lord. I'm very glad they didn't! I like the fact that Frodo falls to the Ring.
