The Lord of the Rings... 19 Years Later

[@thegoldman25]

Many have pointed out that Tolkien hated allegories, this is correct. I made a mistake in this video and mentioned certain things Tolkien likely made allegories too. I was wrong. With that being said, even though certain aspects of LotR may not have been allegories, the inspiration is clearly still there. Tolkien may not have made allegories, but the Catholic and European influences in lord of the rings are clear

[@GodsGrace758]

Clearly still there.

[@ThePrince1835]

A song of Ice and fire is not influenced by Tolkien 'a bit to much' they're far removed from each other in so many ways. I don't even know why you'd make that claim.

[@KnightGeneral]

He don't hate Allegories. He hate Allegories with a specific themes that he dislike. Watch and listen to Joseph Pearce's take on Tolkien. He's a Scholar of Tolkien's World.

[@nicolasnamed]

​@@tinwhistlemusic1191ughhhhh what the fuck. Was he at the time of LotR or is that a rabbit hole he fell into

[@dougieranger]

@@tinwhistlemusic1191Interesting… naturally you have several verified sources for this?

[@skinnykin1]

They could seriously run this trilogy in the theaters again today and it would dominate every other blockbuster movie today.

[@teacherfromthejungles6671]

it's being run in some theaters from time to time, sometime even with a live orchestra

[@113charlie7]

Quit using "blockbuster" it hurts too much hearing that name....

[@thelawenforcerhd9654]

It didn't even do that well at the time. It is amazing how you Jackson apologists rewrite history better than Stalin.

[@sennahdominique1178]

They did in my country and the cinema was full 🌚

[@nutyyyy]

I went to see all three films back to back a few years ago. Was absolutely amazing.

[@xboxisbetta]

I can’t imagine these films without the soundtrack. So iconic, so epic.

[@SnailHatan]

That’s arguably the thing I’m most disappointed about with Rings of Power. The music is so…cookie cutter. Khazad-dûm was the only theme that stood out a little bit.

[@lukeluckynblue1873]

WHen rohan rides into battle for minas tirith epic music right there unfortunately amazon don't have this kinds of shots ..they lack story right now they are just referencing stuff from peter jackson trilogy

[@norbnar7197]

@@SnailHatan Oh my friggin god, Exactly! So many musical sequences are so clearly distinct and memorable and emotion-inducing from the original trilogy and the ROP are just boring and non-memoable. And I really hate to say this but even the intro music which Howard Shore did sounds indistinct and non-memorable.

[@KFMynster]

@@SnailHatan the music is the least of the shows problems

[@ASBsweet]

@@KFMynster one of soooo many problems…..

[@QueenDarkChocolate]

This movie is lightning in a bottle - an extremely rare combination of the right cast, director, music and passion. It can never be duplicated.

[@jawstrock2215]

And a willing publisher, to stay true to the source material.

[@Vareiance]

Also shout out to New Line Cinema who recommended a trilogy and supported the project all the way through.

[@VickyNicoll-r2m]

Mostly the right story straight from the book

[@EdyMar77]

"Friends .. You bow to no one" ... never felt so much emotion in one scene .

[@johndanielsforJesus]

I'm right there with you. First two or three times (certainly the FIRST time) seeing that scene, had me crying, uncontrollably. Like _actual shaking,_ shaken to my core. Now I'm a "cryer", in films. And my long-time friend likes to make fun of me, for it. I get invested. But, while other movies have "sobby" moments, NOTHING has ever done what *_"You bow to no one!"_* did. I think a great many of us, oftentimes feel like those Hobbits. A small person. Inconsequential. Insignificant. And then that happens. We felt like those Hobbits, in that moment. 😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@ChrisBrengel]

I thought that was one of the highlights of the movies! A perfect place to end. To this day, when I show these These movies to friends, I stop at this scene and say, "if you want to see the final half hour, we can watch it tomorrow"!

[@ninoding]

My eyes literally pissed tears.

[@gib59er56]

I am the snob dude, lol. Very loyal to Tolkien and the written word, and PJ did a boatload of shit that was ridiculous, and served no purpose. I understand having to pass over stuff cuz each movie would be 15 hours long otherwise. But he did do some brilliant stuff, no doubt whatsoever. And I am with you here. That scene made me misty eyed and it was a great move! I don`t have any DVD`s and I don`t watch LotR on Netflix or anything. I saw each movie once. I do NOT want Viggo in my mind when reading Tolkien, and I love the guy!! And he was a great Aragorn. Same with Gandalf. Gandalf is described in more detail than any other character Tolkien created. Ian did a super job, but again, he looks nothing like Gandalf as Tolkien describes him in small details all thru the 6 books ( yes, 6 books, not three. and it is NOT a trilogy, it is one novel in 6 parts, like a play is written) So I see Aragorn and every other character in my own mind. And I know if I see those films more I will have acters creeping into my noggin. I love that so many people who never knew Tolkien now do and the movies made that possible. I knew two friends that loved Tolkien back in the 80`s. Nobody else knew he even existed. I know that I would have loved to talk about Tolkien with more people, but that was not gonna happen then! So I am really happy for people now aware of how amazing the man was!! I am sorry for a misspell and for such a long comment, I was typing my thoughts out and didn`t notice the length of it. Cheers !!

[@richardmaier28]

i remember walking with a friend around '68 or so and he say look,that dude looks like a hobbit! in nyc,lol but yes I completely agree with you,read the books,bought the Silmarrilion 1st edition and I love the movies but my minds eye does not project Viggo and company although they did great in the films,they're actors and great ones,cheers from a 71 year old lover of Tolkien😊

[@matthewgooding5899]

Critics: "The ending is too long." Me: "Please don't ever end 😩"

[@maynardburger]

Man, I originally thought the ending of RotK was too long at first as well. But after having read the books and got more invested in the story while understanding things better, I rewatched the movies and had a very different impression. I was fully expecting this long drawn out ending that I remembered, but not only was it not bad, but I almost felt it was condensed quite a bit given the huge amount of story cut from the books about what happens in the Shire while the Fellowship is away and what the hobbits deal with when they get back. They keep everything to the bare essentials and while it may take a half an hour and ultimately feel like a lengthy victory lap, after like 11 hours of movie runtime for the whole Extended Edition, a mere 30 minutes for this victory lap was more than deserved.

[@dragonmaster1360]

Critics are frequently wrong... I have read anecdotes where critic releases in papers and stuff (back before internet) would dictate what people saw: if critics didn't like it, it was usually good. If they liked it, it was usually bad. It hasn't changed today. Some of the best movies to come out in the last 10-15 years have bad critic scores but good audience scores, and vice versa. Critics just can't get it right.

[@gib59er56]

That is a good one!

[@ProfessionalValle]

To me as an 11 year old kid, the world ended with frodo's departure in Jacksons ROTK. I only wish that in the end, the hobbits would have kicked sarumans ass like the fuckin gigachads they were in the book.

[@69jonhill]

I always thought the ending was too short. IMO, one of the best parts of the book is the scouring of the shire. Was gutted when it wasn't in the movie, and again when it wasn't in the extended version either!

[@maynardburger]

To be clear, Frodo is still 'suffering' at the end not because he feels shame at having given into the ring, but because the wound he took by the Lord of the Nazgul still haunts and pains him, will never go away, and in fact actually gets worse(at least as described in the books) with time. His escape to Valinor with the elves is specifically to save him from this torment, as he would otherwise grow sicker and more pained before he dies from it.

[@austinsinger7565]

Yeah that's what I understand too

[@nuntana2]

Bearing the ring also took a lot out of him, as it did Bilbo and of course Smeagol.

[@jawstrock2215]

that, and the poison of Shealob. both wounds were recurring yearly.

[@sentientbeans]

One could also argue that his inner guilt and shame is outwardly manifested as the festering wound from the Nazgul.

[@DaniloDanny77]

So why Sam also went to Valinor? Frodo definitely suffered that wound, but the wound inflicted by the guily is much, much worse.

[@Marksman3434]

The fact that this trilogy got made, let alone turn out into the masterpiece it was, is nothing short of a cinematic miracle. Jackson and co. pulled off something that most considered impossible.

[@ComedyBros5]

Exactly. That's why it's so disappointing with how mediocre his Hobbit trilogy turned out. He could've made one, maybe two, more great entries into the LoTR cinematic world.

[@DestinyAwaits19]

If the Tolkein estate give up the rights someone should do the Silmarillion.

[@notyourmama4166]

@@ComedyBros5 because he used cgi and tried to make a movie that "appeased the masses" he forgot you don't need to create a movie that's scary/funny/suspenseful/goofy all in one. i cringe everytime i hear gandalf mention golf in the hobbit, like WTF then the dwarves go on to cgi throw plates around, so terrible.

[@mahogara]

@@notyourmama4166 Weren't most of those studio's interference? Even that original Elf woman created for the Hobbit, because the studio wanted another lovestory like Aragon and Arwen. I heard Jackson didn't even want to make Hobbit a trilogy but the studio wanted another trilogy. Not defending Jackson or anything but I feel someone who had created LOTR trilogy with so much love and care for the original materials wouldn't make the Hobbit trilogy willingly. More than the director, I would say the studio and the suits are responsible for all the bad things about the Hobbit trilogy.

[@adamhughes4387]

@@mahogara Also, in LOTR, Jackson got like 3 years pre production (video says 26 months, but thats from when New Line gave the Green Light when a lot of the script work and some scouting had (I believe) been started before this) and then 2 years production where they filmed all three films as one huge shoot. With the Hobbit, he got less than a single years pre-production per film which were each produced and filmed as separately. Which means less time to obsessively work on the script, less time for props and sets etc to be designed and built (so only the most crucial ones did, with some of the rest made faster with lesser quality and others cg'd), less time for location scouting (again, leading to more cgi). Add to the studio interference in insisting on a trilogy when Jackson didn't want one, a love story when Jackson didn't want one, the fact that the Hobbit was a kids book but they had to adapt a wider range of stuff as well to fill out the 3 films and that puts a weird tonal shift within the films. All that said; they stil weren't that bad. The not fantastic cgi that gets used too often and a bit too much comedy aside, they're still decent, enjoyable movies by most standards. Just not when compared to LOTR.

[@mintybadger6905]

I remember walking out of the theater after watching Return of the King, calling my dad and bursting into tears cause the story had ended. My dad (a man who hates reading but knows every detail of Tolkiens works) told me to calm down and read the books, there was so much more to love.

[@thegoldman25]

It makes me depressed knowing I’ve never seen these movies in theaters (I was too young). Maybe one day

[@ChrisMisMYhandle]

It would have been even better if Frodo decided to swim to mount doom

[@skeeterd5150]

@@thegoldman25 keep on the lookout with locally owned theaters in mid/larger cities. They play them. I’m in Richmond va and our classic movie house the Byrd played them in may

[@zachariahbourgeois3272]

I started crying after watching return of the king in theater also 😂

[@Starwarsfanboy0928]

Some day they better re-release the trilogy in my local area so I can check them out on the big screen.

[@leftyfourguns]

Tolkien wasn't interested in creating fantasy. He wanted to make history and myths and languages. That's why LotR has and will always stand the test of time, they're mythology meant to guide our morals and explore our fears as humans

[@pretentiouscritic6513]

@Gary Allen "and felt he should create one to represent the essence of Englishness" And then a film should be made starring mostly American actors directed by a Kiwi.

[@leargamma4912]

​@@pretentiouscritic6513shut up

[@beeticket]

@@pretentiouscritic6513 Many Americans and Kiwis are of English/British descent.

[@pretentiouscritic6513]

@@beeticket ....and know absolutely nothing about Britain or its culture.

[@beeticket]

@@pretentiouscritic6513 That’s just not true at all, there’s a great deal of overlap culturally speaking within the Anglosphere.

[@TheRowlandstone73]

I wouldn't be surprised if, even to this day, Peter Jackson sometimes wakes up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat of huge stress and anxiety, thinking he's still in the early stages of the LoTR production, only to then realise in a monumental wave of relief that it's well over 20 years later and those films are done, dusted, loved and revered.

[@Kasino80]

More like after The Hobbit.

[@thelawenforcerhd9654]

They are beloved by a bunch of millennials with a sentimental attachment to their childhood-but pretty much everyone else hates them. There is a reason the Tolkien estate disowned them, most Tolkien readers who were adults when they came out don't talk about them, they won almost no movie awards outside of technical areas and they failed to receive anything like the commercial success of the books. Not to mention the dismal failure of "The Hobbit". Talk to someone outside the internet bubble who has actually read the books and you'd appreciate all that and why.

[@marrowkaiproductions7053]

@@thelawenforcerhd9654 I love the movies and have read all the books twice as well as just finished the Silmarill my second time

[@ethanblair981]

@@thelawenforcerhd9654 What a miserable specimen. What a grudge you bear... Beyond any hope...

[@thelawenforcerhd9654]

@@marrowkaiproductions7053 So you read the Silmarillion twice and you can't get the name of the book right? No wonder you think Jackson is a genius....

[@dominic150]

The end of “Return of the King” has always felt to me like when you are reading the end of a story you love and you finally close the book.

[@JoshuaC923]

And every few years you find that book, smile to yourself, open up that book and go on that adventure again

[@Stargazer1974]

I was waiting so much to see Sam saying ''i'm back'' at the last scene of the trilogy, that when finally happened i cried. My girlfriend at the time did not understood why and laughed at me, but how could i explain to her that this was the best ending for the best movies about the best books i've ever read?

[@tristanbreen]

That scene when Sam has to physically carry Frodo always hits me

[@dolamrothknight]

@@tristanbreen same love a good kink

[@mayfairofsouth7453]

@@Stargazer1974 Same here. For me those words are the perfect ending for the book and I will always always remember them. That Jackson chose to end his movies just like the books is a sign that he truly understands and cherishes Tolkiens story. It also shows that the movies managed to capture Tolkiens Lord of the Rings perfectly as this ending fits the movies as well.

[@gpeddino]

"This moment here, when Frodo smiles, is the climax of the story." This gave me goosebumps. I had never thought of the ending this way. Great video.

[@thegoldman25]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@milesCarmany]

It’s the truest form of relief for Frodo of the destruction of the ring. He doesn’t totally get to move on, the way most of the others (and the audience) do, until he can leave to go to the Undying Lands. When Elijah turns and gives us that pure smile, with no lingering pain or regret, you realize all the previous moments were being held back by that internal suffering.

[@Mpmb3022]

One thing you forgot to mention is how powerful the music in this trilogy is! The warmth you feel When you listen to the music that plays when Frodo meets up with Gandalf in the Shire! Or the haunting dread you feel when Saruman has his War speech to the Uruk-hai in Isengard. Even the chilling ghost sounds when Gandalf is dueling Saruman in the Fellowship! It's truly amazing.

[@u.s.navy_pete4111]

Howard Shore is a genius!

[@daarom3472]

My parents forced me to play the piano when I was young. I always hated going to the lessons. Until these movies came out and I could play all this great music. To this day I don't play anything but LOTR music on the piano ^^

[@KororaPenguin]

When Mandos warns Fëanor and his line that anything they start for good will be twisted to evil, I can hear the History of the Ring motif in my mind.

[@MnemonicHeadTrip]

The ring leitmotif is amazing

[@Darkness-ie2yl]

The story resonates because it's all real. Preserved in high def in the mind of certain entities. And regurgitated into the imagination of writers often while they slumber. Muses they are called. A word that incidentally goes well with your expressions.

[@Rey20171]

Tolkein is not just the father of fantasy he's the Godfather of World building

[@thegoldman25]

this is a great point!

[@visdomplays3468]

Actually the bible is the First Fantasy World Building story

[@Mad-ur9kz]

Ever read HP lovecraft or Robert E. Howard?

[@nihiqallam5616]

@@visdomplays3468 true

[@lavinder11]

@@visdomplays3468 human history is older than Christianity

[@TariHuffaker]

I think Peter Jackson did an amazing job of holding as true to JRR Tolkien's stories. The most perfect casting was Samwise Gamgee. Sean Astin was so wonderful as Sam. Peter called on amazing artists to help him create middle earth. I love that they were die hard Tolkien Fan's. The Hobbits were all portrayed wonderfully by the actor's chosen. It is sad that the movie's portrayal of the story had to leave out Tom Bombadill and the barrows...but we may still be in the theatres if SOMETHING wasn't cut out. Peter should do a short on Tom Bombadill. Who would play that character, I wonder. Thanks for this great assessment. I totally agree with you. My oldest child is 46 years old. He remembers me sitting with him and his siblings, reading the Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings to them when they were very young. It is crazy that my grandchildren now say, "My Nana was born in the 1900's." I am glad I was. I wasn't born yet when Tolkien started his stories. The first was published just after I was born. I feel honored.

[@pretentiouscritic6513]

"The most perfect casting was Samwise Gamgee. Sean Astin was so wonderful as Sam." I'm guessing you are an American with all the sophisticated cultural understanding of other cultures that implies....

[@TariHuffaker]

@pretentiouscritic6513 yes. I am American. Is that important somehow?

[@mrnotsofunny8724]

That is very cute ma'am 🤍😅

[@scottbarcomb6744]

@@TariHuffaker Their username is "pretentious critic", I would not worry about the importance of their comment lol

[@FuraFaolox]

​@@pretentiouscritic6513the fuck does being an American have to do with anything?

[@Rey20171]

I think the behind the scenes aspect of lord of the rings is just as fascinating as the movies themselves

[@thegoldman25]

100% agree

[@Killerbee_McTitties]

In my teens, after my views of the trilogy reached the double digits, I started watching all the bonus material on the dvds and it was just as captivating.

[@pulsare.m.6719]

Totally

[@9tailedKitsune]

Frodo did not fail. Tolkien himself even addressed the idea of Frodo's failure as "...no more a failure than if Frodo was crushed by a falling rock." Stabbed by morgul blade, poisoned by Shelob, getting all the way to Mordor, going through Mordor, thirsty, starving, etc, he was physically broken and all of it while carrying the Ring, the mental mountain weighing on him the entire time. Frodo's "failure" in not destroying the Ring was to highlight something very important: NO ONE had the willpower to destroy the Ring. NO ONE. Even Sam became tempted by the Ring after having it for less than a day. No one could resist the temptation of the Ring forever. His task was to get the Ring to the mountain. Which he accomplished. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aHfXqahshcR7hbM

[@LordTelperion]

Very much this. It was impossible for Frodo in that place to NOT take the Ring. It was impossible for any mortal. Hence why the Mercy and Pity shown Gollum (by Bilbo and Frodo) was sacred, as it provided the pathway for success. And it didn't hurt the Divine just maybe tripped up Gollum in his victory dance.

[@the_real_littlepinkhousefly]

This. And I always think people underestimate what trauma can do to a person. Not only was Frodo physically traumatized by many events, but he had a crap ton of psychological trauma just from carrying the Ring.

[@smaakjeks]

But, he didn't succeed in destroying the ring. Evil destroyed itself, which is also something Tolkien himself wrote about.

[@HoneybeeAwning]

@@LordTelperion exactly #ItsnotIsildursfault

[@michaellovecat]

Yep, no one can willingly discard the ring, and if they claim it as theirs they're corrupted fully

[@Adventure3Man]

As a kid i never could pay attention to much stuff for longer than like 10 minutes, but i watched all three of these films with my mom so many times. What a legendary thing to grow up with.

[@camerongooch9606]

Those extra 30 minutes after the rings destruction are some of the most heartbreaking, incredible cinema, I never cry watching films not ever but, the 1 time I did was watching frodo say goodbye to his friends and sail into the distance. Only to see same going home. I'm in tears every time.

[@g-lenodubya2669]

Mine is when Aragorn kneels and tells Frodo he kneels before no one. The King and all his subjects kneeling before these 4 little heroes had so much emotion behind it.

[@HiHi-lt1cb]

@@g-lenodubya2669 "my friends, you bow to no one."

[@ComedyBros5]

I've never understood why Frodo had to leave in the end. I still don't get it. All I know is I bawl every time I see it.

[@azp4793]

@@ComedyBros5 from what I understand, the ring over the course of frodos time with it, slowly chipped away at frodos heart until eventually, at the cliff of Mount doom it finally corrupted him completely. Even after the ring was destroyed he knew after talking with bilbo in the carriage, "any chance of seeing that old ring of mine again?" Frodo knew that his yearning for it, even after it was destroyed, his broken heart/soul would never be free of it. This it seems was tolkiens metaphor for the change you see in men when they come home from war, they will never be the same. Frodo was only truly free of the pull of the ring when he left for the undying lands. You can see the moment it lifted in the films acrually. when he took his first steps on the boat. He turns after the pain is gone and smiles as he is now himself again, the power of the elves freed him from it.

[@ComedyBros5]

@@azp4793 Thank you for that! Incredible, well-said description. I'm guessing the un-dying lands is similar to "Heaven," or does he become immortal?

[@_bestcatdad]

I remember when The Return of the King came out, my parents took me out of school early (I was 10 at the time) for “a doctor appointment”, but to my surprise, they took me to watch the movie. These three movies are without a doubt my favorite of all time. I watch the extended editions monthly and I will continue to do so until I die.

[@infiad1275]

That was the last movie I saw at a theater. I can't imagine anything released nowadays being enough to pull me back. Very cool parents you have, btw.

[@spamhere1123]

You have awesome parents.

[@vivs9314]

Based parents

[@youtubeistryingtocensorme]

I cannot go back to the theatrical versions anymore. I always watch the extended editions

[@jawstrock2215]

Monthly?! That is some dedication...

[@johns1625]

The Falls of Rauros scene at the end of The Fellowship of the Ring is probably the best fight scene in the whole trilogy. The cinematography is incredible, the swordsmanship of Aragorn is realistic and subtle as he fights an enormous foe who has about 2 hours total battle experience, no immersion breaking humorous moments or cringy one liners, doesn't drone on too long and does not end on a good note. The hobbits are lost, Boromir is killed, Gimli is in despair. Just perfect.

[@fp9204]

I think a big factor in what made these movies so well put together, so convincing, is that everyone involved, from crew to cast, knew that this was their one shot to make this trilogy, that it would never come again, and if they wanted to make the best of it they had to put in everything they had. When you watch the behind the scenes films you see how everyone involved is going so above and beyond to make this come true, that they are literally climbing mountains, getting barely any sleep, working on their days off, suffering through hours upon hours of hard labor or difficult prosthetics or dangerous stunts, but everyone at least keeps their chin up, if they're not outright laughing and having fun. The unyielding dedication of this film crew and cast truly shines through in the final product

[@iorethofgondor]

Love.

[@MarinaMontserrat]

❤❤❤ Lotr ❤❤❤❤ Bts

[@Christofer_tTt]

Lord of the Rings was right on that edge when there was enough technology to do an epic fantasy but not modern enough that everything is subverted and ruined.

[@mordecaismopstick]

You said subverted and I thought immediately about season 8 of GOT. A prime example of how a fantasy masterpiece can be ruined just like that. I am forever grateful for the LOTR trilogy

[@joeyjerry1586]

@@mordecaismopstick, i mean tbf S6-8 were ruined more so because the writers were too arrogant to hand the reins over to someone who was actually passionnate.

[@zirkag99]

So so true. It came at the perfect time. Prime example is even less than a decade later, The Hobbit trilogy was ruined by modern times...

[@kurtdewittphoto]

One thing that made these movies so freaking incredible when they came out was the work done on the large scale battles. Nobody had ever seen that many characters on screen at once. Jaws were on the theater floor.

[@AnythingMachine]

The Lord of the Rings films really feel like some sort of historical anomaly, like they were produced by a more advanced civilisation and dropped here. Everything from the effort employing percentage points of a country's workforce to the insane amounts of injury and toil the actors went through just makes it seem different to all other films

[@christopherpoet458]

Well, it is. It is absolutly an anomaly. Not a single film in existance has had the leeway Jackson had on the Lord of the Rings. The best films that can clame any level of rivalry would be Avatar or Game of Thrones. One of which is still in the works on the grander scale and the other burne ditself to a kisp from the greed of its writers. Yet by comparison, still neither can surpas or meet the events that resulted in Lord of the Rings. About the only time I could ever see something like Lord of the Rings happening again is if it was done indipendantly outside of the influence of the existing studios.

[@ElZilchoYo]

They were made at the perfect time, earlier would have had bad effects and cheesy 80s early 90s vibes, later would have been ruined by bad effects of lazy CGI and obsessive modern day political insertion into the story.

[@TheBrownCoyote]

@@christopherpoet458 my boy really said game of thrones was a film lmao

[@christopherpoet458]

@@TheBrownCoyote Perhapse you sould consider educating yourself on the subject before you jump into a topic that is outside your field of experties and laugh at someones comment? TV shows are a subcatagory of Film. The term Film is a term that refrencs and incluide all forms of video production. Game of Thrones is the appointed title of a TV show - a subcatagory of film. Feature films specificlaly refer to single 1 - 2 hour film. Shorts are a sub catagory. Anamie (or Animated Films) are a sub catagory. Likewise, TV shows have their own subcatagories. Most of which are genre specific. Others meld with other catagories of films. 2 minutes on google or less and you could have figured that out. You don't even need to attend a film school to learn that.

[@Chosengenerations]

Maybe they had supernatural help?...🕊️

[@jeffreyballinger133]

I didn't realize it was an inner peace type thing when Frodo stepped on the boat and smiled. I always thought it was more like giving reassurance that everything will be okay to the other Hobbits.

[@NATIK001]

Frodo was permanently scared by the Ring and the Morgul blade, both in body and in his very soul. He is allowed to go because he can never find peace in Middle-Earth again, he can never heal there. Only in the Undying Lands exist powers able to help him heal completely. He is allowed to heal as a reward for his service to those same powers in taking out the Ring and Sauron. So yeah, he smiles because he has finally begun his healing process which was stymied for so long. If he was concerned for his fellow Hobbits that should have compelled him to stay and feel bad about leaving I think, rather than be something to find comfort in in that moment.

[@atithipradhan5988]

It is that too. Inner peace, Reassurance and Moving forward

[@thegingergyrl455]

I watch the extended versions of these multiple times every year. They are my feel good movies. My longtime love, since 1985, of Viggo Mortensen makes it all the better. I read the books the first time,in the early 80’s. I consider these people family in my heart and I cry with them and laugh and have hopes for them, even though I know the stories intimately. Peter Jackson will always have my deepest thanks. I am not as much a fan of the Hobbit movies. I agree it did not need to be a trilogy.

[@Maraaass]

I'll be forever grateful to Peter Jackson and everyone who worked on those movies for creating those ageless masterpieces. I'm so happy I was growing up with these and doesn't matter when you're rewatching them - they don't age at all and welcome you back home. You can feel how much heart and passion was poured into creation of those movies and you just love it. Also rhey gave us some of the best experiences and memories in history of cinema but I can't imagine how outstanding and life-changing the experience was for everyone on set when they were making those movies. PS. You said it very well in the video and I'm glad you enjoy those movies too.

[@thelawenforcerhd9654]

"You can feel how much heart and passion was poured into creation of those movies and you just love it." Yeah the way added 3 hours of crap to the books really "improved" them.

[@Flaris]

@@thelawenforcerhd9654 Hang on, let me bust out the world's smallest violin. I'm sure these masterpieces of cinema hurt you badly. But it'll be ok.

[@thelawenforcerhd9654]

@@Flaris LOL obviously butthurt guy projecting:)

[@bestplayerinwowhistory7894]

@@Flaris If were hurt by someone else's comment, don't accuse them of being hurt in turn. It is obvious the lawenforcer wasn't "hurt" by the films-he's just being mean and sarcastic, whereas you obviously were. You got owned, it would be better just to keep quiet.

[@pretentiouscritic6513]

@@thelawenforcerhd9654 "Yeah the way added 3 hours of crap to the books really "improved" them" It is noticeable that gen z has no interest in those films at all, it is only millenials who happen to be kids at the time that liked those films. I find them really difficult to watch, you have to really be a child to like anything so cheezy and dumbed-down for a mass audience.

[@garmadonthesensei59]

I completely agree with your segment on the multiple endings! I never had a problem with them and quite honestly, the last half-hour of King is my favorite part of the entire Trilogy. Frodo *deserved* that closure. So many people seem to forget the Ring's overwhelming power and are quick to judge and even dislike Frodo, but his pain and trauma make him so compelling that it honestly breaks my heart when people disregard him and his struggles.

[@RoseBaggins]

#ForFrodo

[@HoneybeeAwning]

what most people don't understand is that no one (including Sauron himself) could willingly destroy himself, the best people could just resist the ring and even they did not attempt to destroy instead they just refused it.

[@philippalinton5850]

The films' portrayal of Frodo don't do him justice either. He is older, wiser, more noble and courageous in the book. No disrespect to Elijah, who immersed himself in the role, but if he had actually read LotR, as a few other cast members did, he might have challenged Peter on some of the writing. I love the films but what a lost opportunity. The book makes it clearer what the Quest has cost Frodo.

[@comealsolito804]

@@RoseBaggins Even to this days, everytime I drink with my friends and we have to cheer, I always say "For Frodo" and then we clink glasses. It's amazing how much time is passed and how spontaneous this little line comes out of my mouth. I think I will never stop saying it.

[@srehh5529]

@@philippalinton5850 I was surprised to find Frodo more badass in the book as a kid, after only seeing how he constantly falls over and gets saved by others in the movies. But I wouldn't be sure Elijah reading it would've made Frodo book accurate. Every actor from the main cast in the BTS is almost the same as their characters in the film (not book), except Elijah and Orlando- and they're the only ones who didn't read it. Dom and Billy are exactly like the movie versions of Merry and Pippin, but far from the book version. Viggo is like movie Aragorn irl, but not book Aragorn. Movie Sam is Sean Austin himself. And we know from the BTS that the actors do have inputs in the script, which were constantly being rewritten everyday. I'd imagine if Elijah and Orlando had read LotR as well, their portrayal would probably be more like themselves irl. We'd see a Frodo who's more mischievous, bolder and unscared of morbid things, a mix between film Merry and Pippin, because that's how Elijah was like in the BTS.

[@cheeseburger1293]

I have watched this trilogy around 12 times at this point, most being the extended edition. This trilogy means so much to me and my dad who made sure I saw these movies, saw it for the first time when I was around 8. They are timeless classics that deserve the recognition they have

[@thegoldman25]

same here! btw I'm craving a cheese burger rn

[@cheeseburger1293]

@@thegoldman25 don’t eat me please

[@peristerasperisteropoulos1263]

This is not just a movie...LOTR was the peak of cinematography evolution...Talent, passion, hard work and technology all came together to create a masterpiece that people in 500 years should mention to school lessons, like we do know with the Greek philosophers !!!

[@architech007]

Amen to that. I was 7-8 years old when the first movie came out 21 year ago. I remember seeing it in cinema, GOD that was a blessing. Too bad we don't live young for 200-300 years ... would've been cool to see the actors young and acting + Peter Jackson and Tolkien kicking some ass!

[@leargamma4912]

Apparently [some] people say that these films were awful amd only grossed 27th of all time at the box office. Even if we are talking of all films ever made, then that's still in the top 30 grossing films of all time. Quite a feat.

[@blair7106]

@@leargamma4912 they obviously don’t realise what they’re talking about…

[@muffinlordghoti1]

Solid essay. I would add that Frodo's last-second failure to destroy the ring of his own volition wasn't the sole thing eating him up inside to the extent that he didn't enjoy living anymore. I think it's more to do with the hollowing-out effect the ring's power had that was displayed by the other Hobbits who held and lost it, plus PTSD with which Tolkien was familiar from WWI, plus as you mentioned his failure and life regarded as a hero that he didn't feel he deserved.

[@thegoldman25]

great point!

[@brandonmilanaik7263]

He was also suffering from the lingering effects of his Burden, being stabbed by a Morgul blade, and being stung/poisoned by Shelob. He felt the pain of the blade around every anniversary of Weathertop.

[@rightpa]

I would say that is certainly playing a part but I would agree with the video in that it was his failure at the last moment that ate at him the most. I think this is best illustrated when Frodo is happy to see his friends but when Sam comes in the room he stops smiling.

[@alecbona4549]

Excellent point

[@luisventura5180]

@@brandonmilanaik7263 I digg it

[@jessicaalexanderson1129]

This movies motivated me to read the books, which in turn sparked my passion for this story. I graduated from University with a Thesis on LOTR for my English Literature Major. It has left an everlasting mark on my life ❤

[@jawstrock2215]

Same, I had a vague, but very flawed view of the story(I thought it was way more whymsical, and the Lord of the Rings wasn't the enemy, but what the enemy was seeking/trying to be), until I saw the Fellowship of the Ring, at which point I bought and read all 3 books fully. Incidentally, my favorite of the 3 is the first one, maybe because I didn't have the book bias already when I saw it...

[@Jester1411]

i think the film trilogy is so popular because it remained faithful to the original content. As someone who had read the book many times before the films i have to say i was stunned from the accuracy of the films.

[@alexanderren1097]

I had read the books probably a dozen times before the movies came out. When I first saw them I probably would have rated them 6 or 7 out of 10 because I was annoyed by certain changes they made. Ex: Arwen rescuing Frodo instead of Glorfindel, Aragorn's lack of confidence in FOTR, Theoden's wishy washiness in TT, Witchking breaking Gandalf's staff, and Faramir's initial freakout over the ring being a few major issues I had at first. After rereading and rewatching the movies more, and ESPECIALLY seeing the extended editions, I'd rate them as 9/10 because I can better understand and accept the changes they made. And now after seeing a few episodes of whatever the eff Amazon's trying to do, I rate Peter Jackson's movies 10/10

[@stefanlaskowski6660]

I first read the four (The Hobbit plus the trilogy) books in 1972, and have reread them all at least thirty times. While I love good fantasy stories, Tolkien is still my benchmark.

[@JackG79]

​. Tolkein is the best. But I am really enjoying all the song of ice and fire stuff. George R.T. Martin isn't Tolkein. But his stuff is damn good. And I enjoy the violence, politics and dragons!!!

[@Guigley]

This trilogy can be summed up in five words: "You bow to no one."

[@Mr.Honest247]

Umm no it can’t.

[@Gandalfthegrey619]

@@Mr.Honest247 yes it can

[@Mr.Honest247]

@@Gandalfthegrey619 No.

[@Gandalfthegrey619]

@@Mr.Honest247 yes

[@gandalfthewhite.5245]

@@Mr.Honest247 but it does

[@kennethturner8290]

I think to this day, the LOTR trilogy has to be the biggest scale production of all time. Peter Jackson went all in with no limits in his approach and the studio followed.

[@satakrionkryptomortis]

imagine a good company taking the same risk today..with todays possibilities..

[@jordirapper]

And the sad thing is, we will never get another like this. Because it's not just about budget, but the actual scale and companies don't understand that.

[@skyden84]

I totally agree that the ending is just perfect for such a perfect story. And there is one very interesting interpretation of the ending when Frodo leaves for the Undying Lands. I know that it has never been confirmed but if to consider that Frodo actually dies at the end and literally goes to heaven, this story becomes the most emotional bittersweet piece ever. And when I listen to the lyrics of Into the West, I swear I can feel some hints on this and it makes me cry even more

[@Syren.024]

The ending always makes me cry tbh

[@davidhimmelfahrt3732]

I love the ending

[@davidsimon5088]

I've always planned to have Into the West play at my funeral.

[@SnailHatan]

Ehh, I would disagree that the ending is perfect. The climax of RotK is like half an hour before the ending. And while it’s necessary to end all of the character arcs, it does drag a bit. Even as a more-than-casual fan, I still skip over some of the endings when rewatching

[@Acrocanthosaurus]

@@SnailHatan The ending is hot steaming garbage.

[@ForgeofAule]

Couple of happy facts: After the war, Legolas and Gimli travel the world together, culminating in them both sailing a ship to the Undying Lands. Years after Frodo leaves, Sam himself makes the journey as well, since he too was a ring-bearer

[@kobarsos82]

I don't think the reason is being a ring bearer in Sam's case, which he was for too short a while to be damaged by it in any way. It was more that they realized how much he helped on this quest, and how important a factor he was in destroying evil in this world. The kind of reward that is the highest honor, for the true saviors of all middle earth.

[@ForgeofAule]

@@kobarsos82 I understand how you see it, but the real reason is that he was a Ring bearer.

[@kobarsos82]

@@ForgeofAule Well Gilmi was also the first dwarf to sail to the undying lands. He was not a ring bearer, he was a great friend of Legolas and also revered Galadriel, but this means less imo than how much he helped on saving the world. So I simply can't see it as the only reason, especially in Sam's case. Call it common logic if you want.

[@flauschig4499]

@@kobarsos82 it is explained in the books that all ring bearers are allowed to sail to valinor and sam was one of them. Gimli was allowed because he recieved Galadriel's blessing, the highest honor, when she gave him three strands of her hair

[@kobarsos82]

@@flauschig4499 I am well aware and I have read the books anyway, but this does not change the fact that all those fellowship members would never get such an honor, unless they had played this big part in saving the world. Like I said its common logic, and some things are abstract enough in the books as well, that you can safely make many of those deductions. That's the beauty of it too, the books are so wonderfully written that we don't really need everything spoon-fed to us in exact specific ways, we can make a lot of deductions of what we see happening by the end of the story and a lot of stuff concerning fate and Illuvatar can also be left to different interpretations, but I love that aspect of Tolkien. That's what makes middle earth magical at the end of the day.

[@droidzhunterz6861]

The musical score is also just perfection, powerful and moving.

[@gregory2421]

Without a question, the Lord of the Rings stands as the greatest achievement in cinema

[@tose5566]

In literature as well

[@whysoserious652]

As a trilogy.

[@gregory2421]

@@whysoserious652 Of course, it goes without saying.

[@moxx316]

@@whysoserious652 As a Movie As a Trilogy As Literature

[@moxx316]

People should refer Tolkien as "Father of Fantasy Genre"

[@AlexTTzer0]

The introduction of Oliphants out of the blue during the battle of Pellennor is propably the biggest most epic battle plot twist ever. No matter how many times I have seen the movies, the constant change of hearts during that battle is incomparable!

[@simmerke1111]

Oliphaunts were introduced earlier. During the scene where Sam and Frodo see them before getting captured by Faramir. Not taking away that it's an amazing battle. And the ork general was prepared for a field battle. Adds layers to the amazing battle.

[@Greeks332]

Oof I'm really not trying to be mean but I cringe when people say "Oliphaunts" but I know it's just another name for the mumikil.

[@ElisabethOrchard]

@@Greeks332 Not sure what you are trying to say here. Oliphaunt is simply the Hobbit term for Mûmak (with Oliphaunts being the Hobbit term for Mûmakil). Mûmakil is just the word in another language (that of the humans of Harad) for the same thing. Yes, that term was used in Gondor, too, but the story is mainly told from the PoV of Hobbits, so it is just natural that people will use the Hobbit term for it. A term very much established by Tolkien. If anything is cringe, it is being judgemental of other fans and trying to gatekeep, especially if one apparently does not fully know what one is talking about oneself.

[@Greeks332]

@@ElisabethOrchard dude take a joke

[@Greeks332]

@@ElisabethOrchard bro I said it's another name for a reason 💀

[@brycefalloway]

The Sistine Chapel, the Mona Lisa, the Pyramids, the Statue of David, the Taj Mahal, James Joyce's Ulysses, The Beatles' Abbey Road, Shakespeare's Hamlet... Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy sits comfortably at the table of the greatest human artistic achievements of all time.

[@kathleenhartnellharper7234]

Yes , it was profound. I sat through the credits as hundreds if not thousands of names scrolled down the screen. What an incredible achievement!

[@gamEnjoyLP]

This is and forever will be the very best film trilogy on this planet. From acting, to cinematography, to locations and props. And not to forget the absolutely spine chilling, marvelous and majestic score from howard shore that gives everything that very special something to be sprinkled on top of it to just be like it’s supposed to.

[@nagi3078]

probably my favourite film trilogy but i would be lying if i said they were better than the human condition trilogy of films.

[@leargamma4912]

​@@nagi3078the what

[@tanialangford6662]

In the book, Sam went to the undying lands to be with Frodo and the elves after his wife Rosie left. Arwen’s brothers stayed behind to take Sam went he was ready. He was given this honour because Arwen let him take her place because she chose to stay with Aragorn. Sam also earned the honour because he was a ringbearer twice. Once when he thought Frodo was dead after he was attacked by Shelob and the second time when he carried Frodo.

[@PaulTobelmann]

At that point, Frodo would already have been long gone, though. Mortals crossing over the Valinor would not live long, but wither away all the faster - albeit in peace and bliss.

[@joepetto9488]

@@PaulTobelmannthere is no death in Valinor. It is like an anti-Twilight from the Norse myths. None who go there ever die again, but none who go there will be reborn after Dagor Dagorath.

[@PaulTobelmann]

@@joepetto9488 Not according to JRRT...

[@liquidbeagle5341]

@@joepetto9488 That is not the case. The lands themselves are undying. Humans and hobbits and dwarves are not immortal, and they fade quickly in the Undying Lands.

[@joepetto9488]

@@liquidbeagle5341 the undying lands are the afterlife, they are not even geographically apart of Arda.

[@austino545]

The most emotional part of the movie for me was when Sam was crying on the side of mount doom, knowing that he will never be able to go home.

[@retriever19golden55]

I think it's telling that there were more than two eagles sent to the rescue. Was Gandalf hoping against hope that Gollum would also have been freed from the Ring to be Smeagol again?

[@HiHi-lt1cb]

THANK YOU for talking about the ending! The last 30 minutes are my favorite part of the whole trilogy. The aftermath of the war is so important to see, both the happy parts and Frodo's mental struggles.

[@garmadonthesensei59]

I commented the same thing!! Too many stories forget about the closure, but LOTR put it front-and-center to prioritize characters over plot. :)

[@HiHi-lt1cb]

@@garmadonthesensei59 YES ;)

[@markstott6689]

The complete making of discs with the extended editions has to be the best extras included with any films in history. Every part of the process is included. The fact PJ had the wherewithal to film all of that on top of daily shooting is a mark of genius. The world got very lucky 20 years ago.

[@zirkag99]

Do you wear wigs?

[@TheShamansQuestion]

There've been a couple times when I'm down in the dumps or having a tough time and I watch the extended edition behind the scenes hahaha.

[@Enigmatic..]

The ending is the best ending in movie history. The problem with most movies is we never get to see the effects of after the victories because most movies just suddenly end after the main event. LOTR shows you the results of their victory and even what happens to them years later and its awesome to get that perspective on things. There have been so many movies where i have wanted to know more about what happened but never got to know but LOTR gives us that perfect ending by answering these questions, it gives us a proper happily ever after ending.

[@futuresonex]

The ironic thing is that Jackson & Co. cut out several months of the story's ending after the Ring was destroyed! The field of Cormallen, the long journey home, the Scouring of The Shire, and the Battle of Bywater were all left out completely.

[@reloadpsi]

And yet we still meme the hell out of the movies for how long they are. Imagine all that being there too eh?

[@metalsadman]

@@reloadpsi ikr lol

[@AlexanderJoneshttps]

The scaring of the shire was in the fellowship but I do agree

[@futuresonex]

@@AlexanderJoneshttps No, it was at the very end of the story, in "The Return of the King". Unless you mean Sam's vision in The Mirror of Galadriel. That was in "The Fellowship of the Ring", but the movies showed it not happening at all.

[@the_real_littlepinkhousefly]

That's because cinematically it doesn't work to have a whole 'nother list of Things That Happen after the climax of the plot. And these wouldn't have added to the climax of the story, either, because that's about the characters. It's actually not the greatest storytelling, either, but we all accept it because Tolkien was a genius and we're willing to go along with him on these extra rides. I feel like this is where his inner historian got a little out of control. He wanted to be sure he added in all the things that he imagined would have happened after the ring was destroyed (and historically speaking, in the days before quick communication, there were often additional battles that happened before everyone knew the war was over). With the Scouring of the Shire, I feel like he threw that in because he desperately wanted to nail home the whole agricultural idyll vs industrial evil thing. It's his book, his story, and the publishers of the day were okay with it, so we all accept it, too. But film has a different set of rules for telling stories. PJ would have lost a lot of the audience if he'd added all those other bits in. (Which is also, I think, why he didn't have the months-long Leaving the Shire that Tolkien wrote -- filmgoers would have been saying, "Enough already, let's get to the plot.")

[@HACKTACULAR.]

I literally just went back thru all the extended additions. They hold up so well!

[@Monkeyboy2457]

The way Gandalf rode Shadowfax at full gallop with no saddle or bridle. Brings a tear to my eye it is so magnificent.

[@Enders1315]

It still holds up so well. My girlfriend and I just finished watching the extended trilogy again. So damn good.

[@meteorman6167]

I’m grateful for being alive during these films, I glad they were made when they were made and I’m forever grateful to see these films when I was young. The story inspired me and changed my life.

[@architech007]

Amen brother. I was a 10 year old kid, now I'm 29 and I can proudly say we had an amazing childhood. God bless Peter and his crew for such a miracle + Tolkien

[@BatmanSeRiedeTi]

Everey few months i watch again the extended trilogy, and whenever is at the cinema again, and each time not only i find myself thinking "My gods! this is 30 years old? It kicks the ass of EVERY thing in the last 30 years!!" but actually each time is even more prominent to me how superior is this to every "curent day" blockbuster.

[@shmerelize]

The movies are 21-23 years old

[@BatmanSeRiedeTi]

@@shmerelize It took 3 years of filming before the premier of "The Fellowship" so 2024 - 2000 + 3 its 27, so ¿middle of the way?

[@issaryokan]

Absolutely love your explanation of the ending. LOTR really is an amazing trilogy, as I have said before. You can see all that there is to see in 12 hours, and yet after 19 years it can still surprise you at a pinch.

[@susanscott8653]

I see what you did there. 😉

[@paulallas7665]

Can't stress how often I've watched my extended DVDs and the Appendices. My collection of all 3 movies takes pride and place on my shelf. Have the BluRay version also. I have a great appreciation for the incredible effort, work and sacrifices that went into the telling this story on film.

[@DaemonetteLeilu19]

I love the bit when the king of rohan is "restored." Makes me cry, every time

[@wickdaline8668]

I rewatched the TLOTR and TH trilogies for the first time in years only months ago. A real treat it was.

[@Vario69]

Never seen anyone call those TLOTR and especially TH 😅

[@metalsadman]

@@Vario69 touche` but hey love a new convert

[@thomasvleminckx]

@@metalsadman He said "rewatched", so not a "new convert"

[@hollyhayes9640]

Read the books. There's so much more. There's also a bestiary of Middle-Earth. 👍

[@jamesagradi6820]

I remember seeing Fellowship as a kid and having it go over my head. I really didn’t like it until I was a teen. Now I love them and revisit the saga every couple of years.

[@RosesAreForever1871]

Your description of the death and resurrection is better than I have heard in most sermons! I never thought about the trilogy like that! Thank you

[@skilz8098]

Of all of the characters from LOTR, there is one character this is almost always overlooked. There's talk of Elves, and Men or Big Folk, Kings and Dark Lords, Dwarves, and Wizards, etc... but in all honesty I think the most important role is one of the characters that probably had the smallest roll. And this small but important role I would give to Rose "Rosie" Cotton. If it wasn't for her, Sam may not have had the courage, strength or will to carry Frodo. He wanted to get back to her at any cost. She had ribbons in her hair!

[@artbagley1406]

Sounds like you wouldn't support the thesis that Rosie pushed Sam to run for Mayor (what was it? 5 times successfully? -- and then he abandons his family by going to Valinor!? All these are my conspiracy theories.) She's probably an alcoholic because she works in the Green Dragon. 🤨 I know I'm prodding a sleeping bear with these whacko tweaks.

[@gkgyver]

F**** your feminist sh*t

[@geoffreypereira8024]

Frodo’s unrest is not due to “failure” but the physical and emotional wound from the Morgul blade…

[@grantprice9768]

And the time with the ring

[@princesinha1680]

Agreed. The books provide a lot more info and context on why Frodo had to leave Middle Earth. Not only the morgul blade, but the ring itself, left him with deep wounds and scars, that could only be healed in the Undying Lands.

[@GabrielSturm-cy3fz]

WOW, I can not believe how many topics you covered in that video, love it, man! The LORT movies are my fav out of any movies I have seen. Thanks for the hard work you put into making this video, it made my day!

[@viccasaur]

Oh wow, all these times I have rewatched lotr I never realized how unhappy Frodo was at the end of the movie, it’s those little details that make such an incredible film that it makes me want to watch it again.

[@philippalinton5850]

The book makes it clearer why Frodo chooses to leave Middle-earth for the Undying Lands. He's a much stronger, braver, wiser character in the book as well. He never believes Gollum over Sam and he never sends Sam away. I love the films but they don't really do Frodo - and a few other characters - justice.

[@michaellovecat]

@@philippalinton5850 he's supposed to be a older hobbit, he was the oldest of the 4 Hobbits, as much as I like the movies I think it was wrong to make Frodo a wide eyed youth

[@philippalinton5850]

@@michaellovecat I agree with you!

[@zirkag99]

Not only did Frodo have massive physical and psychological trauma. But the essence of the ring never left him and it ate away at his soul.

[@michaellovecat]

@@zirkag99 like WWII

[@MrDeengels]

Still as epic as it was 20 years ago, a master class of film making, and acting. and evoking emotion.

[@OmerKeidar]

Really liked the video and your interpretation of the ''Battles'' section, but the one thing that blows my mind the most is the ending and how Frodo makes peace with what happens when he steps on the boat. something I never really thought about.

[@AdrienMelody]

I started crying when you mentioned the part where Sam told Frodo not to let go as he was hanging over the lava in Mount Doom. It kind of went over my head when I watched the movie, but you’re right-after failing in such a big way, it would have made sense for Frodo to let go. If I’d been in his place, I feel like I’d be too ashamed to ever look Sam in the face again. But despite such an incredible failure-one which would have allowed Sauron to win if Gollum hadn’t been there-Sam still told him, “don’t you dare let go.” Sam’s love for Frodo was still there, even though he succumbed to the Ring. It reminds me of the handful of times when I felt so ashamed of my own failures that I almost gave up on myself, but one friend was there just in time to show me that I still mattered to them, even though everyone else had given up on me. ❤️‍🩹

[@GodsGrace758]

Yes, it kind of went over my head, too, until this video laid it out. Now I completely get it and also have experiences of my own that cause me to relate. What a great story. Nothing like it. 💝

[@blazednlovinit]

As someone else in the comments has mentioned, Frodo didn't fail. No one in Arda had the willpower to destroy it, Frodo's purpose was to get the ring to mount doom, and Gollums purpose was to be there to fight with him and slip into the fires with the ring.

[@AdrienMelody]

@@blazednlovinit I know that, but put yourself in his position-wouldn’t you have /felt/ like a failure, even if you knew better? I know I would have.

[@blazednlovinit]

@@AdrienMelody It's difficult to know since he is under the influence of supernatural forces, he just (for the first time) gave into the ring and "claimed" it only then to immediately lose it.... for all I know he is contemplating suicide for having just lost the precious xD

[@navalmaerlin8562]

@@blazednlovinit of course torn he was still contemplaiting it.. failing his friends still failing to see success of their accomplishment.. torn he needed to start further healing in the undying lands

[@joshangrian]

In addition to your comments on the ending, the ending is really long in the source material as well. When the ring is destroyed in the return of the king book, there’s still about another third of the book left. The start of Aragorn’s reign and tying up the loose ends of the War of the Ring takes a long time in the book, to cut out everything and make it a 5 minute ending would feel a bit rushed.

[@ZakhadWOW]

and even then, Jackson ignored the entire Saruman taking over the shire and industrializing it.. a huge issue for Tolkien.

[@hamanu666]

@@ZakhadWOW Then the movie would be an hours longer and theatres wouldn't be able show it as many times. Remember, these movies have to make money to appease the investors and studio. Something book purists that complain that Jackson left story points out seem to never realize or care about.

[@HoHhoch]

@@ZakhadWOW Which would've felt really weird given the big bad was already beaten. Leaving out the scouring of the Shire was a good move on PJ's part.

[@octoMerlin6066]

I was born 4 years after last lord of the ring movie came out. I saw a hobbit first and then the lotr films and I personally like lotr films more they have more magic in it. I was and am someone who doesn't cry much, but the story of fellowship always makes me cry of happiness and sadness. Thanks to this trilogy me and my cousins have always movies to watch and then have discussions on this topic for days, making theories what would happed if something was done differently.

[@felixdeubler1180]

19 years? Thats actually insane

[@GodsGrace758]

21 years from the first one’s release.

[@architech007]

Hoy shit, I was 10 back then

[@architech007]

Omg, then I was 7 years old kidoid back then. Too bad such great cast age ... and so do we ....

[@BumphreyYoughurt]

As a fan of the books I didn’t know what to expect when I sat down in the movie theater to watch the Lord of the Rings. But as a Fantasy nerd I knew this - Fantasy to this day had never been made with dignity in cinema. First, I was completely blown away by the opening scene with the Last Alliance. That alone was the coolest, most epic battle scene I had ever seen. And then, when the Shire comes to life before me it is as if Peter had put a cable to my brain while I was reading the books. It was exactly how I envisioned it. And the music immaculate. I almost burst to tears at that moment. It is by far the most perfect trilogy ever made. And it goes to show that hard work, dedication, understanding and respect of the source material as well as practical effects pays off. We will never again have a trilogy like this.

[@justinlapid2163]

Same sentiments about the last alliance scene. From that scene onwards my heart was racing and my attention fully given to these films. Damn...that last alliance scene...damn...epic and gritty and surreal..and the music that plays when they show isildur leading the numenoreans...damn

[@j.burton5220]

Thanks, Goldman! This was great to watch. Your points about the trilogy's ending, and Frodo's psychological trauma, more specifically, followed by his final smile to his friends and Sam, I hadn't fully considered before. His sad-faced unrest I'd always attributed to being stabbed by the Morgul blade, not simply feeling he'd failed despite the outcome. Just me, I know! But I'm gonna watch for that now when I see the films again in theaters this June.

[@chatpoltron859]

Thank you for your take on the ending of the trilogy. Very clear and to the point.

[@thegoldman25]

Thank you for watching!

[@ericstewart5852]

Love Lord of the rings trilogy and the hobbit trilogy I rewatch the movies at least once a year and they are still amazing I just truly love the world WOW what a mind to create this masterpiece

[@alextrill5829]

Thank you for defending the long ending and putting its purpose into words. I always felt it was perfect, but never quite could put the finger on why. You both said the things that needed to be said and explained my own feelings to me.

[@magicl4088]

I would recommend the books to you, especially the battles are described in just as much detail, of course the movie battles look better than the pages but still, they are genius.

[@thegoldman25]

I should!

[@kreia187]

I agree that they are great, but at least when i read it, the battles really didn't get as much attention as in the movies. I mean, I don't think books are nearly as well suited for that, so it's not much of a complaint, but it's still true.

[@magicl4088]

@@kreia187 I would agree on the point of being more well suited, but Tolkien described all Battles in great Detail, in my opinion they got just as much attention, hell they even left things out of the movies such as the prince of dol amroth or the cave people.

[@kreia187]

@@magicl4088 They did leave some parts out, of course, but many battles were also really minor in the books. The fight ag the black gate at the very end literally only consists of pippin being knocked unconscious. That's the most extreme example though. The best way to describe it I think is, that they aren't as much in the focus as in the movies. In the movies they take up like a third of their respective movie, whereas in the books they aren't nearly as dominant.

[@apmanda]

@@kreia187 It’s because Tolkien didn’t like battle/war. He purposely didn’t dwell on gratuitous detail because he did not care to glorify war. That’s probably one of the biggest things the films don’t capture very well in relation to Tolkien’s vision. But it’s film and people like battle scenes so that’s that. Not a criticism, just an observation. I think the film battles are fantastic.

[@stephennapier8365]

This easily has to be the best review of the LOTR movies that I have ever watched. Your attention to detail and deep insight in this video matches to Peter Jackson's. Well done. 👏👏👏

[@thegoldman25]

Wow, thank you!

[@stephennapier8365]

@@thegoldman25 No. Thank you. I learned and saw some things that I didn't know or even think about. LOTR is sti the gift that keeps on giving. Even 19 years later! 😊👍

[@theminister1154]

@@thegoldman25 there's a problem though gold man. Let me see if I can help you out. Pardon the typos I'm voice dictating. The following is close or a direct quote of tolkien: "I despise allegory in all its many manifestations." And he does he's not joking. I strongly suggest you look up the full context, because it's pretty critical to understand how the man thought and wrote. Tolkien never wants you to say or think this is that, this is a manifestation of the real world in some aspect. Instead he just wants to evoke certain aspects of those real world ideas or things or places. Or it's just obvious they had an effect on his thinking. My guess is this is just how you think. Nothing wrong with that of course. Red country is a good fantasy book that's a very direct allegory of the American West.... In fact it's pretty much exactly the plot of the searchers. Joe Abercrombie absolutely believes in stealing big like Picasso, and he's not above a trump reference or two in his books which is frankly annoying but what do you expect Of an ex deep State guy. It's pretty subtle at least JRR Tolkien though? He had no need to be coy. I don't even think Yahweh and illuvitar have any direct linkage, though if there's one facet of this I could be wrong about that will be it. Keep working hard on your videos. good stuff

[@kathleenhartnellharper7234]

Got the chance to see the trilogy at the theater this week and it was a profound experience. I cried and cried throughout the showings. So cathartic! When they lit pyre after pyre to summon the Rohan- SOB!, when Sam carried Frodo up Mt. Doom- Sob!, and on and on. I pretty much had tears throughout the 3 movies. So Grand, so Meaningful!

[@NorkelFjols]

Fun fact for the non-book readers: Sam ends up being the mayor of Hobbiton for years, and after Rosie dies he actually follows Frodo over the sea to The Undying Lands. He was seemingly granted that honour because he had been a ring bearer for a little while. (When he believed Shelob had killed Frodo). This is not part of the main text, it's in the appendecies. (It says that this story is "tradition", but I doubt Tolkien would have mentioned it if we're not meant to believe it..)

[@guyjperson]

Great retrospective. I'm one of those that thought there were too many endings. Thanks for recontextualizing it for me.

[@rightpa]

Agreed!

[@IvanMifsudBons]

This was a great video. I was watching it at 2am and couldn't get myself to stop so that I could go to sleep. Superbly explained without making it dragging for the entirety of the 30 minutes. Methinks we are looking at a master storyteller here too. Kudos 👏

[@ashhart4944]

Great video brother, the Jackson team reminds me of how Dan Carlin develops content. He strives to take all of the necessary time and effort to make something as good as possible, so that piece becomes timeless. Because people in the future won’t care how long it took, but the quality it possesses.

[@thegoldman25]

Thank you for watching!

[@Sandlund93]

I never used to get teary eyes from Sam carrying Frodo, but it happened both yesterday when I saw the movie for the gizillienth time and now during your analysis. Then again, I was 10 when it came out, back then it was all about the battles. Nowadays, I focus more on the dialogue, something I was actually surprised over myself. It´s probably a side effect of watching lots of IMDB 8+ movies. I really am the movie geek I set out to become roughly 10 years ago. Somewhere along the way I realized that the script is what makes or brakes a movie, the way it can either reshape your look on life or be a complete waste of time. Most movies are somewhere in between, of course. Anyway, it´s kind of amazing that I can experience these movies in a different way, even after 20 years, while knowing exactly what´s gonna happen.

[@darrellross8609]

I teared up just by you describing, Fordo smiled boarding the ship. Best, D.

[@oiaponie]

I bought the Blu-ray dvd set of the extended three movies when they got out. The accompanying dvds of the making and behind the scenes in the set box were also enlightening and very entertaining. Best value ever.

[@tomatoisnotafruit5670]

When you look into the production and filming of these movies, the amount of meticulous attention to every detail, the amount of dedication, time and effort put in into every aspect of this movie and that the writers and directors stayed as close as they could to the original story and messages of the story, It becomes very obvious why this trilogy was not only a huge success but engraved as an endless masterpiece with no comparison. And it is unlikely we will ever see something like this in our time again, because No movie studio is willing to invest so much time, effort and money to create another masterpiece that can rival this one.

[@brendabacon2465]

I just watched Fellowship yesterday with my granddaughter. She was enthralled and looking forward to watching the remaining movies. What a joy to share this experience with her as it was with her mother and uncle all those years ago. I texted my son we were watching the movie and his response: "What?! Jealous!"

[@bilboskywalker6371]

Great video! Really enjoyed listening to this. My only nit would be the word “allegory”. Tolkien in one of his letters stated “I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations, and always have done so since I grew old and wary enough to detect its presence. I much prefer history - true or feigned- with its varied applicability to the thought and experience of readers.” Allegory vs applicability. Some have thought the ring was the atomic bomb, or sin like in this video. Which I think Tolkien himself would have disagreed with. Just my opinion though!

[@michaelericson45]

I can't agree more. While it's obvious that Tolkien was influenced by his upbringing and his faith, he had no intention to draw any links or parallels between our world and middle earth. So it is accurate that there is a level of influence, no doubt, but saying that 3 main characters are Christ figures is going too far in my opinion. That would imply that the whole works of the Lord of the Rings is one big allegory and that is simply not true.

[@kieranobrien4247]

Well said, thank you! Came to the comments hoping someone had said something against the "allegorical" parts!

[@jordanknapp7757]

I actually came to say this

[@LordTelperion]

This.

[@whalewaffle2771]

I binged watched yesterday the whole original trilogy on their extended versions since I have never seen them like that before. I was from 8 to 5, totally invested on this journey and eventhough I had seen the movies before, man... this time TROTK really got me. I already knew what was going to happen but still, during the closing scenes and "Into the West" I was quite a mess yesterday haha. I've never shed any tears like that for a movie with a happy ending, what a ride of emotions it was.

[@devonmarr9872]

This film could release today and have better visuals than everything else out this year. No film had attempted anything like this before. Let alone being successful and doing an honorable adaptation of the beloved books.

[@soulspeaker1979]

The amount of dedication and love that went in to the trilogy is immense. I still watch it at least once a year. Remember when I watched the fellowship in the cinema, was amazed that it looked almost precisely what I imagined Middle-Earth would look. Timeless masterpiece just like the books.

[@triune_blades]

Your take on why the ending of ROTK was justified was incredible. Awesome observations. Subbed

[@tomverstappendrums3423]

I was a small kid when these movies came out and I wasn't allowed to watch them yet but I remember seeing a part of the prologue and being fully captivated from the first frame. Being a kid in the time these movies came out was pure magic. Everytime I see the movies again I'm reunited with my childhood and I'm so happy the trilogy is actually still that good instead of just nostalgia.

[@vukasinviskovic9121]

Man, I've been a fan of the trilogy practically since I can remember. I thought I knew it inside-out. But your explanation of its ending, and of Frodo's struggles to accept himself after failing to resist the ring's temptation, really gave me a fully new perspective on these events! I now feel I understand them much better! Thanks for this :)

[@lewislewis3531]

3 perfect films. Every actor delivers an award worthy performance. Every element, from the music to cinematography to the blocking, is exceptional. The Lord Of The Rings is an anomaly we will never see again

[@shoopidly5249]

Thank you for taking the time to talk about the influence which Tolkien's faith had on the books. It's ignored or brushed aside so often and there's a lot of solid morality and goodness that's cheapened when not considered. But even then, there's an inherent goodness to the story that naturally draws people in. There's a power to things which are steeped in truth which shines through even when ignored.

[@fangiscool1]

Only issue I have here is that Frodo is not haunted by his failure at all. He didn't even fail. He was haunted by his past burdens of carrying the ring, the journey, the morgul blade wound, and returning to a normal life after such traumatic events. His own narration even spells this out for the viewer at the end of the film.

[@richardrose2606]

Frodo was stabbed with the morgul blade on Weathertop, bitten by Shelob, and had his finger bitten off. These correspond to the three wounds suffering by Christ on the cross; nails through his hands and feet, the crown of thorns, and stabbed in his side with a sword. That's how I see it.

[@QueenDarkChocolate]

The book made it clear, and Frodo acknowledged it also, that if it had not been for Gollum, he would have failed. The movie's most dramatic moment (one that brings tears everytime) is the "you bow to no one" scene. Peter Jackson and Elijah Wood captured that moment perfectly with the look on Frodo's face.

[@DaJodad]

3:38 SO YOU'RE TELLING ME WE STARTED WITH ISEKAI!?!

[@mizudori6211]

Golum is actually still a fully cg character. But Andy circus' performance gave them the foundation to build a real cg character. Subtle but important difference, makes the work more incredible

[@thegoldman25]

true!