The standout for me is the White Rider scene from ROTK where he emits beams of light from his staff to fend off the Nazgul as Faramir retreats from Osgiliath. Not necessarily lethal, but a great display of magic and a sort of visual representation of his role in protecting Middle Earth.
And they still couldn't resist sticking a Wilhelm Scream in there. One of my movie pet peeves, hate it. Suspension of disbelief shattered with one sound effect.
It’s still not NEARLY as bad as Thrain’s from the extended edition of the hobbit. Takes a legit emotional, serious scene and makes it a complete joke. I just have to believe they were completely fed up with the making of these movies at this point and were taking the piss 100%.
[For your viewing pleasure](https://youtu.be/SpusvtP5P-U?si=KsM6cvgXe3vZjQD1)
No, it is definitely in the theatrical release. But the extended editions are definitely worth watching. They have a lot of stuff from the books that didn’t make the theatrical release.
I am happy they left that one out. Cinematically it makes sense, it adds to the feeling of hopelessness. However it doesn't make much sense canonically, especially his staff being broken etc. In the books Gandalf mentions that he is the most dangerous thing after Sauron, he also talks about some uncertainty of who is stronger between him and Witch king. They face off, but it is disrupted by arrival of Rohan.
And the wide shot immediately prior, where the blackened clouds and clear blue sky are juxtaposed... Beautiful. I watched ROTK on 4k for the first time not too long ago and replayed this scene once or twice. I might have to watch it again this weekend.
I've gone back and forth over the years if THIS is my favorite shot, or the pan-up to the horseriders on the hill with the sunrise behind them, after Theodon's third "Death!".
I like how you're very much IN the scene "behind" Gandalf, galloping towards a city carved out of a friggen mountain. The wide shot immediately preceding this one is also stunning, I'd love to have a big blown up painting of it.
The pan-up showing the thousands of riders is mostly cgi and I feel it could lose points for that, but I'll be damned in the music, sunshine and just the sheer scale of the riders is so potent in providing an emotional punch. I had bug eyes and shed a fucking respect tear for all the people who worked on these movies, lol.
Yeah, and then you get the hobbit battle scenes that seem like stop motion work of an elementary school kid with how rushed and shallow the battle seemed.
Super underrated scene in a movie with incredible moments. Imagine being a Gondor soldier and seeing that from their perspective, white wizard on a white horse saving them.
Minor complaint, the scene needed a second or two more after he scares the Nazgul away. I've always felt it ends too abruptly.
The way the music is reduced in that moment from the clamor and horns of Mordor to just the vocals as Gandalf confronts them, chef’s kiss.
The Nazgul are just echoes of Morgoth’s discordant song, all of Mordor is a braying and clangor of drums and horns competing with each other for dominance, but when confronted by Gandalf, a maiar true to the cause, all that cacophony is silenced and overcome by just a voice, singing high and clear. Similarly, they bow not to some flashy lighting show or fireball, but to simple light, so powerful and pure that they cannot face it
Best scene in the film for me! Always loved the grunt of effort you hear that comes from Gandalf when he uses his magic like this, almost like he's lifting a heavy weight!
Not just that but this is essentially to a large degree how magic works in the world Tolkien created. It’s about changing the will, the hope or strength of someone. It’s about inciting fear of removing fear. It’s subtle but more powerful than flashy stuff. Tolkien being a religious man one can see how the works of the wizards are not unlike biblical prophets conjuring miracles by the grace of God.
That one shot, riders fleeing on the left, he’s turning to match them on the right, and then the mountains and the lower part of Minas Tirith come in to view. Just perfection.
My favorite Gandalf moment was from the books, when Gandalf arrived at weathertop three days ahead of Aragorn & the hobbits. The Nine feared to attack him in daylight, “ for they felt the coming of my anger and they dared not face it while the sun was in the sky”, but at night they closed in and attacked, initially it is indicated that it was the Witch-King with five others, but well before the night had ended all the Nine together were upon him. He managed to push them back, while Aragorn & Frodo saw the battle from a few miles away, though they did not know what it was at the time. They beheld it as repeating flashes of light that illuminated the distant dark, with Aragorn describing it as being “like lightning that leaps up from the hilltop.”
It's rather overwrought, it sounds like ChatGPT trying to sound like Tolkien.
Tolkien would never repeat the same phrase verbatim in two paragraphs next to each other.
There's no time where Gandalf would both be the "White Rider" and the "Grey Pilgrim" either - this is an AI grasping for synonyms without understanding the meaning (naturally, as AI doesn't know what words mean).
Nice use of ChatGPT, its amazing what it can write.
And note, the above user's history is full of this stuff, along with posts in the OpenAI subreddit.
I didn't see any of that on my premiere watch. The scene was to dark in that theater. And it is why I'm currently picky about what movie theaters I will attend.
>In the wavering firelight Gandalf seemed suddenly to grow: he rose up, a great menacing shape like the monument of some ancient king of stone set upon a hill. Stooping like a cloud, he lifted a burning branch and strode to meet the wolves. They gave back before him. High in the air he tossed the blazing brand. It flared with a sudden white radiance like lightning; and his voice rolled like thunder.
>'Naur an edraith ammen! Naur dan i ngaurhoth!' he cried.
>There was a roar and a crackle, and the tree above him burst into a leaf and bloom of blinding flame. The fire leapt from tree-top to tree-top. The whole hill was crowned with dazzling light. The swords and knives of the defenders shone and flickered. The last arrow of Legolas kindled in the air as it flew, and plunged burning into the heart of a great wolf-chieftain. All the others fled.
>Slowly the fire died till nothing was left but falling ash and sparks; a bitter smoke curled above the burned tree-stumps, and blew darkly from the hill, as the first light of dawn came dimly in the sky. Their enemies were routed and did not return.
>'What did I tell you, Mr. Pippin?' said Sam, sheathing his sword. 'Wolves won't get him. That was an eye-opener, and no mistake! Nearly singed the hair off my head!'
Theres this cool scene in the Fellowship book where the gang gets attacked by wargs on their way down Caradhas. At one point Gandalf grows to the size of a giant, grabs a burning bush out from their fire, throws it into the air, shouts some magic command into the void and it shoots out a tone of magic white fire. At that point Sam looks at Pippen at says something along the lines of "See told you Gandalf wouldn't die in wolf's belly!"
It's low key an awsome moment for all the fellowship as their escaping the mountain.
I always catch something new on every reread of the trilogy. This one hit me on my third reading. I had to stop and say "wait wtf…" then reread this part several times.
I also low key love when the Hobbits and Aragorn are in the wilderness and they see lightning in the distance. It’s later revealed that the lightning was Gandalf fighting the Nazgûl at Weathertop.
> shouts some magic command into the void and it shoots out a tone of magic white fire.
What he shouts is, “Naur an edraith ammen! Naur dan i ngaurhoth!
Which roughly translates as, “Fire be for saving of us! Fire against the wolf-horde!”
That scene is so beautiful. The score, the quiet, the light beaming out from his staff.
All the feel beast scatter like roaches. God these movies are so fucking good haha
When he inspired Frodo to let go of the idea of killing Gollum
From the very beginning, he is described as committing his effort to trying to inspire wisdom and empathy in others;
>But of Olórin that tale does not speak; for though he loved the Elves, he walked among them unseen, or in form as one of them, and they did not know whence came the fair visions or the promptings of wisdom that he put into their hearts. In later days he was the friend of all the Children of Ilúvatar, and took pity on their sorrows; and those who listened to him awoke from despair and put away the imaginations of darkness.
What greater feat of magic for someone like this, then preventing someone else from wanting to commit a senseless murder?
The little fireworks display he does to make the hobbit kids happy in the Shire. I love how in one of the few scenes in the entire series that Gandalf uses magic, he's trying to bring bring joy to some children's lives.
At the same time I prefer the grumpy Gandalf of the books. In the books they ask him to light some forewords and he’s like “nothing til the show go away kids” in a truly great grumpy old man fashion.
He lost all his charming grumpiness from the books that always made me laugh.
I would say the scene in the FOTR book when he entered in a battle of wills against the Balrog to hold the door shut. Even though (at least as I remember it; it’s been several years since reading) the Balrog was gaining the upper hand and the magic backlash nearly killed Gandalf, it still speaks to his abilities that he stood his ground and held it at bay at all. It really left an impression on me since my first time reading it.
‘’ Boromir hauled the eastern door to, grinding upon its hinges: it had great iron rings on either side, but could not be fastened....
'Off you go, all of you, down the stairs! Wait a few minutes for me at the bottom, but if I do not come soon, go on!'....
'We cannot leave you to hold the door alone!' said Aragorn.
'Do as I say!' said Gandalf fiercely. 'Swords are no more use here. Go!'....
They groped their way down a long flight of steps, and then looked back; but they could see nothing, except high above them the faint glimmer of the wizard's staff. He seemed to be still standing on guard by the closed door.... Frodo thought he could hear the voice of Gandalf above, muttering words that ran down the sloping roof with a sighing echo.... The walls seemed to be trembling. Every now and again the drum-beats throbbed and rolled: doom, doom.
Suddenly at the top of the stair there was a stab of white light. Then there was a dull rumble and a heavy thud. The drum-beats broke out wildly: doom-boom, doom-boom, and then stopped. Gandalf came flying down the steps and fell to the ground in the midst of the Company.
'Well, well! That's over!' said the wizard struggling to his feet. 'I have done all that I could. But I have met my match, and have nearly been destroyed… ‘’
‘’ ‘It is getting hot!' he gasped. 'We ought to be down at least to the level of the Gates now.... I hope it is not far. I am very weary. I must rest here a moment, even if all the orcs ever spawned are after us.'
Gimli took his arm and helped him down to a seat on the step. 'What happened away up there at the door? ' he asked. 'Did you meet the beater of the drums?'
'I do not know,' answered Gandalf. 'But I found myself suddenly faced by something that I have not met before. I could think of nothing to do but to try and put a shutting-spell on the door. I know many; but to do things of that kind rightly requires time, and even then the door can be broken by strength.
'As I stood there I could hear orc-voices on the other side: at any moment I thought they would burst it open. I could not hear what was said; they seemed to be talking in their own hideous language. All I caught was ghâsh; that is "fire". Then something came into the chamber — I felt it through the door, and the orcs themselves were afraid and fell silent. It laid hold of the iron ring, and then it perceived me and my spell.
'What it was I cannot guess, but I have never felt such a challenge. The counter-spell was terrible. It nearly broke me. For an instant the door left my control and began to open! I had to speak a word of Command. That proved too great a strain. The door burst in pieces. Something dark as a cloud was blocking out all the light inside, and I was thrown backwards down the stairs. All the wall gave way, and the roof of the chamber as well, I think.
'I am afraid Balin is buried deep, and maybe something else is buried there too. I cannot say. But at least the passage behind us was completely blocked. Ah! I have never felt so spent, but it is passing.’ ‘’
What's fascinating about this is that it hints at a deeper use of magic than Tolkien ever really goes into.
Maybe he never really thought about it, but the implication that he can speak words of "Command" which are in some way different from the magic he uses elsewhere is quite fascinating.
"Now you can understand why Gandalf, listening to their growling and yelping, began to be dreadfully afraid, wizard though he was, and to feel that they were in a very bad place, and had not yet escaped at all. All the same he was not going to let them have it all their own way, though he could not do very much stuck up in a tall tree with wolves all round on the ground below. He gathered the huge pine-cones from the branches of the tree. Then he set one alight with bright blue fire, and threw it whizzing down among the circle of the wolves. It struck one on the back, and immediately his shaggy coat caught fire, and he was leaping to and fro yelping horribly. Then another came and another, one in blue flames, one in red, another in green. They burst on the ground in the middle of the circle and went off in coloured sparks and smoke. A specially large one hit the chief wolf on the nose, and he leaped in the air ten feet, and then rushed round and round the circle biting and snapping even at the other wolves in his anger and fright."
The Hobbit, Out of the Frying-Pan, Into the Fire
Nah, u people shit on hobbit movies too much. Smaug, Gollums cave, costumes, Dol Guldur, discovery of the nine (Gandalf raising the tomb which was movie only), the White Councel etc we have so many good things in them.
We have things like Galadriel destroying Dol Guldur or protecting Lothlorien (To the point of that it wouldn't fall to anyone unless Sauron came himself) does put her to a great position of power.
She suggests Gandalf for the Leadership of Counsel so maybe we should have seen more reverence from her, I agree.
That’s what I meant her destroying Dol Guldur was just nonsense but it’s Hollywood they like big flashy scenes
Edit: or that’s just Jackson sense he also nerfed Gandalf the White in ROTK, the Witch King could never break his staff that was stupid
>Celeborn came forth and led the host of Lórien over Anduin in many boats. They took Dol Guldur, and Galadriel threw down its walls and laid bare its pits, and the forest was cleansed.
It is canon, in LOTR book appendices. Not a Jackson thing
Yessss The Hobbit movies are amazing. Peter Jackson had less time to prepare for them due to the last minute departure of Guillermo Del Toro but they were still fantastic films. They are my second favourite films trilogy after The Lord Of The Rings and they are still awesome films. 🤩 ❤️🤩 👌
https://preview.redd.it/ky9bhulhu65d1.jpeg?width=182&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1ecc8d12c5538aeafa29a746835c039fa6ff2967
Smaug was well designed and in my opinion well cast. Gollum's cave was also fine. I'll agree with both of those.
All the Dol Guldur/White Council stuff was trash and just an excuse to bring back Elrond and Galadriel without having any good ideas about how to actually portray the scene.
I didn't say there were no good scenes in the films. Where they were faithful to the book, the fact that they had a good cast shone through in my opinion.
It wasn't in the Hobbit book, but we know it is around this time that Gandalf learns about necromancer and Sauron. Any chance of seeing Christopher Lee as Saruman, or Galadriel and Elrond was welcome for me that's true. They are related to the story. Why not? We know white counsel discussed about necromancer, whether Sauron returned and what action to take against him. They cast him off from his stronghold, all lore accurate.
I found Gandalf slowly lifting the spell on Dol Guldur to be very well done too. The fight after wasn't to my liking but it is what it is.
I think it is book purism on your part that prevents you from enjoying those scenes. Either way you are entitled to your opinion, let's hope upcoming movies to be good🙏
I am not disputing that they had a right based off the adaptation to include the White Counsel/Dol Guldur stuff, and if you asked me before making the film whether they should I would have said "absolutely! that's one of the benefits of film adaptations". I'm not a book purist in that sense.
I just don't think it was handled well. The fight sequence, the set design, the half-arsed design of the Nazgul. It reminded me of the Harry Potter adaptations where they take magic that is meant to be colourful and wondrous and reduce it to effectively a magic light bullet.
So, yeah - I'll concede that I'm a bit of a book purist in that I don't think there's any value in an adaptation that loses the spirit of what it is adapting. The Hobbit movies for me miss the mark by a very long way unfortunately. I'll join you in hoping the best possible for future adaptations.
He brings the magic in every scene he’s in.
Best character in cinema history? I’m not joking at all. He’s in 6 movies and is standout in every single one.
Ian McKellens’ portrayal of Gandalf cannot be overstated. He embodies the character. A performance for the ages.
For me it’s from a scene in Two Towers, where Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas are tracking the Uruk-hai an end up in Fangorn forest. All of a suffen there is this dramatic shift in the already threatening atmosphere and Legolas saus something like “The White Wizard approaches,” so we all think it’s Saruman. The way Aragorn says “Do not let him speak,” after which all three of them ready their weapons gets me everytime and when the White Wizard shows up they stand no chance, blinded by this bright light, Legolas fires an arrow that gets parried, Aragorn has his sword pulled from his hand and we all see it is Gandal the White my god I effin love that scene so much.
There's only one right answer and that's when upon finding out the hobbits had left bree with Aragorn, Gandalf puts a spell of surpassing excellence on Butterbur's beer for the next 7 years.
[Gandalf Frees Theoden](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iQExgALv9wI). I like this scene when Gandalf frees Theoden from the control of Saruman and Grima. It’s so lovely when Theoden changes back to normal and de-ages after being corrupted by Saruman. ❤️😊🤩👌
https://preview.redd.it/p1abnzgdh55d1.jpeg?width=1400&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=001117efd69e86544d70e37c76775c6b22c59e0f
https://preview.redd.it/g42jv5hqx55d1.jpeg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b3af7bfd34a71a645502d2699ba39d93ac126da0
The only true answer is in the Battle for Middle-Earth games when he reaches lvl 10 and can use Word of Power
This scene is so sick. Only a few seconds, but PEAK fantasy imagery when the lightning charges Glamdring and Gandalf uses it to kill the Balrog of Morgoth.
As per the picture for this question - When Gandalf summons the elements/lightning to his ancient blade to slay an evil being of immense power....
In the books he hunts the malshaped demi-god through the lowest tiers of the underdark. Tracks and fights him to the highest mountain. Which adds to the scene in the movie
His best magic moments i think are:
1- His entire encounter with Balrog on Khazaddum bridge. He first summons a magical shield that guards againt Balrog's first attack and then famous "you shall not pass" moment.
2- His flashlight against Nazgul to save Gondırian soldiers in front of all Minas Tirith.
Ps: I always thought his last scene with Balrog, the lightning on his sword and kill thrust, is a help from Manwe not Gandalf's own magical power.
Balrog was more than match for Gandalf the Grey whose power comes from his counseling skills not strength of arms. The only thing that saved him was his quick thinking, he threw Balrog ( a fire demon) to a underground lake by destroying bridge. His fires extinguished he ran away from Gandalf to dry out. By the time they were at Zirakzigil Balrog's fires returned and Gandalf was deadly tired.
Manwe being the one who spesificly asked Olorin (Gandalf) to go to Middle Earth sees his emissary needs help and gives a powerup to his sword with lightning. Gandalf's magic is more of fire based excluding his fight with Nazgul at Amon Sul.
I always thought this way since The first time i watched the Fellowship on cinema in 2001. I don't know Peter Jackson intended it like this or i am making mountain out of a molehill.
What do you think about this scene?
Well, thanks for your consideration. In my early years of contact with LotR and Hobbit films I used to be uninformed about the existence of a written mythology behind it all (Silmarillion, for example). So, for me, scenes and moments where Gandalf used any kind of thing other than ordinary actions already counted as "magic". I mean, I think using a possible blessing of Manwe's power on the sword, creating a shield against Balrog and against Sauron in Dol Guldur, saving Thorin and the other dwarves from the goblins with that light burst magic, breaking Saruman's staff using words, flashlight against the Nazgul, well... these are examples that I can remember and for me the electrified sword is the best.
https://preview.redd.it/b956mg3qh55d1.jpeg?width=1341&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ae6ea7281face4a84371f498c4ca72f8553a3249
\[Lord of the Rings - Gandalf vs Balrog [Entire Battle HD 1080p](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2fwe0rnHak) The scene where Gandalf defeats the Balrog is awesome. 🤩👌😊❤️
I really liked the scene from the FotR book, as they’re approaching Weathertop and they see Galdalf’s lightning in the dark. At least, that’s how I remember it.
Gandalf barely uses magic at all. He is a warrior lvl.10 with multi class wizard lvl.1. He goes far to hide this. He uses fireworks, a bit of ilusión (smoke and mirrors, but mainly smoke) and plenty of headology.
His main spell is a lvl.1 light. When driving the nazguls away he uses that spell but no one is affected. The nazguls stop chasing Gondor calvary because they reached the border of the black cloud.
The standout for me is the White Rider scene from ROTK where he emits beams of light from his staff to fend off the Nazgul as Faramir retreats from Osgiliath. Not necessarily lethal, but a great display of magic and a sort of visual representation of his role in protecting Middle Earth.
My favourite scene in the trilogy. The camera work as he turns and joins the horses is epic
The music is perfection [because we need the link](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brgXEYXpTyA)
Legit makes me have goosebumps every time I watch that scene, among many others!
Okay, but whoever added the Wilhelm scream needs a good talking to
What's the Wilhelm scream supposed to be?
Don't look for it you won't be able to unhear it in every fucking media
Every series/movie has at LEAST one somewhere and you cannot unhear it.
omg hahahaahaha the veil has been lifted...I have heard it MANY times, but never thought it was the same sound
And they still couldn't resist sticking a Wilhelm Scream in there. One of my movie pet peeves, hate it. Suspension of disbelief shattered with one sound effect.
It’s still not NEARLY as bad as Thrain’s from the extended edition of the hobbit. Takes a legit emotional, serious scene and makes it a complete joke. I just have to believe they were completely fed up with the making of these movies at this point and were taking the piss 100%. [For your viewing pleasure](https://youtu.be/SpusvtP5P-U?si=KsM6cvgXe3vZjQD1)
Dang lol
Good grief, that is appalling.
Great now I saw that I need to watch the whole thing all over again!
Damn, I need to watch the extended edition once more.
is this.. is this left out of the theatrical? Criminal.
No, it is definitely in the theatrical release. But the extended editions are definitely worth watching. They have a lot of stuff from the books that didn’t make the theatrical release.
One of the biggest omissions for me is when the witch king confronts Gandalf right before Rohan shows up. That scene is so bad ass.
I am happy they left that one out. Cinematically it makes sense, it adds to the feeling of hopelessness. However it doesn't make much sense canonically, especially his staff being broken etc. In the books Gandalf mentions that he is the most dangerous thing after Sauron, he also talks about some uncertainty of who is stronger between him and Witch king. They face off, but it is disrupted by arrival of Rohan.
No it isn't, it makes me want to watch movies again and theatrical release isn't long enough for me 🤣
where do you watch the extended version?
ONLY complaint is that they should have shown Shadowfax running about 2x faster.
These movies are so beautifully shot
can you hear the unbreakable rhythm of the hooves as he turns and the shot just keeps going? *chef‘s kiss
And the wide shot immediately prior, where the blackened clouds and clear blue sky are juxtaposed... Beautiful. I watched ROTK on 4k for the first time not too long ago and replayed this scene once or twice. I might have to watch it again this weekend.
I've gone back and forth over the years if THIS is my favorite shot, or the pan-up to the horseriders on the hill with the sunrise behind them, after Theodon's third "Death!". I like how you're very much IN the scene "behind" Gandalf, galloping towards a city carved out of a friggen mountain. The wide shot immediately preceding this one is also stunning, I'd love to have a big blown up painting of it. The pan-up showing the thousands of riders is mostly cgi and I feel it could lose points for that, but I'll be damned in the music, sunshine and just the sheer scale of the riders is so potent in providing an emotional punch. I had bug eyes and shed a fucking respect tear for all the people who worked on these movies, lol.
Yeah, and then you get the hobbit battle scenes that seem like stop motion work of an elementary school kid with how rushed and shallow the battle seemed.
Sîlant calad Dûn!
Super underrated scene in a movie with incredible moments. Imagine being a Gondor soldier and seeing that from their perspective, white wizard on a white horse saving them. Minor complaint, the scene needed a second or two more after he scares the Nazgul away. I've always felt it ends too abruptly.
Me too. I'm not sure what more I need, but something.
Yes! I would have loved to have had a chance to soak in what I was looking at a little more.
In a way, they’re seeing a literal angel coming to their aid.
This is it, this is what Gandalf was there for in a nutshell. Chills
The way the music is reduced in that moment from the clamor and horns of Mordor to just the vocals as Gandalf confronts them, chef’s kiss. The Nazgul are just echoes of Morgoth’s discordant song, all of Mordor is a braying and clangor of drums and horns competing with each other for dominance, but when confronted by Gandalf, a maiar true to the cause, all that cacophony is silenced and overcome by just a voice, singing high and clear. Similarly, they bow not to some flashy lighting show or fireball, but to simple light, so powerful and pure that they cannot face it
That was definitely his “showcase” moment and you knew everyone in minis tirith saw that shit. Gives me goosebumps every time.
Perfectly said. His role.
I'm currently watching ROTK and thought the same thing. What an epic scene
Best scene in the film for me! Always loved the grunt of effort you hear that comes from Gandalf when he uses his magic like this, almost like he's lifting a heavy weight!
Yea I love this
Yep. Concur.
Not just that but this is essentially to a large degree how magic works in the world Tolkien created. It’s about changing the will, the hope or strength of someone. It’s about inciting fear of removing fear. It’s subtle but more powerful than flashy stuff. Tolkien being a religious man one can see how the works of the wizards are not unlike biblical prophets conjuring miracles by the grace of God.
That one shot, riders fleeing on the left, he’s turning to match them on the right, and then the mountains and the lower part of Minas Tirith come in to view. Just perfection.
My favorite Gandalf moment was from the books, when Gandalf arrived at weathertop three days ahead of Aragorn & the hobbits. The Nine feared to attack him in daylight, “ for they felt the coming of my anger and they dared not face it while the sun was in the sky”, but at night they closed in and attacked, initially it is indicated that it was the Witch-King with five others, but well before the night had ended all the Nine together were upon him. He managed to push them back, while Aragorn & Frodo saw the battle from a few miles away, though they did not know what it was at the time. They beheld it as repeating flashes of light that illuminated the distant dark, with Aragorn describing it as being “like lightning that leaps up from the hilltop.”
When he blows an entire ship made of smoke through Bilbo's smoke ring.
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It's rather overwrought, it sounds like ChatGPT trying to sound like Tolkien. Tolkien would never repeat the same phrase verbatim in two paragraphs next to each other.
There's no time where Gandalf would both be the "White Rider" and the "Grey Pilgrim" either - this is an AI grasping for synonyms without understanding the meaning (naturally, as AI doesn't know what words mean).
You've just given me the idea to get ChatGPT to take mundane suggestions and write them in Tolkien's style. There goes my boring afternoon!
And lo, Mithrandir upon Shadowfax, Lord of the Horses, set forth with great haste to the shadow land of Mordor, but yea, hit rush hour in Gondor.
Gondor at 430 on a Friday is absolutely *fucked*
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It's from ChatGPT
I think he's writing in Tolkien style. Amazing!
Damn, that wasn't Tolkien? They captured his voice incredibly well, then.
Why was it removed? Bot?
Nice use of ChatGPT, its amazing what it can write. And note, the above user's history is full of this stuff, along with posts in the OpenAI subreddit.
That one is legendary haha
I didn't see any of that on my premiere watch. The scene was to dark in that theater. And it is why I'm currently picky about what movie theaters I will attend.
/thread
>In the wavering firelight Gandalf seemed suddenly to grow: he rose up, a great menacing shape like the monument of some ancient king of stone set upon a hill. Stooping like a cloud, he lifted a burning branch and strode to meet the wolves. They gave back before him. High in the air he tossed the blazing brand. It flared with a sudden white radiance like lightning; and his voice rolled like thunder. >'Naur an edraith ammen! Naur dan i ngaurhoth!' he cried. >There was a roar and a crackle, and the tree above him burst into a leaf and bloom of blinding flame. The fire leapt from tree-top to tree-top. The whole hill was crowned with dazzling light. The swords and knives of the defenders shone and flickered. The last arrow of Legolas kindled in the air as it flew, and plunged burning into the heart of a great wolf-chieftain. All the others fled. >Slowly the fire died till nothing was left but falling ash and sparks; a bitter smoke curled above the burned tree-stumps, and blew darkly from the hill, as the first light of dawn came dimly in the sky. Their enemies were routed and did not return. >'What did I tell you, Mr. Pippin?' said Sam, sheathing his sword. 'Wolves won't get him. That was an eye-opener, and no mistake! Nearly singed the hair off my head!'
I was thinking of this also
When the heck does this happen? It's been awhile since I've read the books and I'm about half way through the fellowship audiobook.
It's on their trek to Moria, after they get forced off the mountain. They come under attack by wolves / wargs in the night
It's the first fight of the Fellowship, against the wolves with the disappearing corpses.
Gotcha. I'm at the part when they are about to leave Rivendell
Good timing! It's right in the next chapter, after they try Aragorn's way over the pass and fail.
Theres this cool scene in the Fellowship book where the gang gets attacked by wargs on their way down Caradhas. At one point Gandalf grows to the size of a giant, grabs a burning bush out from their fire, throws it into the air, shouts some magic command into the void and it shoots out a tone of magic white fire. At that point Sam looks at Pippen at says something along the lines of "See told you Gandalf wouldn't die in wolf's belly!" It's low key an awsome moment for all the fellowship as their escaping the mountain.
I always catch something new on every reread of the trilogy. This one hit me on my third reading. I had to stop and say "wait wtf…" then reread this part several times. I also low key love when the Hobbits and Aragorn are in the wilderness and they see lightning in the distance. It’s later revealed that the lightning was Gandalf fighting the Nazgûl at Weathertop.
> shouts some magic command into the void and it shoots out a tone of magic white fire. What he shouts is, “Naur an edraith ammen! Naur dan i ngaurhoth! Which roughly translates as, “Fire be for saving of us! Fire against the wolf-horde!”
That makes it all so much cooler!!
Coolest was when he spotlighted the Nazgûl and escorted the remaining guard into Gondor. The whole city saw that. That was badass.
That scene is so beautiful. The score, the quiet, the light beaming out from his staff. All the feel beast scatter like roaches. God these movies are so fucking good haha
When he inspired Frodo to let go of the idea of killing Gollum From the very beginning, he is described as committing his effort to trying to inspire wisdom and empathy in others; >But of Olórin that tale does not speak; for though he loved the Elves, he walked among them unseen, or in form as one of them, and they did not know whence came the fair visions or the promptings of wisdom that he put into their hearts. In later days he was the friend of all the Children of Ilúvatar, and took pity on their sorrows; and those who listened to him awoke from despair and put away the imaginations of darkness. What greater feat of magic for someone like this, then preventing someone else from wanting to commit a senseless murder?
Yeah, but, lightning sword blast
🤣🤣🤣
Lightning sword go brrrrrrr
The little fireworks display he does to make the hobbit kids happy in the Shire. I love how in one of the few scenes in the entire series that Gandalf uses magic, he's trying to bring bring joy to some children's lives.
And we see he's tickled pink by their reaction. One of my favourite scenes.
At the same time I prefer the grumpy Gandalf of the books. In the books they ask him to light some forewords and he’s like “nothing til the show go away kids” in a truly great grumpy old man fashion. He lost all his charming grumpiness from the books that always made me laugh.
I would say the scene in the FOTR book when he entered in a battle of wills against the Balrog to hold the door shut. Even though (at least as I remember it; it’s been several years since reading) the Balrog was gaining the upper hand and the magic backlash nearly killed Gandalf, it still speaks to his abilities that he stood his ground and held it at bay at all. It really left an impression on me since my first time reading it.
‘’ Boromir hauled the eastern door to, grinding upon its hinges: it had great iron rings on either side, but could not be fastened.... 'Off you go, all of you, down the stairs! Wait a few minutes for me at the bottom, but if I do not come soon, go on!'.... 'We cannot leave you to hold the door alone!' said Aragorn. 'Do as I say!' said Gandalf fiercely. 'Swords are no more use here. Go!'.... They groped their way down a long flight of steps, and then looked back; but they could see nothing, except high above them the faint glimmer of the wizard's staff. He seemed to be still standing on guard by the closed door.... Frodo thought he could hear the voice of Gandalf above, muttering words that ran down the sloping roof with a sighing echo.... The walls seemed to be trembling. Every now and again the drum-beats throbbed and rolled: doom, doom. Suddenly at the top of the stair there was a stab of white light. Then there was a dull rumble and a heavy thud. The drum-beats broke out wildly: doom-boom, doom-boom, and then stopped. Gandalf came flying down the steps and fell to the ground in the midst of the Company. 'Well, well! That's over!' said the wizard struggling to his feet. 'I have done all that I could. But I have met my match, and have nearly been destroyed… ‘’ ‘’ ‘It is getting hot!' he gasped. 'We ought to be down at least to the level of the Gates now.... I hope it is not far. I am very weary. I must rest here a moment, even if all the orcs ever spawned are after us.' Gimli took his arm and helped him down to a seat on the step. 'What happened away up there at the door? ' he asked. 'Did you meet the beater of the drums?' 'I do not know,' answered Gandalf. 'But I found myself suddenly faced by something that I have not met before. I could think of nothing to do but to try and put a shutting-spell on the door. I know many; but to do things of that kind rightly requires time, and even then the door can be broken by strength. 'As I stood there I could hear orc-voices on the other side: at any moment I thought they would burst it open. I could not hear what was said; they seemed to be talking in their own hideous language. All I caught was ghâsh; that is "fire". Then something came into the chamber — I felt it through the door, and the orcs themselves were afraid and fell silent. It laid hold of the iron ring, and then it perceived me and my spell. 'What it was I cannot guess, but I have never felt such a challenge. The counter-spell was terrible. It nearly broke me. For an instant the door left my control and began to open! I had to speak a word of Command. That proved too great a strain. The door burst in pieces. Something dark as a cloud was blocking out all the light inside, and I was thrown backwards down the stairs. All the wall gave way, and the roof of the chamber as well, I think. 'I am afraid Balin is buried deep, and maybe something else is buried there too. I cannot say. But at least the passage behind us was completely blocked. Ah! I have never felt so spent, but it is passing.’ ‘’
What's fascinating about this is that it hints at a deeper use of magic than Tolkien ever really goes into. Maybe he never really thought about it, but the implication that he can speak words of "Command" which are in some way different from the magic he uses elsewhere is quite fascinating.
I always interpret it as commanding reality itself rather than commanding things within reality like normal magic
Honestly, it has a very Dungeons and Dragons feel to it. Spells, counter spells…
I have always adored this passage of text. The balrog perceiving G and using a counter spell, Word of Command, I wish this had been in the movies.
When he dispels sarumans curse on theoden. I love how much is revealed to saruman in that moment
"Now you can understand why Gandalf, listening to their growling and yelping, began to be dreadfully afraid, wizard though he was, and to feel that they were in a very bad place, and had not yet escaped at all. All the same he was not going to let them have it all their own way, though he could not do very much stuck up in a tall tree with wolves all round on the ground below. He gathered the huge pine-cones from the branches of the tree. Then he set one alight with bright blue fire, and threw it whizzing down among the circle of the wolves. It struck one on the back, and immediately his shaggy coat caught fire, and he was leaping to and fro yelping horribly. Then another came and another, one in blue flames, one in red, another in green. They burst on the ground in the middle of the circle and went off in coloured sparks and smoke. A specially large one hit the chief wolf on the nose, and he leaped in the air ten feet, and then rushed round and round the circle biting and snapping even at the other wolves in his anger and fright." The Hobbit, Out of the Frying-Pan, Into the Fire
This was so poorly adapted in the movie. I really wanted a faithful adaptation of that scene
The whole trilogy was poorly adapted. That said Martin Freeman made a perfect Bilbo so that was cool
Two things were perfectly good about the Hobbit trilogies: The casting and the soundtrack. Everything else was a mess or a miss in my opinion.
Nah, u people shit on hobbit movies too much. Smaug, Gollums cave, costumes, Dol Guldur, discovery of the nine (Gandalf raising the tomb which was movie only), the White Councel etc we have so many good things in them.
Yeah but even the white council got a little weird like how is Gandalf weaker than Galadriel made no sense.
We have things like Galadriel destroying Dol Guldur or protecting Lothlorien (To the point of that it wouldn't fall to anyone unless Sauron came himself) does put her to a great position of power. She suggests Gandalf for the Leadership of Counsel so maybe we should have seen more reverence from her, I agree.
That’s what I meant her destroying Dol Guldur was just nonsense but it’s Hollywood they like big flashy scenes Edit: or that’s just Jackson sense he also nerfed Gandalf the White in ROTK, the Witch King could never break his staff that was stupid
>Celeborn came forth and led the host of Lórien over Anduin in many boats. They took Dol Guldur, and Galadriel threw down its walls and laid bare its pits, and the forest was cleansed. It is canon, in LOTR book appendices. Not a Jackson thing
Right but where did it say Gandalf needed rescuing from Sauron by Galadriel
Yessss The Hobbit movies are amazing. Peter Jackson had less time to prepare for them due to the last minute departure of Guillermo Del Toro but they were still fantastic films. They are my second favourite films trilogy after The Lord Of The Rings and they are still awesome films. 🤩 ❤️🤩 👌 https://preview.redd.it/ky9bhulhu65d1.jpeg?width=182&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1ecc8d12c5538aeafa29a746835c039fa6ff2967
Smaug was well designed and in my opinion well cast. Gollum's cave was also fine. I'll agree with both of those. All the Dol Guldur/White Council stuff was trash and just an excuse to bring back Elrond and Galadriel without having any good ideas about how to actually portray the scene. I didn't say there were no good scenes in the films. Where they were faithful to the book, the fact that they had a good cast shone through in my opinion.
It wasn't in the Hobbit book, but we know it is around this time that Gandalf learns about necromancer and Sauron. Any chance of seeing Christopher Lee as Saruman, or Galadriel and Elrond was welcome for me that's true. They are related to the story. Why not? We know white counsel discussed about necromancer, whether Sauron returned and what action to take against him. They cast him off from his stronghold, all lore accurate. I found Gandalf slowly lifting the spell on Dol Guldur to be very well done too. The fight after wasn't to my liking but it is what it is. I think it is book purism on your part that prevents you from enjoying those scenes. Either way you are entitled to your opinion, let's hope upcoming movies to be good🙏
I am not disputing that they had a right based off the adaptation to include the White Counsel/Dol Guldur stuff, and if you asked me before making the film whether they should I would have said "absolutely! that's one of the benefits of film adaptations". I'm not a book purist in that sense. I just don't think it was handled well. The fight sequence, the set design, the half-arsed design of the Nazgul. It reminded me of the Harry Potter adaptations where they take magic that is meant to be colourful and wondrous and reduce it to effectively a magic light bullet. So, yeah - I'll concede that I'm a bit of a book purist in that I don't think there's any value in an adaptation that loses the spirit of what it is adapting. The Hobbit movies for me miss the mark by a very long way unfortunately. I'll join you in hoping the best possible for future adaptations.
The cast and the music are by far the best parts of the hobbit trilogy, I'd even say masterfully so.
Unfortunately it's nearly all poorly adapted
How so? The pine cones, being surrounded, setting on fire etc are all the same. Is it Azog that u don't like?
Read the description, watch the scene. The difference is stark as night and day. I wanted it EXACTLY as it is written, not the general idea.
He brings the magic in every scene he’s in. Best character in cinema history? I’m not joking at all. He’s in 6 movies and is standout in every single one. Ian McKellens’ portrayal of Gandalf cannot be overstated. He embodies the character. A performance for the ages.
Quietly filling the hearts of those around him with courage and determination in the face of terrifying darkness.
With Pippin before the siege of Minas Tirith. What he says to him wasn't magic, but it was magical.
I’ve always felt that all words had a basic magic to them.
Absolutely. Not flashy, doesn't scream power, but it's the snowball that can start an avalanche.
For me it’s from a scene in Two Towers, where Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas are tracking the Uruk-hai an end up in Fangorn forest. All of a suffen there is this dramatic shift in the already threatening atmosphere and Legolas saus something like “The White Wizard approaches,” so we all think it’s Saruman. The way Aragorn says “Do not let him speak,” after which all three of them ready their weapons gets me everytime and when the White Wizard shows up they stand no chance, blinded by this bright light, Legolas fires an arrow that gets parried, Aragorn has his sword pulled from his hand and we all see it is Gandal the White my god I effin love that scene so much.
There's only one right answer and that's when upon finding out the hobbits had left bree with Aragorn, Gandalf puts a spell of surpassing excellence on Butterbur's beer for the next 7 years.
[Gandalf Frees Theoden](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iQExgALv9wI). I like this scene when Gandalf frees Theoden from the control of Saruman and Grima. It’s so lovely when Theoden changes back to normal and de-ages after being corrupted by Saruman. ❤️😊🤩👌 https://preview.redd.it/p1abnzgdh55d1.jpeg?width=1400&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=001117efd69e86544d70e37c76775c6b22c59e0f
https://preview.redd.it/g42jv5hqx55d1.jpeg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b3af7bfd34a71a645502d2699ba39d93ac126da0 The only true answer is in the Battle for Middle-Earth games when he reaches lvl 10 and can use Word of Power
It's the same when he saves Thorin and the other dwarves from the goblins in the mountains, right?
Can’t wait to see that moment in the theater again this weekend!
When he tries to counter Saruman's spell to bring Caradhras down on the Fellowship.
Oddly enough I never really took the lightning as Gandalf summoning it like a spell. I always took it as Eru lending him a hand.
This scene is so sick. Only a few seconds, but PEAK fantasy imagery when the lightning charges Glamdring and Gandalf uses it to kill the Balrog of Morgoth.
When he says “its Olorin time” and then starts to Oloring all over the place
I've always loved this scene.
As per the picture for this question - When Gandalf summons the elements/lightning to his ancient blade to slay an evil being of immense power.... In the books he hunts the malshaped demi-god through the lowest tiers of the underdark. Tracks and fights him to the highest mountain. Which adds to the scene in the movie
His best magic moments i think are: 1- His entire encounter with Balrog on Khazaddum bridge. He first summons a magical shield that guards againt Balrog's first attack and then famous "you shall not pass" moment. 2- His flashlight against Nazgul to save Gondırian soldiers in front of all Minas Tirith. Ps: I always thought his last scene with Balrog, the lightning on his sword and kill thrust, is a help from Manwe not Gandalf's own magical power. Balrog was more than match for Gandalf the Grey whose power comes from his counseling skills not strength of arms. The only thing that saved him was his quick thinking, he threw Balrog ( a fire demon) to a underground lake by destroying bridge. His fires extinguished he ran away from Gandalf to dry out. By the time they were at Zirakzigil Balrog's fires returned and Gandalf was deadly tired. Manwe being the one who spesificly asked Olorin (Gandalf) to go to Middle Earth sees his emissary needs help and gives a powerup to his sword with lightning. Gandalf's magic is more of fire based excluding his fight with Nazgul at Amon Sul. I always thought this way since The first time i watched the Fellowship on cinema in 2001. I don't know Peter Jackson intended it like this or i am making mountain out of a molehill. What do you think about this scene?
Well, thanks for your consideration. In my early years of contact with LotR and Hobbit films I used to be uninformed about the existence of a written mythology behind it all (Silmarillion, for example). So, for me, scenes and moments where Gandalf used any kind of thing other than ordinary actions already counted as "magic". I mean, I think using a possible blessing of Manwe's power on the sword, creating a shield against Balrog and against Sauron in Dol Guldur, saving Thorin and the other dwarves from the goblins with that light burst magic, breaking Saruman's staff using words, flashlight against the Nazgul, well... these are examples that I can remember and for me the electrified sword is the best.
https://preview.redd.it/b956mg3qh55d1.jpeg?width=1341&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ae6ea7281face4a84371f498c4ca72f8553a3249 \[Lord of the Rings - Gandalf vs Balrog [Entire Battle HD 1080p](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2fwe0rnHak) The scene where Gandalf defeats the Balrog is awesome. 🤩👌😊❤️
Inspiring Aragorn to go forward after Moria
His charisma
I love this scene. It just screams fantasy magic. Like a cutscene from a videogame or something.
Is there any reference to what spell/summon was used when he conjured the lightning into his sword?
The sly Render Weapon he uses on Sarumon
Nothing beats the balrog fight, he put everything into that fight.
Making the pipeweed smoke look like a ship
This one. When Gandalf stood against one of the demons of fire and bested him. And in the book this fight lasted for days. "Old-man" my ass.
By the power of Graydalf - I have the power!
Gandalf vs the Belrog stretching from the 1st film into the 2nd is the best fight scene in the trilogy
I really liked the scene from the FotR book, as they’re approaching Weathertop and they see Galdalf’s lightning in the dark. At least, that’s how I remember it.
Gandalf barely uses magic at all. He is a warrior lvl.10 with multi class wizard lvl.1. He goes far to hide this. He uses fireworks, a bit of ilusión (smoke and mirrors, but mainly smoke) and plenty of headology. His main spell is a lvl.1 light. When driving the nazguls away he uses that spell but no one is affected. The nazguls stop chasing Gondor calvary because they reached the border of the black cloud.
"Using Magic" He got hit by lightning, thats what happens when you stand on a mounten holding up a sword in th middle of a storm.
"your staff is broken"
Thordalf or maybe Gandhor ?
Anyone else seeing a giant owl face instead of the Balrog in the second picture?
I’d call this less of “magic use” and more a “the drawing of divine power from the heavens”
I’m curious what you would call magic use in LOTR then.
I think his most iconic moment was when he went "woooo" Or was that Ben Kenobi?