How Ian McKellen Acts With His Eyes

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[@NateandNoahTryLife]

“The kind of acting closeups were made for” That’s a really great description

[@Happilywanderin]

Scrolled down to basically write this comment.

[@worrywirt]

Except for that single one at the end when the hobbits are reunited at Rivendell... idk why but that always felt weird and off to me

[@sarasamaletdin4574]

empty sky, it’s not Rivendell where they are reunited unless you are talking of the first film. The coronation scene hasn’t happened yet.

[@worrywirt]

Sara Samaletdin oh you’re right, I’m being dumb (FAKE FAN! FAKE FAN! 😂)

[@Schugger1]

I always had the feeling that it was Ian McKellen's acting which really made these movies such an amazement to watch. Know I know why. :)

[@disht1]

"The ring has awoken. It's heard its master's call" THAT'LL COMPLICATE THINGS

[@buttsufancypantsu1644]

I sense a plot to destroy the Jedi

[@user-sj3fp2xq2m]

LOL XD

[@jjandorliadul]

Hahaha, i know!

[@reecord2]

ok this did me a lol

[@irrevenant3]

I always thought a big part of the problem with the Star Wars prequels is that they made the two main protagonists emotionless/stoic jedi. It worked in the first trilogy to have one supporting character as a Jedi in the wise old mentor role. But as main characters they're just *dull.* Ewen McGregor is a brilliant actor, but even he can only do so much with "act sagelike".

[@Storystein]

Me: i got so much stuff to do Me: How Ian McKellen Acts With His Eyes ... fascinating.

[@jess-dn4th]

Storystein legit me rn sitting on my couch when I have chores to do

[@ArimaXavier]

It's me now

[@AD-eo8wj]

im procrastinating on an essay right this moment

[@gorkemparlak2375]

im reading this comment 11 minutes before the exam...

[@Storystein]

@@gorkemparlak2375 Good luck, buddy! Focus. Do your best, that's all you can do.

[@palemoonlight96]

No other actor could have played Gandalf more perfectly, Ian brought him to life flawlessly and Tolkien would have been proud

[@djxjxixsmjxjskjzxn1853]

How do you know? Tolkien was a racist, therefore quite likely a homophobe, so it's probable that Tolkien would have been less than enamoured at McKellen playing his wizard.

[@megakillerx]

Djxjxixsm Jxjskjzxn shut the fuck up progressivite filth.

[@alphalegionary7672]

Djxjxixsm Jxjskjzxn go get fucked

[@stefm.w.3640]

@@megakillerx lmao imagine being against progress

[@megakillerx]

Stefan Schüttengruber >Imagine reducing one of the world’s most renowned author, who’s work have influenced and set the precedent for the fantasy genre, to some monstrous being because of the moral values that were common in his time. >”Why are you against progress bro?” The exact same thing to HP Lovecraft. You people don’t give a shit about his works, or how he reevaluated his views later in life, he got smeared into oblivion for his views he gained from his childhood or the name he gave to his cat. And since all of them are dead, they cannot defend themselves from future smoothbrains that judges these authors with their own cultural values.

[@valentins.2637]

You just needed an excuse to watch Lord of the rings again, didn't you?

[@girlwithtehface5880]

Who needs an excuse? All you need is time.

[@hairohukosu433]

_way too much time_

[@Kentaloupe]

I’ve watched lord of the rings about 20 times. Time to go for 21

[@josephnavarro1028]

@@girlwithtehface5880 Time? What time do you think we have?

[@arkamukherjee457]

If I had a day to live, I'll shut myself in a room and binge watch LoTR.

[@maukka1545]

*A simple video about Gandalfs eyes* me: *breaks down in tears again because remembers LotR*

[@lorenzomiglie]

Same reaction by reading your username

[@maukka1545]

@@lorenzomiglie *remembers Charlie* *EVEN MORE CRYING*

[@ShellShock794]

"My friends.......you bow to no one"

[@ejoshcoron]

this!

[@Balaskh]

You're not alone 😬

[@DemetriosLevi]

I never knew why, but I always remembered Gandalf's eyes when thinking of these scenes. They stick in your head and you remember them. Brilliantly put, mate

[@Mehdz03]

There’s so many close up shots Of him

[@trblessed1020]

YES!!! Same

[@djxjxixsmjxjskjzxn1853]

Eyes do tend to stick in your head. Best place for 'em!

[@burgulize]

"The kind of acting that eliminates the need for bad dialogue..." Oh God, so Yes.

[@japanrain7436]

Nerdwritter new video: clicks Sir Ian Mckellen eyes: *CLICKING INTENSIFIES*

[@shh11111]

Why do they add sir before his name? Edit: let me elaborate my question, is it out of respect or something else, and if its out of respect why i dont know any other actor referred to as 'sir', its impossible that theres no one like, or better than him, i am sure

[@imtoogrookey3333]

@@shh11111 It means he has been knighted by the Queen of England, He is a knight and there are many others for example: Sir Christopher Lee (who plays Saruman btw), Sir Patrick Steward, Sir Paul McCartney and so on

[@MuppeSixtyFour]

Watching this as it started, I was already picturing the look on Ian Mckellen's face as Frodo accepted the burden, as it's one of my favourite moments from the trilogy. Not suprisingly, I agree with Nerdwriter, but he expresses it better than I ever could. BD

[@jenjerx]

Literally what I went through, emotionally!

[@Victoriacariad]

@@shh11111 People are given Orders of the British Empire (OBE's) by the Queen in the UK in recognition for their contribution to public work. Some are for the arts, some for charities and others for the sciences. They can turn them down, but the people who have been knighted with this honour are known as 'Sir' or 'Dame' officially. So like Dominick said we have those Sirs. Then we also have Dame Judi Dench, Dame Maggie Smith.

[@maldivianfish]

nobody: nerdwriter1: you ever notice ian mckellens eyes?

[@AhmedMostafa-kn7ii]

😂😂😂😂

[@davecrupel2817]

@@tachisme hahahaha XD

[@jonasc1221]

this is really the meme of the month huh

[@nicolasriveros943]

@@tachisme Holly shit hahahh

[@algorev8679]

Vsauce here.

[@nighteyes5683]

Nerdwriter: Hmm, I need an example of bad exposition/dialogue *The Phantom Menace automatically starts playing*

[@daniel15yearsago66]

@ChiKler ROS might be bad, but TPM is truly one of the worst films I've ever watched

[@buffnipz]

@ChiKler That is the biggest joke ever, Phantom Menace is so infuriatingly boring and a classic criticism of it is that even kids are bored by the drawn out politics and wooden acting. ROS would 100% keep any kids attention more than Phantom Menace, where at least in Skywalker the story keeps on moving and while the plot has nonsense points the acting is so much less painful to watch mostly do to half decent dialogue that fits with character personalities. Rise of Skywalker is infinitely more entertaining and watchable than the first 2 prequels.

[@adamlueth8968]

@@buffnipz TPM gets infinitely better as soon as you join r/PrequelMemes

[@buffnipz]

@@adamlueth8968 It doesn't get better just funnier. The movie is still just as bad

[@adamlueth8968]

@@buffnipz *Lies*

[@Abhi-cb7eh]

His smile just melts all my egos.

[@morphorod]

I hope Sir Ian watches this video one day. Lovingly made.

[@pedrohenriquepinheiro9131]

So do I

[@pseudonymousbeing987]

Would it be possible to speed up this process? Twitter? Any direct ways to get this to the man?

[@Iantorchwood94]

Twitter may be a good way !

[@schregen]

RIP Sir Ian ☠️☠️☠️

[@yogislayer8818]

@@schregen DONT EVEN THINK ABOUT THAT

[@beelzebuddha]

The look on Gandalf's face after Frodo takes responsibility for the One Ring... gets me every time, too. And that smile after Frodo awakens in The Return of the King... yeah. Sir Ian is amazing.

[@AllTheArtsy]

YYYYEEEEEEEEEES I get so emotional during that. And his face when Frodo awakens is all at once "I knew you could do it," and "Thank god you did it," and "It's ok now," and "I'm so proud of you," and "I know things will never be the same again" and "I knew it was a heavy load you did so well" and so much more and AHHHHHH

[@Len0Grady]

I remember reading that he used the idea of a father hearing his son announce that he had signed up for WW1 and all that would imply- what wonderfully apt and effective idea.

[@SunflowerSpotlight]

And the movement of the staff in front of his face to sort of Telegraph his later movement and to pull you into the shot. A great little detail that adds a lot as well. He’s brilliant.

[@nakenmil]

@Kevin Doyle - That look when Frodo says that he'll take the ring has stayed with me ever since I watched it back in the day. It's truly haunting.

[@nakenmil]

@@Len0Grady - Makes a ton of sense.

[@PolishPudding]

Had the pleasure of meeting Sir Ian in person. A very humble, genuinely brilliant human being! Took out ten minutes of his private time to have a chat with me and the LOTR trilogy and his other work!

[@Alia-bc3rc]

you lucky bastard..

[@mayaamis]

what an honor wow, amazing

[@trapelove405]

Lucky you !

[@Sofia-nc1tu]

Me too! He is such a wonderful person-and actor.

[@djxjxixsmjxjskjzxn1853]

@@Ranger1812 I ate 3 panda burgers in the time it took me to read your diatribe. I might just have an ocelot kebab and some rhinoceros horn ice cream for dessert.

[@Seeker7172]

The moment Gandalf describes the afterlife is the most impactful for me, when he looks away glassy-eyed you know he is admiring it again as he recalls it within his mind's eye before he looks back at Pippin. That sort of understanding is usually only possible during the internal dialogue in a book. To convey it merely with your eyes is just testament to McKellen's skill as an actor.

[@OurChangingClimate]

Oh man, I didn't know I needed this, but I did. I definitely did.

[@user-xd4sk4pk7h]

Our Changing Climate I really like ur vids

[@SunflowerSpotlight]

Fancy seeing you here. 😂 I’m also glad he picked this topic as well. Just one more reason that trilogy is... just one in a lifetime.

[@GenerallyNerdy]

"The kind of acting that eliminates the need for bad dialogue..." Take that George Lucas!

[@smaakjeks]

I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere. Not like you. You're everything soft and smooth.

[@MrSkme]

Its doesn't. different audiences needs different things. Not everyone can pick up on these things as easily.

[@Jokumlokum]

@@MrSkme I object to that statement and say that facial expressions and body language is the most universal language there is. No excuse for bad, monotone performances if it does not serve any unique purpose within the rammifications of the movie.

[@smaakjeks]

@@MrSkme You mean you prefer bad dialogue to be in movies on the off chance that someone doesn't pick up on the subtleties of the acting?

[@MrSkme]

@@smaakjeks No im not saying that i want every movie to have bad dialogue, im saying that some movies have smart dialogue and some movies have dumb dialogue because some of the population are smart and some are stupid(and everything inbetween). Subtle and intelligent acting could never replace the need for stupid dialogue because they are aimed at different kinds of audiences. Are you saying we should just stop making movies for a certain part of the population?

[@matthewsawczyn6592]

"Into the West" motif starts Tears immediately form

[@historianscomposition]

Matthew Sawczyn Yep. That is soo me

[@Thunderpuddle]

Aww, man. I never cry at anything bar this film series!

[@flatstheflounder2884]

"I will not say do not weep, for not all tears are an evil". Man, the "My friends. You bow to no one" scene already has me in tears, then it's followed up with the farewell scene? By the time the end credits are rolling I'm a complete mess!

[@NicolaLarosa]

They do.

[@Churro_Flaminguez]

Yep. In a film trilogy filled with HS's incredible score, that is a standout piece

[@snopallchannel241]

5:09 that WINK just never fails to bring a big smile to my face. It's so well acted, as if McKellen literally went into the skin of Gandalf who knows that his plan works just as he intended, and giving a small hint of reassurance to his friends, while still keeping it undercover. If I were there I'd literally follow him to whatever danger if I saw this. What a genius!

[@PossiblyNic]

"And then you see it... White shores, and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise." *Into the West starts in the background* Dammit man, I'm at work, I can't be crying right now.

[@tommy2buttz668]

You Air Traffic Controllers always crack me up

[@rafaelnahafahik7781]

One of the best moments in the trilogy, close after “my friends, you bow to no one”

[@Mettttie]

I always wonder...am i the only one to whom this sounds just like a psychedelic experience?

[@itsthemumu8585]

Rafael Nahafahik a couple more for ya: “For Frodo” “Don’t you let go” “Let him go, you filth” Sam’s speech in Two Towers So many times have I cried while watching LOTR

apparently nerdwriter wanted to justify watching 11 hours of LOTR and did a video on it. You need no justification to rerererererewatch this masterpiece.

[@thelonelyghosts9004]

Lord of the Rings can take 11 hours to watch. Or a lifetime.

[@TheNikolai123]

420 likes, nice.

[@NikkiMKarLen]

"Sometimes in film, we don't really hear something until we see someone hearing it."

[@tiamzy]

One of my favorite moments in LOTR is Gandalf’s reaction when Frodo realizes that there are markings in Bilbo’s ring. Mckellen expressed relief and surprise thru his eyes in milliseconds.

[@Rubber_Monkey]

_"If you’re going to make a mistake, don’t make it in the eyes. Because everybody’s looking at the eyes."_ - Glen Keane

[@bees4839]

Animation master.

[@Rubber_Monkey]

@@bees4839 Agreed. The eyes are the window to the soul.

[@OrdonWolf]

Animation and acting are surprisingly alike. No, it'd be more proper to say animation IS acting.

[@Haltdegrijzejager]

I've had the pleasure of meeting Sir Ian McKellen at a talk he did, and I fully agree about his acting range, but his entire aura, his persona just oozes control. His movements in the chair, or the way he reacts to the interviewer, with either a subtle delay to emphasise certain emotions was a pleasure to behold. Thanks again for this deep dive into the LOTR masterpiece!

[@josephgreen9260]

Came here for the Rohan wink :)

[@zoebigbee2575]

Anyone: Gives LOTR appreciation Me: *BURSTS THROUGH DOOR* I WILL LISTEN TO EVERYTHING YOU HAVE TO SAY

[@ElvenWisdom]

Galadriel does the same when you watch her in her scenes of Lothlorien. It suggests a powerful mind power to project their thoughts from their eyes to influence minds that they bore into. It also suggests the ability to read minds with the eyes as opening the windows to other souls and reading people’s intentions. I understand fully what Peter Jackson was going for when he picked these two actors with this ability to portray that type of inner power as wizards and elves, and these two (Cate & Ian) may have that power themselves in real life which is why they were perfect for the roles.

[@fenhen]

Fantastic example of “show, don’t tell” in action

[@toitd5258]

Yes! That closeup of Gandalf after Frodo says he'll take the ring is my favorite piece of acting in the trilogy.

[@leftymcnally6913]

I always love that little half-wink he does with his right eye. He uses it in so many different ways

[@BuffaloBillBtch]

Well I guess this is the sign that my yearly watch of this masterpiece trilogy is tomorrow. Time to go buy some hot choco and tissues.

[@itsthemumu8585]

Kolamies609 a lot of tissues my friend. A lot. Shit makes me cry every time I watch

[@droidzlander]

"My friends. You bow to no one" and I flood my apartment with tears

[@itsthemumu8585]

Andrea Romito every time. Return of the King is a fucking sob-fest

[@j.prt.979]

Brandon Mueller who said crying? You sure that’s what those tissues are for? ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[@baguettegott3409]

@@j.prt.979 Some people are into hairy feet, I don't judge...

[@theknightwhosayn1]

"You cannot pass! I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udûn. Go back to the Shadow! YOU! SHALL NOT! PASS!"

[@HeroofSomething]

Fly, you fools!

[@ramsackdude]

you needed a space between YOU SHALL NOT PASS and the rest

[@BleedForTheWorld]

What is the Secret Fire?

[@ubikledek]

@@BleedForTheWorld he is the ring bearer for Narya. One of the three rings for the Elves. Narya is also known as the ring of fire. Just like Galadriel's Nenya, ring of adamant/ water

[@CodyTaylor115]

@@BleedForTheWorld if you want to open that can of worms you can take a 12 hour deep dive on the lore and history of the LOTR universe I'm sure there are loads of videos on KZbin about it I haven't been brave enough yet lol

[@lordofgraphite]

I never really appreciated sir Ian's acting before, he just, was, is, Gandalf. but wow, now I really am staggered by his mastery, awesome video.

[@the_kovic]

I think the fact you didn't consider the actor behind the character at all and saw simply Gandalf is a testament to how good a job Ian McKellen did.

[@tangroro]

Watch Mr. Holmes

[@gansach]

Jake Gyllenhaal's eyes as well these guys are truly the masters of their craft

[@ironclad452]

Gandalf as portrayed by Sir Ian McKellen is the father figure I never had. He warms my heart and comforts me with these facial expressions. I sometimes watch LOTR just to feel that warmth again...

[@MegaMichal1998]

Honestly, I haven't seen any other actor play with such love. You feel it through his eyes. Fantastic actor. I hope he'll live long and well :)

[@AnimeBallsDeep]

this is beyond science

[@griffinpuff5292]

how can one attain that power?

[@darmandez]

@@griffinpuff5292 Not from a jedi.

[@Crcvmbdfl]

it belongs to the fifth dimension and beyond

[@sonkeschmidt2027]

@@griffinpuff5292 focus. Get rid of superficial distractions and direct all your mental effort into your actual self, whatever that means for you specifically. The more that happens the closer you get to the devine. Ian can act it, because he has "seen" "it"but more importantly because he has felt it. And that is present in all of us, is not a god on the outside to be worshipped. It's expressing your devine self through your body. And the result of that is what you can observe in Ian.

[@Simeon_Harris]

21:9 for the win! i think it's also worth mentioning how well McKellen understands the difference between theatre and film acting, because they're not the same thing and yet he transitions seamlessly between both.

[@AlvarVraal]

Could you elaborate on the differences? I'm quite interested.

[@Ana-sj5xx]

​@@AlvarVraal Film acting is subtle and intimate - like Ian's acting. In theatre, even the people in the back row need to be able to tell what the characters feel, so the acting is more exaggerated, the voices are louder, and the characters are much more likely to go as far as to describe their emotions - which is almost always a sin in film, since it should be able to show instead of telling. Everything is bigger in theatre. If you want an example of acting that, while taking place in a film, embodies the concept of theatre acting, try Gloria Swanson in Sunset Blvd!

[@AlvarVraal]

@@Ana-sj5xx Thank you kindly

[@BrettPyke]

I didn't even notice the 21:9 but it makes sense since most of the example clips were in the same format.

[@Eidolon2003]

Trust me, you notice when you have a 21:9 monitor. This is the first one I've seen on KZbin in a while!

[@willis636]

4:09 "In real life we're not always aware of the faces we're making." tell that to my social anxiety.

[@ArthurMoore]

Bravo to you for doing what genuinely interests. super original, your videos have there own flavor. and it's a good one. 👌🏻

[@dr.stevebrule8575]

The LOTR trilogy are the only movies that are guaranteed to bring a tear to my eye. They will forever be my favorite peace of media for as long as I live.

[@merribellewharton938]

Dr. Steve Brule Same!

[@giulioaprati338]

He was robbed the oscar for 3 years

[@Rhyflowsarchive]

At least he was knighted.

[@Cat-nb5qs]

I thought he was nominated for Best Supporting for Fellowship?

[@giulioaprati338]

@@Cat-nb5qs yes, but he did not won it

[@bluespirit8590]

Pippin isn't even in the shot and i know when he isnt looking at him

[@bobnavonvictorsteyn9017]

Cinematic Addict What?

[@MorgothBauglire]

@@bobnavonvictorsteyn9017 its a refrence to when gandalf screams fool at pippin

[@cinematicaddict6863]

Bobna Von Victorsteyn its a line from lord of the rings... wha

[@bobnavonvictorsteyn9017]

Oof I see my stupidity now

[@cinematicaddict6863]

Bobna Von Victorsteyn I guess so? 😐

[@vladimirpetroski7089]

I love this, I just rewatched the entire trilogy and it reminded me how much I missed watching it because even an ordinary banal scene brought me to tears and at the end of the day, Gandalf and Sam are the heart of the franchise in my mind!

[@JeffDvrx]

First Jack Nicholson, then Anthony Hopkins, now Ian McKellen. Three truly amazing actors, three of your best videos 👍🏻👍🏻

[@AlaskaSkidood]

Next up.... Sir Patrick Stewart?

[@JeffDvrx]

@@AlaskaSkidood I'd say Christoph Waltz, but he kind of did it in his Inglorious Basterds video... Honestly? Ben Stiller. Mitty was an amazing movie.

[@wendel5868]

@@AlaskaSkidood Collin Farrell, Robert Downey Jr. , Martin Freeman, Jack Black all use efficiently their eyes in acting (Collin and Martin with their eyes and forehead, Robert on serious scenes, Jack Black in king Kong is a good example) It only takes a scene to show greatness. Oh, and Jim Carrey for complete control of the whole face.

[@genkispt]

yeah like every one of those videos were like. "do you know acting?" overanalyzing simple acting techniques. granting these ARE amazing actors. but the videos on them seem way overdone.

[@joachim595]

What about Daniel Day-Lewis?

[@BeyondTheReview]

Imagine if Ian Mckellen never got casted as Gandalf. I remember I saw that it was almost Sean Connery

[@JamesTaylor117]

Danny devito playing the role of: Gandalf the white

[@AlkisenSuper]

@@JamesTaylor117 "What are you, CRAZY?! You absolute blithering moron! Do you have any idea what will happen if the ring gets into the wrong hands??? Oh man, we're so screwed!"

[@clay25420]

@@AlkisenSuper You must not have made it to the end.... Ring got destroyed. Middle Earth is safe. Rest easy young tween, for you are safe!

[@KilgoreTrout-vo7uy]

Imagine Sean Connery wearing that red thong of his as Gandalf. I’d pay to watch that.

[@mimiccave]

​@@Wade_Sabers Thanks for this bit of information, I've never heard this before and I'm a huge fan of both! The Beatles movies are notoriously bad but I still would have wanted to see this. I looked it up and Lennon wanted to be gollum, which would have been awesome to see. McCartney wanted to be Frodo (big surprise), Ringo wanted to be Sam which I think he would have made a great Sam, and Harrison wanted to be Gandalf which also makes sense.

[@aranya1729]

"It's the kind of acting close ups are made for" ~nerdwriter,2019 Thank you for some statements that you say it hits you at all the right places

[@CaglarArtsLtd]

One of the hardest things for an actor to do, is to learn how the underact with their eyes and learn to keep their gaze. 90% of actors are insecure individuals who want to do more to achieve more. True masters are among those remaining 10%, who realize that doing more is only possible through acting less, with fewer mimicry. Mel Gibson is another actor who is a grandmaster with his eyes. Just watch Braveheart and see how he is equally adept at his gaze just like McKellen.

[@DogsRNice]

Another example I think would be Matt smith as the 11th doctor Throughout his run you can see the energy he portray change from childlike wonderment at the start to having a sort of distant almost sad gaze that hints to how truly ancient he is, it’s like you can just see that he’s old Which is incredibly good acting stretched over multiple years

[@JainaSoloB312]

@@DogsRNice Yes! Excellent example Matt Smith absolutely sells the "900 year old omniscient being haunted by the atrocities of his past who just wants to be a healer now" soul in a late 20s human body

[@Churro_Flaminguez]

Part of the reason this was qualified as "film acting" and so much emphasis was put on extreme closeups.

[@Carina5707]

LOTR theatrical release: amazing LOTR extended edition: sink your teeth in and sit back in its glory LOTR extended bonus features: almost better than the movies themselves LOTR cast commentary: 10/10 fun. Must watch more than once. LOTR director/writer commentary. Fascinating. Brilliant. Insightful. There’s nothing I dislike about this franchise except that the Hobbit movies are associated with it 😤

[@genericallyentertaining]

I deny that the Hobbit movies exist.

[@rafaelnahafahik7781]

Dude, I think you’re hallucinating, the Hobbit hasn’t been adapted yet

[@genericallyentertaining]

@@rafaelnahafahik7781 You know, I think you might be right. I just had this really vivid nightmare once where Kili fell in love with some weird elf after making an obscene joke, Legolas turns into Super Mario, the Great Goblin reads a marking on the bottom of a chalice that says "Made in Rivendell," and Lake Town is run by some idiot trying to be like Wormtongue.

[@IMindiffernt]

lotr extended edition is literal perfection on earth. It’s probably the single greatest piece of film in existence

[@Xulpine]

you should check out the hobbit: the bilbo edition

[@MCMC-]

Literally looked at his eyes for the entire duration of the video after reading the title.

[@sivad1025]

Same 😂 Every shot I was staring him down

[@IMNPhotography]

That's the point of the video so yeah

[@MadKingOfMadaya]

*_3:26_**_ You should've had a jumpscare with Sauron's Eye_*

[@caleb1031]

That would have ruined the tone of the video

[@lindsaysmith1574]

Don’t stop doing Lord of the Rings videos. I’ll always be here for them ❤️

[@Debrafeem]

The song is called Evenstar-Howard shore, Isabel Bayrakdarian, for all who were wondering.

[@freshhardin1]

Thank you good sir. Here - have some internet points!

[@frozezone9]

It's been years since I last heard it, the start of the video gut punched me with nostalgia.

[@vikaschoudhary1]

You are a God for this my dude

[@sisipi9578]

You’re my favourite youtuber, Ian McKellen my favourite actor and the Lord of the Rings trilogy my favourite films. My heart almost burst out of my chest when I saw you made this video.

[@SunflowerSpotlight]

I believe he also has a good one about the worldbuilding of LOTR. It’s how I found him. 😅 Man, nerds are my people, and I love them fiercely. 😊

[@III-zy5jf]

You're pretentious

[@user-N20]

I'n so glad I finally found a video explaining something that I found hard to explain to other people. My friends and family get weirded-out when I start talking about things like this and it's hard for me to explain exactly what I mean sometimes, so having someone who perfectly captures it in a video like this is a godsend.

[@sinkingship101]

The moment when he is with Aragorn talking about whether Frodo is alive is amazing! He goes from surprise to admiration to understanding to hope. All without a word.

[@alexpattle96]

When 'What makes him a great actor?' came up on screen, I thought of the scene in Extras when he says: "How do I act so well?"

[@ferallemur]

Seriously, this was an incredibly difficult video to watch, because the instant the question is asked, "What makes him a great actor?", that Extras scene becomes the elephant in the room. Especially if you're going to use his Gandalf as your illustrating example.

[@SteveEricJordan]

The Lord of the Rings movies will always be the best movies ever made. Like Nerdwriter himself i tear up because of so many scenes, not because they are sad but because i FEEL them.

[@MonkeyDAnis]

Called up in work today....sayed im "sick" because i have to re-watch LOTR ...FOR GONDOR!

[@tonyjoseph5197]

Legend

[@jeetshannigrahi5315]

My Man!

[@jeetshannigrahi5315]

My Man!!

[@ErizotDread]

FOR GONDOR!!

[@DeadlyVerge]

FOR FRODO

[@trfreitas1983]

I remember having watched TFOTR in theaters. My reaction when Gandalf 's eyes closes, as Frodo declares he will take the One Ring to Mordor was only tingles. It was something that I could never forget. When I watched this, I was just expecting how would you talk about this scene. And you did it marvelously.

[@elmertjee]

Dude, when the video opened with 'Evenstar' I got goosebumps all over. Best score in the history of cinema, hands down.

[@DeanVowles]

“Sir Ian, Sir Ian, Sir Ian” *action* “Wizard you shall not pass!” *cut* “Sir Ian, Sir Ian, Sir Ian”

[@sharlahoffman4326]

You put it into words!! I’ve always felt that Ian Mckellan’s performance is so striking in those movies. His looks make me cry consistently. The things he does with his eyes are just incredible.

[@RhysticStudies]

beautiful and poignant. I love your work so dearly, Evan.

[@sergiorivasisla]

Your video makes me appreciate LOTR even more!!

[@smackdaddy9802]

*Sir Ian McKellen Sir Ian McKellen Sir Ian McKellen* *Peter Jackson: Action* *"You shall not pass!"* *Sir Ian McKellen*

[@buttsufancypantsu1644]

you have ill flows my dude

[@StoicTheGeek]

He simply imagines what a wizard would do and then...that’s what he does.

[@StoicTheGeek]

AmplifiedSilence the original was a reference to the episode from the show Extras which McKellen was in. Mine was a follow-on reference.

[@IamJohnCarter]

Beautiful stated. Sir Ian McKellen is by far one of my all time favorite actors. And LOTR is his crowning achievement. He is Gandalf.

[@resurrectionist1]

The kind of acting that close-ups were made for....that is one of the most profound and beautiful way to praise performance

[@louislandau]

I’m a second year actor at the drama school Guildhall. I can tell you in an actors training/ process we would never consider, choose or practice a particular facial expression. It is the connection to the text, the emotion you feel which is conveyed THROUGH the eyes. Ian Mckellan is a great actor not for his ‘choice’ of facial expressions but for his incredible ability to connect to stories or texts and allowing that to be seen

[@Anakoluti]

Great point! You don't start with the end point (like sad eyes), they must come as an effect of the emotions you're feeling. But I do think for film you have to also manipulate/adjust your performance in certain ways. For example, in real life your eyes and face would probably move more than McKellen's does in LOTR. In a film that aims at naturalism more movement and stuttering would be good (like in the series 'Girls'), but in a fantasy film a cleaner performance, i.e. fixing your eyes on one spot, not blinking a lot and performing the line without the hesitation we might show in normal life, would be appropriate. In sum, I think the performance must come from true emotion, but the form through which you channel that emotion can be subject to conscious decisions.

[@louislandau]

@@Anakoluti Absolutely, well said.

[@Adelbercht]

Thank you so much for using my favourite part of the soundtrack. Also, in the books, Gandalf is one of the wise, who are described to be able to speak with each other without using words or even moving. I think Sir Ian shows that beautifully by use of his eyes.

[@egoshutter]

What's the name of the track?

[@jenniferchough]

When I watched FotR in the theater - that scene at the Council of Elrond where Gandalf shows all the distress, concern, relief, pride, and heartbreak with just his eyes - made my heart sink and my eyes tear up. I watched this movie a subsequent 21 times in the theater and that long blink and LOOK he has there never impacted me any less nor waned in its ability to just hit me in the gut. In fact, it was more powerful each time after seeing the nuance and subtlety. How he is able to move from powerful immortal to that jovial grandfatherly figure in one swoop (that scene in Fangorn he returns as Gandalf the White and reveals himself to Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas when he is reminded that he used to be called Gandalf the Grey). He actually has a twinkle in his eye. What a master of his craft.

[@bdragonhand]

Left out the bit where he reacts to the trolls bursting through the door in Minas Tirith. That by far is the best :P

[@RitaSantos-bu7xj]

why did this make me cry??? Sir Ian McKellen, you're way too good

[@alex0589]

Why do you weep? What are these tears upon your face? Soon you will see All of your fears will pass away Safe in my arms You're only sleeping What can you see On the horizon? (sorry, i had to google the lyrics for the piece of music that closes the 11hour trilogy)

[@RitaSantos-bu7xj]

@@alex0589 it's a damn great song, and thinking about makes me want cry again, so thanks

[@balfizan]

@nerdwriter1 you talk about how Gandalf closing his eyes makes you emotional in the council of elrond scene. I agree but also don't think enough can be said for how Elijah Woods reaction shot primes you for that moment as well.

[@CFL0]

Omg why am tearing up right now ?! That ending, ugh!

[@Triairius]

When talking about the emotions conveyed through the eyes: "Putting it into words defeats the purpose." I love that. It highlights the power of nonverbal communication Sir Ian wields in his acting. Sometimes a look really can say things that we don't have the facilities to say aloud.

[@Jejkobbb]

I agree, the way Ian McKellen portrays Dumbledoor is amazing. Also Daniel Radcliffe was really good as Frodo.

[@louchene1]

I don't know if you are joking but frodo is played by elijah wood

[@ecMonify]

@@louchene1 yeah, everyone knows elijah wood plays frodo and harry potter. great actor!

[@alexsupertramp4907]

@@louchene1 ...

[@JainaSoloB312]

"It's the kind of acting that close-ups were made for." All the more impressive then, that Sir Ian's background was primarily stage acting, where you generally use rather the opposite style of acting. Big expressive movements, exaggerated facial expressions, grandiose line delivery. All of this with the idea that people seated in the very back row need to understand the emotions that characters are experiencing. Sir Ian deftly scaled down his acting when he got into film, and by the time of LotR he was an absolute virtuoso in the closest and most subtle forms of acting. A true master💜

[@daniel-zh9nj6yn6y]

Is NordVPN able to hide my Internet activity from Gandalf's eyes ?

[@Kanieos]

Aragron: Legolas! What do your elf eyes see? Legoas: Someones internet traffic, he should really hide his browser history

[@kresimircosic9035]

I aboslutely LOVE your LotR videos. It is astounding watching you describe the details I already knew of, but I could never put into words. The movies and books are absolute masterpieces.

[@felixgouty]

😍 (But still a tiny little disappointed you didn't include McKellen's work as Magneto in your piece. Great "eye acting" there too)

[@OhhCrumbsGaming]

McKellen is a master actor because he doesn't act, he lives. You hear all the time of actors "becoming their role" or "becoming immersed in a role", but it's genuinely what needs to be done in order to be as good as McKellen.

[@marcosladarense]

So many of the greates actors would disagree. Living instead of pretending to be is something from modern times. John cassavetes, e.g., one of the greatest directors and actors, was a actimg teacher and dispised the method so badly, he was a fan of improvisation and character play rather than character immersion.

[@raceblakhart4941]

Just these clips brought tears to my eyes. He truly is powerful.

[@scornbass1552]

How an angel incarnate should be, hm?

[@shaggycan]

3:15 Ian explained that to act this scene he imagined a son telling his father that he volunteered to go to war for his country.

[@bibhusanshrestha3234]

IMO, another actor that does a brilliant job of acting with his eyes: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau

[@chandlerd.7512]

It's a shame they shit all over Jamie's character arc. He did an amazing job and brought a lot of depth to the character

[@chandlerd.7512]

That's why I said he brought a lot of depth to the character

[@kidgemini3519]

Ryan Gosling also acts with his eyes well. Drive, Place Beyond the Pines, Blade Runner 2049, Idles of March

[@jonathanosterlund4108]

Nerdwriter with a new video? About Sir Ian McKellen? This day just cannot get better dear lord

[@argella1300]

3:54 Which makes even more sense when you know that Gandalf isn't actually human/a Man at all, but was actually one of the Maia, a type of primordial spirit (basically an angel) that exist in Middle Earth and are often in service to the other Valar, the gods of Middle Earth.

[@harrymcmullen2227]

There’s some brilliant footage of Sir Ian analysing Shakespeare on KZbin, specifically Macbeth. “Analysing” is the most accurate term, but it suggests a dryness and a lack of humanity that is misleading. He walks the audience through a speech, line by line, word by word, to open up exactly what it means and create a journey through the imagination...a voyage of images the actor gets to go on in their mind as they speak. He knows that if the actor sees it, the audience will see it. I have no idea what Sir Ian is seeing when he is Gandalf, but I know what he makes me see for myself, and that is an actor’s job. Beautiful video.

[@-Raylight]

To this day I'm still waiting a movie that could be as amazing as LoTR trilogy :(

[@koutroubasathanasios7322]

You should read the books if you havent,the trilogy was great but the books are such an unforgetable journey,i swing back n forth from re-watching movies to re-reading the books just because i cant find anything remotely close to the perfection that is LOTR in both movies and books.

[@thatissomebadhatharry4801]

@@koutroubasathanasios7322 i kinda feel that the movies is alot better than books. And i am more of a book geek and always found books to be a better material as far as quality goes. But Lotr movies changed that for me

[@tsopmocful1958]

Another copy of the LoTR trilogy.

[@lordhelmchen3154]

LotR is up to this day the only movie that regulary brings tears to my eyes, even after watching it so often... either tears of sadness and despair or tears of (melancholic) joy, depending on the scene currently playing.

[@Wexexx]

@@thatissomebadhatharry4801 9 Months old comment, but I just have to say I definitely agree. The lotr-books are for me not equally good as their movie counterparts. Maybe it's because I know many great books but few very good movies I guess.

[@cayess]

Clicked on this because I love Ian McKellen’s eyes, they are so kind

[@RaffyART1995]

The last close up scene before the video ends, his smiles and eyes in that scene made me wanna cry.

[@SquirrelASMR]

When hes looking into space, I'm just imagining him trying not to forget his lines

[@dvstokyo]

What a great example of an actor who cares about the main source reading the books through the filming time. Not like other actors that don't care and don't know anything about a franchise before applying for a role in a film.

[@dvstokyo]

Alice Williams that sounds a lot like robert personality XD maybe he made a great work there...

[@pseudonymousbeing987]

@@dvstokyo Reminds me of a story about the Harry Potter trio, it goes that when Alfonso Cuarón signed on to direct “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” he had an unusual assignment for his young stars. He charged each one with writing an essay on their character: Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger. As the story goes, Watson, in true Hermione fashion, turned in 16 pages. Radcliffe turned in a solid one-page composition. And Grint, well, he didn’t do one

[@dvstokyo]

Pseudonymous Being hahaha true true

[@Johnnythefirst]

@Alice Williams You mean the actor for Stannis Baratheon. He did the part for money and duty, and didn't care for the story. Which ironically brings him pretty close to how Stannis should be. I think he was one of the best cast actors in the series.

[@bacul165]

Don't geht me wrong, I love Sir Ian and his work - in fact I went to his show a few weeks ago and it really did not sound like he was so much into the books. Sure, he is very professional and knows his stuff, but he was openly mocking people who read LotR every year...

[@sailorgeer]

A consummate actor who delivered outstanding performances on LOTR, and yet many people might not know just how this is accomplished without a video such as yours. A very insightful look at an iconic performance, thank you! I’ll watch LOTR next time with new “eyes” for such detail.

[@Silvexsun]

The whole series still brings me to tears. Thank you for this wonderful episode.

[@BibbusTV]

These videos always captivate and re-inspire me every time. You have been one of my favorite channels for a while so Thank You for the work you put in.

[@WilfredZweverink]

Thank you for honoring the man for being one of the best actors out there...

[@ShaudaySmith]

No doubt Ian McKellan is a tremendous actor. I do not want to diminish his ability and range, but i can't help but feel Nerdwriter is not giving the production team equal credit in capturing these emotions and presenting information. The director and cinematographer are the other two points in this golden triangle. Include the screenwriters to make it a golden square.

[@bewtifulfreak]

Certianly the whole team is involved, the screenwriters being notable in allowing space for that expression to happen, and of course, the director and cinematographer for so effectively capturing that emotion. That said, this video is clearly intended as a testament to Ian McKellan's acting, and one particularly facet of it, in particular; Nerdwriter has many other videos highlighting and praising numerous other aspects of filmmaking, which clearly express his appreciation for all those involved in the filmmaking process.

[@Joris-th5zc]

So like a golden octadecagon, got it

[@Bruceybaby2009]

That wasn’t the theme of this video though. And you can watch Nerdwriter’s other videos where he breaks down exactly the things you just mentioned, e.g. musical motifs in film, screenwriting, camera work, lighting, etc. He even uses LOTR as examples in some of those videos. Check out his video on how Howard Shore uses musical motifs for his LOTR score to elevate the entire film. The video is amazing.

[@spoonikle]

Having brilliant actors is one thing, allowing them to perform there craft is another, capturing it is an even greater challenge - and keeping it all at the cutting room floor is an ordeal.

[@johntate6537]

Good point, although I don't think Nerdwriter1 was trying to suggest otherwise. I think anyone who has seen these films knows that just about no element was left up to chance and performances from all kinds of artists were brought together and allowed to flourish into one of the most significant events in cinema history. But Ian McKellen does bring something extraordinary to the production, and it is worth celebrating. Ian McKellen has been an innovative and cutting-edge actor and director throughout his career, and recognising his craft I think should help to encourage more people to follow in his footsteps. A love of craft and a desire to understand not just theatre and cinema but broader society and to try to communicate that to an audience is something tremendously valuable, and also something that is often overlooked and undervalued in a culture too caught up in celebrity for its own sake. A voice that tries to get people to look at the world more deeply is something that typically has to be fought for against a call for things that are much more mundane and more easily bought - in every sense of the word 'bought'. If this video can encourage more of that, I'd say that was a great thing. But yes, absolutely we should be celebrating a great deal more than just Ian McKellen's acting ability. For one thing, Howard Shore's extraordinary score that has brought me to tears so many times!

[@nexsusarchon5358]

"The eyes are the windows to the soul." He acts his eyes, and in a sense, acts with his soul, somehow truly giving the illusion he is a part of the world and character he is acting. Mad respect to the man.

[@nickkoinismusic5643]

The jazzy organ playing at the end of the video made me smile and sorta zapped me out of the moment I was having. Great job again Nerdwriter1, I can't wait for your next piece!