Best Trilogy EVER! - Return of the King Review

Get Private Internet Access VPN and watch more movies today at lmg.gg/carpool...
Listen to the Podcast: carpoolcritics.ca
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
---------------------------------------------------
Twitter: / carpoolcritics
Email: [e-mail]
Facebook: / carpoolcritics
There's no denying Peter Jackson's final Lord of the Rings film is a triumph...but how does it stack up against Fellowship and Two Towers- and can the upcoming Amazon Prime series possibly compete?
GET MERCH: www.LTTStore.com/
SUPPORT US ON FLOATPLANE: www.floatplane...
AFFILIATES & REFERRALS
---------------------------------------------------
Affiliates, Sponsors & Referrals: lmg.gg/sponsors
Get a Displate Metal Print at lmg.gg/displat...
Support a Creator code LINUSMEDIAGROUP on Epic Games Store: lmg.gg/kRTpY
Get a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime at lmg.gg/8KV1v
Our Test Benches on Amazon: lmg.gg/HOx0z
Our Production Gear: lmg.gg/4oPzt
FOLLOW OUR OTHER CHANNELS
---------------------------------------------------
Linus Tech Tips: lmg.gg/linuste...
TechLinked: lmg.gg/techlin...
Techquickie: lmg.gg/techqui...
ShortCircuit: lmg.gg/shortci...
Channel Super Fun: lmg.gg/channel...
LMG Clips: lmg.gg/lmgclipsyt

[@corrosion83]

I've seen this movie so many times, yet every single time at the end when aragorn tells the hobbits "my friends you bow to no one" tears just start streaming down my face. Every time.

[@BigArmBoss]

In the books, he doesn't say that exact line, but he bows to them, puts them on his throne, and cries "PRAISE THEM WITH GREAT PRAISE" which the assembled host does most enthusiastically.

[@ILoveGrilledCheese]

This line makes everyone cry, my father who is the most stoic Norwegian alive shed a very tiny tear at this line.

[@markstott6689]

I get this.

[@DJReflect]

That emotional note hits so hard every single time.

[@chanceneck8072]

This moment TAUGHT me to cry in public again. I was unable to cry for years after I hit puberty. Only very rarely did it when I was on my own. Then, I watched this movie in the theater, aged 17 or 18 and when that scene happened, all waters broke.... 😅 Nowadays, 20 years later, I cry at so much stuff. 🤭 I'm an emotionally balanced human being.

[@robertcristi2008]

There is a reason why the Witch-King went down as easy as that. When Merry stabbed the Witch-king it did it with a weapon that had the power to harm him. When the hobbits were imprisoned by a Wight in a toomb, Tom Bombadil destroyed the Wight holding them and gave them four daggers that he found there. These daggers were created in ancient times to fight the forces of Angmar. Knowing that made that scene better for me in the movie. I love how the hobits grow during the movies and especially the part that is not shown in the movie. Their return home to the Shire and seeing it pillaged shows how they have grown. They are there alone without their friends however they are able to fight and to lead others to regain the Shire. That finalized their character arc.

[@throughlydruxy8501]

Also Witch King never explodes Gandalf's staff in the book so they're mixing power levels that the book doesn't.

[@connodude5]

Yes in the movies they get the daggers in Lothlorien since they never went to the Barrow Downs

[@th3heretic89]

"Lord of the Rings Fans would be like well Elrond is only a 7/10 in smithing" 🤣

[@lc7ineo]

Boromir: one does not simply walk into Mordor. Sam: hold my Frodo!

[@Prodrummer1603]

@30:40 Eowyn Takes down a ollifant. She tells Merry to take over the horse and takes two swords and cuts at the height of the knee of the ollifants to bring it down. Eomer is impressed by this action but doesn't recognize his sister... @50:10 Yes, Denethor has a Palantir and Sauron uses it to drive Denethor mad by showing him fake images of the future. And to add to the dicussion Theatrical vs Extended: One of the best scenes from the Extended Cut is Eomer seeing his sister lying dead on the battlefield, his own sister, he believed to be at home, safe and far away from any battle. The cry of Karl Urban (the actor) is so perfect and impactful, that i cannot get over the fact that this scene was cut from the Theatrical Version. @1:05:46 I think Gandalf knew what would happen. He even told Aragorn about the Black Ships and the Corsairs of Umbar. How could he have known ? I think he has the gift of foresight, like Elrond. So maybe he also knew about the sword. @1:11:30 I think the ending is great. Did you ever wonder why Sauron didn't put an army or any other safety measures at the gate of Mount Doom ? Because he knew that no one could destroy the ring consciously. The way Frodo and Gollum destroyed the ring was maybe the only way possible and Sauron never thought of this because it was based on luck and coincidence. It might take away something from Frodo and Sam but its the only ending that makes sense.

[@andrewlee4527]

Everything you just said is right. Thank you.

[@Andrew-jt3ei]

Doesn't Eowyn actually kill an Oliphant like James said she should have? She tells Merry to take the reins then she slashes its legs.

[@lucioledizerot196]

Yes, thanl you

[@princewhateverer]

I'm about 23 mins in, and I think one factor that really influenced how little I cared when the undead army showed up is just that. They're undead, they cannot be killed so victory for the good guys is a guarantee as soon as they appear on the battlefield. When they show up, all the remaining stakes of that battle are just gone along with my investment. That being said, the Rohirrim charge earlier in that battle never fails to wet the eyes

[@redhammer92]

The ghosts are cheating. Everything else is dope. The Battle of Pelennor fields is beyond epic.

[@princewhateverer]

Another dumb nitpick I had (which I think may also influence the scene's removal in the theatrical cut) is Grima appearing behind Saruman on top of Orthanc. The establishing shot of that scene shows there's no way to just get up there and that Saruman was alone. It's also established in the first movie as Saruman uses that place to imprison Gandalf, so how tf can Grima just show up like *Hey, what's up dudes?* Also also, I swear like 80%+ of Aragorn's dialogue is spoken as whispers lmao, once I noticed, it really bugged me

[@wierdalien1]

@@princewhateverer the establishing shot does nothing of the sort.

[@Srapture]

I guess that's why they had them show up when they'd already mostly won. It gives you that feel-good moment without feeling cheated.

[@daniel15yearsago66]

​@@princewhatevererthere's a trapdoor at the top orthanc that grima climbed through

[@cristianpopa3997]

1:34:26 hooooly that's so accurate. I had the podcast in the background and scared the **** out of me

[@mekhizyaire6424]

pro trick: you can watch movies at Flixzone. Been using them for watching a lot of movies during the lockdown.

[@zakaibenson7091]

@Mekhi Zyaire yea, have been using flixzone for years myself :)

[@nuadarstark]

Ride of Rohirrim is probably my favourite moment in cinema ever. Sure, the speech can be considered overwrought, the fantasy and the setting considered pulpy by some, but I still get brought to tears by the scene, even after dozens and dozens of viewings.

[@angelcalderon5680]

@1:13:47 gollum (or the "weaker man", as David put it) ultimately being the cause of the rings destruction actually does create a strong theme, just not the one you guys seemed to be expecting- that evil will always be self defeating. Tolkien was super Christian and that influence is clear in how he chooses to portray good and evil throughout middle earth

[@blodstainer]

fun fact about the comparison between Gandalf showing up at Helm's Deep vs Aragorn's Army of the dead, is that the book handles them VERY differently. The armyy of the dead doesn't kill anone in the books, they help Aragorn, gimli and legolas to scare off the corsairs and steal their ships, they then use them to sail south and gather gondorian reinforicements (remember, gondor have HUGE armies, the're just not mobalized when Minas Tirith is attacked). And he leads gondorian soldier to Minas Tirith, as the king of gondor returns. Thematically it's a much different than thing what the do in the movie.

[@Thegreatequalizer]

In regards to Sam and Frodo on being the ring bearer I think the point is that Frodo does see the power of the ring and even cares about it enough that he will defend it against others who will seek to claim it. Sam on the other hand doesn't care AT ALL about the ring, and so it holds no power over him, however it also means if push came to shove he would relinquish the ring when another came for it aggressively enough. Frodo did what Sam Couldn't, and Sam did what Frodo couldn't, each one was the only reason the other made it to Mount Doom.

[@IanZainea1990]

I'm with Riley, I had no issues with Eowyn killing the witch king. Isn't the Palantir calling to Pippin? Like the ring? He is just drawn to it?

[@wierdalien1]

Thats the entire point (eowyn killing the witch king.)

[@schmitz9a]

57:00 It's not a normal sword. It was smithed by the Dwarf Techlar, in the first Age, who is considerd one of two, maybe three best smiths of all time. At that time, the sword was 3000 years old. When Aragon and Elrond get to it, it's 6000 years old. So yes, it very magic and not made by a normal dude.

[@lucioledizerot196]

It's mythical for sure but it's not actually magic. It's the best of the best but there isn't any actual magic in it.

[@schmitz9a]

@@lucioledizerot196 If it is made out of ancient steel, and still sharp after six thousand years, it's magic. Not explicitly, but implizitly. Like the Elfish long life. They don't have to cast a spell over themselves, they just are that way. It's still magic.

[@vivekvs1992]

"My Friends, You Bow to No One" 10/10...i will give 10 for just that line

[@princewhateverer]

I would LOVE to hear your guys' take on the hobbit movies tbh, mainly because I know it'd be a huge departure from the glowing praise you gave the LotR trilogy lmao

[@mikadsu]

For Aragorns story it might have been better if after getting the ghosts. They would actually miss the pirate boats. So that in Minas Tirith the battle would actually go really go bad with oliphants AND pirates. Making the Rohan been in the middle really desperate. But then Aragorn and the ghosts come and actually save the day. Then it would have been more like the Gandalf moment in Helms deep. But there is always many choises when making a film and specially when you kind of need to stick to the books as well. So maybe the "right" choise wasnt just an option that they could take.

[@shoff29]

I absolutely love listening to you guys talk about movies. Especially lord of the rings. Obviously you guys are busy and have lots of work going on, but would totally be down for more content. Even just rambling on about smaller details.

[@schlammie446]

Elrond probably could have forged it. He, Elendil, and several other people got together to forge weapons and strengthen their armies before they fought the battle of Dagorlad. Elendil's sword was special. That's why it could cut off the hand of Sauron. Reforging it isn't just a show of symbolism and a message. It is the return of a powerful weapon to one who can wield it.

[@lucioledizerot196]

"That's basically Taiwan" is the quote of the episode

[@jayantjj]

30:42 Dear James, with all due respect, she literally takes down an Oliphant😂 Remember when she goes under one, handing the reigns of the horse to Merry, landing repeated blows on its legs with a sword both in the left and right hand. SICK SEQUENCE! How did you forget that?

[@tomdsims]

You guys produce the most interesting content from the LMG team. I love LTT and tech quickie but I only really look forward to Carpool Critics weekly. Great work guys!

[@sergarlantyrell7847]

Why are they all hating on the final battle? I thought it was clear that they couldn't win by fighting, and it looked like they were outnumbered 10:1 by the orcs so if Frodo and Sam can't destroy the ring, all the remaining Fellowship is dead.

[@lc7ineo]

This movies rule, but are a thousand times better if you read the books and have the extra lore to understand the deeper meaning in all of it.

[@Srapture]

I disagree with this, but not specifically with regards to Lord of the Rings. Generally, I think reading a book first spoils the experience of watching a movie. "Ah, this is the bit where he dies... Yeah, there it is." vs "Oh, fuck they got him! Is he dying?! Shit!"

[@andrazz90]

Every Italian person is out for your blood David, never blaspheme the fruit that brought us Pizza and Pasta 😂 Rewatched V for Vendetta last weekend, that film really held up well and didn't expect how relevant it is in 2020/1. Highly recommend a reviewing.

[@ethanfosterYT]

Eyyye James has watched Brandon Sanderson's lectures on Sci Fi and Fantasy!! That lecture series is a gem for storytelling knowledge.

[@darmokandjalad7786]

Sanderson is my favourite author, so that was exciting to hear’ I wonder if he’s read any Sanderson.

[@ethanfosterYT]

@@darmokandjalad7786 Yeah I hope he has! I just recently got into Sanderson and I'm a few pages away from finishing the mistborn trilogy. It has been straight up the best fantasy series I have ever read and I can't wait to get into the Stormlight Archive.

[@darmokandjalad7786]

@@ethanfosterYT That's awesome! Mistborn has a fantastic ending and is great overall, but Stormlight is even better! Sanderson has a great fan community online too, bunch of great discord servers if you want a link.

[@ethanfosterYT]

@@darmokandjalad7786 I’d love one, yeah is community is so cool, I stumbled into it through some booktubers and now I’m as avid member, but I’m not in this discord like should be 😂

[@TheyreJustMovies]

@@darmokandjalad7786 he hasn't but now he's intrigued.

[@HoJSimpson]

I am so glad that i saw these in Cinema. It's last great Trilogy of our time.

[@Nakna_ankaN]

David would do anything for Sam He'd run right to Mount Doom and back He would do anything for Sam He'd never send him off and that's a fact But he'll never forgive the jerk who called him fat, Oh no, no way David would do anything for Sam, but he won't do that No, he won't do that

[@lovehatecomments]

what the...

[@Nakna_ankaN]

@@lovehatecomments Whenever I hear someone say that they would do anything for something or someone, I think of Meat Loaf. The artist that is, not the dish. I can see how it might be confusing if you've never heard the song.

[@lovehatecomments]

@@Nakna_ankaN that makes better sense

[@protospace270]

Most meme-able moment and you're not going to include "one does not simply walk into Mordor"???? You let me down right there, David. Lol

[@NickOnFire1490]

You guys should keep covering Pixar movies every so often! I loved the episode on Soul and it would be awesome to see episodes on some of Pixar's best, like the Incredibles, Inside Out, Toy Story, etc. Keep up the great work!

[@alert.272]

1:35:39 "Please continue to talk about me after I go." Very human emotion Riley, that got really serious really quick lol

[@markstott6689]

Narsil/Anduril was never just an ordinary sword. Numenor prior to its destruction was on a different level from Gondor and Arnor. Both kingdoms weakened over time. There were seven Palantir created by Fėanor in the First Age that were given to men (he made more but they?aren'tin the story). They were originally at Minas Ithil, Osgiliath, Minas Anor, Orthanc, Weathertop, Anuminas and the White Towers. The Osgiliath stone was the master but fell into Anduin and was lost. Thee Ithil stone was taken by Sauron. The Anuminas and Weathertop stones were lost in a shipwreck when the last king of Arnor, KingArvedui died. The stone of the White Towers only looked west to Aman, The Undying Lands.

[@jamiefitzpatrick4377]

It may have been worth checking out how the book (in relation to the scenario) made those things believable but the movie failed to capture.

[@dumboy886]

I was raised to the extended edition, and I probably watched them 15+ times each. I can't watch the theatrical release, my mind just goes : haaang on a minute, wdym, this isn't in there ?

[@kadius]

Even though I almost always watch the theatrical first before any extended editions gets released, once I watch an extended cut, it becomes my only choice every re-watch. And it makes watching theatrical near impossible because now it feels like I'm watching an edited cable TV cut of the film.

[@spoiler_guy7701]

0:41 Believe it or not but that was me🙁 and am actually glad that I did that😉 They talked about be bro....😎

[@piccolojiggolo1421]

Sam actually joins Frodo in the undying lands after he lives out his life in the extended lore because he is effected by the ring and the whole experience.

[@Nick-4K]

Out of all movies. I believe Return of the King could possibly be the best movie ever created. Definitely the best Trilogy tho.

[@dennispremoli7950]

The are big gaps, very convenient ex machina's and jarring edits in the theatrical. It also basically has 2 endings. I love the movie but it definitely deserves a lot of it's praise as a trilogy FINALE, rather than a stand alone one.

[@mavfan1]

I s that "tho" at the end a typo? What's it's purpose if it's there intentionally?

[@wierdalien1]

@@mavfan1 though.

[@owenbergeron4212]

I rewatch these lotr reviews from yall every year. Miss yall

[@CatChrist]

I personally always thought that Frodo knew that Smeagle was the way he was because of carrying the ring, and gave extra pity on him because he had to believe he could be saved, else it meant he could not be saved. 🤷‍♂️

[@PitboyHarmony1]

In deep Tolkien lore, as he said himself ... its well known that Sam is actually the number one main protagonist of the story, full stop. Knowing that, kinda changes the focus and intent of the larger story, and it makes more sense. Everyone else feeds the story that is Sams life.

[@nuadarstark]

Eowyn stuff is imho well earned, I think it's fairly certain the Witch King just doesn't care cause according to prophecy, he just can't be killed by a man. He has no physical form, he's been banished numerous time, always came back. He doesn't defend, he doesn't expect that Eowyn could have any power over him. And in his hubris he's wrong.

[@andrewlee4527]

Plus he is stabbed by the only blade that could have damaged him ( the one Merry is holding). It's arguable that Eowyn didn't even do anything to him and it was actually Merry who killed him. But the Eowyn moment is so badass, I don't care.

[@etmasikewo]

57:00 I agree with Riley. They have thousands of years so surely they could have picked up smithing and other skills but the other smiths have been doing it for hundreds more years. I'd assume there's intricacies you learn after doing it for that long to make The Sword.

[@greys7734]

Under the circumstances that Eowyn is a woman and therefore doesn't have the choice to go to battle but then rebels to show her badassery through: destroying orcs and taking down an Oliphant (she does this in the movie as James said she should have, she slashes its two legs with two swords). I would say I'm with Riley on this that it does show she can take down the Witch King. Also the comments about her not having a low voice in the movies... Why does Eowyn have to have a different voice because she likes fighting? You don't see AOC having a low voice while she's fighting in Congress? Miranda Otto did a fine job.

[@markstott6689]

Eowyn: she's trained as a warrior. James is wrong about her. She's a tough cookie. The legend as stated by Glorfindel after the Witch King is defeated and Angmar destroyed is that it will be long ages before his demise and it won't be by a man's hand. Eowyn being a woman and Merry a Hobbit fulfils this prophecy. Merry's knife was forged in Arnor during the wars against the Witch King. It was magically enhanced to counter the Witch King and his minions. He obtained it during the omitted story with the Barrow Wights and Tom Bombadil. The knife essentially unbound the wraiths spirit. This allows Eowyn to drive her sword into the Witch Kings helm destroying him. In the act of killing the Witch King they're both afflicted by what's called the Black Breath. Aragorn saves them using athelas plant and ancient healing skills brought by his ancestors from Numenor.

[@andrewlee4527]

And in terms of just the movies, there is plenty of evidence that Eowyn is a badass, it's just not rammed in your face. And again, in just the movie, Merry makes the difference in the Angmar fight. One doesn't necessarily need to know the lore of all blades and such. 👍

[@joelpeet]

Hello from the Philippines, Carpool Team :-) For a future show, a movie you eventually could watch and appreciate is the movie - Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. Really nice, and the overall set design is really beautiful. Watch it with the highest resolution possible. The making-of is really interesting as well. Have an excellent day ahead, Regards

[@jokuvat]

you guys really needed some LOTR nerd in this who was obsessed with books and stuff so he could constantly Fact bang you on things that were different in the books and be like ACTUALLY it was .....

[@j1nchuika]

Hey guys, the link to PIA doesn't work

[@lollol9236]

We love an almost 2hr episode🙌

[@Aturnadagar]

30:40 you so wrong, Merry use his Elf weapon on him first, weakening The witch king enough for the finish blow.

[@spoiler_guy7701]

damn bro you're right!

[@TheyreJustMovies]

weakening him enough to sit there patiently while Eowyn delivers her line (eyeroll). In the other version she delivers her line while still on horseback before the battle, then Merry and her blows happen like a one-two punch.

[@spoiler_guy7701]

@@TheyreJustMovies that was my first time watching the movie. I barely remember the whole scene. So, damn you're right too...

[@Aturnadagar]

@@TheyreJustMovies I agree that's version is more credible, but on the books they don't have to be shocking and cinematic. So they try to use slow motion, then 2 angles of view, a closeup so she take her helmet. I may understand that it looks that he is just waiting for the blow.

[@KhromTX]

30:16 So, did James fall asleep or just completely miss the entire sequence of Eowyn literally taking down an oliphant by herself? Seriously? How do you not remember that?

[@TheyreJustMovies]

I do remember that. It was a bad example because I'm not actually convinced she could do that. Would slicing its feet with short swords really bring it down?

[@andrewlee4527]

@@TheyreJustMovies but you literally said "if only she'd taken down an oliphaunt or something..." There are plenty of signs that she is a warrior. She is called a Shield Maiden of Rohan. Eomer is talking about the Hobbit knowing nothing of battle, not Eowyn. And you seem to imply that simply because someone shows emotion, they are weak. I respectfully disagree.

[@TheyreJustMovies]

@@andrewlee4527 having not seen it in 9 months now, I yield. Now watch the matrix 2 and argue with me there.

[@andrewlee4527]

@@TheyreJustMovies sounds fun! I love the discussion, by the way. I'm an instant fan of the channel.

[@taramjwi57]

Eowyn in the books was injured by striking down the Witch King. Like a backlash I would suppose.

[@wierdalien1]

Yes, striking that much evil caused her to enter a deep depression, much like faramir.

[@harrisonbristow5650]

Love Carpool Critics!!!

[@DaPuck1234]

I can't believe you didn't mention the stock/comedy death screams in any of the videos XD (*unless you did and I missed it completely*)

[@mikechinas7871]

01:34:27 WTF!!! How often does James make that sound for the other don't even flinch by it.

[@jpmazza4663]

Have they done a Mandalorian one? I'd love to listen to their thoughts on it! ^-^

[@andrewlee4527]

Regarding Eowyn, Eomer says the Hobbit knows nothing of war, not her. She shocks Aragorn in Two Towers with her skill. She takes down an Oliphaunt. Theoden trusts her to lead an entire town of people across dozens of miles. So I completely disagree with the Eowyn discontent.

[@Googaliemoogalie]

1978's LOTR's Witch King sounds like Skeletor and Starscream merged bodies.

[@whalemonstre]

You got your Smeagols, your Déagols, your beagles... don't forget your Kegels!" Nearly weed myself. 🤣🤣

[@jAANUSZEK0700]

After watching In Deep Geek's explanation it's hard to watch this. Frodo hasn't failed his mission, he did this out of mercy for Gollum. He just killed Gollum. And he told him earlier that if Gollum touches him again he will die in fire, which has happened. :)

[@cn8299]

Eowyn DOES kill a Mummakil. She slices its legs and it falls down.

[@JamesFuston]

I dunno about "they're taking the hobbits to isengard" as most meme'able moment. I'd probably have to give it to "fly, you fools!"

[@ac.creations]

The boil em mash em stick m in a stew song from albino blacksheep will forever be my favorite. Whats taters hobbits?

[@JamesFuston]

@@ac.creations Po-ta-toes is also a very solidly meme'able moment for sure

[@fameswebb6439]

One does not simply. Can use it for anything

[@JoshuaCampbelll]

Hey James, I agree that normally she would have gotten killed by the big sub-boss however, any big boss can be taken out when you have one of your mates sneak up behind him and shiv him in the back. So technically she didn't have the skill to kill him and was about to die. LIKE anyone would have who faced off against the sub-boss but then he got shived in the back so that gave her the opening to kill him. So technically she didn't actually win.

[@markstott6689]

I've watched my theatrical versions just once (plus once at the cinema). My extended versions probably at least two dozen times. For me the theatrical versions have too many holes.

[@countpythagoras]

Am i the only one worried about how well James made the sceatch? Yeah? Only me?

[@Trainman37]

I tried watching my Extended Edition blue-ray set over new years. Fellowship of the ring, amazing. Two towers, suburb. Return of the King....heartbroken when I discovered my "Disk 2", which is labeled "Disk 2", is just another copy of "Disk 1". Therefore, I now have a weird misprint blue-ray set, and no conclusion to the franchise :'(. I didn't even get to see 'Walter' throw himself off the precipice!! #Tragic

[@PylonsHockey]

Aragorn was given Andúril (in the books*) before they left from Rivendell. So Gandalf knew the army of the dead would be chill

[@Stampmaster55]

The Eowin twist kind of borrowed from the climax of McBeth. In McBeth witches assure McBeth than no man of woman born can defeat him and, in the end (Spoilers!), McDuff defeats McBeth and reveals that he was not "of woman born", he was born by cesarean.. which I suppose to witches doesn't count as being born.

[@HoJSimpson]

Man when Riley qouting Theoden gave me Goosebumps lol

[@ChrisGlasgows]

They are releasing the remastered versions in IMAX this weekend.

[@jeffsmith63]

i wish you guys had read the books. They answered pretty mush every question you guys had.

[@iana.3388]

Maybe Riley's kill switch sounds is Carpool Critics' version of carbon nanotube transistors

[@beaureddington4039]

Yo isn’t the “I am No Man” bit also Tolkien winking at Homer? When Odysseus tells the Cyclops his name is “No Man” which enables him to get away after blinding him? Then cyclops yells something like “No Man is hurting me!” And is ignored by like gods or something.

[@lkey1843]

Its Nobody, not "No man".

[@beaureddington4039]

makes sense, but still feels like a literary allusion. I haven't read the Odyssey since 2005 so forgive my memory haha

[@wierdalien1]

No its a macbeth reference. No man born of woman can kill Macbeth.

[@beaureddington4039]

@@wierdalien1 omg that’s right! But wait, ok so maybe Bill was alluding to Homer (as he does often), and Tolkien was alluding to both? We are talking about classics and master writers here, and complexity/layers is one of the things that makes them such. I am loving this discourse btw!

[@wierdalien1]

@@beaureddington4039 I did have the wonder if Bill Shakespeare was referencing the Odyssey, but I dont honestly know.

[@connodude5]

Not sure it is clear in the movies, but Eowyn can kill the witch king because Pipin stabs him with an elvish blade beforehand. Once he was weakened by that blade, anyone could have killed him. But there was an ancient prophecy that said no man could kill him, so it all wraps up nicely that he is killed by a woman.

[@lucioledizerot196]

1:37:06 These are called "trebuchets" boyz, not catapults

[@TheyreJustMovies]

wikipedia first sentence: "A trebuchet (French: trébuchet) is a type of catapult"

[@lucioledizerot196]

I shall now commit seppuku

[@ClellBiggs]

Gandalf is as powerful as Sauron or even more so but he doesn't use his power the way Sauron does. Gandalf uses his power to inspire others while Sauron uses his to conquer. Using your power too much can also lead to corruption so Gandalf is selective in how he uses it. Saruman is an example of this.

[@courtadew1]

Elrond reforge the sword moment: It can only happen if they don't show him do it. He shows up in Theodens tent, theoden leave when Aragorn walks in that's all fine. Dialog stays the same but at the end he doesn't say "they will remember..." there is just a glance as Elron pulls out a sheathed and wrapped sword. He extends it to Aragorn whose eyes then flicker to elronds hands which have been burnt and scared because it took him a long time to get the reforge right. It's something that elrond who looks largely unmarked would carry on until he leaves at the very end of the movie. It would show his resolve in believing in Aragorn and Aragorn kind of takes that to heart and it would add more depth and weight to the scene. Just an idea, I still like the version shot.

[@ebroheam]

is this the extended version of the episode or the theater version

[@Omnicronous]

That's why I had to tell Google to stop showing me the spoilers sites in my news feed

[@Xoron]

Have you ever read Sir Ian McKellen's blog from back then? It's worth a read.

[@cn8299]

This is honestly the first time I've ever heard of anyone complain about the extended versions. The Extended versions are always seen as the de facto definitive version and the only version that should exist. The theatrical version is just not even recognized anymore by my circle of friends and associates. I suppose I get it though, not everyone wants to sit through a movie this long but if you're going to watch Lord of the Rings you may as well go on the whole journey or just stay home.

[@chanceneck8072]

THANK YOU! FINALLY SOMEone who gives a 10!.... I was about to give up....

[@Sawta]

Personally, I found the Lord of the Rings series to be pretty boring, but I absolutely love discussions like this. I like that people can find so much minutia to cover, so many details to debate, and bring so much passion to the discussion. I only vaguely understand what they're talking about, but I love the _zest_ of that conversation! Ya' got moxie, kid!

[@AbatedFawn]

I love this channel but could you please review more BAD movies? I really love it when you guys talk about the issues of a film.

[@DrTomWelsh]

9.99 / 10 (this one scores lower for me than the others as I have to deduct something for the tomato, I don't like eating!) Eowyn doesn't kill the Witch King alone (or by being a woman), it's Merry's dagger from Tom Bombadil which is not in the films so not clear, I'd rather have even more film including extras than a theatrical cut. I assume her injury to be from striking (and being struck by) the Witch King, in the same way Merry's arm is damaged from attacking him. PS, book version he has Anduril the whole time. No idea why the films do it differently other than to show Hugo Weaving again, but maybe that alone is a sufficient reason.

[@user-gn1cl9ix7p]

I’m looking forward to Don’t Look Up.

[@JohnPatchesMicallef]

aquila ex machina (eagles from the machine)

[@jeremygodwin8701]

Have yall not read the books??

[@Zeratul187]

Hey guys, i know that you guys do only movies but just for once you guys can watch and review The Expanse series Edit: its a Canadian production

[@jamesd3874]

If anyone was curious what James was referring to here it is; kzbin.info/www/bejne/nojNpWmCfM17qas Eowyn confronts the Witch King. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKLRf4mAgrakZ6s Very well done sly bathroom break!

[@exvils]

19:14 they dont use eagles cuz you cant use eagles.. eagles and all animals dont work like that, they wont join war and stuff, they just dont care 47:55 he was already corrupted from palantier he had/used for years.. he didnt see any way how man could win other than using the ring, so he forfeit everything

[@antagorithm]

TIL how all those enchanted weapons in games get enchanted: by cutting off Sauron's finger.

[@yossarian3]

Tolkien thought that the anti-communist bit in the book when they returned to the Shire was important. There's a real Animal Farm thing going on there.

[@Thegreatequalizer]

James is entirely right about the "I am no man" Scene in the cartoon it is delivered before their fight and so is her fighting him as a warrior but also as a woman. However in the live action movie it is delivered AFTER all of the actual fight and after Merry is the one to strike the debilitating blow, and just comes off more as a glib "Oh but I wasn't a man I was a woman, got you", which does really take away from Eowyn feeling like she has earned her place not just as a warrior but as a Warrior who is a woman.

[@throughlydruxy8501]

Also it has nothing to do with her being female. The idea is that the Witch King cannot be killed by any human. It is Man not man.

[@wierdalien1]

@@throughlydruxy8501 no thats what the Witchking thinks. Thats the entire point of it. Its squirrelly

[@circedelune]

I totally agree about the Eowyn kills witch king scene. It is possibly my least favorite scene in the movies. The book did it well. The movies made it into an unearned girl power scene. Very cringe.

[@IanZainea1990]

You guys should do some Canadian produced movies. The Quarterly Canadian.

[@joshconfer209]

Ooh I'm so early. Next week is gonna be amazing.

[@franciscon6289]

I usually agree with you overall, but I'm under the impression there's a personal connection you guys have with these films and I just don't see it. To me the books are far superior, there's too much whining and Elijah is insufferable in it imo. It's a fun watch, a really fun one, but it's not a perfect 10 by any means.

[@Bajablasted0]

Someone please send photo of “hott orc” cause I wanted to vomit when they said that ☠️🤣

[@andrewlee4527]

Battle of the Black Gate, they're on the only piece of high ground.

[@kissinguptolinustogetradeo5009]

a comment to support the channel