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Okey-dokey. Second viewing, slightly different perspective coming out of it. I sat quite far back in the theater this time, as it seems necessary with these movies if you don't want periodic waves of "Whoa! Too much going on! My eyes!" I cried a lot more this time, and was much more involved in the action. Not sure if it was the seating arrangements, knowing what was coming next, or just my mood. Who cares. I just know I need to see it a few dozen more times.
First, the things I liked first time through: Eowyn & Theoden still rock my world. In just three scenes together, they capture so much affection and familial love. I really like how Eowyn's desire for battle is never mentioned around Theoden or Eomer. It's clear in their attitudes (especially the conversation where Theoden tells her she's to rule Rohan in his stead) that the men are aware of her desire and have probably been over it before, but Eowyn has clearly lost that fight many times before (last time on the road to Helm's Deep), so she doesn't even bother to try. Theoden's death may be my favorite scene in the whole movie.
Pippin & Gandalf stuff still rocks. I was even more awed by Billy Boyd this time through. Even with the maturation that Pippin goes through in this movie, his childlike quality still shines through, especially in that conversation with Gandalf about death.
Cried a lot more over the Frodo/Sam stuff than I did the first time. I think the first time through I was spending too much time psychoanalyzing the situation. This time, the emotions were able to kick me in the gut. I still don't think Sean Astin or any of the other actors will get any Oscar noms (and the Golden Globe noms seem to support this)...the ensemble-ness and uniform greatness of the cast will work against them. How do you single out just one performance, when such a comparatively small amount of screen-time is given to everyone? It sucks, but I gave up many years ago on hoping that the "mainstream" would ever grant TRULY equal respect to the fantasy genre.
Re-examing the "Minuses":
Merry still needs more screen-time. I'd like at least a scene in Edoras after Pippin leaves. We don't really get a feel for how Merry copes with being left alone, but it clearly affects him, by his line to Pippin after Pelennor Fields. Something showing Eowyn first taking him under her wing would definitely be in order. The Faramir/Denethor stuff is also blatantly missing some important scenes.
Aragorn: I didn't mention this last time, but Viggo rocks my world. If there's a movie coolness scale, Viggo is like...Indiana Jones cool. He inhabits the character so completely, he IS the king. We do get more focus on Aragorn as a person this time around, and he gives us some lovely little moments that aren't really easy to describe but really round out the character: a little smile here, a hesitation there. Words can't describe how much I enjoyed just watching him move around on screen. HOWEVER, I still think his role in the movie is missing something. My main gripe is that the army of the dead arrives so late in the battle. By the time they arrive, the Rohirrim have already taken out many oliphaunts, the Witch King is dead. The day may not be won, but there have been some small victories. And then, Aragorn arrives and the camera zooms out and we get a wide shot of the dead basically sweeping up the rest of the enemies. To have the thing won so easily in the end sort of cheapens the sacrifices and efforts made by the Rohirrim and Gondorians, to me. I think I'd be happier if there'd been some greater cost to obtaining the army. It'd improve Aragorn's position in the movie by having him face some struggle to achieve his ends, and it'd make the army saving the day seem like less of a cop out.
To sum up: Loved the movie, but I want MORE MORE MORE of some areas. Actually, while I'm asking, heck, gimme MORE MORE MORE of everything! Here's hoping the extended edition really is more than an hour longer. I'll eat up every second of it.
First, the things I liked first time through: Eowyn & Theoden still rock my world. In just three scenes together, they capture so much affection and familial love. I really like how Eowyn's desire for battle is never mentioned around Theoden or Eomer. It's clear in their attitudes (especially the conversation where Theoden tells her she's to rule Rohan in his stead) that the men are aware of her desire and have probably been over it before, but Eowyn has clearly lost that fight many times before (last time on the road to Helm's Deep), so she doesn't even bother to try. Theoden's death may be my favorite scene in the whole movie.
Pippin & Gandalf stuff still rocks. I was even more awed by Billy Boyd this time through. Even with the maturation that Pippin goes through in this movie, his childlike quality still shines through, especially in that conversation with Gandalf about death.
Cried a lot more over the Frodo/Sam stuff than I did the first time. I think the first time through I was spending too much time psychoanalyzing the situation. This time, the emotions were able to kick me in the gut. I still don't think Sean Astin or any of the other actors will get any Oscar noms (and the Golden Globe noms seem to support this)...the ensemble-ness and uniform greatness of the cast will work against them. How do you single out just one performance, when such a comparatively small amount of screen-time is given to everyone? It sucks, but I gave up many years ago on hoping that the "mainstream" would ever grant TRULY equal respect to the fantasy genre.
Re-examing the "Minuses":
Merry still needs more screen-time. I'd like at least a scene in Edoras after Pippin leaves. We don't really get a feel for how Merry copes with being left alone, but it clearly affects him, by his line to Pippin after Pelennor Fields. Something showing Eowyn first taking him under her wing would definitely be in order. The Faramir/Denethor stuff is also blatantly missing some important scenes.
Aragorn: I didn't mention this last time, but Viggo rocks my world. If there's a movie coolness scale, Viggo is like...Indiana Jones cool. He inhabits the character so completely, he IS the king. We do get more focus on Aragorn as a person this time around, and he gives us some lovely little moments that aren't really easy to describe but really round out the character: a little smile here, a hesitation there. Words can't describe how much I enjoyed just watching him move around on screen. HOWEVER, I still think his role in the movie is missing something. My main gripe is that the army of the dead arrives so late in the battle. By the time they arrive, the Rohirrim have already taken out many oliphaunts, the Witch King is dead. The day may not be won, but there have been some small victories. And then, Aragorn arrives and the camera zooms out and we get a wide shot of the dead basically sweeping up the rest of the enemies. To have the thing won so easily in the end sort of cheapens the sacrifices and efforts made by the Rohirrim and Gondorians, to me. I think I'd be happier if there'd been some greater cost to obtaining the army. It'd improve Aragorn's position in the movie by having him face some struggle to achieve his ends, and it'd make the army saving the day seem like less of a cop out.
To sum up: Loved the movie, but I want MORE MORE MORE of some areas. Actually, while I'm asking, heck, gimme MORE MORE MORE of everything! Here's hoping the extended edition really is more than an hour longer. I'll eat up every second of it.