Why wasn't that in the movies?

[Shadowdancer]

On TV last night, I saw an ad for the RotK XBox game. In it, Gandalf was casting fireballs at the Fell Beast-riding Nazgul, and the war platforms aboard the oliphaunts were bursting into flames, I assume, from the same spell.

Why didn't Gandalf get to cast some cool spells like that in the movie? About all he did was scare away the Nazgul with a light spell.

I know, I know, it's just the gamer in me talking. Magic didn't work that way in Tolkien's world. But I remember saying to my friend and fellow gamer, when watching the Battle of Pelennor Fields, that Gandalf should be casting a some fireball spells.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

For some reason, I seem to remember him actually doing that in the book...maybe I'm just somewhat confused again. I haven't read RotK in a while.

 

[KenM]

I heard Peter Jackson did not want to go for the "flashy, lots of FX" type magic. So thats why when Ganfalf and Sauromon fight, you get an idea of them just using the magic, nothing big or over the top.
Besides, if they did show Gandalf doing that in the movie, people would have said, "why did'nt he use that in Moria, or at Helm's Deep, or any of the other times they were in a fight?"

 

[Templetroll]

Why didn't Gandalf get to cast some cool spells like that in the movie? About all he did was scare away the Nazgul with a light spell.

I know, I know, it's just the gamer in me talking. Magic didn't work that way in Tolkien's world. But I remember saying to my friend and fellow gamer, when watching the Battle of Pelennor Fields, that Gandalf should be casting a some fireball spells.

The Dragon magazine had an article about it - "Gandalf was a 5th level Wizard" since he only did things that were comparable to third level spells or less.

 

[Brown Jenkin]

The Dragon magazine had an article about it - "Gandalf was a 5th level Wizard" since he only did things that were comparable to third level spells or less.

Well a 5th Level Solar Wizard wearing an artifact ring.

Plus he had a another Minor Artifact in his staff that had several light based spells in it.

 

[Mog Elffoe]

Easy answer: Gandalf's not a D&D wizard. If you had to make him up for D&D he'd be more of an Expert/modified Paladin or Fighter with the Istari template. His magic is innate, not learned, and divine, rather than arcane.

 

[jester47]

In the book, before the bridge, gandalf uses lightening to zap the balrog and bring down the roof, giving them time to get to the bridge, but the Balrog catches up and Gandalf does his bridge sundering thing.

I think the the battle of pellanor fields Gandalf drops some sort of big spell that takes out a bunch of orcs, but I am not sure.

Aaron.

 

[Gizzard]

For some reason, I seem to remember him actually doing that in the book...

Gandalf throws some fireballs at the end of The Hobbit, perhaps that is what you are thinking of?

I heard Peter Jackson did not want to go for the "flashy, lots of FX" type magic.

Yes, Jackson wanted Gandalf's magic to be subtle. But really there's not a lot of flash among any of the major players in Jackson's Middle Earth - I mean look at all the power between Sauron, Sauruman, Gandalf and Galadriel! But you dont see any of them wading into battle with all guns blazing.

They are immensely powerful, but at their level they fight more subtly - Sauron corrupting Sauruman; Galadriel guiding the Fellowship with visions and advice. (That's how you can tell that Sauruman is losing his touch in the first book - his plan to bring Gandalf to the darkside is poor and his Plan B is just to beat Gandalf up and throw him in prison. Evil-super-genius, hah.)

 

[Storm Raven]

In the book, before the bridge, gandalf uses lightening to zap the balrog and bring down the roof, giving them time to get to the bridge,

Umm, no. He doesn't do this.

but the Balrog catches up and Gandalf does his bridge sundering thing.

He does this.

I think the the battle of pellanor fields Gandalf drops some sort of big spell that takes out a bunch of orcs, but I am not sure.

You would be remembering incorrectly.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Gandalf throws some fireballs at the end of The Hobbit, perhaps that is what you are thinking of?

Yep, that's it. Thanks! I knew he got flashy at ONE point.