ROTK EE at the AMC multiplex in Edina, MN (a suburb of Minneapolis).

[mechtild]

Unfortunately -- I assume because the Transformers movie just opened -- the new EE of ROTK was shown in a theatre smaller than the one in which they showed FOTR two weeks ago. As I mentioned last week, I missed TTT because of the weather forecast, but a woman in line Tuesday night told me TTT had been in a big theatre, too. Only ROTK was put

Comments

[jan_u_wine]

Maybe it was a universal *smiting* of the hobbits: 'our' ROTK was also shown in the smaller theater. In all truth, I think I get much more pleasure from *your* pleasure than I took from my own, and all of your points well made, from MoS to the beauty of the horses and their 'labour and glory' (what a wonderful phrase!)

And Shore's score.....how many thousands of words have been written already about this score? And none, no matter their beauty or passion, can ever even begin to touch the truth of it.

Can't wait for you to get your blu-ray.....

[mechtild]

This hobbit did not relish such a smiting. I wanted that big screen. Ah, well. As I said above, the screen was exponentially bigger than the one in our living room. And the audience bigger. *g* Actually, there was a decent crowd for this one, and it wasn't just the illusion created by a smaller room. I asked the woman who'd been to TTT about the crowd last week; she said it was the smallest, but the weather was terrible. The best part about the audience was their attentiveness. They still laughed at Gandalf beating Denethor with his staff, something I cannot comprehend finding funny, even if I'd never read the book, but they were intelligently appreciative otherwise. And during serious or contemplative scenes, they didn't make a sound

[jan_u_wine]

lol! I am the same way. The more I've looked forward to something, the slower I am to *warm* to it. It's some sort of backwards paradigm or somesuch.

I have to say that there were some people at our screening who were very difficult to figure out....lots of inappropriate laughter. But maybe I'm just an old poop and the thing is supposed to be hysterical.

All I can say is: there were moments I wished I had G's staff. There were definitely some in the audience that deserved the business end of it.

[mechtild]

All I can say is: there were moments I wished I had G's staff. There were definitely some in the audience that deserved the business end of it.

Ha ha! I would love to have seen you swinging it around. You'd probably look like Marigold Gamgee having at the Ruffians.

More seriously, I'm grateful our crowd only laughed at things people were meant to laugh at. Sadly, I think PJ probably did mean clocking Denethor to be a laugh in the middle of an anxious situation, "to relieve tension". What a shameful moment in the adaptation. As you know, I have been in other ROTK audiences where I've wanted to climb through the rows and KILL certain inane viewers. :)

[gilli_ann]

Wow, Mechtild, you make me actually want to see the ROTK EE again! And that's saying something, as I think I saw it once - I had a fit and seizure about the dreadful Crossroads scene and never got over it. But, with the healing of time....perhaps... :D

Had to smile at the new and better explanation of Aragorn's beheading of the Mouth. Makes sense to me!

Thank you for a very interesting write-up! I'm glad you did get to go see RotK even if you had to give up on TTT. Were there many in the audience, was the room full?

~Maeg

[mechtild]

Oh, Maeglian, I forgot you are Gilli Ann!!! Yes, the Crossroads scene makes me want to pound my head into the seat in front of me. I've got used to it, limiting myself to headache-inducing eye-rolling, but it's still an amazingly badly written scene. First they have Frodo as an amnesiac ("I don't think I'll be coming back"), then reinforce him as a schmoopy, listless wimp who couldn't lead himself or anyone through the Gaffer's back garden, much less Mordor (Sam having to comfort and encourage poor ineffectual Master, yet again, then having Sam, not Frodo, notice the king's floral crown, and taking away Frodo's beautiful line refusing to believe the evil powers would conquer forever). Grrr.

But enough of that. There is much to love in the EE of ROTK, overall. I do think it's a great, great film, however imperfect, and however much it continues to diminish the character of Frodo.

[shirebound]

How thrilling to see this in the theater. Eeeeeew, that Mouth of Sauron! Poor thing needed a dental plan.

[mechtild]

He needed a *major* oral make-over. A horrible blood-red, glistening tongue behind that circular picket of filthy teeth, too. Maybe he could have a tongue transplant? How this physical transformation happened to a human being, once a great king of men, a man of Numenor, I don't know. It's not as though he became a wraith. Heck, even the wraiths had normal dentition. :)

[mechtild]

Ha ha! I'm surprised that wasn't the real dialogue, the second part, that is. :) The line they wouldn't have been able to resist would have been, "There you go, job done." It has the same ring as that immortal line given to Legolas in the EE, "game over."

[mechtild]

Not your favourite DVD in the world, was it? ;)

[antane]

Greetings, my dear and Happy 4th! We were in a smaller theatre too. Agree with much you say here especially about Faramir and Eomer and Peter's intro. I am so impressed with the courage of the men. Have no problem with the Mouth losing his head. I have written *quite* extensively on this on my own blog so will just leave you a link - http://momentsofgracelotr.blogspot.com/2011/07/thoughts-on-films.html

I hope you enjoy and look forward to your comments!

God bless America, our troops from the beginning and all those who fought for freedom in the ages for far in the past!

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

[mechtild]

Howdy, Antane. It must have been Transformers - everyone reports moving to a smaller theatre for ROTK.

Have no problem with the Mouth losing his head. I have written *quite* extensively on this on my own blog so will just leave you a link

I scrolled up and down your list, Antane, but didn't see anything on Aragorn slaying Sauron's emissary at the parley. Which section was it in? I am sure my eye lit upon everything with the name "Aragorn" in it.

[antane]

I just meant that I had written quite extensively on my thoughts overall on the films, but now reading my reply I see how you got confused. To clarify, I did not speak of that at all in my piece. I was just responding to your thoughts of it. Sorry to confuse you, my dear!

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

[mechtild]

Not to worry, Antane. I just needed some reassurance. I've been known to miss things, reading through texts, only to find them staring me right in the face!