Question about the Witch King in LOTR

[BSF]

For some reason, I thought all the blades in that particular barrow were designed to affect the Witch-King. But, I cannot find anything that backs that up. The Witch-King was the leader at Angmar. I am sure there were more of the Nazgul around. Perhaps that blade was just a Nazgul-bane ghost touch blade and since it slew the Witch-King himself it would have pleased the creator more.

It is also worth noting that the blade was not Elven. It was a Dunedain weapon. Dunedain = Men of Westernesse

 

[Celtavian]

re

I also was sorely dissapointed with RotK's Eowyn scene. It was the only miss in otherwise fine send off for the series, but it was a let down. Of all the scenes in the book that was the last one I thought they would muck with.

I was disappointed by RotK's Eowyn scene as well. It lost alot of its power because you didn't see what it cost to kill the Witchking. In the book, Eowyn was laid out and you weren't sure she was alive until Prince Imrahil proved it so. I really wanted to see Eomer ride up and look down to see his fallen king, then notice his fallen sister, and become enraged.

Merry should have been talking to King Theoden as he died weeping. The scene in the book is much more moving and powerful than the scene in the movie.

In the movie, you would have thought the worst wound suffered for killing the Witchking was a broken arm. Merry was in the last battle before the Black Gates, he should have been laid up suffering from the "black breath".

The Nazgul weren't well-developed in the film. It was hard to see their power. The flying steeds the Nazgul rode seemed stronger than the Nazgul themselves. Very disappointing IMO.

 

[Mog Elffoe]

Hunh.

Makes me want to reread the books AND see the movie again.

That's pretty cool.

 

[BSF]

I was disappointed by RotK's Eowyn scene as well. It lost alot of its power because you didn't see what it cost to kill the Witchking. In the book, Eowyn was laid out and you weren't sure she was alive until Prince Imrahil proved it so. I really wanted to see Eomer ride up and look down to see his fallen king, then notice his fallen sister, and become enraged.

Merry should have been talking to King Theoden as he died weeping. The scene in the book is much more moving and powerful than the scene in the movie.

In the movie, you would have thought the worst wound suffered for killing the Witchking was a broken arm. Merry was in the last battle before the Black Gates, he should have been laid up suffering from the "black breath".

The Nazgul weren't well-developed in the film. It was hard to see their power. The flying steeds the Nazgul rode seemed stronger than the Nazgul themselves. Very disappointing IMO.

Fair enough! I completely understand your perspective on that. But, I think (hope) that much of that was a side affect of ripping out the House of Healing scenes. I was relatively pleased with the scene. Of course, that is because I was afraid they were going to have Theoden take down the Witch-King, or something equally ludicrous. Perhaps I wasn't as disappointed because my expectations were lower?

In any event, I liked the movies despite the things that bothered me. It is a massive undertaking and I can fall back onto the books whenever I want to.

 

[Celtavian]

re

In any event, I liked the movies despite the things that bothered me. It is a massive undertaking and I can fall back onto the books whenever I want to.

This is where I stand as well. As unsatisfying as the movies are as an adaptation of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, they are still excellent movies. I can tell that P.J. put his heart and soul into them.

I figure in the future (probably after I'm dead) someone will try to make them again. Just as P.J. seemed to draw some inspiration from Bakshi's animated attempt, the director who tries this in the future will draw much of what is good from P.J.s version and make an even better adaptation.

 

[shilsen]

Hrmm. I read "no other blade" less literally, but I can see your point. It's hard for me to believe that this happened to be the only blade around that would have worked.

That's how I read it. The barrow-blades (plural, not singular) fortuitously happened to be made by enemies of the Witch-King.

 

[Michael Morris]

This is where I stand as well. As unsatisfying as the movies are as an adaptation of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, they are still excellent movies. I can tell that P.J. put his heart and soul into them.

I figure in the future (probably after I'm dead) someone will try to make them again. Just as P.J. seemed to draw some inspiration from Bakshi's animated attempt, the director who tries this in the future will draw much of what is good from P.J.s version and make an even better adaptation.

I don't think the silver screen could hold it. What I want to see or make someday is a 12 2-hour episode mini-series on HBO or some other premium network. If you want a true adaptation of the book, then a mini-series is the only way.

PJ took the screen as far as it can go.

 

[Michael Morris]

I think that's taking it a little too far. There were a bunch of such knives in the barrow, and many barrows.

But the hobbits didn't find it.. Tom did.

He's not the fool everyone thinks he is.

 

[Desdichado]

Yeah they needed their own digs. Sauron doesn't mind fire. Probably why he had control of the Barlogs during the first couple wars against the elves and the Men of Numeron(sp).

Ouch, Nightfall! That post is just painful.

 

[frog]

Here is another thought, Glorfindel's prophecy wasn't referring to the fact that no man COULD kill the Witch King, but rather that no man WOULD kill the Witch King. A moment of Elven foresight having shown him the true future of the Witch King he would be safe in saying that.

If the Witch King heard of it and took it to mean that none COULD harm him, well, that just sets him up for the fall.