[HairOfTheDog]

Second Article:

Source: Coming Soon.net

Jackson & Woods on Return of the King

Wednesday, December 25, 2002 10:35 CST

The Chicago Sun-Times talked to both Elijah Wood and director Peter Jackson about The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Here's a clip...

It might be much longer," says Elijah Wood, who plays Frodo Baggins, indicating that the last journey, "The Return of the King," will be inching toward the 3-1/2-hour mark.

"It will be as long as it needs to be," says director Peter Jackson, who is busy editing the film right now. "The third is my favorite one in the trilogy. It's almost biblical and makes me cry. It's about incredible courage and the last part of it is just mind-boggling."

Wood adds, "The third movie has always been my favorite. I've seen moments from it and they just break my heart," he says. "You've grown to care about these characters and they lose quite a lot in the process of the third movie. Frodo, Sam, Gimli, Legolas and Aragorn will never be the same."

[HairOfTheDog]

Pinging the Two Towers spoiler list! Let me know if you want off this spoiler list!

(Is it too early for a RoTK countdown?)

[HairOfTheDog]

Detail pet peeve... I copied it as printed, but it is "Elijah Wood" not Elijah Woods.

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

Interesting article, not too many spoilers at all!

I've been thinking recently about how much was left out of TTT, and how much will have to be included in ROTK: the final confrontation with Saruman at Isengard; Merry going off with Theoden and the Riders; Pippin looking in the Palantir and being whisked off to Minas Tirith; Aragorn taking the Paths of the Dead; Frodo & Sam in Shelob's Lair, then taken captive by Orcs, then the forced march, etc.; Faramir's report to Denethor about his encounter with Frodo; the Battle of Pelennor Fields (which must be at least as long as the Battle of Helm's Deep, wouldn't you think?) and everything else. Now we know the Grey Havens will be included, while the Scouring of the Shire apparently won't... there has to be the crowning of Aragorn... I wonder if the Houses of Healing will be included?

I'm beginning to wonder if PJ can keep it under 4 hours running time!

[BenLurkin]

"The Two Towers" seemed a bit flat to me. I guess I was so wowed by the Fellowship of the Ring" that the less focused pacing of TTT was a bit of a disapppointment. Jackson seemed to rush some aspects of the story too much and others he lingered on too long. Its almost as if he lost control of Tolkien's story and the editing sufferred. (But the film IS a success so maybe I'm all wet)

Point is "Return of the King" will hopefully see a return to the same dramatic flow that made FOTR a magnificent film. There are many plot elements to resolve as well as what will likely be a spectacular final battle scene.

Go for it Mr. Jackson: we're pulling for ya'!

[SkyPilot]

bump

[My back yard]

"It will be as long as it needs to be,"

As a wizardly director doesn't end a movie too late, nor does he end it too early. He ends it precisely when he means to.

I saw TTT again on Saturday (3rd). This time with my 70 yr. old mother. She hasn't been to the movies in many years. Kind of interesting for her. She was a bit overwhelmed by the whole day, but she really enjoyed the movie. (Even she has a thing for Aragorn. I didn't tell her about the Viggo interview, so not wanting to spoil it for her. )

[GretchenEE]

Hi Hair! Well, I've had a chance to see the long-awaited second installment and am very glad I read the trilogy before seeing The Two Towers, and am VERY glad for all the pre-viewing information I received on FR from you and our fellow Tolkienheads. I was overwhelmed while watching FotR but not TTT, due to the expanded database I took into the theater. (I see it again on Sunday with my son, if all works out.)

One question remains -- I've read on FR, but can't recall, the specific word that describes riding a horse as Gandalf rode Shadowfax, without the usual accoutrements (reins, saddle?, etc.). Can you remind me what the word is for this awesome skill?

[Vast Buffalo Wing Conspiracy]

Sauron's henchman, the Mouth of Sauron, also makes his first appearance, although his head is covered by a large helment and all that can be seen of his face is his nose and gaping, decomposing jaws.

Eh? This can't be right. They went to the trouble of casting Bruce Spence, the gaunt fellow who flew the autogyro in the second Mad Max movie, and the airplane in the third Mad Max movie.

Why would they go to the trouble of casting someone who is so delightfully weird looking if we never get to see his face?

[Jalapeno]

"To me, it's a culmination of the entire story; it represents what it is to give and what it is to lose," he says. "That scene is probably the most powerful part of the entire film."

Hate to sound negative, but I hope the scene doesn't have another Sam Monlogue in it. That's something I did not think worked in TTT.

In fact, I will go out on a limb and say that I think they made Sam too smart in the films. (I went again last night).

However, I am amazed each time with Gollum in TTT. that is Oscar material for sure.