The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) I FIRST TIME WATCHING I MOVIE REACTION (Part 2)

[@mrmadness2699]

Pity this wasn’t the extended version. The scene with Faramir, Boromir, and Denethor in the extended version explained SO MUCH!

[@danielschaeffer1294]

Now you’re beginning to understand why the trilogy really IS among the greatest films of all time. Everything in these films works together to make it worth seeing over and over again.

[@ODDnanref]

It works together because they the only trilogy to be greenlit as a trilogy. Other trilogies have one movie greenlit first and then the others greenlit afterward. It was insanity that someone was convinced to approve of three movies to be filmed back to back, with 3 years of pre-production and only after 3 years did filming start

[@raydafuq3570]

@@ODDnanref just shows once again how insanity and genius share a very thin line.

[@chinmaysangoram]

True.. I've lost count of how many times I've watched these movies, and read the books..

[@alistairgrey5089]

When king Theoden says that they are alone he's not just saying that out of spite. If he sent for help from Gondor it would likely take more than a week for their troops to get there. They wouldn't make it in time to do anything but bury the dead.

[@animetrashamvs]

More like he'd lost faith in Gondor (particularly Denethor in the books) and figured even if he called for aid they'd be unwilling or unable to help. But yeah less spiteful and more hopleless.

[@theMMAdhatter]

@@animetrashamvs Yeah, esp. because historically sieges could last _forever_ - and that was true even in canon. Helm Hammerhand held Hornburg against the Dunlendings throughout the Long Winter, upwards of five months, in Third Age 2759. But not only had Théoden lost hope, he more than likely knew what kind of desperate straits Gondor was in, and that they wouldn't be able to help even if he did send word. The movie also depicted his decisions as illogical, which doesn't even make sense internally. Even if all of the heroic and wise tactical choices he makes in the books are cut out of the movies, it makes NO SENSE to pretend Helm's Deep isn't the Rohirrim's absolute best chance for survival, especially if the Second Battle of the Fords does not come into play.

[@Makkaru112]

Faramir is a pupil & close friend of Gandalf, he wasn’t like his brother Boromir(you know what happened to him) Faramir is a noble virtuous character who is resistant to the corrupting influence of the Ring. He was quite the scholar and had a bearing about him like Aragorn. He also was a lore master as well. He definitely would have be better fitting to go to Rivendell. And he could learn so much there.(think on a higher mode of when Sam was in Rivendell/Imladris) In the books, Faramir is depicted as a wise and insightful leader who is deeply committed to his duty to protect Gondor and its people. He is also a skilled warrior and a capable commander who leads his men with honor and courage. Faramir's strength of character is perhaps best demonstrated by his willingness to let Frodo and Sam continue on their quest to destroy the Ring, even though he knows that the Ring is a powerful weapon that could help him in his struggle against Sauron. Faramir's strength and nobility are also tied to his Numenorean heritage. His mother, Finduilas, was of Numenorean descent and was named after an Elven princess. The Numenoreans were a race of Men who were granted long life and great wisdom by the Valar, the angelic beings who created the world of Middle-earth. Faramir's Numenorean bloodline gives him a special connection to the history of Middle-earth and imbues him with a sense of duty and honor that isinherited from his ancestors. In the films, Faramir's characterization is somewhat different. While he is still depicted as a noble and honorable character, his resistance to the Ring is not as strong as it is in the books. In the films, Faramir briefly considers taking the Ring to his father in order to win his approval, before ultimately letting Frodo and Sam continue on their journey. This change in characterization has been criticized by some fans of the books, who feel that it diminishes Faramir's strength of character and his resistance to the corrupting influence of the Ring. Overall, Faramir is a complex and fascinating character who embodies many of the themes that run throughout J.R.R. Tolkien's works, including duty & honour.

[@Mcvthree3]

That scene where Elrond predicts Aragorns death and Arwen lingering alone in darkness is among the saddest and most achingly beautiful moments in all cinema.

[@thejamppa]

And how much Hugo Weaving puts emotion in his voice, why he was so brilliant as V in V for Vendetta.

[@goddesssalem4842]

The beauty of that scene its the purest form of Art

[@jesse8068]

It is amazing... Because it;s her "best case" scenario

[@sallycriss353]

The Battle of Helm's Deep is still epic 21 years later and after MANY viewings.

[@mrdavman13]

For most cinema buffs, film students, and directors and writers it is seen as THE battle scene in cinema. The way the battle field is laid out, the way it’s filmed and the flow back and forth between hope and despair. It makes it extremely easy to picture exactly what is happening and where it is happening and you can see the whole thing in your mind. Not only that it is the longest set of scenes for one battle I believe

[@dominicstevens5851]

FoR tHe AlGoRiThM

[@mattdavid716]

You shall not click thru!!!!

[@pappapata]

I concur!

[@DavidMacDowellBlue]

A lot of folks give Theoden grief for his tactical decisions, but in the film he is proven right while both Aragorn and Gandalf are demonstrably wrong. Had Rohan met Saruman's army in open combat they would have been wiped out, vastly outnumbered and overwhelmed. Theoden was right to take refuge, to buy his people time. In fact, the battle was going the defenders' way until the wall blew up--which was something nobody could have expected beforehand.

[@Steve-eh4db]

Precisely. Monday Morning Qbing. How fast can women & children move? If only they all rode on Gandolf's horse, they all would of been safe to wherever their horse skipped to, no need for Helm's Deep.

[@Makkaru112]

He was a better leader in the books. Even Tolkien Lore channel explained the differences very well. He was contradicting himself lot in the movies. But yeah. Best movie anyway

[@DraconimLt]

I'd say they both had points. Yes the defences were holding at first, so Theoden was somewhat right about Helm's Deep being easier to defend than Edoras. But what about if there had been no elves, and the humans had run out of arrows? Then they'd have been overrun, even without the 'bomb', with nowhere to retreat to. So Gandalf was right about that. Also, the Rohirrim's strength is MOUNTED warfare, they'd have had an advantage over the Uruks if they'd fought 'hit and run' style rather than hand to hand combat. The Uruks were all on foot. Hit them with arrows and spears from horseback and ride away after a while, whittle them down. Like the Parthians against the Romans. The problem with that of course is that they would eventually reach Edoras anyway, and Theoden didn't have the numbers to kill enough this way fast enough. So yeah, both sides had points.

[@DavidMacDowellBlue]

@@DraconimLt Except Saruman's forces could only ever be slightly inconvenienced by such tactics. It was enough to eventually overwhelm Helm's Deep, a very defensible point. Edoras didn't even have a proper wall! It is almost impossible to defend in the face of any siege. If Theoden had led his troops against Saruman, even using the tactics you suggest, the Uruk-hai would have destroyed Edoras and killed (possibly eating) everyone in the city. Theoden knew he was facing a losing battle, without help. He was holding on for as long as he could. If he had followed Gandalf and Aragorn's advice (which, to be fair, was based on zero information about the size of Saruman's forces--although that is actually a point AGAINST them) then Rohan would have ceased to exist. Theoden instead held on from the strongest position for as long as he could manage, and help DID come, in time. He was very lucky. But then, one needs at least some good luck to win at almost anything. Without help arriving for Theoden, there was no possibility of victory. Period. No matter what he did. He chose the tactics that preserved as many of his people as possible for as long as he could manage. He did so with little real hope. But he soldiered on, doing what he could, and rejecting the flatly suicidal advice of Aragorn and Gandalf. Remember, the point of all this is to save Rohan's people. Gandalf and Aragorn's plan would have left them defenseless against an enemy of unknown size--which turned out to be vast beyond what any of them imagined. Aragorn helped lead an excellent defense of Helm's Deep, which would have lasted much longer had Saruman not had what we know as gunpowder. Gandalf made all the difference when he went and found Eomer's forces, leading them to Helm's Deep. But the only reason Eomer found anyone to defend was because Theoden made the right call by putting the people of Rohan inside a large fortress.

[@DraconimLt]

@@DavidMacDowellBlue oh I agree that he picked the best defensive option! All I'm really saying is that in the FILM at least, Gandalf IS right that going to Helm's Deep would corner them. With the numbers Theoden had (300 did Legolas say? And mostly old men and boys) before the Elves showed up, that Wall wouldn't have held long, even without the gunpowder. It is also CLOSER to Isengard, so they's have all been killed even quicker! Without the elves, there wouldn't have *been* anyone left to save in 5 days... To be fair tho, I don't think Gandalf and Aragorn meant fight with the handful of men you have. I think they meant (supported by Aragorn's comment about Eomer and his men), that Theoden should call his men to muster like he did to ride to Gondor. Surely Gandalf wouldn't have suggested something he knew would get the people killed? He's not stupid either, nor is Aragorn, thay had to have had an alternative, surely?

[@celtofcanaanesurix2245]

apparently legolas' eye color is a mistake where they forgot to put his contacts in. It is odd because I've never noticed this in twenty years of this movie being out, most of which I've seen this movie at least one in. So rare are mistakes in these movies that it is odd to find one...

[@Makkaru112]

What's funny is nobody in the whole crew found out so his skipping contact lenses that day was proof he got away with it hahah😂

[@gfwinn]

One element that most people don't get is the reason why Elrond is so opposed to Arwen marrying Aragorn is because he is the son of an Elven woman and a mortal man. He saw what happened to his mother and he doesn't want that to happen to his daughter.

[@Daedalus273]

Yes! Sometimes known as Elrond Half-Elven. He also had a twin brother named Elros who chose a mortal life & the fate of Men. Elros became the first king of Numenor (a long extinct kingdom by the end of the Third Age when these movies take place) and ruled it for 410 years & died a mortal.

[@Big_Tex]

That’s not quite accurate. He’s called halfelven but in fact both parents were mixed race. Don’t remember the details but there was a lot of mixing going back multiple generations of his line. His father didn’t grow old and die, he sailed to Valinor to plea for help. He was allowed to declare his fate to be as an immortal elf instead of a man, and after killing the dragon Ancalagon, he was placed among the stars. I don’t think Mother Elwing’s final passing to the west is recorded.

[@hkpew]

@@Big_Tex It's certainly possible that there was more mixing between elves and men during the first age than is recorded, but there are really only two (or maybe 2 1/2) instances on the record. The first was Beren (mortal man) and Luthien (elf maid, though actually she was half Maiar), after Beren died (and was briefly brought back) she was allowed to have a mortal death in order to remain with him. Their son, Dior, married an elf - that's the 1/2 of the 2 1/2 since Dior's status doesn't really seem to have ever been fully decided before he died. Dior's daughter was Elwing, the mother of Elrond and Elros. Meanwhile, Tuor (mortal man) and Idril (elf maid) were the parents of Earendil, the father of Elrond and Elros. Tuor was raised by elves and is believed to have been the only purely mortal man allowed to become an elf and go to live in Valinor. After Earendil went to Valinor in a successful attempt to gain the aid of the Valar in the fight against Morgoth the Valar decided that they would allow the decendents of Beren and Luthien and Tuor and Idril to choose once and for all whether they would be counted among mortal men. Elwing chose to be an elf, and Earendil (who otherwise would rather have been a mortal man) chose the same in order to be with her. Elrond chose to be an elf also, and Elros chose to be a mortal man. Aragorn is somwhere around Elros' 60th great grandson. (That makes Aragorn and Arwen first cousins ~60 times removed.)

[@Kingofthebroadforrest]

I agree.

[@shastacat9632]

arwen is also aragorns long descended aunt

[@magicbrownie1357]

Elves are capable of changing their appearance through sheer will. Whether it is actually happening or an illusion they project is not clear. Thranduil, Legolas' father, also does this. Elves are also extraordinarily agile and light on their feet. Legolas was walking ON TOP of the snow in The Fellowship of the Ring, while everyone else was trudging through it.

[@alexromanov5054]

Except his eyes change color because Orlando Bloom hated his colored contacts lmao

[@stingerjohnny9951]

Yeah, basically Tolkien had a massive hard-on for elves and let everyone else exist as a courtesy.

[@cenotemirror]

"Send out riders! Gondor will come!" "You realize it's at least a four day ride to Gondor? And even if, once my rider gets there, Denethor instantly decides to help, and already had the army mustered and ready to go, it would take them probably twice that time to arrive? So at a best case scenario we're looking at like ten days before Gondor could reach us, and you just told me Isengard will be here tomorrow?" "...never mind." "Yeah, that's what I thought."

[@Makkaru112]

Well said. I also sent her the maps so she can also see how spread apart some locations are from eachother! ❤

[@kingscorpion7346]

you wondered what happened to Legolas' blue eyes during one scene? yeah, funny thing, Orlando Bloom must have forgotten to put in his blue contact lenses that day and no one caught it!

[@blackeyedlily]

I highly recommend that you look up the extended version Boromir scene from the Two Towers. This is an excellent scene of Faramir remembering his last time with his brother, and adds some really good context to their stories. It is probably the best additional scene from this movie that you missed by not watching the extended version, but there are some other great scenes there as well, including more context for what is going on with Aragorn and Arwyn. I still encourage you to watch the extended version for the final movie. You were correct to compare the battle scene to Game of Thrones. The battle of Helms Deep is considered one of the best battle scenes ever filmed. It literally took weeks of nighttime shoots to complete it. So when Game of Thrones came along over a decade later, they definitely took inspiration from this battle for their enormous battle scenes. I enjoyed your comparing the talking, walking trees to Narnia. The author of the Narnia series, CS Lewis was a friend and fellow professor of J.R.R. Tolkien. And Tolkien used to share parts of his story with Lewis as he was developing it, though the Narnia series was written many years after the time that they were professors together. Tolkien took inspiration from MacBeth for the moving trees. In MacBeth soldiers disguised themselves with branches to blend in with the trees when they were attacking a castle. Tolkien saw the play when he was young and was disappointed that the trees didn’t actually have the ability to move. The actor who voiced Treebeard is the same actor who played Gimli, John Rhys-Davis. You definitely seem to be enjoying his Gimli!

[@tinkler4]

Yep, need to go through the extended edition. Even though the theatrical versions are still amazing. But you miss vital information that makes sense.

[@MayLina]

what i absolutely love about that cut scene is that it shows that Boromir didn't even want to ride to the concil and didn't want to use the ring to protect Gondor. But father made him ride anyway and as soon as we see Boromir speak at concil, it is not him, he is already affected by the ring.

[@davidraetsen]

You’ll be happy to know that Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn) developed a strong bond with his horse and bought it after filming was completed.

[@danielschaeffer1294]

He also turned out to be a master swordsman.

[@humanconnectionaddict6765]

As I understand it, Mortensen has been in love with/known horses to some extent since he was a little boy; seven (7) years-old to be exact.

[@Makkaru112]

​@Darkstar surprised that you don't know that.... its been shared on many reaction videos. And it's a known fact for a long time. Either in the passion project documentary films or it was found out elsewhere but it's been known within the millions of people who are Tolkien lovers.

[@silvervelcroo6129]

Heres a coulpe interesting things about "The two towers" 1. Before the Helm s deep battle et Aragon and Legolas dialogue when Aragon said "" Then i shall die as one of them" was so great. They were first talking in elvish to ensure the others wouldn't understand what was being said, but Aragorn speaking english symbolizes Aragorn's loyalty to the defenders 2. The horse that rescue Aragon after he falls into the water... Viggo/Aragon liked that horse so much, he bought him after the movie ended 3. Remember the Rohan Flag that flies off when they arrive at the king? That was not part script It was extremely windy that day, and they thought it symbolic enough to keep in. So they added later the shot of Aragorn looking at the flag on the ground. 4. When Faramir took Frodo and Sam to Osgiliath, Sam says, "By rights, we shouldn't even be here." This is a reference to the fact that they never went to Osgiliath in the books 5. At the end of the movie Faramir was mean to gollum because he was taking them through Kirith Ungol, which is said to be a dangerous path. In a land of constant fighting 6. All the wizards are kinda like fairies sent from the god of this world ( Sent by Valar ) and all have different task. When Gandalf comes back as the White rider, he is, in a sense, Saruman. He has become what Saruman should've been, because Saruman was the leader of the Maiar before being corrupted. "The White" was the title of the leader of the Five Wizards, the most powerful of their order, that s why gandalf turned from grey to white! To replace saruman since he wasn’t doing his job. 7. When Sam says about Smeagol that "There's no hope for him", Frodo reacted that way because it would mean that it will eventually be no hope for him. 8.About the scene when Eowyn realise Aragon is descendent from the Numenoreans. Well, Numenoreans is a race of men who fought in the first Age alongside the elves against Evil and they were granted an island in the middle of the ocean and long live (as a present for their help against evil). They prospered in the second age until corruption reached most of them, and the Island was destroyed. The survivors (who were the uncorrupted ones) of that race founded Gondor and Arnor (which was later dismantle) and the Numenoreans mix with local men but some still remained of pure lineage like Aragorn who is descendant from the Royal line. Then we get to the third age where this events told in the movies take place, so Aragorn is a human man, but he's descended from Elrond's brother who chose to be mortal and his family kept some of the Elvish blood so he is longer-lived than most normal humans and ages slowly in comparison. 9. The actor who plays Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) also does the voice for Tree Beard/ The Ent 10. When the old man accidentally lets his arrow right before the battle, Aragorn yells out "Haldo!" in elvish, not "Hold!" (like most of reactors belived), because he believed only an elf could have made that shot. 11. About the fact that Gollum says "we" about himself, Gollum lived so long with "two person" in him: Smeagol - the original person and Gollum - the creature that was born from having the ring. You can tell who is in control, Smeagol or Gollum by the dilation of his pupils. Big pupils for Smeagol and small pupils for Gollum. 12.When Gollum saved Frodo in the Dead Marshes with all those corpses in the water, that was the place from the scene of the huge battle you saw take place at the beginning of the first movie the War of the Last Alliance, and that war actually lasts for a number of years. The Battle of the Dagorlad (which eventually becomes the Dead Marshes) takes place about 4 or 5 years before the ring is cut from Sauron's hand.

[@scalefree]

Valinor is the ultimate destination of all Elves, when they tire of living in Middle Earth. Elrond delays his journey for the sake of prosecuting the War on Sauron & preservation of Rivendell. he's Keeper of Vilya, one of the Three Elven Rings which gives him power to protect Rivendell from the ravages of time & incursion by Sauron.

[@malyvo0]

I mean, it's a common trend these days going with the approach "I haven't seen the body, thus the character can't be dead". I for one hate that approach, since it's cheating in a way. Of course it's a common trick of moviemakers, but think about it's purpose! The filmmaker does the scene for you to believe it, to bring up the same emotions the characters in the scene are having. Like when Gandalf or Aragorn fall. You're supposed to feel the loss, the pain, the greef, so that then, when they come back, you can be thrilled about it, feel overwhelemd by happines of meeting your favourite character once again. Moreover, in books you don't really have this option, you read what the author has written for you. Of course you can have your theories, but you don't blatantly go "no, it didn't happen like this". I would've much preffered if people believed what the movie storytellers tell them and then enjoyed fully all the many surprises the stories will bring to them.

[@Lunarbob19]

I totally agree with this, in movies anime and cartoons, this approach of denying what the show tells you is aggravating.

[@nisrenedannaoui1000]

The part where the tree that was on fire dunks his head under the river always makes me chuckle 😂

[@billthomas478]

I love her facial expressions and how much into it she is. We got another one! You'll love the next one

[@swaatheshirts3374]

The whispering back to Arwen though? Halfamir? Hilarious 😂. I'm sure the runtime could be intimidating, but the extended editions are a must ... Especially for TTT and ROTK. Seeing how you look to be fully engrossed, you would not even notice the extra time for the extended versions... methinks.

[@johnwalters1341]

No, you were correct in your assumption; Gandalf really died in his battle with the Balrog. Tolkien gives a detailed chronology of events in one of the many Appendices that follow ROTK. In it he says that Gandalf's dead body lay on the peak of Celebdil from January 25 to February 14, before being resurrected as Gandalf the White.

[@shannonmcvey8669]

Regarding Gandalf. Gandalf has been alive for somewhat more than 300 years. He has, in fact, been alive since the very beginning of creation. He has been in Middle Earth since shortly after the battle shown at the beginning of the series. Gandalf is quite literally an angel...not an arcangel, but an angel none the less. Him, Sauroman, Radagast and 6 others were sent into Middle Earth to counter Sauron. Gandalf was grey, Sauroman, being the wisest of them, was white. Radagast was brown, and the others were green and blue. All the others went into the east and are never mentioned again.

[@DarthChosen]

the story has so much more, the movies did as best they could and theyre truly a masterpiece. the depth of emotions people feel watching is truly a blessing.

[@Dave3Dguy]

"Never before have we clad strangers in the garb of our own people. May these cloaks help shield you from unfriendly eyes." - Celeborn, spoken to the fellowship upon departing Lothlorien in the first film. Some viewers forget that scene when they see Frodo and Sam hide from the Haradrim soldiers at the black gate.

[@thatpatrickguy3446]

Great reaction as usual! I loved that Pippin got his one moment of absolute genius in this movie, getting the ents into the war. It was so amazing to see those scenes of the attack on Isengard. Theoden was a great king. In effect, his last ride out was to buy time for the rest of his people and to give his last breath to try to save his people instead of making sure he was the first to escape like many leaders in the modern world. And it showed he trusted Eowyn to lead the people in his absence. The extended edition shows much more of the Faramir/Boromir backstory. Boromir was more easily corrupted by the ring because his father had put so much pressure on him to get the ring, the "weapon of the enemy", and to bring it to Gondor to use in the battle against Mordor as his father thought (wrongfully) that it would help defeat Sauron. Faramir had some of the same pressure on him, though not as much as his father thought him to be all but useless, so while he had the same compulsion to bring the ring to his father (and more importantly prove himself a son worthy of respect) he could resist the ring's influence and make the right decision for Frodo, Sam, and Gollum. The fault of Boromir and Faramir's desire to take the ring to Gondor was due to their father's mistaken belief, not to their own greed or stupidity.

[@kobarsos82]

Galadriel gave them a hell lot of useful (and personalized) gifts. However you don't even see them in the non-extended version. The cloaks are just one of many. You miss a lot of things unfortunately, without the extended versions. Lots of details, but details kinda matter in the end. Thanks for the great video.

[@baddbabylon]

Well they give Merry "just a dagger" so it really doesn't matter 😂 /s

[@comicenthusiast]

It's cool you related the Ents (the talking trees) to Narnia, because Tolkien based Treebeard, on C.S. Lewis, they were good friends after WW1, and would send each other chapters of their books as they wrote them.

[@Big_Tex]

To get into the weeds here - you mention Galadriel gave a “light thing” to Frodo. That light thing literally shines with the light of Elrond’s father Earendil. Because the heroic Earendil was placed into the Heavens and shines as a bright star, which starlight Galadriel captured in her phial that she gave Frodo. In the 1st book in Rivendell, there’s a moment when Pippin is amazed to realize how old Elrond is; Elrond coolly says “Earendil was my sire”. There’s not even a modern parallel to that since we have no names of anyone in known history who lived 6500 years ago.

[@tonysmith5504]

From a tactical standpoint… at helm’s deep when the guy slips with the bow and kicks off the battle… is a good thing… make your enemies attack before they recover strength from the march to get there

[@PhilBagels]

And you would never hold an arrow at full draw in a bow, waiting for the command to shoot. That'd be really stupid - you're just straining your muscles and making yourself tired. You don't pull back the string until you're ready to shoot. Maybe you hold it for a second or two to aim, but that's it. Also, they wouldn't say, "Fire!" to shoot arrows. No one ever said, "fire" to shoot something until firearms had been invented. The correct command would be, "Loose!" as in let the arrow loose.

[@dontwitty1656]

in Osgillieth, where Frodo doesn't recognize Sam, where Sam says ""by rights we shouldn't even be here" is accurate because this section wasn't in the book

[@Makkaru112]

How you called Thèoden "Thèodor" was hilariously cute for both you and Thèoden hes actually one of the best chatacters in the trilogy books.❤❤❤❤

[@XeonAlpha]

8:40 that dialog from Elrond to Arwen is one of my favorite scenes in the entire LOTR series. It's incredibly beautiful and _absolutely_ heartbreaking. There's also a metric tonne of lore to unpack, that I won't go into until after you've watched Return of the King.

[@Cinerary]

One of the best cinematography scenes of all time. Never fails to make me weep with empathy, overwhelmed by the sadness and the beauty.

[@Mreffs101]

Halfamir LOL It's especially funny because Pipin has a son he names Faramir so I guess he would kinda be a Halfamir.

[@hellosurge4622]

People say watch the extended editions, which you should. However, you should watch/review the appendices!! Reviewers don’t ever do that. The appendices (behind the scenes) of the LOTR are ALSO 12 hours long. Lots of you tube videos can be made off of those. :)

[@lordfoul6259]

There's a scene in the extended edition where Aragorn says he's 87 years old and the reason why he doesn't age as fast as other people is because his ancestors were from Numenor where they had much longer life spans

[@isaackellogg3493]

This conversation reveals that King Theoden is only in his mid-forties. Aragorn is old enough to be his grandfather.

[@lordfoul6259]

@@isaackellogg3493 yeah I know it's nuts

[@NarvT86]

That's why in ROP they have armor that look plastic to make sure that through time it doesn't rust , just kidding :p

[@Makkaru112]

@@NarvT86 hey. That was pretty funny. Keep on stabbing ROP. It must continue to wither away like the cursed life form that it is. 😂❤

[@dirkbsilver9260]

Just an FYI for those who may not now. The book trilogy w originally written as a single novel that was ten split by the publisher as they thought it would never sell or be read.

[@jarrettenaope7038]

Out of Respect for Sir Christopher Lee…”To Waaarr!”…🎭..That Speech Was As Frightening as it Was Beautiful

[@xxlCortez]

Without the extended version of the last movie you won't see Saruman anymore.

[@davewhitmore1958]

"DO NOT FALL IN LOVE!!!" Oh, if only it were that easy . . .

[@olafthebear2327]

Technically Gandalf did die on the mountaintop. But the creators, which aren't corrupted, sent him back to finish his mission with a bit more of his own power. That might not make sense. Gandalf and Saruman are like angels of a sort in Middle-Earth, but when they are around the humans and elves etc. they don't have their full powers. The Balrog is also similar to Gandalf, but followed the creator who became corrupted: Morgoth.

[@seimen4348]

Just a small little thing: Theodin was absolutely right to go to helms deep. And in the book he didnt do it out of fear. Edoras(the main city where he was freed from saruman) is basically undefendable against an army that big. Especially like in the movie when its mainly made out of wood. 5 volleys of fire arrows and the whole city would burn and there were enough uruks to completely encircle it. Secondly, helms deep is at the border to the westfold and near isengard. They knew Sarumans army was there and mich bigger than the rest of men theoden had. So they barricade somewhere between isengard and edoras and that was helms deep. If saruman hadnt blown up the walls(what no one could have thought of) he would have easily won and were in striking distance to isengard for retribution. Beside that all the left soldiers of the westfold were in helms deep already. Going to helms deep was the only chance there was. Sadly the movie felt the need of more drama. Oh, and gandalf is around 1200 years old ;) The wizzards are basically angels(to use a catholic church term) as well as sauron and the balrog.

[@cenotemirror]

Yeah, this is one of my few problems with the movie. Most of the changes they make in the films are necessary, but this one is just stupid. In the books everyone sees that going to Helm's Deep is the obvious thing they should do. In the movie Aragorn thinks that they should 'ride out and meet' the army that outnumbers them over ten to one and fight them in the open field rather than from behind the walls of one of the strongest fortresses in Middle Earth. What he thought that would accomplish beyond get Theoden and all his men killed is beyond me. It's bullshit hollywood chestbeating.

[@seimen4348]

@@cenotemirror totally agree. We saw how that works in the last season of game of thronew iat the battle for winterfell. Never saw a cavalry wasted so poorly XD

[@lukasr5867]

​@@seimen4348 and @MikeL, I'm afraid you're mixing up a few points here ... 1 - Regarding the decision to go to Helms Deep instead of attacking themselves: They know that Saruman is building an army and got the "wild men" to ransack the settlements in the Westfold. They don't know about the ten-thousand-strong army of uruks until Aragorn sees them on his way to the Hornburg (in the movie). So gathering your cavalry and putting a stop to the ransacking wild men would be a good first step. The way they are portrayed in the movie (basically a mob), they wouldn't stand a chance against Rohans organized cavalry. Incidentally that is exactly what they planned in the book. There they find the Westfold in disarray, the Westfold army, that they had intended to support, was already overrun and parts of Sarumans army already on the way to Helms Deep, where the civilians and remnants of the Westfold soldiers were barricaded. Only there did they change the plan and make a run for the Hornburg themselves, both fleeing from the large main body of Sarumans army and saving the understaffed Hornburg from the attack of Sarumans advance guard. So, with that in mind, Gimli's statement (in the movie) to fight instead of go into hiding does make quite a lot of sense. What makes less sense is that they (in the movie) take their own civilians with them on that long and dangerous path (as Wormtongue describes it), instead of leaving them at Dun Harrow, much closer to Edoras, as they do in the book. 2 - Regarding Aragorns statement to ride out against the bulk of remaining Uruks: From what we can see in the movie, there are only a handful of soldiers left defending the castle, they've retreated to the very last chamber and the Uruks are about to hammer down those doors as well. They can't defend themselves from within there (no way to shoot out) and once the Uruks come through the door, those last few Rohan soldiers are easily dealt with. Riding out on the other hand gives them a moment of surprise, the literal high ground against the towering Uruks as well as an effective way to clear a path (as seen when they ride down the ramp to the main gate). Sure, the remaining army in front of the fortress might still kill them all, but at least they have a better chance that way. It also is a way to remind the depressed Theoden of his pride and his own plan, which was to make such an end that it would be remembered in songs - riding out against an overwhelming enemy and (hopefully) taking a lot of them with you on the way fits that bill much more than being slaughtered, trapped in the very last room of your castle. And last - but very much not least - "the sun is rising", as Gimly noted. Aragorn trusts that Gandalf would return as promised and bring salvation in some form or other. If they are trapped and killed inside the castle that help might come too late. But if they ride out, they can meet with Gandalf and join forces. And again, this whole part is not too dissimilar from the book. Except in the book they didn't have to give up quite as much of the castle yet and Aragorn gives a speech to (the human part of) the enemy army as the sun rises, trying to convince them to give up, before they ride out (with a significantly larger group, having Eomers riders already with them), and meet Gandalf and the reinforcements (which arrive on foot as, again, Eomer and his riders are already in the castle). In general barricading yourself instead of attacking a stronger force is a valid tactic - the more so the bigger the difference between your own strength and that of your enemy. But it requires that you a) have a way to attack your enemy from within the barricade and/or can expect stronger supporting forces to arrive and b) have sufficient stores of food and water and/or ways to replenish them. Theoden trusts his castle to guarantee him (a.1), but in the movie doesn't send for Eomer or any other help (a.2) nor do they have enough stores or any way out of the valley to get more (b.1+2). So right out going to Helms Deep really isn't that much of a good idea in the movie. In the books at least they have sufficient stores and go there more out of necessity than for any kind of plan. The movies for sure aren't perfect and there are certainly some things that could have been done better (without requiring double or more runtime). But I don't think those two quotes you're picking on are part of that. Within their context, they seem absolutely sensible to me.

[@ODDnanref]

​@@cenotemirror While the correct decision was holding up on helms deep. At that time they had no idea of their numbers. That is only discovered by Aragon after he falls into the river. So meeting them in open field is an okay choice that allows them to ambush an army while it moves (when it is at its most vulnerable) and then ride into isengard that undefended. Also, it allows them to meet with the main bulk of the riders. So more flexibility in their maneuverability. Granted, it probably would have had them killed.

[@thejamppa]

@@ODDnanref True, Rohans used hit and run tactics against uruks as we saw earlier. Just like Finns did against soviet column in Winter War. When you are marching in column, its hard to to react and defend properly against the mobile hit and run tactics. With local knowledge it would have been viable option but...

[@Big_Tex]

9:16 when Elrond paints that image of Arwen grieving over the body of old dead Aragorn - remember that for later discussion when the movies are done!

[@Makkaru112]

In the books, Faramir is portrayed as a character who is gifted with foresight + dreams. This is in contrast to his brother Boromir, who does not have the same level of foresight or prophetic ability despite the fact he does have a few moments with prophetic insights etc but his younger brother Faramir had it all. Faramir's dreams and visions are an important part of his character and play a significant role in the story. In one of his most significant dreams, Faramir sees a great wave coming out of the west, which he interprets as a sign of the coming of Aragorn, the rightful King of Gondor. This dream gives Faramir hope and inspires him to continue fighting against Sauron's forces. Faramir's prophetic abilities are also tied to his Numenorean heritage. The Numenoreans were known for their wisdom and foresight, and Faramir's ability to have prophetic dreams is seen as a manifestation of this heritage. Interestingly, in the books, it is revealed that Faramir was originally intended to be a member of the Fellowship of the Ring and attend the Council of Elrond, instead of Boromir. However, due to a change of plan, Boromir was sent in his place. This further highlights the importance of Faramir's character and his role in the story, as he was originally intended to play a more central role in the events of the War of the Ring. Faramir has several other dreams and visions mentioned in the book. One of the most significant is his dream of the coming of the Winged Shadow, which he interprets as a sign of the coming of the Nazgul. This dream prompts him to take action to defend Osgiliath against the Nazgul's attack. Faramir also has a vision of a white tree, which he sees as a symbol of the restoration of Gondor's greatness. This vision inspires him to undertake a quest to find and reclaim the lost symbol of Gondor's power, the sapling of the White Tree. In another dream, Faramir sees a vision of a man with a star on his forehead, which he interprets as a sign of the coming of Aragorn, the rightful King of Gondor. This dream gives him hope and strengthens his resolve to fight against Sauron's forces. Faramir's dreams and visions are seen as a manifestation of his Numenorean heritage and his connection to the wisdom and foresight of his ancestors. They also serve to guide him in his decisions and actions throughout the story, and help him to play an important role in the War of the Ring.

[@Makkaru112]

One of these occurs when he is leading his men in battle against the forces of Sauron. In the heat of the battle, Faramir suddenly sees a vision of Frodo and Sam struggling up the slopes of Mount Doom with the Ring. This vision gives him renewed hope and inspires him to continue fighting despite the odds. Faramir also has a vision of Gandalf, which he sees in the Palantir, the seeing-stone of Orthanc. In this vision, Gandalf appears to him as a figure of great power and wisdom, and Faramir is filled with awe and reverence at the sight. Finally, Faramir has a dream in which he sees a figure who he believes to be the Lady of the Golden Wood, Galadriel. In the dream, Galadriel offers him a choice between a path of light and a path of darkness, and Faramir chooses the path of light. This dream is significant because it shows Faramir's commitment to the cause of good and his refusal to be swayed by the temptations of evil. Overall, Faramir's dreams and visions are an important part of his character and his role in the story of "The Lord of the Rings." They serve to guide him in his decisions, inspire him to continue fighting against the forces of darkness, and highlight his connection to theNumenorean heritage and wisdom. There might be a few things I misremember or mix up with other things since the world of Arda is a vast but beautiful one❤ ❤❤❤ Feel free to correct me people. But do it respectfully 💕🥰

[@lukasr5867]

@@Makkaru112 Sorry, but unless you have some reference to some part of the appendices that mention all those dreams (and I have no idea why the appendices would go on about dreams that much, they are usually more about names and dates), I'm going to have to assume that you dreamt up most of those (with all respect). They certainly don't appear in the main body of the book (except for the one that brings Boromir to Rivendell). Faramir seeing anything in any Palantir, especially the one from Orthanc (Sarumans tower), is just ludicrous. He never got close to any of those stones. And about Frodo and Sam struggling up Mount Doom - well, that's spoiler territory, but he certainly wasn't fighting anyone at that time.

[@Makkaru112]

@@lukasr5867 I may have mixed them up with what other characters experience. But I know a few of them were from Faramir. It’s easily google-able. It showed up pretty easily for me when I was looking for exact quotes etc.

[@Makkaru112]

@@lukasr5867 yeah. I think I mixed up the palantir bit with something else… the legendarium is HUGE. 25 books in fact. So I beg your pardon good sir. ❤️

[@Makkaru112]

@@lukasr5867 she already watched all three pretty quickly and uploaded them to patreon long before they were uploaded to KZbin. Also through me she actually wants to jump into reacting to the lore channels and their videos as well. I’m one of her top tier patreon members. ❤️ it’s not spoiler territory since I was with her from the beginning. She had already watched these three films ahead of time to save time for other things in her life!

[@mgentles3]

Almost every reactor says, 'push the ladders'. It's a little surprising. I mean, how do you push a ladder far enough to pass it's point of balance and go backward? I think you'd need a very long, a VERY long pole for that.

[@callumpears1523]

Yeah something that always irks me watching this movie (as much as I do love it) is when Aragorn throws one of the ladders back with barely any effort.

[@guywhowatchesvideos-z2e]

If you look closely, the guy throwing the spear is actually the director, Peter Jackson. He makes a cameo in all three movie. 48:37

[@ghyslainabel]

The extended edition contains a flashback with Boromir and Faramir. It showed the deep love between the brothers.

[@Aeolusdallas]

I really think this is the strongest of the three movies.

[@BobBlumenfeld]

Sadly, you apparently chose not to view the Extended Edition, so you were at a loss as to why Faramir wanted to bring the Ring to Gondor. There was a very intense and explanatory flashback to a scene between Boromir, Faramir and their father Denethor that explained much of both Boromir's and Faramir's actions.

[@camannwordsmith]

(there was a nicer way to make this same point - also, as a reminder, reactors don't owe anyone anything)

[@waylonmercy1533]

There’s a reason those s scenes mark were left out of the theatrical version. They weren’t that good

[@BobBlumenfeld]

@@camannwordsmith I know they don't. I was just sorry for her that she didn't know Faramir's reason for "showing his quality."

[@GeoffTrowbridge]

@@waylonmercy1533 Well, you have the right to your opinion, even if it's wrong. The theatrical cuts were made because the theatres demanded a more reasonable runtime, not because of any perceived lack of quality. The cut scenes, while perhaps not essential to understanding the overall narrative, offer an incredible amount of background on the characters, their motivations, and the world as a whole. In fact, if you watch the theatrical cut of RotK, there are no less than FOUR characters who basically just disappear from the story with no closure whatsoever. That's not filler. It's important stuff.

[@BobBlumenfeld]

@@GeoffTrowbridge "The theatrical cuts were made because the theatres demanded a more reasonable runtime, not because of any perceived lack of quality. " Because the first movie clocked in at 2:58 and the second at 2:59, I strongly suspect someone in Hollywood put a three-hour limit on the runtime. I also think that by the time ROTK came out Peter Jackson had enough clout to break the 3-hour barrier.

[@bookwormfaith]

haha most people don't notice the eye change for Legolas - I believe it was because the blue contacts irritated his eyes XD

[@quoniam426]

It's not bad SFX, Elves can dfy laws of physics (they don't dip in snow, they stay on it, for example, they seem lighter than other lifeforms thanks to their purity and magic. Giving the Ring to a Museum, really? Shame Indiana Jones wasn't there... To take advantage best of the bow strength, the arrow must be the same length as your arm, Elves being naturally taller than everyone, their arrows are naturally longer as well. Of course a crossbow can have standardized ammo since the system is purely macanical. Trees can live for a very long, their own perception of time is not the same as ours. Helm's Deep was the biggest siege battle in cinema after Torquilstone in Ivanhoe made in the 50s. About Theoden, he's not at his best here. Think of it, he just came out of a nightmare being possessed for months by Saruman, months during which he didn't truly witness what was going on, his kingdom being ransacked, his people slaughtered, his nephew being banished, his son being killed. He wakes up thanks to Gandalf and what does he see? All that happened and he couldn't prevent anything from happening, of course, he blames himself although it was not his fault. It's there that Aragorn's role is clear, he can bring back Theoden on his feet by giving him a morale boost.

[@bryanmyers5620]

They were going to die no matter what, Theoden was saying they were going to die in manner that would be worthy of remembrance, instead of just being slaughtered.

[@bryanmyers5620]

Also, the book is quite different in regards to Theoden. He sends the women and children to a different stronghold in the mountains while he and every able-bodied man and strong lad ride out to war. They end up in Helm's Deep but that was not their destination.

[@SophiesDriver]

One of my favorite things to do in my free time is watch and rewatch KZbinrs react to LOTR. I am sure I have never seen one whisper back to, or at, Arwen. I love it! 😀😃😅😂🤣👍👏👏✌

[@Cameron5043]

OMG, i cannot wait for Return of the King! Please post it soon! I understand that you watched the movies in their theatrical version before you realized about the extended versions. There is an opening scene in Return of the King in the extended version that explains Sauruman''s fate that is completely cut from the theatrical version and it was the worst editing choice of all time! In Peter Jackson's defense, they filmed all 3 movies at the same time, and by the time time they were editing Return of the King, he was so punch drunk tired exhausted he was just sorta cutting stuff left right and center to get it down to theatrical release length. But i damn near screamed when I finally saw the extended version on the DVD, OMG. That scene should have been left in...so please watch it as soon as you can! Im going to be right here, perched and waiting, to watch Return of the King with you!

[@mrdavman13]

That scene alone is one of the highlights of the trilogy. And actually an outstanding scene in all of cinema. The score, the way Christopher Lee pronounces and annunciates. The physical acting of the free peoples. It is just amazing. When I saw it in theaters that scene hit with so much more weight than I had ever seen it.

[@teomarik]

The movies sadly don't have enough time to fully explain how painful Arwen's sacrifice to be with Aragorn is. There has been only 3 human - elf couples in the history of Arda, and all of them ended up pretty badly. By the way, Elrond's grandparents were human and elf, he is an half-elf and was given by the Valar (the Gods) the choice wether being human or elf. He chose to be elf, his brother Elros chose to be human. But the immortality is not the substantial difference between a man and and and elf. Elves are bound to Arda (the world) and even if they die after some time they are reborn as spirits in Valinor, and they KNOW they will live forever with their race until the end of times, no matter what. Humans are like us, their spirit is not bound to Arda and nobody knows where they go when they die. By staying with Aragorn, Arwen is choosing to (basically) die of pain due to Aragorn death (which in her life expectancy is the blink of an eye) PLUS she is giving up the fate of her species; she is basically giving up the luxury of knowing FOR SURE she will live forever with her beloved ones to embrace the unknown and face the same destiny as the human race. We don't know what happens but we hope to live forever with our family after we die; she can't even hope that because for sure she won't see her father, mother or brothers again. Pretty high risk to take for love, isn't it?

[@shastacat9632]

its painful for elrond not arwen, its just a scary choice to choose to be mortal

[@Makkaru112]

There was way more. There was the literally Eärendil who was the son of Tuor the of the great houses of the Edain and Idril of the Vanyar. Then to this day Aegnor and Andreth reunited in Halls Of Mandos where he actually doesn't let anyone or anything separate them again!

[@Makkaru112]

They go to the halls of Eru as they were as everything is as an extension of his thought which he learns more about himself through the children of Eru including all of the Ainur too. The rohirric men embrace death as their ancestors who helped in thr same war of wrath.. accepting death long ago and its called the golden halls of their faters. "Of whom of mighty company" several mannish heros come back including pharadons army that was kept alive for when dagor dagorath happens.... so they are fine. Don't worry.

[@teomarik]

@@Makkaru112 this is what people believe but actually nobody knows what happens. This is why it is called "the Gift of Eru".

[@Makkaru112]

​@@teomarik they don't just go nowhere. Same with us! And the fact Beren came back from the dead alongside Lùthien and how Túrin comes back for the final battle says where the author's mind was going at the later time of his life.

[@cendererol]

at 21:13 elves salutes the Prince of Mirkwood Legolas Greenleaf

[@Makkaru112]

Also showed the significance of that all over again since it happens again in Lothlòrien when he notices Legolas.

[@aaronburdon221]

Gandalf is about 3000-4000 years old. He said 300 lives of men he's wandered this world. His Maia spirit known as Olorin has been around longer than the world has so he's very old. He's not the oldest in middle earth but he's definitely one of the older ones.

[@paulkauphart9444]

Na, more like 2000 years, the Istari arrive in middle earth around 1000 years into the Third Age, and the Hornburg battle happens in 3019 TA.

[@aaronburdon221]

@@paulkauphart9444 hmmm I could've sworn he was older than that. Maybe I was thinking Elrond.

[@Makkaru112]

​@@aaronburdon221 he is older than that. Reply to this message if you'd like me to post some great information that I've been putting together recently. ❤

[@aaronburdon221]

@@Makkaru112 maybe it's time I brush up on my silmarillion. Been several years since I've read it so my info might be off.

[@FlorianRothacker]

Not correct: As a Maiar - the Maiar Olorin - Gandalf is about 57'000 years old (because he existed since the beginning of the world Arda, wich was created 5000 valian years before the beginning of the first age (5000 Valian years are 50'000 solar years!). But in his form as a wizard with a man-like physical body, he lives since the year 1050 of the third age in Middle-Earth, so he is at the age of 1969 in the year of the war of the ring. In his "human" form, Gandalf is younger than Galadriel, Elrond or Arwen!

[@charlesbarnes6912]

I like that the actor playing Gimli also did the voice of Treebeard

[@Makkaru112]

The whole body/at least the upper half was fully animatronic too!

[@Makkaru112]

Actor for Gimli is also the tallest actor of the cast!

[@georgev3433]

18:17 so the Narnia comparison is fault apt, because C.S. Lewis and Tolkien were fairly good friends Treebeard’s personality was based off Lewis while the Professor (the main character in The Magician’s Nephew and the guy who owned the mansion in TLWatW) was based off Tolkien.

[@chriswerth918]

I really hope that you'll give the extended edition for the last film a chance, because: You only have this one chance to watch the Return of the King for the first time, to get the experience of enjoying one of the best movies ever made, once. So, I would totally reccoment to watch the extended cut.

[@marilia_moro]

She finished watching before posting the first one.

[@chriswerth918]

Oh, well... my bad

[@RoboSteave]

I know I'm in the minority, but I think this was the best movie of the three. Of course, all were amazing and it is really one long story.

[@BobBlumenfeld]

"Two hours and fifty minutes is done?" I don't normally do this, but I suggest you take the time to watch the Extended Edition when you get the chance. It will be worth it. And you might consider doing the Extended Edition for the last movie, too.

[@Makkaru112]

She and I had a little discussion about it in the comments section below the fellowship video. You bc an join in if you like ❤

[@Makkaru112]

She already recorded all three. She wish she didn’t but she’s just uploading what she has. She will jump into the lore videos too thanks to one other and myself that convinced her ❤❤❤❤

[@BobBlumenfeld]

@@Makkaru112 Thanks.

[@ashether1]

My favorite reaction is when your smile dropped immediately when there was a moment between Aragorn and Eowen.

[@MelindaLee]

LOLOL I feel the same as "Not the friggin horse...is there no limit!?" Girl, love your reactions!

[@DraconimLt]

The idea of taking the ring to Gondor is that: 1) it denies it to Sauron - most people would hardly believe 2 little hobbits could get past all the defences of Mordor and the entire armies of Orcs there. To be fair, it is hard to believe, so the idea that it would get taken back to Sauron if they were captured isn't too hard to understand. As Boromir said at the council, 'not with ten thousand men could you do this', that's a common, and realistic, belief. and 2) Many people see it as a mighty weapon that anyone can use (they are wrong obviously, but most people don't know it has a will of it's own), so they think it can be used to *defend* Gondor against Sauron's forces. Can't blame them for wanting to defend their home and families etc. The problem is that the ring twists this desire to do good to its will. The ironic thing tho, is that Faramir is the one to resist the ring in the book, and doesn't say this!

[@Rrz00]

I think the king's actions are explained by the death of his son. That's why they added that scene and how it affects him to make the decision to fight or doubt his position as king.

[@zoesumra9152]

Contrasting neatly with Someone Else's similarly inspired actions in film 3!

[@Makkaru112]

It’s more than a gift! You’d have a call back to a scene from the extended edition between Aragorn and Galadriel who is Arwen’s grandmother ! ❤

[@TMNTfever]

I'm sure you've been corrected a bunch, but Gandalf is over 3000 years old at the time of these events, not just 300. Ad his soul has existed and been active since near the beginning of time.

[@Makkaru112]

There are some really nice renditions of the maps that show clearly how far everything is from eachother. That will help you. It’d take days for anyone to even get to Gondor let alone another few days to get back to Helm’s Deep

[@Makkaru112]

The poem you what Theoden reciting was written by a forgotten poet for Èorl, long before the War of the Ring. On the way to Edoras, Aragorn chants a poem in Rohanese to characterize the Rohirrim. The text is not given. After Legolas comments that the sound of the words resembles the land of Rohan, Aragorn recites his translation of it, which is this poem: 
“Where now the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blowing? 
Where is the helm and the hauberk, and the bright hair flowing? 
Where is the hand on the harpstring, and the red fire glowing? 
Where is the spring and the harvest and the tall corn growing? 
They have passed like rain on the mountain, like a wind in the meadow; 
The days have gone down in the West behind the hills into shadow. 
Who shall gather the smoke of the dead wood burning, 
Or behold the flowing years from the Sea returning?” But they somehow made Thèoden recite a portion of it: At the beginning of the Battle of Helm's Deep, Théoden recites some lines of the song, lamenting how alone the Rohirrim stand (so it fits for the movie! Just not for the books so much… as it’s misplaced) here is what he recited in the movie: “Where is the horse and the rider?
Where is the horn that was blowing?
They have passed like rain on the mountains,
like wind in the meadow.
The days have gone down in the West,
behind the hills... into Shadow. The remaining lines are sung in Old English on the score in the background in the above and other scenes.

[@user-Andrew90000]

22:56 -A dragon would be on Sauron side, so you're better not ask for it .

[@matthewwhite7473]

Don't be too hard on Theoden. 😅He is actually one of the best characters in the trilogy in my opinion (as you will later see in part 3). He is quite often misunderstood. In this movie he is in one hell of a bad position after he is released from the mind-spell of Saruman. All his warriors have been exiled, his son and only heir to his throne is dead and a ginormous army of well armed orcs are marching to Rohun in order to hunt them all down. He had little choice in what he could do as far as saving his people. Leading his people to Helms Deep was really his only option, he had no time to call for reinforcements from Gondor or the elves - which was a long shot anyway. He did what any good man would do in that situation. Try to keep his men's morale up so that they fought as hard as they could and try to preserve hope. During the last scene when Theoden is despairing his words are only natural of the thoughts that were going through his head that time. You have to realize the inner turmoil he was going through having Helms Deep almost utterly destroyed. In the end when Aragorn encourages in this moment his response to the situation is damn inspiring. Go out fighting as hard as you can, meet your enemies head on and let fate decide who will be the victor. I love how he leads the charge of horses during that scene and ferociously attacks all the orcs as he rides out into battle. The character is a legend in my mind, because he is so human and of course flawed and yet so brave and noble. Anyway that was me rushing to the defense of my favorite character in LotR. hopefully that helps. 👍

[@joshuawells835]

34:39- The Knights of the Vale from Game of Thrones wish they were the Riders of Rohan. No comparison.

[@scalefree]

"Hope". as both Elrond & Arwen know quite well, Aragorn grew up hiding from Sauron in Rivendell & protected by a cover name, Estell. which is of course Elvish for Hope. what with Tolkien being such a rabid language nerd (dude taught Language at Oxford & spent a few years editing the OED), pretty much anytime any character says "hope" it's really Tolkien having one over on his readers & slyly referring to Aragorn without them realizing it.

[@MarioButter]

Celeborn: "Never before have we clad strangers in the garb of our own people. May these cloaks help shield you from unfriendly eyes."

[@Makkaru112]

To clarify things about Elrond & his daughter Arwen (& Aragorn by extension) therefore we must look at Elrond’s Twin Brother Elros, they both were half-elven brothers who can choose to be mortal or immortal because of their parents(Eärendil and Elwing) both half elven made a great sacrifice and went to Valinor to ask for help which lead to the greatest events in the early first and second age. Instead of being punished, the valar listened to them, that led to a great hosts of Valar and Maiar And Vanyar Elves went to Middle Earth that laid waste to Beleriand. After the War Of Wrath, the valar rewarded them for their sacrifices. They can choose to be elf or men, including their children. They chose immortally, but never return to Middle Earth because they thought that their twin sons had died. But they didnt die. Elrond chose to be immortal while his twin brother Elros chose to be mortal. He founded the Kingdom of Numenor. He lived in Numenor Island and blessed with a long life that include his descendants Those men who fought for the war were rewarded a long life but not their families or children. Only the family of Elrond can choose to be immortal or mortal in which Arwen did. Aragorn is the direct descendant of Elros, thats why he has a long life. The average lifespan of a Numenorean at their height was a few thousand years maximum! Now remember too that half elves are a common thing and whenever they did come together it was always significant !❤❤❤ Remember this is the SHORT version, there are so many moving parts that will make you want to dive into the books or the audio books or even do reaction videos to the famous lore videos by the biggest lore channels out there! When you’re done the trilogy try doing reaction videos just like Moviejoob did now with the lore recently as well as OmarioRPG. I recommend videos by GirlNextGondor and The Red Book, and Tolkien Untangled and especially Men Of The West. Many other cool ones I’ll recommend in the comments section of those reaction videos you do from Tolkiens Legendarium lore videos. They are super engaging. You’ll be in love. Nothing would have existed if Tolkiens works never hit the light of day as they were meant to stay private and sometimes be shared with his children and so on. No Game Of Thrones. No Skyrim. No ElderScrolls, No World Of Warcraft, no Dungeons&Dragons. None of it. Not even Star Wars. Not even Harry Potter! They took inspiration from his works which were souly to give back a forgotten history of the Anglo Saxons that had their culture & history destroyed as the larger empires were riding around them. His works reflect the Elder Edda(Norse) The Kalevala(Finnish) and the Welsh people from Wales as well as Irelands cultures of the Tuatha De Danaan as well! His languages are fully fleshed out too resembling Finnish & Welsh • By the way Elrond is around 6870-8000 years old & nearly a full Elf year (as they age very very differently to Men) is close to 144 man years (solar years for them) they experience the TIME and the way men experience it but their clock is different! They live as long as the world/Arda/Ëa does. Essentially. Which is why they are so I synch with the world around them and the nature responds to them ! Think of when Legolas walked ontop of all that snow on the Mountain of Caradhras!! They continue to endure as long ad the world itself does. (Arda) Galadriel's Phial (gift to Frodo) is something really special. light & dark have a spiritual dimension in Tolkien. way back before the First Age Valinor was lit by two very special Trees that waxed & waned in opposition to each other. a master craftsman Elf named Fëanor fashioned three gems that captured their light, the Silmarils. Everyone who saw them was captivated by them, even the Melkor(Morgoth); the first Dark Lord. Wars were fought over them called the Kinstrife after Morgoth had the Trees destroyed the Silmarils were the only light from them left and he stole them as you may remember, they changed hands a few times & eventually one was left after one fell into the sea & another was lost in a pit of magma. a Half Elf named Eärendil (the first one! Who was Elrond’s father.) came into its possession & sailed it to Valinor as a gift to the Valar to ask for their help in defeating Morgoth, which they did. the Valar turned it into a star & hung it in the sky with Eärendil as its guardian. the fountain of Galadriel's Mirror is lit by light captured from the star Eärendil & her Phial has water from the fount. I've left out about 90% of the story but it's quite important & central to the story of Middle Earth. for her to give the Phial to Frodo is quite extraordinary. its light does burn & blind Shelob (that's the spider's name) but doesn't kill her outright. oh also, before he was put in the sky to guard the last Silmaril Earendil had two children, Elrond & his brother Elros the first King of Numenor. Tolkien's lore is deep & vast & the Silmarils are at the center of it. The Star of Eärendil is the light that shines in the horizon both in the morning and the evening. It consists in a boat raised by the Valar and led by Eärendil, who carries a shining Silmaril while watching the Doors of Night. The Door of Night was a portal in the distant Uttermost West that leads to heaven, and/or the Void. Eärendil's ship Vingilot was taken by the Valar from the rim of the world, passed through the Door and was lifted into the "oceans of heaven". PS: Eärendil is ELROND’s half Vanyar Elf half human father, that father was the son of the great Tuor of the great stories of The Children Of Húrin book!❤❤❤❤ Aragorn is a CLOSE descendant of a direct bloodline to Elros(Elrond’s Twin Brother)

[@DraconimLt]

Oh no no no, a dragon is the last thing they need! The dragons in LotR were created by the first Dark Lord Morgoth, the same guy who commanded the Balrogs. ALL the dragons in this are the enemy, or at BEST ignoring people! I don't think Theoden was just saying 'we die well for the history books', he was saying he wanted his men to fight as hard as they could, and not be demoralised, so they had the greatest chance of holding the enemy off and protecting their people, even if every soldier died doing it. And if they failed to protect their people, then they would have given it their all to try and do so, it wouldn't be because they didn't fight as hard as they could. People fight harder if they believe they can win, or if they have resigned themselves to dying but still have a reason to fight. His men's 'courage was hanging by a thread', he said it himself, that is not resigned to dying or believing they coud win, that's one loud noise or scary sight away from giving up...

[@30noir]

"Look at your horse! Such a sweetheart!" Well, Viggo Mortenson must have thought so because he took the horse and two others home with him to his ranch where they lived out the remainder of their lives.

[@kornelthunderbolt9962]

btw, are you watching the directors cut? it is absolutely worth it, maybe also more important than in any other movie. there are many scenes that explain things, also f.e., what happens to saruman. iirc, in the normal version you dont get to know shit about him. and there are other examples. also, the battle scenes are expanded, many great scenes were cut from the shorter versions.

[@Makkaru112]

(Not spoilers) Here is why the elves couldn’t help as much as some may have wished at Helms Deep & other places: By the Third Age of Middle-earth, the population of Elves had significantly decreased from their numbers in the earlier Ages. It is estimated that there were only a few thousand Elves remaining in Middle-earth by this time. One reason why Elves didn't have much military prowess to help out more in the Third Age is because they had already fought many battles in the previous Ages, & were weary of war ontop of Lothlòrien(where Galadriel is) being constantly attacked throughout this current story during the trilogy story but the movies never show it. Additionally, many of the great Elven kingdoms had already fallen, & the remaining Elves had scattered across Middle-earth, making it difficult to organize a large-scale military force. Furthermore, Elves had a deep respect for the natural world, and were hesitant to engage in battles that could harm the environment. They preferred to use their skills in magic and healing to assist in battles, rather than fighting directly. Despite their reduced numbers and military prowess, Elves still played an important role in the events of the Third Age. They were instrumental in the quest to destroy the One Ring, and many fought bravely in battles against Sauron's forces. However, they had to be strategic about their involvement, as they knew that they could not sustain heavy losses without risking the extinction of their entire race. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ In J.R.R. Tolkien's works, the exact population of Elves in Middle-earth during the Third Age is not explicitly stated. However, it is generally believed that their numbers had greatly diminished by this time, with only a few remaining Elven kingdoms & settlements scattered across Middle-earth. Some sources estimate that there may have been only a few thousand Elves left in Middle-earth by the Third Age. It is important to note that the exact population of Elves in Middle-earth is not a major focus of Tolkien's works, as he was more concerned with the individual characters & their journeys rather than the demographics of Middle-earth. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ While there are no exact figures given in Tolkien's works, some fans have attempted to estimate the population of Elves in Middle-earth during the Third Age using various mathematical models comparing to what was known about the past. One such estimate, based on the size of Elven settlements & their likely populations, suggests that there may have been around 100,000 Elves scattered across Middle-earth from different clans as it were with slightly different diverging history at certain points during the Third Age. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ The population of Elves in Middle-earth changed over time due to a variety of factors, including wars, migrations, & natural disasters. During the First Age, Elves were relatively numerous and lived in many different kingdoms & settlements across Middle-earth. However, many of these kingdoms were destroyed during the wars against Morgoth, the first Dark Lord. During the Second Age, the population of Elves began to decline as many Elves left Middle-earth to sail to the Undying Lands, a paradise-like realm across the sea. This was largely due to the influence of the Valar, the angelic beings who created the world, who offered the Elves a chance to escape the sorrows and limitations of mortal life in Middle-earth. By the time of the Third Age, the population of Elves in Middle-earth had greatly diminished. Many of the great Elven kingdoms had fallen, & the remaining Elves had scattered across Middle-earth in small, isolated settlements. This was partly due to the wars of the First Age and the destruction of many Elven kingdoms, as well as the gradual decline of the Elves' power & influence in Middle-earth. Overall, the population of Elves in Middle-earth declined over time, with many Elves leaving for the Undying Lands & many others being killed in wars and other conflicts. By the end of the Third Age, the Elves' numbers had greatly diminished, & they were a shadow of their former glory in Middle-earth. It’s been their fight for ages alone before Men came along and many of them befriended Men from the very beginning. They share the same fights/The same histories etc! Let’s just say it used to be a few million so imagine what Galadriel & her husband have seen regarding experiencing their entire race that still dwelled upon middle earth nearly being wiped out into extinction…

[@robertbretschneider765]

Great reaction, loved it!

[@anatos1722]

21:05 you were right it was Galadriel who sent help,it is only Elrond words that made command,Galadriel is Highest Elf on Earth!

[@PhilBagels]

Yeah. I never understood why Haldir says, "I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell..." when he was sent by Galadriel of Lothlorien. The people of Rohan might not have even heard of Elrond of Rivendell.

[@Makkaru112]

​​@@PhilBagels I guess it was to make the connection to the scene that was just before it between Elrond & Arwen... given how many people don't have a good memory... similar to the thing they did in the first movie where they panned to Aragorn’s face who was sitting by the sword when Boromir came in...

[@zoesumra9152]

​@PhilBagels Yes, especially because Aragorn and co met him in Lothlorien. He should at least have said he brought word from Elrond and Galadriel!

[@BobBlumenfeld]

Funny you should mention Narnia when the Ents gather at the Entmoot. Tolkien was a friend and colleague of C.S. Lewis when they taught at Oxford. They later had a falling out over Lewis' writing success, I believe, but Tolkien's Christian beliefs may have given Lewis the idea of the sacrificial savior.

[@joshuawiedenbeck6944]

Tolkien also modeled the Ent's speech off of Lewis. Tolkien thought that Lewis spoke too slowly and took too long to get to the point, so he made a character to showcase how frustrating he found it.

[@BobBlumenfeld]

@@joshuawiedenbeck6944 I'm always fascinated by what piques creativity. Thank you.

[@marshallartist78]

Very entertaining. Great attention to the details as well 🎉

[@MrQabalist]

In the book Faramir is a spiritually stronger person, less susceptible to being influenced by the Ring. "I do not wish to see it, or touch it, or know more of it than I know (which is enough), lest peril perchance waylay me and I fall lower in the test than Frodo son of Drogo." Like Aragorn the One Ring did not influence him and he and Frodo got off quite well, "Were I as hasty as you, I might have slain you long ago. For I am commanded to slay all whom I find in this land without the leave of the Lord of Gondor. But I do not slay man or beast needlessly, and not gladly even when it is needed. Neither do I talk in vain." There was not so much the mistrust portrayed in the movie between them. You could almost think of Faramir as a lesser version of Aragorn, "here was one with an air of high nobility such as Aragorn at times revealed, less high perhaps, yet also less incalculable and remote: one of the Kings of Men born into a later time, but touched with the wisdom and sadness of the Elder Race." The men of Gondor held him in high regard. Also call them Ents, or tree-herders, not trees woman!

[@Kavala76]

I have really enjoyed your reactions and verbal mannerisms... "babes"! You are also an attentive and perceptive viewer. I believe you would really benefit from and enjoy watching the extended versions of all three films. Maybe in your own time?

[@anitanino8435]

I love your reaction you pay attention to all of the details.

[@DigiVixen]

@Indian_Calypso Fun fact. When Gimli was talking about Dwarf women, and the belief Dwarves spring up out of the ground is a reference to The Chronicles of Narnia- The Magician's Nephew.... where the creation of Narnia takes place and Dwarves indeed were created by spring up from the ground. The author CS Lewis knew Tolkien.

[@hkpew]

"Every single item on them is very useful for their journey." Especially the box of salt. That will come in very handy when they are having some roast chicken.

[@bryanmyers5620]

I was so upset in the theater when he said it was salt instead of Galadriels real gift to him.

[@hkpew]

@@bryanmyers5620 I might have been, too. But it was already pretty clear, at least to me, that they weren't going to have time for the scouring of the Shire and without that Galadriel's gift doesn't make as much sense.

[@bryanmyers5620]

@@hkpew They should have made a fourth movie and really fleshed out the endings with the scouring of the shire as the big battle. I'd really like to see it on screen without the Rings of Power treatment.

[@ODDnanref]

17:22 People wonder, were is everyone else? Well... Gondor is fighting in the frontlines against Mordor. The elves are leaving but, some are defending their realma that are besieged. The Dwarves are also besieged. In fact, Gimli is here because they heard the Dark Riddera were asking about Baggings and sent Gimli to check on their friend Bilbo. While they are fighting a war against goblins. We see a small part, but everyone is under attack. The obly reason we see Rohan, Gondor and such is because they are kn the route of our main characters.

[@Oppable1x]

There Is Always Hope ! & Then The Suit Up ! LEGENDARY !

[@Makkaru112]

The scene where Arwen leaves toward valinor is a call back to the extended scene near the beginning of the first movie where I'll explain more about during your reaction to the extended edition either with your mother or when you watch the extended scenss back to back. There is only one they put in that wasnt necessary nor from the books anyway 😂😂❤😢

[@FlorianRothacker]

At the end you ask about Gandalf's age: You have to know who or what Gandalf actually is! Gandalf - or Mithrandir as the Elves call him - is a Maiar (as Maiar his name is Olorin). The Maiar are a kind of lower gods (headed by the Valar, a kind of "higher" gods, except Eru Illuvatar of Course, who is the creator and highest god) in Tolkien's world. These Maiar also include Gandalf and Saruman - and Sauron too! For Sauron is a Maiar who served the former Valar Melkor. Melkor conspired against the Valar and became Morgoth (sort of like Satan in Tolkien's world). Sauron is his servant - and so Sauron, Saruman and Gandalf are essentially on par in terms of power. An interesting detail is that Saruman served the Valar Aule - the great god of blacksmiths. It was only afterwards that Gandalf became the servant of Nienna (the goddess of tears and sister of Mandos, who guards the Halls of the Dead) - but he also served Manwe in particular, the highest of all gods (Valar), and Manwe placed him under his personal protection. This is interesting in that it is "preordained" from the start that Gandalf is actually the most powerful of the Maiar - which then becomes true through his return in "The Two Towers". From then on he stands higher than Saruman. As for Gandalf's age, he is not 300 years old, but has existed since the creation of Arda (Tolkien's world). This arose at the beginning of the "Age Before the Years", which lasted about 5000 Valian years, which equals 50000 solar years. Only then does the calculation of time begin in solar years, because only then were the sun and moon created. From then on, Gandalf - in the form of Maiar Olorin - lives through three ages: First Age: 590 years (after the creation of the sun), Second Age: 3441 years, and finally the Third Age up to the time of the War of the Ring: 3019 years (in the year 3019 the Battle of Helm's Deep takes place). So Gandalf's age adds up as follows: 50'000 + 590 + 3441 + 3019: He is 57'050 years old at the time of "The Two Towers"! But it is also important that the Maiar Olorin (i.e. Gandalf) in his physical form as a magician is only sent to Middle-earth by the Valar in the year 1050 of the Third Age. So that means: As "Olorin" he is about 57,000 years old, but in his form as "Gandalf" (the magician) he has only been living in Middle-earth for 1969 years! So you could also give his age as 1969 years. Another interesting detail: This makes Gandalf (in his human form) rather one of the younger characters in "The Lord of the Rings"! Galadriel, Lady of the Forest of Lothlorien, for example, is much older! She is 8430 years old at this point in time! Also Elrond of Rivendell is older than Gandalf, he is about 6522 years old. Even Legolas is already at least 500 years old at the time of "The Two Towers", maybe even much older! And Arwen, the daughter of Elrond and lover of Aragorn, was born in the year 241 of the Third Age - so she is already 2778 years old and therefore 809 years older (!) than Gandalf in his human form...

[@evenmoor]

Slight correction: the Valar are not the supreme gods. Above them is Eru Iluvatar, the One, who created the Valar, and then the Maiar to serve the Valar. And later, Elves and Men. Saruman (then known as Curumo) served Aulë, the Smith, but was not _created_ by him. (Aulë _did,_ however, create the Dwarves, but was unable to give them true life - Iluvatar did that. Iluvatar then made the Ents to protect the forests that the Dwarves would chop down, at the request of Aulë's wife Yavanna, the Giver of Fruits.) Gandalf (then called Olórin) served Manwë, the King of the Valar, but was also drawn to and learned much from Nienna, the Lady of Pity and Mercy.

[@paulkauphart9444]

Of all the characters we meet in the movies, Treebeard is the oldest, he was born some time after the awakening of the elves and is over 10 000 years old.

[@Makkaru112]

Yes! I went deeper into other aspects of this. Below part 1 of this movie. Check it out please ❤❤❤❤

[@FlorianRothacker]

@@evenmoor Yes' you're right. Of course Eru Illuvatar is the supreme god, I know. Because of this, i wrote "supreme"... and also "created"... I corrected it allready in the text!

[@FlorianRothacker]

@@paulkauphart9444 Yes, if you compare it with elves, dwarves, men and so on - then Treebeard s the oldest. But The Maiar and Valar are much older - and because of this, Gandalf - in his form as the Maiar Olorin - is older!

[@masteroftheassassins]

Sad thing is, the Battle of Winterfell tried to replicate the Battle at Helm’s Deep and failed so badly

[@tacobellalugosi2527]

The second film in the one of the greatest trilogies of all time (next to the original Starwars ) done I love seeing fresh faces watching these films my 9 year old daughter watched these for the first time back when Covid was messing things about we watched the extended Versions and it was such a joy looking at her face when things would happen and she was like that was that was long I’m mean each movie is 4 hours . But she loved these movies we both watched a lot of movie in that time . These were at the top of her favorites

[@kakonoteouji4876]

The guy that played Aragorn actually bought that horse.

[@andrewrobinson1634]

Every LotR movie has one guy who falls off some shit and doesn't die.

[@Kackbratze99]

„this is like Game of Thrones now“ Sweet 🤣

[@saarangsahasrabudhe8634]

Fun fact: Tolkien (Author of LOTR) and CS Lewis (Author of Narnia) were friends.

[@thejamppa]

Their bartering each others with letters is legendary stuff. That´s why I see C.S. Lewis in Treebeard and Tolkien in Aslan.

[@mariohyeah]

good observation about Legolas eyes in moments of doubt and desperation :)