The Perfection of The Battle of Helm's Deep.

[@TheBrokenSword]

A big question for you all, which battle is better from the movies. Helm’s Deep or Pelennor Fields??

[@dragonkingdom95]

😖😖😖that's a really tough one. I got to say it's helms deep, but it's a close call they both r up there in my top 5 greatest live action battles of all time

[@danyf.1442]

It's like when people ask a child "do you love more mommy or daddy?" 😂but if you really are twisting my arm for an answer I go for pelennor fields. Theoden speech gets me every time.

[@natasha5306]

Helm's Deep, but they were both spectacular.

[@mo-mo-p5t]

How do I say, one cannot exist without the other? Theoden’s speech at Pelannor Fields is my favorite part of both battles because of his struggle at Helm’s Deep. Perhaps this is more about a character than a battle. If it’s purely the making of a battle scene, I’d say Helm’s Deep.

[@yvanloppe5650]

Both are spectacular but in terms of siege warfare I prefer Helm’s deep as a whole. Pelennor field provide huge goosebumps moment, we can’t deny it 😅

[@18edu]

The recipe: Pure passion and devotion for a project adapting with ultimate respect the Greatest Tale ever written !!

[@MatiasHamreSveen]

After countless rewatches of this trilogy, my favourite battle has actually become the battle of Osgiliath! From we see the Gondorians at night until they ride in the gate of Minas Tirith the morning after. This battle is actually the first time in the trilogy we get to see the common orcs as a real threat on a large scale. In Fellowship they where mowed down in the prologue and just became like minions inferior to the uruk-hai. In Two towers they have one battle where they where scary because they rode wargs. But here it's just them. And still the men are constantly being killed throughout the battle, setting up the tension for the bigger battle to come. Even if this battle is smaller and shorter, everything about it is so well done. Split in two parts with the lighting of the beacons in between where it feels like the music of the entire saga climaxes. The unifying moment is here for real. Theoden steps up. No more of this depressing "keep to ourselves"-talk. It's like a three-part-story: Night-battle, beacons, dawn-battle. Most shots from the fighting are on ground close ups, like you're there with them. It's chaotic, but not in a confusing and boring way. The music build up and close up on Faramirs' face, hyping himself up before he jumps out. The music change when they cut from the riding Rohirrim back to Osgiliath. Gandalfs magic use being the only fancy, flashy superpower-moment - no shield surfing or behind the back-spinning etc. - makes it feel so real. No "glorification" of killing, but just the ugly side of it. The acting of Faramirs' captain getting the spear to the chest where you can literally see life leaving his eyes. Gothmogs epic words right after. The music and sound design perfects it, but also the emotional combination of Theoden showing his true self - taking action - and the threat of Sauron we've heard about for over 2 movies finally being there. Finally it's going down! And it wasn't just hype and talk. It's ugly. We're screwed.

[@upschutt4842]

Even though the Elves were not part of the original, their appearance plays into ancient alliances. Also Théoden's inner struggles. All in all an amazing battle.

[@MihaZ]

I'd add another thing. Elves DID fight in the War of the Ring. Lorien was attacked three times, and Galadriel pushed them back and ended up destroying Dol Guldur. Showing the elves at Helms Deep is a way to show the contribution of the elves in this adventure. The movie wouldn't allow another sidequest battle, but we got a glimpse of it. I did Peter Jackson did the right call as well.

[@SirBoggins]

Last time I was this early, Helm's Deep was still being sieged! 😂

[@TheBrokenSword]

Good to see you 😁

[@SirBoggins]

@@TheBrokenSword 🫡🫡🫡

[@Theggman83]

Lol nice.

[@brandonmunsen6035]

Last time I was this early helms deep was still being constructed

[@NexusAeternus]

Last time I was this early Sauron had all his fingers

[@Boatfisherz1]

Best battle for sure! That movie hooked me to the Franchise more than any other. It perfectly brought in the scope, danger and anticipation to this brewing story. The fact the rain and mud were real TOTALLY made the setting compared to what CGI does. Pure masterpiece

[@drewpowers7236]

Gimli before battle: "This is no rabble of mindless orcs. These are Uruk-hai. Their armor is thick and their shields broad" Gimli During Battle: "Taking out a Uruk-hai every second with one swing of his axe to the groin"

[@josephohara2457]

Gimli:That still only counts as one!

[@Baelor-Breakspear]

Gimli and Legolas took out close to 1 percent of the Uruk hai army all by themselves

[@helenafarkas4534]

I have to say one of my favorite elements is how you can track which faction is "on top" by whose theme is playing at any given moment. the elves are having a badass moment? cue the battle version of the lothlorian theme. the uruks are bringing their ladders up? isengard theme. legolas being a mad lad on his shield/skateboard? fellowship theme. you can almost listen to just the soundtrack and plot the progression of the battle across the backs of your eyelids just on whose theme is playing.

[@cleo2254]

Yay!!! Helms deep❤❤ I just love this scene because it made me feel like I was fighting along with them, then comes my favorite wizard Gandalf the white with the Rohirroms army. I truly wish I could see this again for the first time😊 I am torn btwn choosing helms deep and pellinor fields.......both are truly epic. But I think helms deep for the win🎉

[@Lord-Emperor-Vader]

I just got the Lego set and it is incredible to have this iconic fortress

[@SirBoggins]

Looking at this battle and the modern-day battles of current day television, the only modern-day TV battle(s) I view that can hold a bit of a candle to this would be Game of Thrones' "Battle of the B@stards" and Outlaw Kings' "Battle of Loudon Hill"; other than those 2, it's quite tragic to see how most TV nowadays can't get as close to Helm's Deep, but also shows us how good the battle was, 2 decades on from now....

[@TheBrokenSword]

Oh yeah, Battle of the B…tards was definitely a great one!

[@SirBoggins]

@@TheBrokenSword Agreed! ❄️

[@blinky297]

Love the video. You nailed everything perfectly. The movie is over 2 decades old and that battle is still one of the greatest in cinematic history. The effort that was put into it carries through to this day to where I can still watch this movie and admire it and feel all the emotions as the battle plays out. Truly one of the best moments in all of cinema.

[@allsparkwarrier]

I just rewatched the Trilogy again, and the battle of Helms Deep is still my favourite battle of all time

[@Capt_Spork]

Thank you... Now I need to watch the extended trilogy again just because of the feels you made me feel.

[@Joe-h4i1939]

When they were finally finished filming the battle of helm’s deep every one who was a part of the battle was giving a T-shirt

[@Gavinius]

Helms Deep was my favourite scene. The Two towers was my favourite of the trilogy, because of the Battle of Helms Deep! It’s so immersive and I would have loved to have been in the Rohan army facing the tsunami of Uruk hai! Just fantastic cinematography!

[@shereemcclelland2186]

The scene of Gandolph returning on the hill and then Eomyer appearing at Gandolphs side, brilliant scene right there, represents more than the battle itself, how King Theodan is loved by his nephew and his Rhorrinan warriors. They would die for their king. 👍🇦🇺

[@commissarkordoshky219]

The rain starting always makes me laugh. "Sure, fucking add the rain on top of this shiteshow why don't you, Arda?!"

[@Baelor-Breakspear]

Hearing the raindrops hit Theoden’s armor is such a sick sound. The sound guys deserved a Oscar just for that

[@MkH-24]

The 2nd film is my favorite movie because of this battle. It's truly beautifully made.

[@patrickb1303]

You are crazy. The battle of Eregion is the best battle ever. I especially love the troll they brought in who didn’t even really make it to the wall. Fell over and just died somehow….

[@gavhenrad]

I love how small orcs are able to push those huge contraptions through mud. They must be soooo powerful.

[@markgregorygacosta531]

I love how Arondir found somehow a life bar to heal himself totally. Does Helm's deep have that? heck no! Beat that Tolkien! Lol

[@isaacm2374]

I found the two towers scene where you had 5-6 riders in Helms' deep trapped and then somehow go through hundreds of orcs unscathed without any damage or horses being cut down ridiculous. Not even defending ROP but that was a convenient plot armor

[@victoriakidd-cromis1124]

I am not someone who ever really thinks about all that goes into making a film. So, your excellent analysis was quite eye-opening for me. I couldn't tell what was "real" and what was computer generated. I see a difference between the Batlle of Helm's Deep and other battles for one simple reason. Usually a battle is between different countries like WWI & WWII. Between other people who had homes and families they were defending just like you.. Helm's Deep saw that the enemy that Theoden and the rest were facing were demons or devils, definitely not humans.There would be no prisoners taken. It was a much more litteral sense of kill or be killed. That made it terrifying to watch.

[@furrybogard9724]

Rings of Power just had an evening battle in it. Couldn't tell what in the world was happening, and the armies looked like crap. THIS scene is how you do an evening battle. Which says a lot. Action scenes at night are harder to pull off simply because there's less light. Two Towers used every dime to put you right in the thick of battle.

[@alokbalsekar]

"So it begins" and "The horn of helm hammerhand shall sound in the deep, one last time" and "for rohan and its people" are among my all time fav movie lines.

[@will-bp9gz]

I loved this battle scene. Waterloo is brilliant for the time, and master and commander is up there as well

[@Martial-Mat]

Very thoughtful video. Really insightful. Nice job broken sword. In many ways this was the best fight in the movie. It had more emotional impact and better choreography.

[@RobKlarmann]

WOW! Thanks for this reminder after what we were fed these past few weeks. It is truly the greatest and most masterful battles in cinema history!

[@Alamo-cz5xc]

This is one of the best videos you guys have done IMO. Great analysis

[@karlsweeney2328]

I remember they re-released Fellowship in theatres and had a Two Towers trailer at the end. I was like, the Rohirrim armor is so RAD! Then I saw the movie, and it's the Galadhrim! Pffffff

[@korye6324]

Dude it’s honestly one of the most epic battles I’ve ever seen in a movie. And it’s crazy how much it’s scaled down compared to the book!

[@JennFaeAge]

I love it, especially the fact the chanting of the Uruk-hai at the start was recorded at a New Zealand cricket match of all places

[@Gokkee]

Helms deep take the trophy for overall best battle of all time😊 But the siege of minas thirith is for me the best just because of the greater amount of moments of epicness 😊 The entrance of the nazgul diving onto the city still gives me chills just writing this comment hearing their scream and the amaaaaazing soundtracks 😊😊😊 But it's also a much longer battle and more split into parts.

[@primal1233]

The Battle of Helms Deep in The Lord of the Rings The Two Towers movie is amazing🔥💯

[@capt.tripps]

Motörhead Deaf forever plays in my head when the rain starts. Powerful!

[@charlesmyers5297]

Sabaton forever plays in mine when they charge down the hill. "When the Winged Hussars arrive". Fitting as the Rohirrim were the Hussars in LOTR

[@DanDauzacker]

I remember the first time I Watched the movie. Everything felt real. The scene where they are bracing the gate, with everyone shouting and the camera shaking gave me goosebumps and when the wall is finally breached, omg, i was baffled with the effects. Movies today don't make this mix of pratical effects withs notes of CGI to perfect it. I looked so real.

[@DreamMarko]

One of the greatest battles in cinema! Unlike, some other, battles.

[@tankythemagnorite9855]

There are there essentials for battles in cineama: Clear overview of the battlefield/environment obvious objectives for both sides a sense of progression. Helm's Deep has all of these. Before the battle starts, we get a shot going over the fortress, showing us the deeping wall, the hornburg, and the valley before the fortress, along with the grate in the bottom of the deeping wall. As for objectives, it's made clear that the defenders want to survive the night, so they can hang on till Gandalf arrives with help. The attackers want to take the fortress so they can kill the king and take over Rohan. So objectives are clear as well. The progression works as well. Uruks arrive, charge the wall, put up ladders while the elves shoot at them. Fighting ensues. Then the uruks blow up the wall. Then the battering ram at the hornburg. Bit more scrapping inside the wall, then Théoden orders a retreat. Gate gets breached, they pull back. Then they charge out and Gandalf arrives. It's also a pretty realistic battle, in terms of tactics and strategy. Scaling ladders, blasting devices, battering rams. All used to good effect, and in realistic and believable ways.

[@charlesmyers5297]

You could add to the title. 'The perfection of the battle of Helm's Deep' was that it was inspired by actual history. The siege of Vienna. The Rohirrim were depicted as the Winged Hussars. When they charge down the hill, I imagine Sabaton playing "When the Winged Hussars arrive"

[@tomekdarda]

It was rather the Battle of the Pelennor Fields that was (very) possibly inspired by the Battle of Vienna. The scale of both events is more akin to each other. Not to say that Helm's Deep was small and similar in its unfolding. PS. Yeah, them Winged Hussars, just thinking about them gives me chills.

[@81SKOMI]

That's why Peter Jackson should get the absolute rights to film any of Tolkien's works. Same as George Lucas has with the Star Wars franchise. Everything, absolutely everything has to be approved by him first.

[@mojosbigsticks]

For the sheer humanity of the scenes, the battle for Bramley End.

[@dragonkingdom95]

I love how a movie made 20+ yrs ago did a night batlle perfectly, yet a modern team 4 years ago epicly failed at it . I GOT 😂😂😂 i love lotr so much, and i can't wait for the new movie

[@Gokkee]

Modern movies makes everything so dark and confusing for some weird* reason 😒

[@dragonkingdom95]

@Gokkee yup, and they don't even do it well, which is really sad

[@gavhenrad]

Best part of any movie I've seen

[@jeffnorris7592]

Not Jeff here. When the battle ended and the end credits rolled, he was gasping, speechless, totally overwhelmed. I nudged him and said, "This is the little battle." He couldn't believe me until we saw ROTK a year later.

[@Jay-yf2yk]

The biggest difference between the movies and this show that is claiming to be Tolkien is the size and scope. In both Helm's Deep and Pelennor Fields, it felt like there were thousands of people battling. The massive hoard of Uruks slowly making their way to the walls and standing there waiting for battle was intimidating. It felt massive and the action desperate. In the show, it feels like 20 guys are fighting. You would figure with the advances in technology and the budget of the show, this would be the opposite, but you'd figure wrong.

[@Jayjay-qe6um]

Even though the Elves helping wasn't in the book, it was such a good move of Peter Jackson's part to add them in the battle.

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

There are other productions out there as well. 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨ "Before I start, I must see my end. Destination known, my mind's journey now begins. Upon my chariot, heart and soul's fate revealed. In time, all points converge; hope's strength, resteeled. But to earn final peace at the universe's endless refrain, we must see all in nothingness... before we start again." 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨ --Diamond Dragons (series)

[@j0b01231]

TO THE KING!

[@pnorris85]

Battle of stirling bridge from braveheart is also excellent

[@RicardoQuinteroMD]

Masterpiece.

[@angeloalmario]

Welp you got a point there the coordination on all the extras but it'll be so disappointing if they weren't paid even if they are extras they are a key part of this iconic movie hopefully they'd did and a well earned opportunity to be a part of this

[@vikingodin1986]

I still want one of those I survived helms deep coats all the crew got after filming

[@Nephilim667-j9d]

Meanwhile at Amazon: "Stop the charge! They have Galadriel in a cage"

[@JohnSmith-rw2yn]

I can’t decide if this is the best, like it’s a top 3 or 5 but I can’t choose. saving private Ryan d-day and Gladiator opening battle in Germania. Hell I’ll throw in Waterloo 1970 with around 15k extras ITS JUST TOO HARD TO CHOOSE😂

[@geoffmacey8728]

The two battles the come close are in my view opening one in Gladiator and the end of Zulu

[@Luke-kj1rj]

The trilogy will never be matched. Aüre Enteluva

[@Tier1GearEDCReviews]

I guess I’m gonna have to watch it again now… 😂

[@Max1990Power]

It was epic

[@TheBorilla92]

The only part I don't like about rewatching helms deep is the cut aways to the ents where it feels like nothing is happening gor most of that story

[@Howardone]

Last time I were this late, Gandalf had just arrived.

[@LusiaEyre]

It's amazing how this exists and yet we keep getting absulutely fumbled attempts at night battles. There must be a way to justfy lack of pitch black darkness (torches, bonfires, bioluminescent algae smeared on the walls). And if there is no in-world justification, just have some light anyway. Andrew Lesnie said it best: "Where does the light come from? - Same place the music does." This should be the industry standard.

[@braydenhodgkinson5427]

I personally think battle that comes close is Anakin Skywalker versus Obi-Wan Kenobi I know it's just a duel put the mastery behind their sword uses it's just unbelievable

[@themtbrowns]

For me, Helm's Deep wins the Battle of the battles. I almost cry every time I watch Haldir die.

[@Relics_of_Arda]

👀

[@TheBrokenSword]

Hello there!

[@Paradox2614]

Still I never saw better battle putted on screen!!!

[@krishkrish8213]

One issue I have with the battle scenes is that they often break immersion for me. For example, Legolas's "skateboarding" and Aragorn’s improbable survival after jumping into a crowd of enemies take me out of the moment. It’s frustrating to see scenes where Aragorn can simply slap an Uruk-hai and walk away unharmed. The charge into the orc ranks is particularly ridiculous charging from a defensible position into a group of enemies wielding pikes is a guaranteed death sentence. All it would take is for a few orcs to hold their pikes forward, and Aragorn and his horse would be finished. Théoden and the Rohirrim should also have been dead when they charged into the fray there’s no way they would have survived that reckless assault against heavily armed orcs. Additionally, the way orcs suddenly flip out of the way like when they reach the bridge seems unrealistic and distracts from the intensity of the battle. It reminds me of the final battle in Game of Thrones, where characters survive against all odds due to plot armor. Aragorn should have died in several moments during the battle, but instead, he escapes unscathed because the plot demands it. It a cool battle sequence but not the greatest in the world. 😅

[@helenafarkas4534]

dude, I get where your coming from. but three things to keep in mind. one, for at least a few of your examples, they weren't trying to stay alive. they were trying to die gloriously, facing the enemy, instead of dying huddled in a corner. it's a different mindset to survival at all cost. the second thing to keep in mind is that it's fantasy. fantastical things happen here. it's the nature of the genre. yeah, it's foolish and "unrealistic" to do half the things hero's do in fantasy stories, but we keep reading/watching them anyway. if your not going to suspend your disbelief even a little bit, if your not at least a tiny bit willing to get swept up in the magic of it all, what are you even doing here? and finally, Legolas can do his "skateboarding" stunt because he's NOT HUMAN and therefore it's perfectly reasonable for him to have the superhuman balance and agility required to pull it off.

[@seanmarshall7403]

It was great cinematography. It was, however, a bit of a hard swallow for me to see Elves at Hlrms Deep. Yes, I get what Jackson did and why, but the book was so much more than that.

[@kugelblitzen]

Since I've gotten a little older, I kinda dislike Helm's Deep. The book version without the Elves is much better. Erkenbrand ftw. People get taken in by the action but I guess that's what PJ's trilogy is focused on. I could go on at length but my main gripe: horses don't run down 145 degree hills and there's an absurd amount of plot armour for the main three, especially Aragorn and Gimli. In the book, there's real doubt as to whether Gimli is still alive for a significant chunk, but PJ just keeps him in sight at all times to ensure there's never a missed opportunity to make a joke at his expense.

[@pandemicwarfare4288]

The blatantly loud Wilhelm scream kinda took away the perfection though... 😂

[@foyble]

The battle of Eregion captured none of that helms deep magic. It was sparse and dull.

[@cmoneill]

I can't believe we are wasting time with ROP when we still have Peter Jackson with us!

[@VaughanTaylor-v4y]

I think The siege of Minas Tirith was better,( I generally prefer Gondor), but Helm's Deep is superb as well.

[@aboutafew]

The two towers is such a masterpiece of film making its the best sequel of all time..its the queen of sequel's sitting up there beside its king. the best sequel of all time.. the G.O.A.T....THE BEAST.. Terminator 2. THE LORD OF THE RINGS is the best trilogy ever we all know this. All the best films are the best films for a reason..has anyone else noticed that all the best movies come from really good books.. even good movies I didn't know were books turned out to be books..JAWS i found out was a paper back novel..i just read it and it was so much different than the film...the movie is about killing a big shark but the book was more about how the shark brings out all the secrets and lies the people on the island live with..the godfather, the exorcistz Shawshank, lord of the rings, the power of one, you cant make a movie like these movies without the book..a screenplay can be good even great... Quentin Tarantino..but books give it something that is impossible to find without them

[@tecdesigns8183]

It's the best battle of the films, I think the return of the King had bigger scale but the ghost army sort of rushed it. I think it's unfair to compare it to rings of power, as a series with a much smaller budget it could never come close to helms deep.

[@alanmike6883]

Better then anything from rop

[@skullskills7772]

Still best

[@qcop4921]

After revisit PJ work, i thinksl Amazon ought do financial audit, one gotta wonder what their showrunner do w the money

[@cannibalcheese]

Waterloo is the greatest battle in film history imo..

[@mrman-yj3bn]

Not as good as rings of power ep 7, They had a ravanger!

[@theartofman7734]

Yes the filming was great. However the fortress, fortifications, and tactics were the most ridiculous crap ever imagined. I find it so hard to enjoy based on that alone. The cinematography is amazing the fortification and battle tactics are abysmal.

[@stewartgillings7151]

I am partly in agreement. Can you give details and examples?

[@theartofman7734]

@@stewartgillings7151 parry this helms deep is just the worst he does a full break down.

[@paulsteinhauser434]

I liked both film versions because they looked and felt not only significant and you can feel the tension. The elves arriving honestly is welcoming showing they're not alone in the fight.

[@markgregorygacosta531]

oh no why are you saying that orcs are evil, they just want to be with their baby orcs remember? 😂😂

[@mr.s2005]

prefect battle, while ROP's battle was parody of a parody of another parody.

[@morgoth173]

Video 326

[@robertgross1655]

🎩Hi Waterloo of course. The classic version. With Christopher Plummer and Rod Steiger.

[@stewartgillings7151]

Very good but not perfection. Arrows are 'loosed' not fired. Swordsmen against massed spearmen would just get impaled. A soldier hit by a catapult bolt would have no breath left to cry out (ask Christopher Lee). Horses charging down that slope would fall over and break their legs. Lorewise, Elves at Helm's Deep? No. This and the cavalry charge are caused by Jackson undervaluing Treebeard and the trees. Spectacle over deeper substance: the turning of the tide.

[@isaacm2374]

Elves fighting in Helm's deep is entirely made up and not part of Tolkien's Two Towers. Just contradicted the theme of the age of men. And where were they at Pelennor Fields? So the most important battle for the Middle Earth they didn't show up. Makes no sense

[@helenafarkas4534]

sooooo, are you mad that they were at helm's deep, but not the pelennor? you gotta pick one or the other to be mad at, because they weren't at either in the books. in the books they were busy with their own problems, fending off attacks on Rivendell, mirkwood, and Lothlorian, the same that was happening at Dale/the Lonely mountain. according to the books, the army that marched on minas tirith was but one of MANY unleashed from mordor's gates. and the filmmakers are the first to admit that by the letter of the books, the elves shouldn't have been at helm's deep. but it does fit the SPIRIT of the books, and the story Tolkien was trying to tell. not only that, but they also wanted to acknowledge the strength of the elven armies in the third age in a way that didn't require them to venture so far away from the narrative that even Tolkien didn't directly cover it - it was regulated to the appendices. and on top of all that, even when you KNOW it's all wrong, the emotion is such that you can't HELP but cheer when the elves show up. I hate to say this, but you can't argue purity of the books when from the sound of it, you didn't even READ them

[@StanleyJjo]

Good, but not as good as the Rings of Power battles!!!