There are, you know, like, spoilers...I had a huge panic attack when the last scene faded to black. Within those 2 seconds, I think I lost 5 years of my life with the worry and angst I went through. I just became convinced that there would be no trailer. Come on people, when you've seen the movie more than 7 times or 20, you become so used to seeing the last scene fade to black and the words "Directed by Peter Jackson" come on along with the credits.
And then, it all changed...
Coming This Christmas
Oh dear Lord, I began to hyperventilate. I have never hyperventilated unless it had to do with LOTR. The only other time I experienced such a severe emotional attack was when Howard Shore won Best Score at the Oscars.
Then, it began...
I'm not going to go through it with you all since enough people have posted synopsises. What I will post are my thoughts throughout the trailer:
1) I could not get over the fact that these characters were finally doing something different. Anyone else have that impression? For example, Aragorn only wears black in Fellowship, but in the TTT trailer, he's seen wearing some red and gold. Little things like that that you've become used to seeing the characters do and now all of a sudden, they're doing brand new things!
2) Aragorn looks good. If the TTT trailer imples anything, it will be a much expanded Aragorn part. I'm looking forward to his 'cleaning up'. Even from the trailer, you can note the change: The first shot is of Aragorn picking up the brooch looking like the weather-worn Ranger he has been for years, but as the trailer progresses, he begins to look better (ie: good hair, fancy clothes) but the biggest change is in his face. He no longer looks 'humble' or 'useless' as he did in Fellowship. He walks with confidence in the trailer; an air of 'don't mess with me' and triumph. The best example of this is when Saruman speaks of Gandalf find the king of Men and there follows immediately a shot of Aragorn throwing open two doors (of Meduseld?) wearing red and black and an expression that says, "I have arrived".
3) Gollum is exactly as I'd pictured him except lighter. Always thought he was darker; not black, but a deep red/brown colour. But his voice is sensational. Dead on. Good job, Andy Serkis.
4) I actually liked trailer Arwen. She looks beautiful.
5) Eowyn is marvelous. Precisely as I had envisioned her. Miranda Otto was a fine choice. What I liked most about her: Her freckles. They're such a human touch, giving her face a 'flawed' look perfectly suited to humans and a direct contrast of Arwen's flawless skin. Plus Miranda can fight.
6) What I didn't like: The look Aragorn gives Eowyn as they're sword fighting. He seems more than just disinterested in her. Rather turned on, or at least interested. Consider this with a shot almost right after of Arwen looking lifeless on a bed and it would not be unreasonable to wonder if PJ might be alluding to something regarding the three. Aragorn tempted by Eowyn? Say it isn't so! LOTR is not, I repeat NOT a soap opera!
7) The recitiing of the poem by Theoden is marvelous and works perfectly in the trailer as a substitute for a narrator. The lines correspond more or less tot he scenes being shone which is great.
8) We get more of that Last Alliance bigbattle syncronization that I love. You know, when the armies march in perfect unison, the arrows are fired at the same time. I like the shots of Aragorn standing in the centre in command.
9) I also love the 2-3 shots of Legolas standing to Aragorn's right. If I may be allowed to speculate, PJ seems to be implying that Legolas and Aragorn's relationship becomes 'closer', re: more developed, in TTT which I am all for.
10) I have no complaints about the Legolas shots. Few? Yes. But the baby blue close-up is wonderful. As are the single shots; one of him on the look-out, one right before Gandalf's arrival.
11) Galadriel looks much less sinister even if she appears for 1.5 s in the trailer. She looks very sad and I am glad. Gives her a human touch.
12) Treebeard, what little I saw of him, is precisely what I imagined. I'm so glad the crew didn't turn him into a male Grandmother Willow from Pocahontas.
13) Can you believe I didn't realize until right before it happened, that that pause and the drawing of the weapons by the three hunters was the scene where Gandalf the White appears? Luckily I realized it rigth before the wizard appeared.
14) And now to the thing that stuck in my mind, that I can't forget, that I am so absolutely looking forward to that I wasn't before the trailer and now must see in TTT: GANDALF THE WHITE:
- He is even more beautiful than I imagined.
- I can't get over the change in him.
- Gandalf the Grey was so humbled, so shaggy. Dark rough robes, bushy hair, bushy beard. Like a magical elderly grandfather.
- Gandalf the White is cleaned up. His hair...I can't get over his hair. It's straight, it's unbelievably shiny, it's WHITE! Just like Saruman's, but it looks so different on him it looks better! And his robes are even better than Saruman's: Sparkling, bejeweled and brilliant in the way that only pure white can be. He was stunning.
- The shot of him riding into battle in Helm's Deep was absolutely amazing. The glow, the aura, the power around him is magnificent.
- And the change in his demeanor is perfect. God bless Sir Ian McKellen. Gone is the humility; this Gandalf would have swept his arm and be done with the Balrog and every single orc in Moria including Tiny Elvis. This Gandalf don't take crap from no one. You don't ask the questions; HE asks them and he'll give you the answers if HE feels like it. I wanted to go down on my knees and praise the Lord I had gotten to see Gandalf the White.
15) Helm's Deep is amazing, although more stony than I imagined and more grey. I had imagined the rocks a fiery red/brown. But I'm not complaining. The orcs are fabulous...More menacing than any you've seen in Fellowship which helps make the battle more believable. These orcs will not be so easily defeated.
16) The dark rain at Helm's Deep is perfect. Absolutely perfect.
17) Isn't Rohan supposed to be greener?
18) Something tells me Frodo and Sam will be a little shotshifted in TTT. If the trailer is any indication, I think the majority of the emphasis will be placed on book three. The fact that Shelob was moved also supports this. I dunno if I like that but I suppose I can understand it.
19) Don't understand the flames in the Dead Marshes but will wait until movie before deciding.
All in all, I loved it except for the potential Aragorn/Eowyn/Arwen triangle. What purists feel about Arwen replacing Glorfinidel is what I feel about this times ten. I hope to God PJ didn't decide to have Aragorn feel anymore than pity for Eowyn. Having him tempted is just not right.
Oh yes, Faramir is gorgeous. Even my non-Tolkienite friends saw the resemblance between him and Boromir. Wenham was perfectly cast. Eomund has hair to die for, Theoden isn't how I imagined but I like his presence all the same and I don't recall Wormtongue.
I think there is a lot of panicking and gnashing of teeth over the lack of hobbitses in the trailer. But I'm quite sure that's because much of the Frodo and Sam scenes are with Gollum, whose scenes aren't really finished , and Merry's and Pippin's are with Treebeard, who really isn't finished...
Okay, off to church I go...I am looking forward to reading others' impressions when I get back!
Methane gas?
I'm so glad you all could write down what you thought, because I can't even think straight! I just got home about 15 minutes ago...will I calm down and be able to tell you what I think? All I can think is MOREMOREMOREMORE!!!
I thought that was Denethor? Wasn't that Faramir standing behind him?
I don't know. . .it went so fast that I'm in shock.