7 Scenes from Tolkien We’d Love to See on Screen...But Probably Shouldn’t

Say what you will about visual adaptations of Tolkien, we all would love to see Middle-earth, if we can’t actually visit it. But as amazing at it would be to see Tolkien’s vision brought to life, there are some scenes that are best left as words on a page.
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[@Makkaru112]

Galadriel’s starlit eyes was impossible yet they got creative and it worked. Same with making her stand out among everyone else even among ethereal elves that live in the unseen world simultaneously

[@Makkaru112]

“A slimy we-don’t-know-what” 😅 😂❤

[@vileluca]

Man. I'd love to see Beren and Huan fight Carcharoth.

[@neildaly2635]

There are so many, especially in the Silmarillion but I fear what they would look like. Like you said they are better remaining words on the page. I could add many to your list, but will just cite one. Morgoth and Ungoliant destroying the two trees and Ungoliant trying to devour the Silmarilis and Morgoth crying out and balrogs coming to his rescue with whips of flame. I think that would be right up there in totally awesome territory with Earendil fighting Ancalagon the Black. Since I fear an adaptation would be an abomination, I’ll stick with the picture in my mind. Thanks for the insightful work!

[@Enerdhil]

That is a great scene!😁👍

[@Makkaru112]

Only thing that’s an abomination is ROP. We just need to step out of the box and look to foreign film makers and theatre members who can and would do it justice like they do with everything else they do with highest quality in mind at all times

[@Enerdhil]

@@Makkaru112 True, but they lack the budget of a Bezos production.😞

[@BrettWMcCoy]

Tolkien even mentions how silly it is watching Tom caper about the more elegant Goldberry while they are setting the table in one scene. It could be done, but it would also be easy to overdo.

[@ambds1975]

I'd treat Goldberry as a Classical river nymph and Tom Bombadil as Santa Claus. He'd have a jolly, strong, fatherly kind of thing going. Impressive, imposing, but very jolly and nonthreatening. Kind of Gandalf without the Tense feeling.

[@Enerdhil]

I always thought Robin Williams would have made a great Tom Bombadil.😁👍

[@Nottz4Lyf18]

Omg yes,

[@BanazirGalpsi1968]

I never thought of that but I could definitely see that! That would have been brilliant! RIP Robin Williams..

[@BanazirGalpsi1968]

If Robin is tom, just a thought, gwnyth paltrow as Goldberry?

[@Nottz4Lyf18]

@@BanazirGalpsi1968 thats actually not a bad casting, that works i’d have a few ideas … bear with me, some of the ages are off but seeing as goldberry and tom arent your typical humans i’m not sure the age or (physical Appearance of age) would even matter. Meryl streep - she can play dignified, deranged and lighthearted and kind, heleana bonham carter - very good at kookiness, and has an unearthly look about her but also bery beautiful in a haunting way, michelle pfeiffer - in everything ive seen her in she just feels different to every other character, she never feels like an average woman, she just has something about her. Any agreement i had more haha

[@Enerdhil]

@@BanazirGalpsi1968 I think she would have been great a dozen years or so ago. I think Goldberry should have ballerina dancing skills. Just my take on her. Slender and graceful with long, straight blonde hair.

[@waldo5017]

Portraying the light of the Two Trees would also be difficult. Somehow you need to make it seem more glorious and enlightening than sunlight itself, without washing every scene out with the brightness or colouring. I struggle to imagine what that would look like, you have to make it believable enough to convey the mythic atmosphere on screen. Not only that, but the destruction and subsequent loss of light would be difficult, would the light slowly fade to pitch black, or would it be sudden, like the loss of light in a Solar Eclipse? So many factors to consider

[@Makkaru112]

TalesOfTheRings did wonderfully

[@SuicV]

I believe almost all of that could be adapted, but it would take an amazing director and very strong artistic vision. It's not that unlike what happened to the Lord of the Rings movies, which many people believed would be impossible to adapt on screen

[@KororaPenguin]

There's still the issue of how to portray Lúthien. Even over the history of Western civilization standards of feminine beauty have changed. And that's not even taking individual differences in the ideal into account.

[@LeHobbitFan]

You're making great points... Though I would argue that you could get away with a lot of limitations with animation. It would have to be insanely high-quality, Ghibli-tier animation, and would still not match the wonder and amazement suggested by Tolkien's words, but I'd wager it's the best medium to convey these kinds of visuals.

[@LeHobbitFan]

Oh you just mentioned that at the end, okay, nevermind ^^

[@hglundahl]

6:27 As far as I can see, Sauron in the bookverse is actually _not_ without a body. The point is, Gandalf is an angel in the assumed body like Raphael had when helping Tobit and Sauron is a demon in the assumed body of sth reminiscent of Koshchey the deathless. Another embodied demon we are given a fight scene for is the Balrog Durin's Bane.

[@exantiuse497]

Sauron is slain (or his body is) twice in the story, on Numenor and then at the end of the 2nd age, and both times he survives as a spirit. So he isn't tied to a body in the same manner as an elf (whose spirit goes to halls of Mandos upon physical death) or a human (who dies for real and departs the world if his body is slain); "dying" weakens him but he can still remain in Middle Earth. The balrogs (and Saruman) presumably also remain in Middle Earth in the form of powerless spirits similar to how Sauron end up after the Ring is gone, at least I don't think any of the Ainur can actually die for real

[@hglundahl]

True enough,@@exantiuse497 . But the kind of power he exercises during most of LotR presupposes he is in a body. When the ring is destroyed, that body is dissolved, and he has to leave as a disembodied spirit.

[@KororaPenguin]

@@exantiuse497 Humans: Go beyond the circles of the world. As in real life, no eye has seen and no ear has heard what joys Eru has planned for those who have accepted His help in overcoming the taint of Morgoth. Elves and orcs: Go the the Halls of Mandos. Presumably, since as Children of Ilúvatar they HAVE to be inherently eternal in some way (despite some elves' worries in this regard), those who have allowed Eru to fix any and all flaws they had developed in their characters will be reembodied in Arda Remade. Dwarves: While mortal, they are tied enough to Arda that those who have allowed Eru to fix their flaws will be reembodied in Arda Remade. Hobbits: Either like humans or like dwarves. Ents: ???

[@TyTyman8]

The galadhrim and Galadriel fighting back the 3 orc attacks

[@Makkaru112]

It could have easily been shone one way or another. And will be shown in the hyper extended edition to be in theaters now that PJ has access to old warehouses full of 1200 hours of footage. Yes. That much footage. Referencing Mythwest’s recent video

[@Enerdhil]

I want to see Tom Bombadil: The Musical! 🎼🎵🎶

[@David.Bowman.]

Re: Goldberry. I’m coming to the idea that it’s the other way round and that Elves are kind of Goldberry-ish

[@raslipmugfrud2040]

Melian the Maia fell in love with Thingol, so it could follow that Tom Bombadil could love and partner with a golden-haired Elf, possibly a Vanya

[@David.Bowman.]

Possibly, not a bad notion at all🤔

[@wompastompa3692]

On Ancalagon, I haven't read it, but your description reminds me of the Kirby Dragoon cutscene from Super Smash Bros. Brawl's Subspace Emissary.

[@ZephyrOptional]

Have you seen the Blue Eyed Samurai? The animation is stunning! I hope war of the rohirrim looks just as good and better. I have alway thought the Silmarillion could only be an animated film.

[@TJDious]

I want a series of animations in the style of Peter Jackson but not necessarily canonical to those films. "In the House of Tom Bombadil," "The Scouring of the Shire," and "The Disaster of the Gladden Fields" would top the wish list.

[@TJDious]

Maybe the Awakening of the Balrog but Rings of Power is probably gonna mess that one up good.

[@gandalfolorin-kl3pj]

Excellent as usual, melon Geek. I fear that one day many of these will become the subject of cinematic expression. Let us hope the technology and the art are equal to the legendarium when that happens. Namarie.

[@djohnston6856]

I know plenty of people disliked it, but I feel that the way The Green Knight handled the sense of strangeness, the uncanny and feelings of something otherworldly, really showed how parts of Tolkien's world could be presented on screen. Especially when artistic film making and creativity is to the fore rather than the more commercial interests that drive the visual aspects in something like rings of power. It didn't need big budget CGI but instead relied on cinematography and wasn't afraid to use quiet, natural soundscapes and long lingering visual shots. Whatever anyone thought (I found it truly brilliant) it's undeniable that The Green Knight movie is strange and beautiful.

[@djohnston6856]

Rather than these big epic scenes like giant dragons and fights with gods, what about some of the more small scale but highly dramatic moments. So much of the Children of Hurin gave me great cinematic mental images. Particularly the death of Beleg, to see the drama and emotions in that scene, the flashing lightning, the tension, the character interactions etc. it would just be a beautiful and heart rending scene.

[@Jim-Mc]

I think the Barrow Wights could be done like the draugr in Northman. For thay matter the army of the dead should've been done more like that.

[@ambds1975]

I was extremely sad we didn't get the Barrow Wights in the Jackson movies.

[@williamhollenbach]

The scale models for Tom and Goldberry would be Boris and Natasha from the The Jay Ward Bullwinkle cartons

[@Enerdhil]

I wanna see how the Dwarves dug out Khazad-dúm.🤪

[@emilsazanda]

Dagor Dagorath, the Final War of all wars, as foretold in the 2nd Prophecy of Mandos. The scene of a resurrected Turin killing Morgothcould only be surpassed by a penitant Feanor relinquishing the Silmarils to Yavanna, and breaking his own mastereworks to see Telperion and Laurelin shine once more...

[@gustav394]

In the Peter Jackson films ringed Sauron was literally defeated by a human (albeit a Numenorean), by having his finger with the Ring cut off. That didn't prevent Sauron from being seen as a serious threat in the films. A way to make Gil-galad and Elendil vs. Sauron into film without diminishing Sauron would be to first establish Sauron's power and skills. E.g. like in the PJ films, where Sauron sends groups of his enemies flying by just swinging his mace. Another way to show his power (probably closer to the book) might be to have Sauron lift a hand, and have the weapons of his enemies in front of him break, having his enemies swords and armour turn red hot and have his enemies die by sudden overheating. Moreover he could also have an aura of fear (like the Nazgûl) and make his enemies in front of him run away in fear and dismay. Elendil's and Gil-galad's power and skills could also be established. E.g. having them pretty much effortlessly cut through orcs, (and even defeating more dangerous opponents, like trolls, without much effort) dodging the attacks of Sauron's forces, basically showing them having great speed, strenght, and skill in general. In the end, one could have the good guys running away from Sauron, and the bad guys running away from Elendil and Gil-galad, until finally they stand in front of one another.

[@tominiowa2513]

Another reason to not have the complete battle with Durin's Bane is we should respect Gandalf's wisdom and *not* want to see what the Nameless Things look like.

[@MagusMarquillin]

If we're following the story as Gandalf narrates it, while he says he will not describe those things we can just see shadowy, nebulous forms, that tease the imagination. We can rationalize: maybe this is just what Aragorn or Gimli are picturing. I think it could be done well that way.

[@Makkaru112]

I prefer Ungoliant eating herself. And maybe showing them with her and Eärendil where she gets wounded and burned by him and the silmaril etc. and keep it visually not super in depth. Can also do a lot with storytelling and unique filmwork and or just let audio parts of it show only. It’d take a lot of discussion from several communities to get any such scenes just right anyway. What mixtures of film style etc. not everything is about showing something full blown.

[@RedSeaGull]

Without having a thorough understanding of everything the Silmarils represent, I kind of disagree that they would be impossible to depict. The first thing that comes to mind is what they were able to do with the Arkenstone in the Hobbit movies, how it emanates light and refracted rainbow, they managed to make it fascinating to look at. I think with the benefit of sound effects and music, lighting, and characters' reactions to them, you might get close? You could maybe try to include some sort of 'vision' within them of the two trees at key dramatic moments, or show them visibly nourishing plant life nearby

[@Makkaru112]

Yes. I’ve been saying stuff like this for ages. Which is why many channels long ago used to ask if it was a silmaril or related to one haha. Some say it was the volcano that Maedhros threw himself into and either through the same volcanic veins or the same mountain that became erebor or nearby volcano to that place where it sort of kept its purest form and was encased in another sort of gemstone material by natural volcanic process that some say that’s why it doesn’t burn anyone since you’re not touching it physically anymore or whatever. But I’d imagine Maglor sadly compelled by these things called Oaths that hold a lot of power in Arda (Our Midgard) would end up sending it and having to seize it or maybe he’s so beyond it all now lamenting through his travels via his songs on the harp etc that he won’t bother anymore. It did have a weird effect on them at least in the movies. Buuut despite Sauron having no effect on the dwarves through the rings due to their forefathers being crafted by Aulë himself but something related to the nameless things were said to be echoing in the mountains. Don’t know if Moria, Erebor but apparently that’s what made them more “greedy” and a little more hostile than normal due to something nameless thing or Melkor’s voice that still echoes. Especially those mountains where his echos still constantly reverberate. What was that place called? Where Ungoliant was gonna eat Melkor during her tussle with him when she became bloodthirsty and impatient.

[@David.Bowman.]

I think Fëanor laid the Silmarils like a hen. Can’t decide if that’s something I want to see or not.

[@papabearlives9995]

Having a depiction of beauty is so difficult. It

[@danguillou713]

I think I've seen concept art for the extinguished balrog that makes me think it could have been really cool. Kinda skeleton-y, with lots of empty space, slime and sharp bits poking out. That whole fight takes place in darkness too, so I don't think that it would be impossible to either design or render. Computers are good at morfing bodies, negative space and slime. Goldberry ... I think she could have worked. Although, she's a pretty flat character: super pretty, kind and smiling, she's more something that Tom Bombadil and the hobbits project their feelings on than a person in her own right. Shorter then elves, more down-to-earth in dress and demeanor, but with some light effects or filters or some other editing bullcrap that makes her feel supernatural. But I cannot imagine a version of Tom himself that would work on screen. He looks and acts like a comic relief, while simultaneously projecting an aura or sense of awesome power. While he is singing really silly songs. Except when he's shattering stone gates and exorcising demons whith his mighty base (or is it tenor?). I don't see how that could be done. It's hard to portray fights between super powered giants and regular sized dudes that doesn't feel stupid and immersion breaking. But there has been a lot of work like that done in superhero movies, demonstrating both that it can be done and that it is really easy to do badly. I think the Silmarils could be done. They're light sources, with hints of jewelness if you look at them closely. Modern visual effects are good at that. Luthien is hard. I think it'd have to be done something like PJ did Arwen in the first LotR movie. In normal circumstances she's just a regular pretty girl with pointy ears. But when she uses big magic you see her true form, as a radiant angelic figure with weird filters and halos and stuff. I think it could be done, but not easily. Another difficult thing is again with the song magic. Or that time Finrod dueled Sauron in a sing-off. But if you have a really kick-ass composer, I think it can be done too. Show turns into a musical for a while, but okay. If you can buy orcs and dragons, you should be able to handle two dudes doing battle by singing at each other, because in this world, that's what happens. Aerendil v Ancalagon would be cheezy. Could be done. Flying sailboat v Flying Kaiju. Sure, no problem. But it wouldn't be awesome. It would feel like you'd been transported into a popcorn matine based on some computer game, or a spin-off from Guardians of the Galaxy. Same goes for Aerendil v Ungoliath. Generally, I don't wish for a new live action version. We have that. I would like to see really good animation. Imagine something a bit like Arcane, but with visual designs based on art by John Howe, Alan Lee and others. It could be so awesome! Cheers

[@stevemonkey6666]

From Lord of the rings is the Wose. A bunch of strange looking men who wear grass skirts. Could be unintentionally racist..... Another thing would be a lot of the music and songs and poetry which sound good as written but maybe unintentionally comic if actually sung

[@Makkaru112]

Using both new and or simply foreign techniques it’d be possible to do it alright. Several artworks of even the Elwing scenes with Eärendil etc properly become the storyboard references and I’ve seen several films, foreign included in this that easily bring to life all things Arda (our Midgard) ❤

[@solalabell9674]

Do you have any Links to them?

[@Makkaru112]

@@solalabell9674 I could find them but it’d be easier to send the pictures themselves. WhatsApp? Discord? Instagram?

[@ZephyrOptional]

I’ll expand this interesting topic to suggest Elves in general have not been accurately portrayed in film. There are some artist that get very close with paint and pencil. But film is much harder and might be near impossible for many of the same reasons you point out on the silmarils. Elves are not just arrogant, stoic & ethereal as portrayed in the PJ films. They are also fierce, compassionate, wise, solemn but filled with joy and whimsy. Elves should have an energy to them that’s very different than human. Also, suggesting elves are vegetarians is right out! Although Beren was an awesome vegetarian.

[@tominiowa2513]

When the elves hunted the petty dwarves, did they also eat them?

[@blakewinter1657]

I would imagine that Eärendil rammed Ancalagon with Vingelot?

[@Makkaru112]

Yes. Another comment brought it up and there are few replies to it. Including me. ❤ hope you find it and join in on the discussion.

[@Enerdhil]

So who plays Luthien, Joshua? I hope it is not Miss Netherland.😆😂🤣😂😂

[@joannemoore3976]

Showing Tom Bombadil's comic side wouldn't be so hard but it would be difficult to show his mastery and wisdom. He could easily become a parody, especially with all the singing! Also, showing the Barrow Downs would be tricky.

[@Enerdhil]

Alas! Robin Williams is gone.😞

[@vileluca]

​@@Enerdhilwith the power of AI anything is possible 🤪

[@David.Bowman.]

They could do it like Robert Shaw’s Quint in Jaws. Switching off from the conversation and singing to himself, then maybe staring at them with a knowing glance, as if in challenge “do you know the tune?” Then back to whatever he was doing, preoccupied but not quite rude.

[@Enerdhil]

@@vileluca Great point! I want to see a deep fake of Robin Williams playing Tom Bombadil, including the singing.🙏

[@Enerdhil]

Eärendil must have speared Ancalagon with the swan on the front of Wingilot.⛵

[@Makkaru112]

Vingelot

[@Enerdhil]

@@Makkaru112 You mean Vingilot, right? I saw the ship's name in Lost Tales or some other HoME publication.

[@Enerdhil]

@@Makkaru112 I found this Scenario in Tolkien Gateway: "How Wingilot was wrecked at Falasquil and how Eärendel found the carven house of Tuor there."

[@Enerdhil]

@@Makkaru112 I have found four spellings of the ship's name, with a "V" or a "W" or an 'i" or an "e." Tolkien Gateway has the name spelled Vingilot.

[@Enerdhil]

Give me Tevildo! 🐈‍⬛

[@vileluca]

Yess! Best catto

[@Makkaru112]

Yes. The bestest gato.

[@Enerdhil]

@@Makkaru112 I just want to see Tevildo cough up one fur ball. It would be epic!!🤪

[@istari0]

I share your concerns about how contemporary Hollywood's ability to screw things up. But I've seen so many advances in the technology that have resulted in amazing depictions people thought could never be done that I hold out hope that I'll live long enough to see some of these things done and done well.

[@napoleonfeanor]

An Earendil anime would be great

[@vileluca]

Just frame it as a bard in the Prancing Pony telling myths about him to a crowd. That way it's ok if it's not as grand as it actually is - it's a limitation of the Bard's imagination or ability to describe.

[@waldo5017]

Let's not forget the War of Wrath takes up a page and a half in the actual Silmarillion, and no detail is poured into how it went down. Morgoth's army takes up all of Anfauglith and the host of the West is large enough to fight it for 40 whole years, how do you even adapt that without making it seem like an over-the-top action blockbuster?

[@Makkaru112]

Tolkien answered this. Because he doesn’t want to glorify war.

[@Makkaru112]

80 years

[@Makkaru112]

But years were slot longer back then too so it was a verrrry long time

[@Makkaru112]

Let’s see Mewlips. 😇

[@Enerdhil]

I would honestly love to see the Ainulindalë.😁👍

[@AragornGhost15]

I think it would depend of the Directors. Rings of Power showed us how Bad Directors Can destroy themes and images that Can be could good on paper.

[@Makkaru112]

Exactly. To emphasize your lovely point: ​​Let me explain even further. Amazon waited until Christopher Tolkien died early in the production of Amazon’s DumpsterFire, his "demand" was that Amazon could use the Appendices to make the show, but they couldn't change the lore. As soon as Christopher died, Amazon delayed the show for reshoots, fired Tom Shippey who was the lead Tolkien scholar & friend of Tolkien himself; they wanted Jackson on the team. PeterJackson asked for the scripts then they ghosted him. Then later when asked about it he basically told them good luck.. You can blame this garbage show on Simon Tolkien, its stink doesn't reach Christopher. Firstly: they merge events (from thousands of years of history & build up towards several events but puts them all into one moment as if it’s happening in the same few years without time jumps or anything.) Guyladriel the murderous one dimensional girlboss heroine version of Galadriel never met Miriel(one of Aragorn’s ancestors) because, as an elf, she would have been sacrificed to Morgoth by the King's Men. The hobbits and Gandalf never met in the 2nd Age because Gandalf was in Valinor till the 3rd Age. Miriel wasn’t even born yet. She was born 300 years before or after the rings of power era. Also Elendil would never say “forget the past and toss it aside.” That’s the whole thing about the Faithful Númenoreans!!! Faithfulness to what’s good. To their elf friends. To the Valar, to Eru Îlluvatar. The way Galadriel acts like Fëanor when he isn’t seeing straight such as how she threatened bloodshed in the highest court of Númenor! The way she isn’t tall, the way she fights rookies doesn’t make her look strong. Should have had her spar with Elendil who was greater than Miriel in many ways even as far as lineage goes too! Have her spar with those greater Numenoreans and let the rookies laugh at their masters being vested by an elf woman holding back from actually hurting them! Now that’d be cool. (Remember. Their whole mantra was to write the book Tolkien never wrote”. Also watch them fake super fans. And then watch their social media that had nothing Tolkien on it ever. Like…. It’s painfully obvious what’s going on here. Same formula towards other titles. They’re just trying to bank on the brand of which that’s the only reason they did this. Just watch Peter Jackson’s new movie coming out and the war of the Rohirim. You’ll see that Brian Cox is involved In it along with Philipa Boyens as well as Actor for Èowyn named Miranda Otto. Fran Walsh I also believe is Involved as well! Watch George The Giant Slayer’s first video regarding the war of the rohirrim. It was beautiful. And he has a wonderful soul too. When I say first video. I don’t mean very first uploaded video though lol. ) There was also no Adar. No poppy. No Nori. No fake Gandalf who literally didn’t come the way he was supposed to which introduces Círdan. And since they screwed up the themes and lore so badly they have to dig in their heels. And they are also being sued by multiple people and groups and companies actually. The rings were forged last and not first. They were not in his sights or touch nor did he even know about them. And also guyladriel wasn’t a murderous Fëanorean either. But the note of the elven rings. They were made last and without the knowledge of Sauron. His touch never got to them. Made in secret so that whole story is thrown out the window as well. And making them first and having the obvious Sauron figure who wasn’t an elf to just be there when they’re making them and have his eye show up in the forge which wasn’t even the worst of it. The greatest of elven smiths still around which is Celebrimbor doesn’t even know what alloying is. Not to mention all their environmental scandals on top of bad CGI stuff. Full of copy past crowds and plagerisms up the wazoo. It’s also getting sued by several people and groups. I’ll also remind you that they just ran an old sick horse til it died of cardiac arrest and then only had a ten min coffee break to loosely honour this horse. Not to mention Tolkien loved animals in a deep way. They also have been causing environmental damage one of which being King Charles ancient forest to make a set. It’s scandal after scandal. And the fire in studio that took four hours to put out with firemen for yet another example. PS they don’t have the rights to the Silmarillion nor anything much of the second age let alone the first. Only the trilogy books and their appendices…. Remember that they also plagiarized tonnes of films in nontasteful instead of true a homage way… tempest in me but when threatening Fëanorean level bloodshed in the court of Numenor was from Cate Blanchett’s Elizabeth role which was done with grace and poise of a veteran actress(which doesn’t even sound like anything those of the great chill house of Finarfin would even act like. Again it’d be best to put Elrond there due to Elros. But ooook let’s make girlboss do everything. Even if it continues to make zero sense. )😍 ​​⁠ fact they downplayed Elendil, Gil-Galad and Finrod is beyond infuriating and not explaining Elwing, Elronds mother beyond just showing her as a swan lol. Like. What’s worse is Grandpabimbor…. Let’s not forget good ol’ Guyladriel either. The LOTR version of Star Wars’ Rey! Guyladriel the Female Fëanor without any of his charms and subtleties and wit… just the bloody violent rages…

[@BanazirGalpsi1968]

You almost just avoid thar issue with Samwise vs. Shelob. The jackson was good, but that fight is so much more epic in my mind. Even my favorite book painters and illustrtors can't show it to my satisfaction and i certainly cant get it out of my head into annther media .

[@MagusMarquillin]

Maybe Erendil vs. the Dragon could be handled well from the POV of the Soldiers on the ground, that might keep it vague and mythic. I always suspected the silmarill could function as a weapon in that fight, but I'd hate for it to be as cliche as laser beams.

[@morganrrhaze]

I think you would have to get close enough for it to touch. Or if because it’s part of him he could direct it’s power but that would just turn into laser beams or a Thor in the mcu visual effect knock off. It would have to be something that hasn’t been done before.

[@neodigremo]

Step one to making it work, give Earendil a bow or spear as his main weapon. I mean picturing him ramming is ship into the dragon, and then leaping off onto the monster's head, spear in hand, Silmaril burning brightly from his brow for the final blow.... I mean I don't actually trust anyone in Hollywood to do it justice but man I think we could see that final moment

[@enriqueparodiYT1]

Balrogs, being Maias, cannot be killed. Once the ring gets destroyed and Sauron gets diminished to nothing, I wander if remaining balrogs could still be a threat to Middle Earth. They were never depending on Sauron, right?

[@Makkaru112]

That one was the surviving Balrog after the War Of Wrath literally in hiding especially after Manwë put out a sort of oath level decree into the winds themselves that any foul thing dared to creep out of the shadows there’d be trouble for them. Which I’d what made Arien’s light even more potently harmful to them. And if a Balrog bothered to wander around Valinor would have to respond to such a threat in the most succinct way possible. The exact words from him were very awe inspiring and lofty. - Maia singular. Maiar plural. Vala singular. Valar plural. All are Ainur!

[@enriqueparodiYT1]

Thanks for the insight! I also take note regarding singular/plural

[@solalabell9674]

Ok but where is ungoliant vs erendil written? Presumably book of lost tales?

[@TolkienLorePodcast]

Maybe, but it’s been a while since I read it so I’m not totally sure 😅

[@Enerdhil]

Battle in the Endless Stairwell? I always thought Gandalf chased him all the way to the top.😅

[@Makkaru112]

They also fought the nameless things together and yes he chased him but that tower had hundred of steps and pathways.

[@Enerdhil]

@@Makkaru112 Wasn't it over a thousand steps? From the basement to the peak is several hundred meters. Maybe there was an elevator half way up.😅

[@TJDious]

Elendil and Isildur vs Sauron would look like the fight against Thanos on Titan in Infinity War. Give them a few soldiers as fodder then make it look like that.

[@papabearlives9995]

At the beginning of the production of Lord of the rings they actually were going to have Gilgalaid and Elendil fighting Sauron but the decided not to . I think the reason was that they don't factor into any more of the story .

[@Makkaru112]

@@papabearlives9995 they factored greatly. So much so even long after they died. Fowl beings like even the Nazgûl get shivers down their spines when Aragorn howls the name Elendil! Even the orcs lose stance when he’s leaping down into them shouting that same name as both a word of power but also as a call for his support. Learn this via watching the video titled why Tolkien cannot be counterfeited.

[@papabearlives9995]

@@Makkaru112 if they stuck closer to the book it would have been a different movie. But I will admit that after the movies came out a lot more people read the books.

[@MWhaleK]

I would love a LOTR anime!

[@Enerdhil]

Uh-oh! Here comes Warrior Galadriel as a high schooler.

[@tominiowa2513]

@@EnerdhilMoe style cute elves doing cute things?

[@Makkaru112]

@@Enerdhilcheck out other anime. The themes and depths they can go to especially with their original language. Japanese can express super complex emotions and themes also because their language and sensibilities that can properly express things other languages especially post modern English especially outside of England don’t even have. And a great one that does include the unique school system there whilst also shedding light on the life of someone with narcolepsy is titled Little Busters. Original Japanese version will not only draw you into the atmosphere but it truly becomes something you wouldn’t believe possible. Very masterfully crafted modes of storytelling etc. Kurozuka(MC named Kuro. There are a few other titles with the title of Kurozuka so I hope you can find the one I mean), Grave Of Fireflies and Akira are all equally great. Check them out in their original language. ❤

[@Makkaru112]

There is one. Check it out. There’s a very nice preview already that goes through the portions of the fellowship film.

[@Enerdhil]

@@Makkaru112 Kimetsu-no Yaiba-wa doudesuka?

[@InkyMuste]

I think most of the big events of the Silmarillion are simply too epic to be portrayed in a regular show/movie format. It could maybe work if they did a retelling in a storybook way kinda like how the original Dark Souls opening cinematic did with it's backstory. As for the Silmarils, I think it'd be best if we didn't see them at all. We could see Feanor working on them and his reaction when he's finished with his work but all we really see is the light emanating from them off-screen. Leave it to our imagination to figure out what they actually look like.

[@Makkaru112]

And in GirlNextGondor’s recent video she explained a lot about LIGHT and how it’s very splashy haha. ❤

[@Mallarkey]

Absolutely. Tolkien always preferred his great works to be in the mind's eye of the reader and was wary of pictoral/cinematic representation, but by keeping the Silmarils out of shot and just showing their light and the wonder on the faces of those looking upon them, you could KEEP it in the viewers' own imagination.

[@morganrrhaze]

They would be like Tarantino’s briefcase McGuffin

[@davidmiller1354]

Yup, would love to see it all. Berin and Luthien taking one of Morgoths simarills...my number 1 BUT modern Hollywood would ruin it all. Cant be made property at the moment...

[@TyTyman8]

Tied for first: Fingolfin v. Morgoth / Earëndil v. Ancalagon

[@Makkaru112]

It can be done. Anything is possible. LOTR by PJ and team of 3000 literally felt it to be impossible yet they dared to dream then take action in said dream. ❤

[@saberhamlinconmaverickknud4821]

@Makkaru112 It’s hilarious that you seem to know so much about Tolkien, and yet think that the live-action lotr movies can’t be touched. 😐 All of Ted Nasmith’s lotr illustrations and the lighting and atmosphere from ‘The X-Files’ are so effective that it will look prehistoric Europe in 6 live-action lotr movies if someone ever redos it, and if they film in Europe.

[@saberhamlinconmaverickknud4821]

@Makkura112 And, I know that I’ve been saying these things serval times now. I just want a few more people to at least know that there were movies back then (and today), like ‘Meet Joe Black’, ‘Cast Away’, ‘Brigham City’, and the new non-Disney live-action ‘Pinocchio’, that made it feel like all of the worlds in these movies were already so-old looking (in a good way obviously).

[@talesoftheeldar8688]

The battle of the plains

[@TolkienLorePodcast]

Which battle are you referring to?

[@talesoftheeldar8688]

@@TolkienLorePodcast The Battle in 1856 TA betwen Gondor and the Easterlings

[@hglundahl]

4:34 part of your problem is considering Tom as "semi-comic" when boisterous (close to the Green Knight, but beneficient and not brutal) is more like it. Part of it is probably a remainder of Progressive Era prejudices against marriages with age gaps.

[@BingFox]

The teams behind the Spider-Verse films could do all of these. The medium of animation can do anything.

[@vileluca]

Yeah but they'd make Lúthien trans.

[@waldo5017]

@@vileluca people say this as if they don't mention trans people more than films or tv shows ever could

[@vileluca]

@@waldo5017 It's a joke not a dildo, don't take it so hard.

[@David.Bowman.]

Maybe they’d need to ditch CGI. I’m thinking of Clash of the Titans 1981 v 2010. The earlier is super creepy despite its primitive effects. The 2010 version is ok-ish but kind of forgettable because nothing really makes it stand out from any other blockbuster.

[@Enerdhil]

AI will do a much better job with CGI than people do. I think they're cousins.🤪

[@David.Bowman.]

⁠@@Enerdhil lol that’s because all these technologies we rely on are the devices of Sauron and counterfeits of Nature. So it’s inevitable that at some point we’d let our Arts become counterfeit too! 🫣🥴

[@Makkaru112]

A lot can be done with proper build up and mapping out the peoples and anthology of middle earth throughout several films along the way. We just need to think outside the box and can always show minimal scenes like with Eärendil and Ancalagon via other techniques and modes of storytelling. You just need someone from some part of the world that’s got really unique qualities and I think if it’s a worldwide effort full of collaborations, including the fans yet again it’ll turn out great but let it be an organic passion project that needs months or years to produce. And give updates and interactive things on webpages etc.

[@NoahBrown69]

Have you heard the theory that the Mithril Shirt Thorin gives to Bilbo is Legolas' baby clothes

[@TolkienLorePodcast]

I have not but that’s pretty hilarious to think about 😂

[@anarionelendili8961]

Dunno... I think some of those would be possible to adapt. For example Luthien. Arwen was supposed to be close to Luthien in beauty, and while Liv Tyler was quite pretty, a transcendent beauty she was not. A lot of the elves looked like high-school kids. One accepts these things as limitations of live-action. Arkenstone was quite close to how I would envision a silmaril adaptation to be. As for Earendil vs. Ancalagon the Black, by that time, Earendil was silmaril-powered 'star'. Ramming with an unbreakable, glowing starship or a 'silmaril-laser' superhero style would be possible, and not that much of a stretch. I do agree that imagination tends to always be better than an adaptation, since it is your imagination going what you think is coolest, so by definition it is the coolest thing you can think of and everything falls short. :)

[@saberhamlinconmaverickknud4821]

Then, if they were going to cast an American actress to play Arwen, it should have definitely been Jennifer Colony.

[@TolkienLorePodcast]

@saberhamlinconmaverickknud4821 when she was young (think how she looked in Labyrinth) yeah, but at this point I think she’s too old.

[@Relics_of_Arda]

First!