LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS Movie Reaction

[@jenmurrayxo]

Subscribe if you like watching stuff with me!! www.youtube.com/@jenmurrayxo?sub_confirmation=1 RETURN OF THE KING is on Patreon now! www.patreon.com/posts/lord-of-rings-of-116544997

[@jbwade5676]

I miss Colette Cherry 🍒 Comments 😢

[@e.d.2096]

King Kong! Another Peter Jackson Great! 😊

[@derrickbias3406]

Jen you asked what books came first? The Hobbit. The author fought in WWI and felt like a hobbit in the trenches.

[@jakubkvacala1880]

Pls try Lord of War (2005) really great movie

[@daerdevvyl4314]

Jen I don't know that there is actually a colour hierarchy of wizards. Because the head of the wizards is Saruman the White, and then is replaced by Gandalf the White, that does imply that white is the most powerful colour. But other than that the power of colours is never mentioned. Besides Saruman the White, and Gandalf the Grey (and later White), three other wizards are mentioned by Tolkien. One brown and two blue. If you continue with this world, you will meet one of these three. The other two will remain nameless.

[@anonymous15432]

Jen really is the best reactor out there. Such genuine honest reactions, nothing fake or over exaggerated, smart and cute as a button.

[@Pixelologist]

23:30 - "Oh, they just look like a rock. That was lucky." - Nope...not luck. Magical Elven cloaks!

[@spacecadet35]

I have used this rock trick in LARP before. A party of about six monsters walked past me within touching distance. It did help that it was night, but I was using a grey woolen cloak, not an eleven cloak.

[@Travel__Spin]

If she would have watched the extended edition she would know that.

[@christopherwall2121]

​@@Travel__Spin This IS the extended version

[@AL13NM]

"Smote His Ruin Upon The Mountain Side!" is one of the ALL TIME GREAT Movie quotes ever!

[@christopherlundgren1700]

I really like "I did not pass through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm." Wish I had it on a T-shirt.

[@infiad1275]

@@christopherlundgren1700 I always thought that would make a perfect political slogan against the opposition!

[@Merecir]

"They are taking the Hobbits to Isengard!" beats it. 😂

[@coffeemachtspass]

That same line leapt out at me when I first read the books at about age twelve. I still look forward to hearing it whenever I watch the movie.

[@fergalstackstreams]

Hot Take: Tolkien was a better poet than Shakespeare.

[@rcrawford42]

One reason Elrond is so against Arwen staying behind is Elrond's brother chose mortality, so he's been through that loss.

[@user-lv5bt3nt3r]

In the books elrond has no issue with arwen’s decision, which is a fait accompli by the time the story starts.

[@llanitedave]

​​@@user-lv5bt3nt3rNot quite. Elrond will not allow Arwen to marry Aragorn unless Sauron is defeated AND Aragorn made king of a re-united Gondor and Arnor. In other words, he must also restore the long-ruined northern kingdom. He needs the agreement of the people of Gondor as well as the princes of the provinces for that to happen. Fortunately his victory is so complete that when the time comes there is no remaining dispute.

[@anulire]

Vigo (Aragorn) fell in love with Brego so much he bought the horse after the movies

[@gawkthimm6030]

Viggo also bought the (expensive) white horse stallion for Arwens stunt woman double who rode in the first movie, because she couldnt afford him herself.

[@NecramoniumVideo]

He loves horses, he also bought one of the horses he used in the 2004 movie Hildalgo.

[@EBlank3807]

Not to mention all the camping and fishing he did in costume with Brego during production. What a wholesome dude

[@magicbrownie1357]

Howard Shore's score to the trilogy is truly amazing. It's almost as if you could tell the story by the music alone. Masterful.

[@NecramoniumVideo]

Its still BS that the movie's score was not even nominated for a Oscar, seeing it was a sequel and not seen as "original music". Strangely, Return Of The King's score was nominated and did win.

[@CollideFan1]

The score is perfection, listen to it when you read the books

[@RaoulKunz1]

Shore's score is the best thematically structured complex composition this side of.... er... "The Ring" of all things - Wagner's in this case - Heck! You could adapt The Ring with LotR costumes and settings and it would look awesome and apropriate - both draw on a mythologized but still vaguely (or strongly) familiar migration-era to early medieval, post roman setting... Best regards Raoul G. Kunz

[@user-mg5mv2tn8q]

He'll always be remembered for his work in these movies. And yet, I'm old enough that whenever I hear the name Howard Shore, I always think "and his All-Nurse Band."

[@ThaBeatConductor]

​@@RaoulKunz1Do you comment on The Expanse reactions too?

[@shinrapresident7010]

Fun fact: Peter Jackson actually used a real Balrog to film that scene. He was told it was impossible. He was called crazy, a madman, that it violated the laws of the universe. But he didn't care. 37 cameramen lost their lives in that fiery crevasse and it was all worth it. Peter Jackson is truly inspirational!

[@gaulstonedog4633]

😂😂😂

[@viggowiin]

It was also quite the hassle to capture and tame the Mumakil, Trolls and Wargs. Plus the orc actors union was very demanding considering the stunts they had to do.

[@VonBlade]

Thank you. Anything is better than that bloody Aragorn helmet story again :)

[@Philbert-s2c]

Nonsensical post..but made of win nonetheless.

[@Philbert-s2c]

@@VonBlade Oh god, I am so over that fucking story. An actor broke his toe. Ooooooooh. Do we want to talk about Vic Morrow and those little Vietnamese kids?

[@alberttaylor2754]

Hi Jen, I discovered The Lord of The Rings in the late 1970's in high school, I am 64 now, and have read them almost every year since then. I have a group of friends who still play Dungeons and Dragons to this day. My oldest daughter calls us geriatric nerds😅. TLOTR is such an epic and good story that it formed lifelong friendships amongst us. Yes some of us have moved away and one of us has passed away but we still love each other and still gather once a week online to talk shit and play Dungeons and Dragons. Peter Jackson did an outstanding job with these films although there were some events and characters that were left out for various reasons. Let me say that you are the PERFECT Fantasy/Star Trek chick. Keep up the good work.🥰😘

[@smeglor1]

9:37 "I feel like Legolas just floats along". You're right. Remember how he walked on top of the snow when they tried to go through the mountains in Fellowship. Elves leave no trace of their passage; they do not disturb the ground, plants, snow, etc. Someone here with deeper understanding of the lore might be able to explain why.

[@JamailvanWestering]

Or how he is able to outrun a collapsing bridge while in the middle of the pathway

[@StarkRG]

They're full of helium. Probably related to Hynerians. Their voices would be deeper than the Ents' without it. (imagine Legolas with Michael Clarke Duncan's voice)

[@Cheepchipsable]

Because the author wanted it that way...?

[@myopicautisticmetal9035]

One of my favorite things about the lord of the rings is the story arch we get with Gimli and Legolas, they start off hating each other and by Helms Deep they're pals!

[@e.d.2096]

" THE LORE! " Please don't ever change, Jen. 😊

[@outsidefactor]

@@e.d.2096 Well said!

[@Pfhreak]

"How does he know this? Does he have powers?" Not for nothing that Aragorn is one of the inspirations for the ranger class in D&D.

[@bluebird3281]

rolling survival checks at advantage

[@Tom-Mac1975]

That's why Aragorn can duel wield.

[@simongiles9749]

​@@Tom-Mac1975That's a 3rd Ed thing that comes about because in 1st Ed, Drow Elves could dual wield. Then comes drow ranger Drizz't with two scimitars. Cooke and Reynolds took the "ranger" part of that for the dual wielding, not the drow when they wrote the 3rd Ed rules.

[@Tom-Mac1975]

@@simongiles9749 I have plasyed dual wielding rangers in both 1st and 2nd edition. I've never played 3rd edition nor own any books from it. I would not have know about it if dual wield for rangers started in 3rd edition. I'm pretty sure Slavatore had Drizzt dual wield because he knew of the option in the rules when he wrote his books, though I've never asked him.

[@sarahstardust]

If you look at the ground closely, you can see some hobbit footprints in a couple of shots. They're the only ones running around barefoot so they stand out. I love that little detail.

[@line_noise]

Hi Jen! Great reaction as always. I actually worked on this movie! Peter Jackson had some crazy ideas for the Gandalf-Balrog battle including having a ton of Watchers (the tentacled beast outside the Mines of Moria) in the water at the bottom of the chasm. And something about "Slime Balrogs" which, thankfully, never got off the pages of the script! It was such a privilege working on such landmark movies. A once in a lifetime experience.

[@wren7195]

If I recall the slime Balrog was in the book, but somewhat in passing, sort of like "shadows like wings" made Peter be like "eh well whatever we'll say he's got wings eyh." I THINK. Jealous you got to work on the project, it's a masterpiece.

[@jorgedeanoperez2997]

As I say to everyone I come across that worked in any capacity in these movies, thank you for giving me this gift growing up. I adore you and everyone else who made my life amazing ❤

[@Anaaksounamoun]

yeah i worked too !

[@jorgedeanoperez2997]

@@Anaaksounamoun thank you as well, then ❤️

[@paulp9274]

​@wren7195 the 'slime balrog' is the balrog Gandalf fights, after its flame is extinguished by falling into the underground lake.

[@domingocurbelomorales8635]

Gandalf it´s one of the five Istari... sent to the middle earth by the Valar. With Saruman, it´s also Gandalf, Radagast and the two blue wizards. Saruman was the white because he was chosen as the leader of all them. When he turned to darkness... Ilúvatar chose a new leader.... returning Gandalf from the limbo as Gandalf the White.

[@Witherdrake]

Not Limbo. Gandalf or Olorin as was his proper name was sent to the Timeless Halls, Eru's palace and granted new power by Eru himself. Only Eru could "bring back" Gandalf to a mortal body and gave him his new task as "The Grey" Gandalf's purpose was more back lines to keep the free peoples from loosing hope. As The White he could more directly aid the free peoples as a strategist and war counselor. He also had Narya Ring of Fire which Cirdan the shipwright who owned it originally gave to Gandalf saying "Take this Ring Master, for it is the Ring of Fire, and with it you may rekindle hearts in a world that grows chill."

[@TennSeven]

J. R. R. Tolkien was a linguist and philologist; he loved studying and creating languages and so, in answer to your question, "how did they write this Elvish language in the book?" Tolkien invented Elven language (along with many others) and even various dialects to be spoken by different geographical and temporal tribes, created writing systems for them, put them in the books like that (so they were unreadable to anyone who wasn't him), and then provided English translations where appropriate.

[@gawkthimm6030]

to expanded; he wrote the langauges and made up the different elvish cultures to give the languages deeper meanings, then invented his own mythology.. all before writing any books about it.

[@davida7153]

When you read in deep how Tolkien created Quenya, Sindarin and other languages to that level, the difficulty and complexity to do such a thing...i have no words to describe it.

[@czarfore]

Of course, Tolkien was a little crazy, but in a good way.

[@MrGBH]

The books are supposedly translations of how Frodo wrote everything down. Even the names have been translated from Hobbit tongue

[@gunkulator1]

@@MrGBH This point is important in that the entirety of LOTR is told from the perspective of Hobbits. Being simple creatures, they don't really understand how Sauron, Gandalf and the Elves are doing things beyond their comprehension and so they just call all of it magic. Galadriel chastises them for this in book and it makes the Hobbits unreliable narrators sometimes. There's a theory that there's actually no magic of any kind in LOTR. Everything that seems magical to the Hobbits is really just technology or innate ability.

[@Temeraire101]

“Is this a real place?” Yep, it’s called New Zealand.

[@michaelnolan6951]

Specifically, most of Rohan was filmed in South Canterbury province in the South Island. Edoras was built at Mount Sunday on private land. The NZ army had to build roads into the location for filming then carefully remove them under Department Of Conservation supervision to ensure that the land was left as it had been found. As a transplanted Mainlander myself, the scenery in this movie makes me equal parts homesick and proud.

[@jodonnell64]

More specifically, the valley that was filmed in is a real place in NZ, including the large hill that Edoras is built on. Peter Jackson was thrilled about it when his location scouts found the place, since it matched perfectly the description in the book. It's an NZ park area, so when they built the palace (only the exterior, the inside was used for offices and equipment storage) they had to tear it down after filming and return the area to the same condition it was in before the filming and construction. The wind shown in the film was also real, and somewhere out in that valley is a pair of Jackson's sunglasses that got blown off his face. Also, the wind tearing the banner off and dropping it near Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli was unplanned, but kept for the film.

[@woeshaling6421]

@@jodonnell64 yeah the geography made the valley a windtrap. I can't imagine the nightmare of trying to set up shots with those conditions

[@arno_nuehm_1]

Middle Zealand

[@NZBigfoot]

Its funny people going weird over my countries landscape when for those of us living here its just... the 'backyard'. While we look at others countries landscapes and go the same way lol.

[@makani9004]

"Horses are magical" is one of the most endearingly innocent things a person can utter.

[@davidmarino1913]

Horses are a race of beings in Middle Earth, just as elves, dwarves and men. That's why Gandalf calls Shadowfax the Lord of all Horses: Shadowfax is a Horse Lord.

[@lethaldose2000]

Hey Jen, The depiction of the Ents in the movie is one of the most flawless execution of visual effects ever done. -------- The cominabtion of creature design, animatronics, and visual tracking overlays makes their depicition to be one of the highlights of the movie.

[@StarkRG]

It also gave John Rhys Davies something to do that didn't require all the rash-producing prosthetic make-up.

[@simongiles9749]

Although Billy Boyd and Dom Monaghan's descriptions of their experience in the animatronic rig is hilarious, being thrown around while perched on backwards bicycle saddles. "I don't think whoever designed it had any concept of testicles. And after a day filming neither did we."

[@lethaldose2000]

@StarkRG Getting that Gimly beard in place requires a hell of a lot of glue, which causes the same prosthetic rash. Ahhhhh the pains of being a world class actor.

[@lethaldose2000]

@@simongiles9749 Iremember reading that. They even slept in the fake tree during their lunch breaks so they didn't have to climb in and out.

[@william_santiago]

1:00:02 This is Saruman. His crebain birds were scouting the fortress for days leading up to the battle. He would have known about it without Grima. Some might even suggest that he already knew about it, having been an ally to Rohan since the time the first stone was laid in the Hornburg. He may have simply been testing Grima to see his loyalty.

[@dwilborn1257]

It has been said that the Dead Marshes were based on Tolkien's experiences in WWI, where bodies where left out in no man's land and then covered by rain. He survived the war only because he became very sick and was hospitalized. While he was recovering, his whole unit perished in a battle.

[@eddysegafan6655]

That's so interesting I had no idea... Man that's kind of haunting wondering how much culture LoTr has on us, and would've been lost to us if he passed away earlier.

[@christopherconard2831]

Another reference to the era was the conversation of the Ents. The real world equivalent was the League of Nations. They debated endlessly before, during, and after the war taking far too long to come to a decision about anything. It wasn't until a situation was forced upon them by actions of others that they decided anything.

[@Robertz1986]

​@eddysegafan6655 Sometimes people ask "How little would history have to change for this person to not have written/invented/etc" but I instead find myself wondering how many Tolkiens, Washingtons, Einsteins, and who knows what did die and what the world might have been like otherwise.

[@user-lv5bt3nt3r]

@@eddysegafan6655tolkien only served on the western front for a few months. He contracted trench fever just before the somme offensive of 1916. Trench fever was the no 1 cause of casualties on the western front and could cause serious long term effects (it was spread by bacteria in lice). My great grandfather was invalided with trench fever in 1917 but by then my great grandfather had been on the front for 3 years. Tolkien had 3 best friends from school and was an orphan (is this seeming familiar?) one of them was killed just before tolkien was invalided, one just after (the other one - christopher - was in the navy and survived the war). And tolkien’s regiment was annihilated on the Somme. That all adds up to a huge burden of survivor’s guilt and a sense of failure - which we know tolkien suffered from. Tolkien was posted to a training base in england and his wife went with him. They would walk in a local forest and one day, to cheer him up, she danced for him in a beam of light in a forest glade - which inspired him to write the story of luthien and beren. When his wife died he had ‘luthien’ engraved beneath her name. His family added ‘beren’ below his name on the same gravestone. Oh, and Tolkken’s batman - officer’s servant - during his active service was named Sam Hodges.

[@simongiles9749]

​@@eddysegafan6655How many people have died in wars that might have produced a great work of art or made a great discovery? Tragically we will never know.

[@GlebNerzhin]

“They don’t know he leveled up” 🤣🤣🤣

[@PeterParker-fx9dl]

I like the "subscribe" whisper. A nice touch to be different from other channels.

[@dennisswainston411]

Farimir is played by David Wenham, who also plays "Delios" the warrior/narrator of "300" and the friar-friend of Hugh Jackman in "Van Helsing".

[@skraf883]

Loved him in all 3 movies, but he was hilarious in Van Helsing as the bumbling inventive friar.

[@silent_mike33]

He also plays the protagonist in the little known Australian film "The Bank" (2001) which is brilliant 👍

[@MelaniePoparad]

That man could read the phone book to me and I would melt at his feet

[@user-mg5mv2tn8q]

He was in the Netflix Iron Fist series, though no one can blame anyone for not knowing that.

[@johncradden8182]

He was also the narrator for the somewhat short lived Spike T.V series 'Deadliest Warrior'.

[@HauntedHeme13]

When they're standing at the wall and the rain slowly starts... GOOSEBUMPS every time

[@biffyqueen]

For me it’s the march of the ents

[@MrQabalist]

The Hobbit was written before LotR. It was about Frodo's uncle Bilbo and his adventures with the Dwarves to get their home back. The Ring first makes an appearance there as a magical ring that makes Bilbo invisible. Bilbo makes use of the Ring to help his companions in various scenarios. There is a hierarchy of the Wizards. Saruman (the White, in his fall he coins himself Saruman of many colors) is the strongest and their leader, followed by Gandalf (the Grey), Radaghast (the Brown), and then the two Blue Wizards who were last seen in the East. Gandalf becomes the strongest Wizard when Eru (or God) revives him after Durin's Bane killed him. Sauron is the only being in Middle-earth stronger than Gandalf at this point. The Wizards are not human, but they appear as human.

[@user-mg5mv2tn8q]

When he returns to Middle-Earth, Gandalf basically has Gandalf's power plus Saruman's power.

[@user-lv5bt3nt3r]

Thats not correct. There are many creatures in middle earth more powerful or as powerful as gandalf. Tom bombadil is one example. He is arguably the most powerful entity in middle earth. Glorfindel is another. By implication, galadriel also has massive powers. The balrog in moria is the last of the balrogs and all of them were mai’er, just like gandalf (and sauron). The moria balrog, who goes unnamed other than ‘Durin’s Bane’, was one of morgoth’s Dukes (all the balrogs are titled as dukes) and, as such, were on par with Sauron at that time. Theres never any indication that gandalf is as powerful as sauron.

[@MrQabalist]

@@user-lv5bt3nt3r I did not claim that Gandalf was as mighty as Sauron. I said that in Middle-earth Sauron alone was Gandalf's superior following his resurrection and enhancement by Eru. Gandalf the White informs Gimli that he is "more dangerous than anything you will ever meet, unless you are brought alive before the seat of the Dark Lord." Prior to that, as Gandalf the Grey, he admitted to Frodo that "there are many powers in the world, for good or for evil. Some are greater than I am. Against some I have not yet been measured." Glorfindel is not stronger than Gandalf, a Maia, nor was any Elf (including the three mightiest, Galadriel, her uncle Feanor, and her cousin Luthien). Even when he was enhanced Glorfindel was still inferior in might to the Maiar. Tolkien notes that Glorfindel had been "in the companionship of the Maiar" after he was allowed to incarnate again and that he had "become almost an equal" to them because his self-sacrifice (against a Balrog) greatly enhanced his spiritual power. On the one hand "On foot Glorfindel and Aragorn together could not withstand all the Nine at once" (Many Meetings) and on the other "The Dark Lord has Nine: But we have One, mightier than they: the White Rider" (The White Rider).

[@user-lv5bt3nt3r]

@ tom bombadil. And a number of others. Your original point was incorrect, which youve basicall conceded - without actually conceding it.

[@nirfz]

I probably need to look it up again, but as far as i remember there's not really a hirarchy among the wizards. They originate from the following of different Valar. And thus have their different specialties and different powers. And with Gandalf being sent back, he gets sent back "from the top of the line" and so he gest "all the powers a wizard can have" which makes his white a little different than Sarumans white. Gandalfs is an "all colours lights mixed = white" white. Whilte Sarumans is just white. Saruman is said to be the oldest of them, and so had more time to gain knowledge. Hence him being chosen as the "head of their order". But he was of Aule's following originally. While Gandalf was of Manwe and Varda. So in essence, Gandalf was of the direct following of "the king of Arda" wisest of the Valar.

[@kevinschultz5678]

Jen, seeing your joy for the wonderful music (trumpets > clarinet BTW) brings a smile to my face. Not many things do nowadays. Thank you.

[@viggowiin]

I love how you recognized the elvish rope. Many other reactors joke about Sam tying a bad knot or say they were lucky not to die because of the bad knot. But in reality of course Sam tied a good knot. It was the property of the elvish rope making the rope come free when it needed to. 23:21 I have always loved the armor of the Easterlings. Generally the armory in these movies was high quality. 31:00 Gandalf is an immortal spirit and has existed since the beginning. His human form is only about 2000 years old. 37:35 Just throw the ring in to Eowyn's stew. That would surely kill Sauron. 42:14 Be at peace son of Morgoth. May meat always be on the menu for you in orc heaven.

[@phookadude]

Gandalf is much older in a way, the ishtari were sent into the world in the 1st age to try and shepherd the elves back to Valinor but Morgoth sowed distrust and Sauruman proved to be less that a perfect diplomat. When they were sent back they had no memory and had to live as part of the world. That's probably the reason Ciridan gave Gandalf the ring of fire when he got off the boat because he remembered them from their first mission while they did not. Also Gandalf the white was probably changed by revealing to him his true nature after he avoided corruption and died nobly.

[@MatthewJamesKalasky]

Isn't the scene with the Easterlings an reference to that scene from Wizard of Oz? Immortal, but only age-wise. Unless I'm mistaken, he can still be killed. Poor Eowyn just got OWNED. Would the orcs here even be going to a heaven?

[@DavidEllis94]

​@@phookadudeOlorin was sent to help guide the Eldar from Cuivienen, yes, but not in this bodied form. OP is right that Gandalf has only been a thing in Middle-Earth for around 2,000 years

[@viggowiin]

@@phookadude Yeah agree. His human/wizard form is 2000 years old. Olorin is 55000 years old or infinite depending on how you calculate time in the spiritual realm.

[@viggowiin]

@@MatthewJamesKalasky I heard that about the Easterlings but I'm not sure. He can technically still be killed. Gandalf the White though was close to unkillable. Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas couldn't harm them. Sauron did pose a great threat to Gandalf the White and the Nazgul of course. Killing a Balrog usually means dying yourself like with Glorfindel and Ecthelion. I mean everything about Eowyn is great except her cooking. But I mean travelling food back then probably was just nasty. Good question. Men did go somewhere beyond the circles of the world. Not even the elves knew where. Maybe the same for orcs. I heard somewhere that one of Tolkiens regrets was he didn't make orcs more nuanced. There is some nuance to them in the books though.

[@IamMeHere2See]

53:14 Lore fact: Morgoth, the original Dark Lord who commanded the Balrogs, made Trolls in an attempt to match the strength of Ents. They are peaceable, but strong.

[@lethaldose2000]

Hey Jen, the monologue of Sam is a monologue of life. " Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going because they were holding on to something...That there's some good in the world, Mr. Frodo, and it's worth fighting for." ------- Tolken fought is WWI and they thought the end of the world was at hand. ----------- How could we continue to fight we all seems dark in the world, it's not for us to decide we have to fight to the end to save all that is good and precious in this world.

[@mikewhite6138]

Aragorn is a Dunedain Ranger of the North and Isildur's heir and was raised by elves. His Numenorean blood grants him long life and heightened senses. He is the gigachad.

[@rbrtck]

In his true form, as the Maia (angelic being) Olórin, Gandalf is about 55,000 years old. As Gandalf the "wizard" (Istari) in Middle-earth, who has a body that looks like (but isn't) the body of a Man, he is about 2000 years old. But remember that he had just spent what felt like eons in the Timeless Halls, so he could be said to be much older in some ways. At least he remembered the name Gandalf after he was reminded of it. By the way, Gandalf went by a number of different names in Middle-earth. Men originally called him Gandalf, while Elves originally called him Mithrandir (remember that name for later), but what people called him depended on the individual, and sometimes it was reversed.

[@bluebird3281]

The Grey Pilgram

[@AMortalDefiant]

1:02:40 - the "secret side door" is known as a "sally port", which is where additional troops could be sent out to harass attackers, and delay their advance. This is where the expression "sally forth!" comes from, though it is used mostly in a joking manner these days. The word "sally" comes from the Latin word "salire" (to jump). The word "port" comes form the Latin word for door, "portus". In this case, Aragorn, et. al, have to *LITERALLY* jump from the area around the door to reach the attackers. Knowing Tolkien's mastery of language, I have to assume that was a play on words. Modern prisons still use the term sally port to refer to gated areas between parts of a prison, such as heading into a medical facility for prisoners or guards.

[@jopay142]

But Arwen went forth from the House, and the light of her eyes was quenched, and it seemed to her people that she had become cold and grey as nightfall in winter that comes without a star. Then she said farewell to Eldarion, and to her daughters, and to all whom she loved; and she went out of the city of Minas Tirith and passed away to the land of Lorien, and dwelt there alone under the fading trees until winter came. Galadriel had passed away and Celeborn also was gone, and the land was silent. There at last when the mallorn-leaves were falling, but spring had not yet come, she laid herself to rest upon Cerin Amroth; and there is her green grave, until the world is changed, and all the days of her life are utterly forgotten by men that come after, and elanor and niphredil bloom no more east of the Sea. - Appendix A, tLotR

[@cp368productions2]

Wrong movie to put this on!

[@user-lv5bt3nt3r]

Delete your comment. Massive spoiler.

[@captainchaos3667]

Don't worry, she's already watched Return of the King.

[@rbrtck]

Most everyone disapproves of Aragorn sparing Grima's life, but remember what Gandalf told Frodo when he said he wished that Bilbo had killed Sméagol. These characters may yet have a part to play in this story, and sometimes even something bad could eventually lead to something good. 🤷‍♂

[@michaelhoward142]

Yes, but it wasn't Aragorn's place to stop King Theoden from punishing Grima in whatever way he wanted.

[@rbrtck]

@@michaelhoward142 Well, Théoden didn't have to listen to Aragorn, but he did.

[@MLJ7956]

9:25 - that guy is the puppet master.... Pretty close Jen. That's actor Brad Dourif who was Charles Lee Ray who became Chucky, the killer doll, in the Child's Play/Chucky movies & TV show, lol 😆.

[@danielp1080]

It gets me every time when Treebeard says, "It is likely we go to our doom. Last march of the Ents", followed by that amazing score.

[@rbrtck]

"Gollum" is not really separate from Sméagol, and in any case it was Sméagol who succumbed to the One Ring's power and committed murder, as "Gollum" reminded him. That was before "Gollum" was invented, probably in part to assuage his guilt. Sméagol will do anything to reclaim the One Ring--anything to anyone.

[@kevinL5425]

I like how when “The White Wizard” appears they had both the voice of Saruman and the voice of Gandalf speaking together. Then they faded from Saruman to Gandalf’s voice as he is revealed. Kept us guessing to the last second.

[@hrotha]

It's like, was that a representation of how Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas subjectively experienced their encounter with someone they thought was Saruman, or was that just Gandalf fucking with them? The latter option is funnier so it's my headcanon

[@eskreskao]

42:42 What you described is a dictionary definition of a bottleneck, and it's perfect for defense - a very small opening makes it so a large invading force has to slow down considerably so it can get through, and meanwhile the defending have less to guard, and can pick the enemy off at their leisure. It's also why that final bridge in Moria was so narrow and not OSHA-compliant.

[@bluebird3281]

Handrails are for Elves and beardless women!

[@seantlewis376]

Samwise Gamgee is the bravest Hobbit of them all. He spent his life looking after his friend, and never backed down.

[@MortenM80]

Sam is the true hero, end of story!

[@nirfz]

Neither did the other 3 Hobbits back down from danger to help their friends. Merr and Pippin risekd their lives and drew the attention of the Uruk-Hai onto them so Frodo could leave to Mordor. And one of the most overlooked is Fredegar Bolger. In the books, when the Hobbits leave the shire, he is the one keeping the show on so that it looks like they are still there, basically waiting for the Nazgul. Imagine that is your job... (Stay there and make it look like we are here when the unkillable mighty Nazgul come to kill us.

[@OldRod99]

"He leveled up" Gandalf shouts, "DING!!" LOL

[@kevinL5425]

The dead marshes with the corpses in the water were the fallen soldiers from the battle that opened the Fellowship of The Ring, the last alliance of Elves and Men against Sauron.

[@laser3148]

that was a different battle. the one in the intro was at slopes of mount doom. Dead marshes are far west of morannon, right about anduin river

[@elzar760]

Don’t fear the water Jen. Just don’t follow the lights.

[@algomaone121]

“SHADOWFAX, Lord of all Horses” has got to be the most epic naming EVER!

[@brucewilliams4152]

Sam's real gift from Galadriel was a box with g carved on the top, it contained soil from lothlorian, and a seed from a mallorn tree. Sam repaired the white with the soil, and planted the Mallorn tree to replace Bilbo oak tree, but down by bandits

[@Vurt.451]

A bit of Lore: Gandalf is at the time of the Third Age where this takes place around 24.000 years old (by his own account), but has roamed Middle Earth for "only" the last 2019 years as Gandalf the Grey - in elvish _Mithrandir_ aka The Grey Pilgrim. He's neither man, nor elf, he's a Maia ... that's Middle Earth's equivalent of an Angel. His Valinor (equivalent to Heaven) name is Olorin. Long before the first coming of Sauron, there was one of the most powerful of the Valar (Lesser Gods) named Melkor. He turned to Evil and was cast out by The Creator, Eru Iluvatar, and became known as Morgoth - same as Lucifer was cast out of Heaven by God and became known as Satan. There was a first war against Morgoth and his minions. Some Maia (angels) sided with Morgoth and became corrupted. Their corrupted form is known as Balrog, or what we would call a Demon. So when Gandalf faced the Balrog in Kazad-Dum, he yells: "I am a servant of the Secret Fire," with the secret fire representing light, the power of creation. He thereby indicates to the Balrog that he is the human form of a Maia, therefore his equal. "wielder of the Flame of Anor." With this he indicates that he is the bearer of one of the three Elven Rings of Power, Narya, the Ring of Fire, which makes him more powerful than the Balrog might think he is. And finally he refers to the Balrog as Flame of Udûn ... Udûn is a word for "hell" in reference to the name of the first fortress of Melkor in which he was defeated. By calling the Balrog by that name he immediately makes it clear that he knows exactly who and what he is. It's a warning and a challenge at the same time. So when Gandalf comes back as Gandalf the White, this only means God (Eru Iluvatar) had reincarnated him and sent him back to take Saruman's place since Saruman was now corrupted and Gandalf hadn't completed his mission yet. When it comes to Gandalf's powers, we can see him doing telekinesis (forming a ship out of smoke, fighting Saruman, etc), he can raise a shield of energy (against the Balrog), talk to animals (a skill he learned from Radagast the Brown, another of the five Istari (aka Maia in humanform)), and obviously has some control over fire (which he uses on fireworks) .... but his most powerful skill, which doesn't seem that great at first glance, is that he can inspire hope where there is despair. He wasn't sent to Middle Earth to fight at the other races' place, but to instead guide them into the right direction. The sword he wields also has a story of its own. Its name is Glamdring , also called Foe-Hammer or simply The Beater by goblin folk. It's around 6 to 7000 years old, having been forged during the First Age. If you want to know how Gandalf got hold of that sword you'll have to watch The Hobbit Trilogy 😉

[@Tom-Mac1975]

Jen, the white robes denote the top of the wizard order however Saruman was no longer in white robes when he imprisoned Gandalf. Saruman had transgressed to "the robe of many colors", that deceivingly appeared white, as a full color spectrum of light would. There were 2 blue wizards (forget their names off hand but you can look it up). It is implied that Saruman got the better of them when luring them to a journey to investigate Mordor. The encounter is only mentioned in passing and I don't recall if it was actually stated in LoTR proper or if I read it in one of the appendices. (It's be years since I read them). There is also Radagast the Brown (it was actually he who sent Gwaihir, The Lord of Eagles to Orthanc and led to Gandalf's rescue in the first book). Gwaihir was sent to deliver word to both wizards, from Radagast, and discovered Saruman's treachery. The Eagle owed Gandalf a favor, since many years ago a young gray clothed wizard pulled an arrow out of the injured, giant eagle's wing.

[@Adam_Le-Roi_Davis.]

A great reaction to this wonderful film, Jen. I love watching your reaction to these films. To answer your questions, 'The Hobbit' book came before 'The Lord of The Rings', 'Gollum' is the corrupted version of 'Sméagol', he was partly based off the 'Golem' of Jewish folklore a creature made from clay and mud and animated by magic, the Elvish language was taken from Old Welsh language, "Cymraeg" is the Welsh language word for the language now as then, I hope that this helps, Jen?

[@Markus117d]

Don't know quite what you mean by "old Welsh language Cymraeg" ? . As its still a living language and "Cymraeg" is the Welsh word for Welsh.. rather than an ancient dialect or something.. 🤔

[@Adam_Le-Roi_Davis.]

@Markus117d I'm sorry if I phrased that badly, I meant it to mean the Welsh language, I'll alter it to make it clear.

[@Markus117d]

@Adam_Le-Roi_Davis. Don't worry about it, I wasn't sure is all, no offence taken here.. 👍

[@corvus1970]

"What is that? Oil?" No, although I can understand why you thought so. Remember, the Hobbits are under orders to remain "unspoiled." What Merry was given is a drink sometimes referred to as "orc-draughts." It's kind of like a wine/beer combo that gives the drinker energy and supplies them with some calories and nutrition. Orcs love it, but most other species find it bitter and unpleasant overall. On Aragorn's tracking: "How does he know?" Aragorn is a Ranger. He's spent most of his adult life in the northern wilderness of Middle-Earth, and he is a practiced tracker, fighter, and survivor. In addition, he's a Dúnedain, a dwindling line of ancient humans with some elvish blood that originally hailed from the long destroyed island of Númenór. These were the men who founded the twin kingdoms of Men, Gondor and Arnor. On Gandalf: "How old is he?" Well, as Gandalf he's about 2000 or so. However, like the other Wizards, like Sauron himself, he's actually an immortal, spiritual, angel-like being known as a Maiar. On the wicked men who follow Sauron and Saruman: Yes, they are human, men from the eastern part of the continent, whereas Middle-Earth is on the west. While they hail from various tribes and groups, they are often called "Easterlings" for short.

[@gawkthimm6030]

I heard someone suggest the orc drink is based something the mongols drank, a mildly alcoholic brew made from fermented horse milk with lots of calories, easier to digest for someone with lactose intolerance (more common in asia).

[@OMGtheykilledKenny42]

@@gawkthimm6030 "Can't take his Grog!" I imagine Grog is like a very strong but nasty version of Bourbon or Whiskey.

[@DrummingWriterTrekfan84]

Also fun fact: in the book when aragorn, legolas , and gemli were chasing the orcs to save merry and Pippin like at the beginning of this movie, they chased them for 137 miles!!

[@shadowqueen99]

12:54 I checked the comments and no-one has said this yet so here I am... did you know that when Aragorn kicks the helmet & yells, Viggo actually broke his toes in that moment but turned the pain into that moment, and it was kept in as the best take 😁

[@EllisThings]

a good responsible LOTR commenter 🦶⛑

[@FPAlpha]

I was looking for this comment ever since i saw this reaction go up. It's become legendary meme status now whenever this movie is talked about. I love it!

[@susah135]

Congratulations. You did your duty well, fellow LOTR enjoyer.

[@ninjabluefyre3815]

Still one of the best facts about the series.

[@firestorm1088]

In Tolkien lore there are five wizards who came to Middle Earth to serve as guides in the battle against Sauron. After Saruman turned to Sauron’s side he changed his title from The White Wizard to Saruman of Many Colors. There’s Radagast the Brown, who you’ll meet if you watch The Hobbit. There are also two blue wizards alluded to. Supposedly they journeyed into the east to prevent Sauron from returning, which they obviously failed at. After that, depending on which version of Tolkien’s notes you go with, they were either corrupted just like Saruman, or, during the events of these movies, they organized the good people of the east into a second front that drew away some of Sauron’s forces.

[@johnwalters1341]

At 19:48 you ask, "How old is he?" That's an interesting question. In one of the Appendices to the story Tolkien writes concerning the Third Age of Middle-earth, "When maybe a thousand years had passed...the Istari or Wizards appeared in Middle-earth. It was afterwards said that they came out of the Far West [the Undying Lands] and were messengers sent to contest the power of Sauron, and to unite all those who had the will to resist him; but they were forbidden to match his power with power, or to seek to dominate Elves or Men by force or fear. They came therefore in the shape of Men, though they were never young and aged only slowly, and they had many powers of mind and hand..." This would make their stay in MIddle-earth about 2,000 years. You can read about the former careers of the Wizards in Tolkien's "Bible" of Middle-earth, The Silmarillion. They are basically as old as Arda [the created World] itself.

[@MrRenanHappy]

They are far older than Arda, they sang by themselves and learned much before they sang Arda itself into creation

[@domingocurbelomorales8635]

Aragorn it´s a Dúnedain, a sort of "royal" race among the men, blessed with long life as descents of Númenor (they have part of elves in their blood). That´s why he has 87 years old here, and looks young.

[@Merecir]

The "Dúnedain" got to live long lives because they remained loyal to the good side in the War of Wrath, then the Hosts of Valinor came to punish Morgoth for his crimes. Only the line of kings had elven blood.

[@dennisswainston411]

Viggo bought Brego and kept him until the horse passed of old age.

[@captainchaos3667]

27:05 - that single plaintive Hardanger fiddle playing the Rohan theme is IMHO the most beautiful music cue in the entire trilogy. I love it so much.

[@mastervodo6840]

So happy you are watching these! Glad you are loving it! Friggin Balrog!

[@billb207]

28:32 RIP Bernard Hill (Théoden), who died earlier this year. He captained the Titanic, led a division in the Afrika Korps at the start of Valkerie, and if you're British, you'll remember Yosser from the Boys from the Blackstuff.

[@KevDaly]

What Sam got from Galadriel in the book was much better than rope, especially for a gardener, and very useful when they got back to the Shire. Gandalf is older than the world. So are Saruman and Sauron. They're basically angels. The hobbit-eating tree scene in the movie is actually borrowed from an incident in the first book, in the Old Forest just outside the Shire.

[@user-mg5mv2tn8q]

Jackson, Walsh, and Boyens probably knew the fans would call them on leaving Tom Bombadil out of the story, and figured they'd better include at least an indirect reference.

[@captainchaos3667]

Sam _also_ got rope though, in the book.

[@WJS774]

@@captainchaos3667 Yes, but it wasn't his gift from Galadriel. It was just something the elves gave him when provisioning like the boats and Lembas.

[@domingocurbelomorales8635]

Goosebumps in all my body during the "Ent´s march". EPIC.

[@KennethJaeger]

In this extended edition, one scene added that jumps out for me is the flashback Faramir has with brother, Boromir and his father. I think that is one of the more important scenes that you would miss if you didn't watch the extended version.

[@nirfz]

I would say it paints a better picture about Boromir for those who haven't read the books.

[@lethaldose2000]

Hey Jen, to complement all the full-size of the sets, Peter Jackson created oversized versions of the set built for medium and wide shots (called Big-a-tures). So the reason they look so real is that they are real. Normally miniature sets (ratio 1/50) would be built using weak cameras. Peter Jackson wanted to be able to use the best camera to capture the shots he wanted so he had the prop builders create "Bigatures" (ratio 1/10)

[@Fillaaaaa]

12:53 Fun fact he broke is toe by kicking the helmet the scream was real xD

[@ChrisMillerCrazyHouse]

Watching these reactions on your channel have made me go and dig up the soundtracks for this epic trilogy. The music works so well and you feel like you are on the adventure when you listen to it.

[@georgeheilman4243]

It makes me happy that among the many great sequences within this edition, we get a Tom Bombadil reference with Merry and Pippin drinking the tree's water and growing. As well as that wonderful Saruman line, "You stink of horse."

[@JasonBenesh]

Fun trivia: John Rhys-Davies, who plays Gimli, is a pretty big guy in real life (You might remember him as Sallah in Raiders of the Lost Ark). He's also the voice of Treebeard.

[@NoKoolAidForMe]

1:07:02 As Gandolf told us in the Fellowsip: a wizard is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to. He showed up exactly at sunrise, so when the orcs look up, they are destroyed by the rising sun!

[@FPAlpha]

I feel like Gandalf had a cheat code or root access to Middle Earth, able to fudge events so his claims come true. That is his actual power, Gandalf is the admin of the Middle Earth server!

[@rhudoc3745]

First strategy of battlefield combat. Attack your adversary going downhill with the Sun at your back.

[@Merecir]

Hail blessed Arien!

[@tracisr]

I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat thinking about how Sam and Frodo never got to eat that stew 😫😫😫

[@Markus117d]

The salt would surely have helped 😂

[@ejtappan1802]

Not long after these movies came out, my 9yr old son wanted to name our new Siamese kitten Samwise. But she was a female cat so I said, "Isn't Samwise a boy's name?" To which my son replied, "Is Samwise even a REAL name??" --- Yeah, I couldn't argue with that, lol. So, she was christened Samwise (Sammie for short).

[@samoli11]

as it turns out it was a real name, because Tolkien was written to by a real life Samwise Gamgee during the writing of Lord of the Rings, entirely by coincidence. Tolkien made sure to send him a free copy signed by him when it eventually became published.

[@Fabian_Lobo]

You are the best Jen, always on point with the story and particularly the music or score. I really enjoy watching your channel. The best to you, yours and the folks in the comments.

[@bknsty14]

“They’re so scary. I’d be shitting my pants.”

[@mr.a8315]

😂😂😂💜🏆

[@kevinL5425]

The actor who played Gamling, one of the Rohirim lieutenants, is Bruce Hpokins. In real life he hosted an excellent Radio New Zealand podcast called “The Long Way Home” where he walked the 3,000 km long New Zealand national Te Araroa Hiking Trail in about 4 months. Definitely worth a listen. For comparison, the distance from Hobbiton to Minas Tirith is estimated to be about 2,615 km.

[@RavenHawk1988]

In regards to battles, if you're defending a fortress you want to have as few avenues for attack as possible - especially when you only have a low amount of soldiers available. That way you stack up your defenders in the vulnerable spots compared to trying to spread them out over a long city wall.

[@DrummingWriterTrekfan84]

Real (lol!)Fun fact 1:00:48 the chubby guy throwing a rock is the movie director and producer Peter Jackson! Also the tiny little baby girl inside the helms deep cave is Peter Jackson's daughter. She was also one of those little hobbit kids at the beginning of the fellowship of the ring that billbo was telling the troll story to at his birthday party!

[@rcrawford42]

Once more -- Tolkien added a preface to the books making it clear that pipeweed is a "variety of nicotiana". It's tobacco, not pot.

[@mr.a8315]

They certainly quickly become very giggly and euphoric when smoking it. :P

[@alanmacification]

@rcrawford42 Hobbits aren't humans, so the effects may very. And it wasn't exactly tobacco either.

[@mr.a8315]

@@alanmacification Either way, put me down for a couple of barrels. 👍👍

[@anathardayaldar]

Which got wiped from that land before it became Europe some how. The remenants of tobacco left in Valinor until it became The Americas. Then travelers from Europe rediscovered it.

[@alundavies1016]

@@mr.a8315they lace it with other gear!

[@StarkRG]

Aragorn may be nearly 90, but Arwen's still robbing the cradle at 2,690 years his senior. Also, fun fact, one of the human warriors at Helm's Deep (seen at 1:00:48) was played by the guy who played the crazy Santa that stabbed Nicholas Angel's hand in Hot Fuzz.

[@jeffreya1316]

Jen, I'm so glad you're watching these! I always wondered what the story was behind their absence on your site. This collective soundtrack is tied with Gladiator for my favorite of all time. ❤ Enjoy!

[@ravensdark99]

Dark have been my dreams of late is one of the greatest quotes in any movie...we all can relate. And my favorite detail when the elves enter Helms Deep and Legolas comes out they turn towards him ( not before) because they know he is royalty and stand at attention

[@gunkulator1]

The Elves at Helm's Deep are a Peter Jackson addition. The logistics of how the Elves managed to march about five times the distance the orc army did and still arrive first are problematic at best. Stranger still that the massive orc army did not see the Elves coming and engage them while they were out in the open. Worst is the undermining of Tolkien's theme of the ascendency of mankind finally being able to stand on their own without the Elves.

[@GraemeCampbellMusic]

I live near the Grangemouth oil refinery in Scotland. When the burners are on, lighting the sky up it does resemble Mordor a wee bit 😀

[@sarahstardust]

I lived near an oil refinery for about a year and would make the same joke about it lol.

[@ravensshadow2179]

During the Covid Lock downs Sean Astin did a great video of him reading his the line" It's like the great stories, Mr. Frodo, the ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were, and sometimes you didn't want to know the end because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad has happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing this shadow, even darkness must pass. A new day will come, and when the sun shines, it'll shine out the clearer. I know now folks in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going because they were holding on to something. That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it's worth fighting for."

[@JustGrowingUp84]

Thank you Jen, for posting this so soon after the first one! It's perhaps a small thing, but I really appreciate it!

[@SkillsLoading]

A quick note on military strategy seeing as you were asking. A big fortress with one entrance is great is you are facing a full frontal assault such as the one in this movie, you can line your walls with archers that a relatively well protected by the wall and each can take out dozens of enemies from safety as they are funnelled into a tight space to assault the gate. Even with ladders they are vulnerable as they set up and climb the ladders and they have to hold the area at the top of the ladder to avoid it being knocked down. What a big fortress with one entrance is bad for is if the enemy decides to siege you. They can sit outside as long as they want with supplies being delivered to them, while you will eventually be starved out. Even when military tactics advanced to explosives assaulting a keep was still the riskier option. So risky there is a genuine military definition of a "forlorn hope". Essentially once a wall was breached by force you could volunteer to be the first attackers to assault the breach, your chances of survival were so slim that if you joined a forlorn hope and lived you were pardoned of any crimes that you were accused of and instantly promoted one rank.

[@jackmessick2869]

Hopefully you recognized that the actor who plays Gimli also played Indiana Jones' sidekick, Sallah, in the first, third, and fifth films.

[@Philbert-s2c]

He's hard to forget.

[@Jymm]

15:55 "Which came first?" It was the book "The Hobbit, or There and Back Again" -1937 For me though it was "The Two Towers" -1954. 😃 As a kid, back in the 60s, I bought it at a Book Fair then I found "The Return of he King" -1955 soon after. When I found out those two were part of a trilogy, I bought the "The Fellowship of the Ring" -1953 and the Hobbit and then read them all in order. Re-Read them several times thereafter. "The Silmarillion" -1977 this was enjoyable too! Decades later I finally saw the movies!😄

[@joshuawells835]

There are a lot of people who watched this trilogy for the first time during the Pandemic and found hope in Sam's speech for a better tomorrow in a post-Covid world.

[@kenrfc]

Remember also these movies came out immediately post 9-11 and Sam's speech was very resonant then. Also Theoden's line "What can men do against such reckless hate?" echoed what many of us felt at the time.

[@simongiles9749]

​@@kenrfcYes, I remember there was some considered the title "The Two Towers" to be insensitive!

[@WJS774]

@@simongiles9749 How could Tolkien have named it that? Did he not know when he wrote it that fifty years later there would be a terrorist attack against the twin towers that would be built twelve years in the future?

[@christopherwall2121]

​@@kenrfc Then and now

[@TheOtherGuys2]

Some of the parts that were in the extended version but cut from the theatrical release were things like, when Eomer and his men found the King's son, when Merry and Pippin were at Treebeard's home in the forest, when the forest of Fangorn moved to Helm's Deep to finish off the Uruk Hai army, I think the scene where Eowyn gives Aragorn the soup was cut, the flashback with Boromir and Faramir together at Osgiliath, the scene where Merry and Pippin find the storehouse of food at Isengard, the scene where Aragorn has the horse set free, some of the moments between Aragorn and Arwen, as well as Arwen and Elrond I think. A lot of the scenes of Grima talking to Saruman as well. Probably a bunch of others too.

[@dunringill1747]

Hi Jen. There is no modern lore that runs as deep as what J.R.R. Tolkien created. His life's goal was to create a complete mythology for England to equal the classic mythologies (Greek, Roman, Norse, Celtic, Egyptian, etc.). Tolkien was an English Professor, a writer, and a professional philologist of ancient Germanic languages. Tolkien worked on many languages for LOTR. There are discussions over how many languages Tolkien created. Depending on individual definitions of language function, Tolkien created 2 functioning Elvish languages and was in the process of developing at least 36 more languages and dialects for the races of Middle Earth before his passing.

[@gunkulator1]

That's a common misconception but Tolkien never stated that he wished to create a mythology for England. Indeed, there is no place in Middle Earth that even remotely corresponds with the real world, let along England. As a student of history, Tolkien was well aware of the origins of the Anglo-Saxon people who came to dominate England who were then dominated by the Normans, but there are no such peoples and events in his universe that follow this history.

[@dunringill1747]

@@gunkulator1 Incorrect. Earth's land masses have changed greatly over time. Middle-earth represents an imaginary time in the real past of Earth. As a philologist, Tolkien wanted to explain the origins of English words and culture through stories and legends. He drew from Old English, Norse, and Celtic mythologies, languages, and cultures to create Middle-earth’s geography, peoples, and histories. J.R.R. Tolkien was creating a mythology for England, drawing inspiration from English culture, language, and history. He began writing stories during World War I, intending to populate Old English words with stories and legends. This mythology for England was based in the land mass that would eventually become England, with a focus on explaining the origins of English words and culture.

[@nathanwilliams2152]

A nice way t spend an evening, watching Jen's reactions. Horses are magical. I met a magical horse in Kyrgyzstan, who took me 10 miles up to Kol-Suu, in the southern mountains of the country. 17 hands high, strong, calm, and spirited - he insisted on galloping the last kilometre! Amazing horse.

[@lapolicedelapensee7047]

0:50 lol I'm waiting for this reaction for days.... 😊 3:12 "I feel like they need shoes..." 🤣 15:55 "Wich came first?" -> The hobbit came first. It was only a ring wich can make you invisible. It's only later, in LOTR, that we learn it's the main ring of Sauron. 19:43 "He leveled up!" So right! He was grey, he became white, so we can say he's brighter... he's more close to the light. 😉 57:08 "just woaaaahhh" 🤣

[@GeraldH-ln4dv]

Another great reaction. Thanks, Jen! I've been looking forward to this since last week. I can't get enough of Howard Shore's glorious score either.

[@lethaldose2000]

Hey Jen, Andy Serkis, who acted as Gollum, should have at least 2 acting Oscars for LOTR and Planet of the Apes. --------- The Academy won't recognize his performance because it was assisted by digital character animators. ---------- Without Andy Serkis, LOTR would be 20% less. Gollum is such a large part of the saga. --------- Peter Jackson knew without making a believable Gollum the last two parts of the saga could not be told. -------- So many aspects of movie making and VFX had to be overcome to achieve what we see in these movies.

[@dennisswainston411]

Eomer, nephew to King Theoden, is played by Karl Urban . He also plays Billy Butcher in "The Boys" and Dr. McCoy in the reboot "Star Trek" movies!

[@biffyqueen]

At this point he was known as a recurring actor from Hercules and Xena, where he played, among other random extras, Cupid and Julius Caesar.

[@carlabudephane7486]

He is Dredd.

[@martinbraun1211]

I highly recommend "The Neverending Story".

[@ricardodelgado3706]

A buddy and I would sing that song at Karaoke at our bar. Mixed reviews.

[@brianjohnson5272]

I concur, the Neverending Story is s piece of nostalgia for me (met one of the people who did work on it..... he also shares the name so at 9 it was triple cool.) And the music was ABSOLUTELY on another level.

[@samuelsims5522]

The added scenes in the Extended Edition(off the top of my head); -Real Elvish rope/Shire seasoning - Early Rohan stuff, like finding the king's son - Extended comversation at Gandalf's return("I am Saruman. Or Saruman as he should have been" was not in theatrical release) - The Ent Draught/Merry & Pippin grow taller - The tree grabbing Merry & Pippin (an ode to a segment in the first book that was skipped by the films) - Eowyn's stew/Aragorn's age - Faramir's flashback - The trees moving off to Helms Deep (I may be wrong on this one) - Faramir's conversation with Frodo, Sam & Gollum before sending them off after freeing them. Im sure I missed a few.

[@michaelg2529]

The extended version was a gift to the fans who so loved the characters that they wanted "more". The additions help explain a few things but aren't critical to understanding the main story. However, you're invested in the characters now, so enjoy the extra heaping-helping.

[@davidmarino1913]

I was very happy to see you recognize Smeagols torment. When I saw this in theater, people were laughing because they thought he was talking to himself, but you realized he was a very tormented creature and felt he was worthy of pity. You didn't laugh. Jackson did a very good job of portraying the rings' power to break someone's mind.

[@rikk319]

Aragorn is acknowledged in the book as the greatest tracker of the age, so he can pick up minute details, as a hunter of beasts or men...or hobbits.

[@l.piloto7964]

Thanks for sharing this experience with us, I really enjoyed it.

[@tremorsfan]

During post production, to get the sound of the Orcs chanting, Peter Jackson went to a cricket match and had all the fans read the chant of the jumbo screen.