The Power of Prologue | The Lord of The Rings and how to begin a story

A scene analysis of the prologue from Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy. This video essay explains how to write exposition for a prologue and how to open a story. I analyze the Fellowship of the Ring opening scene to describe what makes it so effective despite technically being a seven minute exposition dump.
My Little Thought Tree is my channel for drawing out the deeper meaning and emotion in film, TV, and the world at large through relaxed, analytical video essays. I am a professional counsellor and often draw on my psychology and therapy background to better understand characters, themes, and emotion in fiction. I upload every Saturday and occasionally on Tuesdays, if I'm feeling productive.
The Lord of the Rings | breakdown of the darkest scene - • The Lord of the Rings ...
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Patreon link - / mylittlethoughttree
Music (in order):
Chill Astronaut - The Fellowship's Theme Lofi • Lord Of The Rings: The...
myk. - Time To Forget
Chill Astronaut - Rohan's Theme lotr lofi
Kupla - Seasons
Idealism - Citylights
Kupla - Never Forget
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:58 Narration & Tone
3:36 Depth & Story
9:59 Voice
12:49 Rhythm
Thankyou to my small thought tree patrons: CapoXproductions, Dani B, Alexa Rives, Gaponya, Eugene, Sam Moore, Daniel Zafer-Joyce, This Island Urth, Paul Wilson, Farian, Ryan Mcginness, John McKean, Sam Moore, Angelika Kiebler, Maria Verghelet, Sheridan Vahldieck, Apple Chip, Clem, Ava Erickson, InSquares, Joy L Fithian, Cormac Walsh, Dalton Fitzgerald, and geo-diet.
#lordoftherings #prologue #analysis

[@mylittlethoughttree]

THINGS TO SAY: 1) The reasons there's several seconds of very bad audio quality around the 2 min mark is because youtube insisted on "muting" the background music from the clip of Galadriel talking in order to pass copyright...debatable how successful it was at this but as long as it removes the copyright claim quicker than a month-long dispute, I'm happy. 2) The lofi tracks for both the Fellowship and Rohan themes are wonderful but come from a channel called Chill Astronaut with only 170 subscribers. I always credit music in the description but I thought to mention and link it here as the channel deserves a bit more love kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZ7PepSJpqifh7s 3) We're 4000 subscribers away from 100k, obviously I'm going to mention this and to gently (or forcefully, whatever works better) suggest subscribing. Oh and here's my patreon link - www.patreon.com/mylittlethoughttree

[@everit6682]

On your previous gollum film he didnt lived in shire but in a hobbit village near mirkwood on river anduin

[@theblackrose3130]

Peter Jackson's prologue: A concise history of the events preceding the rest of the films. Tolkien's prologue: Here's a detailed history of pipeweed hobbits like to smoke sometimes

[@michaelkelley1787]

I honestly liked it’s build up though lol. I enjoyed how we learn with Frodo the importance of the ring and it’s history.

[@nillynush4899]

the fact that pipeweed is even a thing in this universe always made me smile.

[@stege9979]

The master starts with the essentials. Life is for naught, if you can't enjoy it.

[@DutchDread]

Galadriel: "Three were given to the elves, wisest, and fairest of all beings....if I do say so myself"

[@joaofarias9986]

*that meme where Galadriel gives Galadriel a medal

[@hgman3920]

One major undercurrent of Tolkein's LoTR that gets lost a lot of times in the discussion of the films is that Middle Earth is in a period of great transition during the events of the novel. The elves are all leaving Middle Earth taking their magic with them. Forces of nature, like the Ents, are dying out, leaving the world a more wild and natural place, Sarauman is introducing industrialization into an agrarian world (this is emphasized to a far greater degree in the books). Even among men, who are ascendant, the blood of the long-lived heroes of old, the Numenoreans are fading away. There is a certain nostalgia for a bye-gone era which tempers the themes of hope and the fight against evil. Even though Sauron is defeated, the world is a much different place as Middle Earth passed from the Third Age to the Fourth. I'm glad that you mention this mood of passing in your discussion of the opening lines of the prologue, because it sets up this often overlooked theme.

[@cloudbloom]

Well said

[@lambchop8671]

like modern times. the belief in the supernatural is dying out, and mystical legends are totally unbelieved. art reflects life

[@TheQueerTailor]

Absolutely, Tolkien was born into the end of the long 19th century. This was the century of industrialization, but the transition was not yet total, and there were those who remembered or even lived in a fully agrarian world. An ancestor of mine, living in rural Greece, was said to have lived from 1796 to 1906, he was born in a completely agrarian world and lived long enough to afford to have his photograph taken as an elderly farmer. The elderly in Tolkien’s youth would have remembered an entirely agrarian Britain. Tolkien also saw the worst of industrialization. He not only saw the meat grinder of the Western Front of the First World War, but he was vehemently anti-Nazi and would likely have paid attention to things like the peak industrialization of the atom bomb production, and the slaughter of the Holocaust which was often described especially at the time as industrialized slaughter (it is today understood that although a large proportion of Jews were killed in purpose built death camps, over a million were murdered in mass shootings, and the rest were killed mainly in decidedly ancient ways such as forced starvation and disease caused by slave labor and deadly conditions). He was writing LOTR during the height of WWII, seeing such super weapons such as the the V1and V2 rockets hit his own country and seeing the horror and fear created by a nuclear world. Although the US came out of WWII more in love with industry than ever, many, I believe including Tolkien saw it as the last straw of human brutality and saw agrarian life as a peaceful wish perhaps lost forever, but perhaps attainable in a more peaceful world.

[@valaraukar_595]

The effect of the Marring of Arda is that the world diminishes. You said it beautifully in your comment.

[@kingkachow8888]

Although in the extended trilogy, we get a wider glimpse of the fading, but it's still not the full extent in the books.

[@RidiKill]

One aspect of the prologue that I think Philippa Boyens deserves credit for is stripping out as many proper nouns as possible. The concept storyboard for the prologue on the Extended Edition is great for Tolkien fans like me, but would be totally overwhelming for an average film goer. Nothing turns people off faster than having lots of strange-sounding names thrown at them right away. Makes much more sense to refer, for example, "Isildur, son of the King, took up his father's sword" than "Isildur, son of King Elendil of Arnor, took up his father's sword Narsil". It just uses essential names (Sauron, Isildur, Gollum etc) and fills in the gaps later - "The shards of Narsil! The blade that cut the Ring from Sauron's hand!"

[@scepta101]

That is a really good point! Only using essential names during the prologue helps draw the audience in, while the extra info would have taken some people out of the moment

[@tiamzy]

Same reason why I turned off Netflix's The Witcher after the first 15 mins. Too many names and locations being dumped to me in such a short time. Sometime I'm not even sure if a proper name is a place or a person (or a thing).

[@seanocd]

@@tiamzy Netflix's The Witcher takes a very different approach to introducing the audience to it's world. Jackson's Lord of the Rings sets out the bare bones of the history, then slowly builds the world over time. The Witcher dumps the audience right in the middle, and makes the audience work things out over the season. A significant part of the show is working out who, what and when things are. Both are very purposefully done, and both work quite well.

[@lambchop8671]

"The world is changed. I feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air. Much that once was is lost, for none now live who remember it." art is a reflection of life

[@adotinthecosmos]

That battle scene was the most inspiring scene for me as a 13 year old. I remember running out into the backyard with a stick pretending that i was fighting orks as an elf after watching it

[@tiamzy]

13:15 The main reason they cut out the part where Isildur wore the ring is because they don't want to preempt Bilbo's disappearing act later in the party. They want non-suspecting audience members to be equally surprised when he disappeared after wearing the ring.

[@seanocd]

It was an excellent decision. The extended editions are perfect for an audience that already knows the story (from the books or the theatrical cuts) but the original versions are ideal for a new audience. The way they handled these films as adaptations is truely masterful.

[@tiamzy]

@@seanocd that’s true. That’s why I cringe when people recommend the extended edition to newbies.

[@marvelsandals4228]

I think in a film like this, dedicating this much time to a prologue is warranted. This is the first film in a trilogy of long, epic movies set in an otherworldly fantasy setting with various races, monsters, and magical beings. It is important to give the audience a little hint of what's to come, rather than abruptly starting and just casually introducing wizards, orcs, etc. As you pointed out, one of the best things about this prologue is that it plays out not like an exposition dump, but like a mini story. We get to see the legendary battle between the forces of good and evil, in which good won, but evil escaped. As we are told about the rings and who got them/made them, we are simultaneously introduced to all the major players in this world. The three major races are the elves, the dwarves, and men (the humans). During the battle, we are introduced to Sauron's servants, the orcs. Then, much later, long after the battle is concluded, we meet a hobbit. This is fitting, because the hobbits are small, weak, and simple farmers who weren't involved in these wars and know nothing of them. They're so insignificant to this history that they're not mentioned until then end, because NOW hobbits are stepping into the spotlight and will play a major role in the coming story. On a first viewing, I think the audience is meant to view Isildur as the protagonist, at least during the first ten minutes. He puts his life on the line to try and fight the forces of evil, witnesses his father slain right in front of him, tries to avenge him, is nearly killed, etc. He is relatable, in over his head, but he tries his best to be brave and heroic. Even in the prologue there's a major plot twist when this noble hero chooses not to destroy the ring, a mistake which has now put the entire world in danger. He then dies and we go for a while without any protagonist to get behind, giving us the feeling that all hope is lost, until finally Bilbo is introduced. He's not a brave warrior, but that's fine, he's an average joe who stumbled into the spotlight. We can get behind this guy. The character who is developed the most in the prologue is the ring itself, as you said. The ring, not Sauron, is hyped up, almost takes over the world, seduces and kills people, and survives for thousands of years through wars, so long that all who remembered it have passed away and it is just a myth now. Isildur defeated Sauron, but the ring defeated him in the end. It makes us worry about Bilbo's fate, as we've already seen how it has brought misfortune to its owners before. Best of all, when the prologue ends, the film spends a lot of time in the Shire, which is happy, peaceful, and (if we're being honest) a bit boring. If the film STARTED in the Shire, people wouldn't be hooked and invested; they'd probably fall asleep. The action and darkness of the prologue hints that this movie will have more action and darkness to come, so even if we spend time in the Shire, we can't be completely at ease yet. We know that they're not safe, since the ring is still out there.

[@daniel6678]

I know Harry Potter has somewhat fallen out of favor with much of the internet (and don’t get me wrong, lots of the criticisms are completely deserved), but I think it’s another story whose prologue is absolutely stellar. Like LOTR, it introduces many main characters just enough to pique our curiosity and make us interested when they appear again later, tells a story in itself as we hear word of Voldemort’s fall and Harry’s survival spread amongst the magical community and see the Dursleys pulled back into the world of magic, and provides us lots of context to set us up for the rest of story without just dumping it on us. Vernon’s POV also guides us into the magical world gently, as he’s also an outsider with no prior knowledge of its workings, just like the reader.

[@GhostRider-on6bz]

Fuck the internet. It’s always just a few noisy ass holes. If you like it, don’t apologise mate!

[@hebercluff1665]

I like to think of the LOTR films as a rabbit hole. There's just enough lore and awesomeness to get you interested, and if you decide to climb down, you'll find an entire would down there

[@DAMusic-qu2ec]

Ever think about how Gollum’s desire of the ring was vastly different than everyone else’s? Everyone else desired the ring for its power, and they wished to use it to gain a particular end goal. It was a means to an end. Gollum, on the other hand, only desired the ring itself. He just wanted the ring and not to use it for an end or to gain more power. Possession of the ring was his only goal. Possession of it was his end.

[@goncaloferreira6429]

The ring enhances the power of the bearer. what does that tell you about Smeagol?

[@DAMusic-qu2ec]

@@goncaloferreira6429 he's a "stage 5 clinger"?

[@goncaloferreira6429]

@@DAMusic-qu2ec that sure is a way to put it.

[@victoriashevlin8587]

@@DAMusic-qu2ec 😆

[@Natsymir]

Not strictly true. In the "Shadow of the Past" chapter of the book, we're explicitly told by Gandalf how Gollum used the ring go gain power by finding out people's secrets in his home village. But it backfired on him, and rather than gaining the power he sought, he got banished.

[@HidinginPublic]

Well dang, was planning to watch this tomorrow but it seems I stayed up too late

[@cloudbloom]

Back to chainsawman content then🏃

[@mrmoviemanic1]

Ha ha nice to see you here Hiding.

[@nathanadler8316]

You didn't stay up late, nor were you early. You stayed up precisely as long as you needed to.

[@mikanchan322]

Hey, Hiding! u.u

[@tss3393]

Dude, your subtitles are great 😂 Galadriel: "But the power of the Ring...[DUN-DUN]" Elrond: "(fancy Elvish shouting)"

[@TorridPrime217]

I always interpreted Isildor's death as the Ring drawing others to him that would ultimately kill him, as a means of passing on from host to host

[@qwertyTRiG]

The ring certainly betrayed Isildur. Have you read Unfinished Tales?

[@victoriashevlin8587]

Excellent way to describe it. That's something that always struck me as being the true ,almost secret horror of the Story.

[@victoriashevlin8587]

@@qwertyTRiG haven't read them. Are they any good?

[@qwertyTRiG]

@@victoriashevlin8587 There's a lot of interesting ideas and good writing, yes.

[@sir_stride]

Dont even need to watch the video to know that i agree with it. The opening is just *chefs kiss*

[@Moctop]

They say the Silmarillion is un-filmable...I'd honestly be perfectly fine with a 3+ hour "prologue" of it.

[@MissCaraMint]

Film it like a history documentary.

[@MichaelJW72]

They’d have to do it as a mini series on HBO or Netflix

[@i1s9m9r5]

3+ hours explaining Ainunlindalë. I wouldn't mind.

[@janetkizer5956]

I remember the first time I saw this, back in 2001. This opening scene was not at all how I imagined the movie would start. But Galadriel, whispering in Elvish was so utterly right, I was immediately captured by her spell, and remained captured until I'd seen the last movie, and could finally breathe.

[@im_not_here_to_fight2744]

"If we feel first, we care more to listen" This is brilliant!!

[@williamisenhower7967]

I'd love to see you breakdown the character that is Boromir. Tragedy and triumph all wrapped in shell of the nobel warrior.

[@calebee4205]

This prologue is shot so well you could probably watch it on mute and still understand the story.

[@KnuckleHunkybuck]

I never really cared much for Lord of the Rings personally, but honestly, all these themes of power corrupting intentions and the desire of the weak to become powerful makes me kind of want to free up NINE FUCKING HOURS of my time. I can't promise it'll happen soon, but it might happen, only because of your channel.

[@TheNintendo12]

Pfft, try 11.5 hours (extended versions) lol. Though I'd def suggest the theatrical versions for a first go

[@KnuckleHunkybuck]

@@TheNintendo12 A second go. I did watch it once, but I didn't care for it much. It was actually the extended cuts, I think. Ex-girlfriend made me watch them. Maybe with more perspective, I'll like them.

[@marvelsandals4228]

Just watch the theatrical version of Fellowship, if you're short on time. If you enjoy it, keep watching. If not, stop. P.S. You will enjoy it, I am 99.9% certain, and if you're like me you'll get genuinely emotional.

[@KnuckleHunkybuck]

@@marvelsandals4228 Obviously based on my original comment and given the current state of the world, I'm very interested in the overarching themes of the corruption that the lust for power can bring, so I strongly suspect that I'll see it with very different eyes on the second pass. And I've always been prone to find acts of self-sacrifice as beautiful and emotional even if I've been bored by the rest of a story. Things like "You have my axe." and "I can't carry it, but I can carry you." stand out in my memory as a strong points, but holy shit -- how many endings did that last movie really need? Denouement after denouement after denouement... Thank you, though, for the recommendation. Like I said, I think @My Little Thought Tree turned me toward a rewatch, and the passion of others toward these movies has always made me wonder what I was missing. Maybe the only thing I was missing was perspective.

[@marvelsandals4228]

@@KnuckleHunkybuck Well, I know that each time I've returned to these films for a rewatch I've gotten more and more out of them. I think as children we miss more subtle moments and themes that are much more emotional as adults. The ring puts people's hearts to the test, tempts them to give into their desires and fears, exposes their weakness, etc. Even the characters who fail can still have good in them, nobility, virtue, courage, etc. I think watching well-intentioned, but flawed heroes struggle to do the right thing is powerful. Yeah, the third movie is very long and as satisfying as the endings are, they do drag on a bit longer than needed. I greatly prefer the theatrical version of the third film, tbh

[@Dustyholes]

the most mysterious and magical sound i’ve ever heard in my life is the Rings theme in the beginning of The Fellowship.

[@Croznate]

Would be interesting to see an analysis of an unseen Dark Souls intro, Cheers and thanks for your content!

[@Ianassa91]

I remember in cinema having a big "oh shit yeah that's right" moment when Elrond recalled the Isildur affair to Gandalf in Rivendel. He is shown so briefly in the intro that I completely forgot about him as the movie went on and suddenly realizing that he was indeed at the battle really brought home to me the point that elves are immortal.

[@evilzzzability]

FOTR is the best of the trilogy and the prologue is a perfect introduction into the world. It is truly epic, and having Galadriel narrate was the again a perfect choice. 7 of the best minutes of screenwriting you are likely to find.

[@airixxxx]

Great analysis, I feel like the prologue is almost perfect. The only thing that doesn't make sense is how Sauron is overthrown. Isildur only cut the ring from Sauron's finger once he is defeated on the ground. Isildur's father king Elendil and the elven king Gil-Galad defeated him and were both killed in the process. The way it is portraited in the films makes Sauron seem weak.

[@Sean-ne3gx]

So, I'm catching up on your videos and watched the Smegol to Gollum analysis, and I think for future ideas, the development of Theoden over the movies would be a good subject. He goes from a puppet to "I can't change things in the world, I am not a hero like the kings of old" to what I find a fascinating and tragic kind of noble fatalism, he doesn't think that he and his men will succeed or maybe even make a significant difference, but he gives his all to do it anyway because the resistance itself must be done. Just, like I said, a thought I've given some time on and thought you might appreciate. Great job as always on this one.

[@Kay-xb9cp]

That would be a great video!

[@Canhistoryismylife]

i love the [dun dun] at 9:25 😂

[@timparsons3565]

I was so confused for a while trying to figure out what "rhyvm" was... Great video about the best trilogy ever!

[@simongotborg3866]

This kind of reminds me of the Dark Souls intro. It's a short story that sets up the history of the world while leaving out a lot of details that the player might find throught the game. Almost like it's setting up a mystery for the players to explore.

[@im_not_here_to_fight2744]

I am here for *a crazy-in-depth analysis *of The Lord of the Rings

[@Dustyholes]

thank you for this video, we appreciate the hard work and effort you put into it.

[@Gryffster]

Very intelligent breakdown.

[@voooonz4778]

This intro shook me as a child "O N E R I N G T O R U L E T H E M A L L"

[@oBuLLzEyEo1013]

Just watched the Extended versions again on HBOMax (not a sponsor) so this is perfect timing and also I love you...

[@Panzer_the_Merganser]

Fun fact: The first lines spoken by Galadriel are actually taken directly from Treebeard in the book.

[@geekexmachina]

nice vid, the interesting thing thematically is the intro mentions water earth and air but not fire but then we see thematically fire associated with the ring and Sauron and the forging. The ring bearers are shrouded in darkness the men look like they are already undead. the interesting thing is that the characters who we hear are alive at the start of the film. Sauron can be counted as dead/ undead as if I remember correctly Sauron poured most of himself into the ring which is supposed to explain its sentience. Bilbo was probably unlikely because it may have been too early for the ring to find a new host which would take it out of hiding and which it couldnt control. back to the exposition it garners interest by the audience by intriguing them with questions regarding the characters and the ring while framing the world. Interestingly if you look at the Ralph Bakshi LOTR there are obvious beats which Jackson drew on like the use of light and shadow, and the information it conveyed.

[@wellingtonsboots4074]

As always great video. Enjoyed it

[@D.A.R.89]

I found this channel today and i love the content

[@ChillAstronaut]

Cheers for using some of my LOTR lofi beats in the background! Really interesting and well produced video as well!

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Ahh, you're welcome!! I honestly felt a bit bad I didn't ask you first, so I'm relieved you're happy :) I do really love the beats

[@DavetheNord]

The soundtrack is a work of genius! :)

[@mrmoviemanic1]

Great vid mate. Please feel free to keep your LOTR's video's up anytime as you can never get enough of it.

[@Katharsis939]

The Galadriel Twist is stunning in every language. "But they were all of them deceived, for another ring was made" "Mais ils furent tous dupés car un autre anneau fut forgés." "Doch sie wurden alle betrogen, denn es wurde noch ein Ring gefertigt."

[@sandradermark8463]

Also in European/Castilian Spanish

[@thehartmann]

The one thing I dislike about the prologue is: how in the world does Isildur's corpse FLOAT when he was wearing pretty heavy armor?! (I know it's stupid but it always irritates me when I watch it)

[@theamazingdagger5584]

Lmao i knew I wasn’t the only one.

[@takix2007]

They FLOAT !

[@tiamzy]

I guess evil souls are so heavy that when an evil person dies, they float hahahha

[@George_M_]

Well that's easy, it's because it's made of tissue paper >_> like all plate armor in the movies, it doesn't stop anything.

[@takix2007]

@@George_M_ plate armor is useless when the hero has plot armor.

[@xzonia1]

It is a truly beautiful prologue.

[@christinekaye6393]

Rather than comment on your excellent video, I'd like to comment on your viewers. Reading the comments, I'm always struck by the intelligence, depth of thought and feeling, and the high level of writing I see on this channel. It is a pleasure to connect, however distantly, with such people. To all of you, an aging woman says "thank you".

[@mylittlethoughttree]

I agree I have always been blessed by the comments on my videos. Makes it all feel so much more like a community

[@galoyanzhela]

god i would die for a chance to go back in time and watch the trilogy for the first time ❤

[@JoseReyes-dv9su]

Perhaps at some point you could do a “Good Will Hunting” styled video on “the Kings speech”

[@LegacyTCG1]

I genuinely wish that you would review the prologue to the eye of the world from The Wheel of Time series, there's no visuals to go with it but they are launching a show November 19th this year

[@scepta101]

That was a phenomenal prologue. Hooked me instantly

[@coyote4237]

Well done.

[@israelventurabarreto]

Amo O Senhor dos Anéis e achei o vídeo incrível, parabéns, +1 inscrito.

[@MegaSpideyman]

Felt I had to quit this once you referred to Sauron, of all people, as a stock villain. The one being from which all the conflict, chaos, death and destruction came. From where men, like Smeagol and even Frodo, fell. Where kingdoms, like Gondor and Rohan, almost crumbled. He is so much more than a ''stock'' villain.

[@mylittlethoughttree]

I believe he is in these films, yeah. He has more to him in the books, and the lore at large, but here Sauron himself is just a figure of evil. We don't meet him, he doesn't say anything or have any direct impact (even if he manipulates at large and controls armies, we don't see any of that happening) the ring is the direct antagonist that creates the conflicts. Ofcourse we understand that to be Sauron but it's not Sauron in a literal sense that adds the weight

[@ashleystewart9428]

im surprised by how little views you have been getting o.o ive liked and commented in the hope that it broadens your reach and visibility

[@qwertyTRiG]

I was very familiar with the books long before the films came out. And, while I enjoyed the films at the time, I now remember more clearly the bits that annoyed me. But there's clearly a lot of good about them too. Perhaps I should revisit them.

[@19822andy]

When I first watched LOTR FOTR I kind of zoned out during the prologue. I had no previous experience with Tolkien's work. I didn't understand how important the ring was until the second film lol.

[@koalasandwich567]

Here's an Avatar the Last Airbender style intro for LOTR Elves, Dwarves, Men, Hobbits Long ago the four races lived together in harmony Then everything changed when Sauron attacked The one ring to rule them all, was the only thing that could stop him But when the world needed it the most it vanished Many years passed, and it was found the possession of a hobbit named Frodo Although he's inexperienced I believe Frodo can save the world (LOTR theme blasts loudly) The title card appears: The Lord of the Rings created by J.R.R Tolkein

[@fredericjuliard4261]

Merci.

[@masteringmarv446]

I would love for you to do The Starling (with Melissa Mcarthy). Reviewers hate it. But I love it for the all the reasons that I strongly think you will to.

[@VoIcanoman]

It's actually Treebeard who speaks the opening lines in the LotR: "For the world is changing: I feel it in the water, I feel it in the earth, and I smell it in the air." But I don't begrudge PJ the shift of these lines to Galadriel. I think the prologue he created is absolutely beautiful. It succeeds not by giving us exposition (although it does that in spades) but instead, by setting up _expectation._ You get both a sense of what the world is like, and what the stakes are, before we meet Frodo and Gandalf. And Sauron, who is a sort of ever-present but never seen foe in the trilogy, is made real and ominous by the prologue. Granted, PJ turns Sauron into a literal fiery eye later in the movie (the Eye of Sauron was never supposed to be such), but I forgive him the transgression. Conveying a sense of eternal watchfulness (i.e. a feeling that our heroes might be discovered at any moment because they were perceived by Sauron from far away) without a literal eye staring out across Middle Earth is extremely challenging. The Nazgul are terrifying servants, but they aren't the big bad, and since Sauron isn't ever shown as a corporeal being, showing his power in such an immediate, visceral way does make a certain amount of cinematographic sense. Nonetheless, it wouldn't be as effective without Galadriel setting the scene.

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Very much agree, changes like that from the book are understandable changes to fit a change in medium. Treebeard would've made for a terrible narrator due to his slowness of speech plus the fact we don't actually meet him until the 2nd film. Peter Jackson could ofcourse have just invented new lines for Galadriel but it's nice to have lines from the book, even if the context is changed. Same with the idea, it's different but adds symbolic power, and what's the point in adapting a story to film if nothing is actually adapted?

[@MissCaraMint]

Another such moment is Elrond arriving on the eve of battle with Narsil's reforged into Anduril. It's such a powerfull moment of a call to action that works so well for a movie.

[@jonjamesminer]

Fun fact, Gandalf was going to be the narrator at first. I think there is a recording of Ian McKellen speaking the lines floating around.

[@jojoaugustus1383]

Well, Cate Blanchett's voice helped a lot 😆

[@pacifistidentitarian549]

I enjoyed the opening to the LOR , the Elvish in the start transport you to another world and that amazing battle in Mordor , but the best Movie opening of all time has to be the LION KING hands down''Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba Sithi uhm ingonyama''

[@lateralhistory]

I'd never seen the deleted scene where Isildur attempts to flee the battle by becoming invisible. I'm kind of glad I didn't, actually. I think it cheapens it. My own interpretation was better. As a kid I assumed the Ring had betrayed Isildur by calling to the orcs, and then distracting him with its whispers as they attacked. I thought the orcs would have been too afraid to attack, without the lure of the Ring, and Isildur would have been too good a fighter to be taken down without being weakened or distracted first. From the expression on his face as he rode, I thought he was having one of the 'moments' we see Gollum and Frodo experience. So later, when Frodo started to zone out and feel drawn to the Ring in moments of danger, I was all the more scared for him. I'd already seen how dangerous it was to listen to that voice, even for a moment. How easy it was for even this great warrior to be killed. Cutting it like that made it seem so quick, as if a moment of weakness around the Ring could kill you in the blink of an eye.

[@paryanindoeur]

The only characters mentioned by name in the prologue are the four Ring-bearers at the point of the beginning of FotR: Sauron, Isildur, Gollum, and Bilbo.

[@bennruda11]

I also love the prologue to Bram Stokers Dracula, Coppola version

[@leonefurlan137]

uuuuuf,very awesome intro,Oldmans madness and thrusting the sword in the cross... Thank you,i have forgotten that,guess i'll need to rewatch!

[@MusikCassette]

the natural choice for the prologue would have been Frodo writing the red book. There is not an in universe explanation, why Galadriel explains this to us, but I do think she is the more interesting choice.

[@papabearlives9995]

The director considered that but decided against it . The reason being is that people would figure out that Frodo lives to the end thus giving away the ending unless you read the book.

[@Aaron-AllenCopperClockMusic]

It makes much more sense for Galadriel to explain the beginning. It wouldn't make zero sense for frodo to be talking about how the world has changed, he has no idea how the world has changed. He's been in the Shire. Galadriel on the other hand has been around for ages and remembers events as they took place and knew people who had been around to shape middle Earth before her. When she talks about no one being left who remembers it's the perfect set up to the point that the elves are leaving their time in Middle Earth is over and that it is a time of transition. Galadriel was actually the perfect choice.

[@MusikCassette]

@@Aaron-AllenCopperClockMusic for what she actually sad and for the sombre tone Galadriel was the better choice what makes her the more interesting choice. The thing that would make Frodo the natural choice for a prologue is that in Universe, he is the one telling us the story. He knows everything he needs to know for that, because after the war of the ring he does quite a bit of research. An other natural choice would have been some later Gondorien scholar. Copying (and editing) the red book. But even though it makes a little less sense for Galadriel to make the prologue, I like, that she does so. Just because I like that she gets a little more screen time.

[@charlotte7356]

Please keep making LOTR videos!!

[@circeciernova1712]

My Little Thought Tree, My Little Thought Tree AaaAAAaaaAAA! My Little Thought Tree!

[@frankiesudia8098]

You got the part of golem being a hobbit but like a hobbit

[@elmermedina1713]

Now that the Hobbit trilogy is out should they change the scene with Ian Holm and replace it with Martin Freeman?

[@celestialspartan1176]

Here’s the thing tho, the ring is filled with Sauron’s essence, his blood. By extension, the ring is an extension of Sauron’s will.

[@geodaet83]

maybe instead of semi-interesting stories like the Hobbit they should actually make a prequel movie and/or series about Saurons backstory which ends in his downfall that is depicted in this prologue...

[@lambchop8671]

ive wanted them to make a movie based on the silmarillion. there is so many great stories before lord of the rings that could be made into a movie. especially morgoth

[@CharlieQuartz]

@@lambchop8671 have I got news for you…

[@cloudbloom]

@@CharlieQuartz ikr haha somebody gonna tell em?

[@lambchop8671]

@@cloudbloom yea ive known about the amazon prime tv series. its not the same

[@cloudbloom]

@@lambchop8671 agreed I have zero faith in that show being anything other than entertaining. Same with the upcoming wheel of time series

[@SquareSlyce]

The nine men bringing their rings down to waist level in unison would be perfect…if it wasn’t for the guy on the far right saying “nah, I’m not doing it.” Look at the shot, he’s just standing there like a goon…

[@sandradermark8463]

Odd nazgûl out

[@alfabasi]

Two "alternatives" endings for LOTR: 1. Golum fights with Frodo for the ring and, instead of falling, he wins and gets the ring, but, in a sudden moment of clarity he sees all the evil the ring has brought and decides to finish it by jumping himself with the ring holding it for him one last time. 2. When Aragorn bows before the four hobbits, Frodo decides to bow before Sam in an act of recognition and gratitude (and making Pippin and Merry to bow as well)

[@goncaloferreira6429]

interesting but not quite in the spirit of the original. 1- The power of the ring is too much for any mortal to bear, hence why the eucathatrophe is needed. 2- That OG scene in a recognition to the values of the small people, the one who led the quest to a good end, isolating a single one of those hobbits would be a disservice to the story as a whole. Also, somethings dont need to be said/aknowledge directely.

[@alfabasi]

@@goncaloferreira6429 good point indeed

[@Willz828]

A beginning is a very difficult time. Know then that it is the year....

[@mcclane9097]

please Analyze (Lost In Translation 2003)

[@jordanjoestar-turniptruck]

I would never accuse you of making too many LOTR analysis videos, primarily because there's no such thing

[@ayom5600]

Quality content despite the overlords watching every move you may make like Nazgūl hunting Frodo

[@KickYouInTheThroat]

3:40 - 3:51 Saruman would be too favorable to Sauron though lolllll

[@davidkulmaczewski4911]

Elrond would have made the most sense to narrate the prologue.... he is known to be a loremaster, and in fact related much of the early history of the Ring to the attendees of the Council of Elrond. Should have been Elrond.

[@lewisdewhurst3767]

Were doing it again...For Mordor!

[@Outlaw_1320]

I rather enjoyed the prolugue immensely.

[@oBuLLzEyEo1013]

Thumbs up now, watch later...

[@adelkaizbest2038]

That's the thing. In these movies there are many things that, based on what we know about making movies, shouldn't work (like 7 minutes long prologue) but it not only works. It's fuckin' amazing

[@bladeofnexus7359]

Mumbo Jumbo?

[@muskilh]

I might be wrong but I don't think Smeagol was a hobbit. I thought he was something else similar to hobbits but not exactly

[@tmage23]

There a 3 types of hobbits: Harfoots, Fallohides and Stoor. Smeagol was a Stoor hobbit. Still a hobbit but a different branch from Frodo and his friends

[@cloudbloom]

I wish I was friends with an Ent 👨‍🍳🤝🌳

[@timwatz2948]

I'm honestly not a fan of prolog knowledge dumps. I'm kinda more for starting in the middle of the action.

[@dougitoonsdesigns]

I haven't read all of the comments but I presume you know that the mood used by Galadriel is actually a quote from Treebeard in the book.

[@Lollaksyotuube]

What do you mean copyright? It is clearly fair use!

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Yeah, but it'd get caught in a 30 day dispute before I could release it, so it's easier to just edit the flagged bits

[@Lollaksyotuube]

@@mylittlethoughttree I guess KZbin just sucks :(

[@AWest-ns3dl]

Smeagol was not a hobbit but a man.

[@orangewarm1]

I'm a believer in leaving out prologue and epilogue. The brain will fill in the blanks and make the story personal and more meaningful.

[@chrisi1466]

Personally I do feel these movies are different where basically if they didn’t do this you’d just have to have Gandalf/Elrond/Galadriel info dump this stuff later on. (Which is what happens in the books most of this prologue is told to Frodo from Gandalf)

[@majkus]

On the other hand, Jackson's prologue in The Hobbit, based on a book that - unlike LotR - has a famous and often-quoted opening line, is (like much of those films) overblown and otiose. Like Bilbo, we can get much of this exposition from the Dwarves and Gandalf in their visit; and since we have seen Lord of the Rings, it could be safely framed as Sam's voice reading (to his children) from the Red Book. As it is, the famous first line from the book comes twenty minutes into the film, and not right after the prologue. No, it is after the even more unnecessary fan-service framing story with Frodo. So one of the most famous openings in children's literature is the _third_ start for the film, and loses its significance.

[@tigqc]

Meh, I prefer Up's Marriage montage.

[@allandm]

Meanwhile in anime: A loli talking for 10 minutes straight with no pause, can barely keep up with the subs.

[@Gryffster]

I used to like film. I used to think much of it was intelligent. But recently, I just think most of it is just garbage. Please rescue me.

[@samwell2386]

Huh

[@amphilochusofmallus5070]

Disliking this video off jump because you started with the Jackson slop