Eldalieva
Servant of the Secret Frodo
Registered: Apr 2002
Location: Gone Crazy. Back Soon.
Posts: 883 |
quote:
Originally posted by Mirabella
As to the finding of orc armor that fit them, that has also always struck me as wildly improbable, as nowhere in the trilogy (to the best of my knowledge) is it established that any orcs are hobbit-sized - indeed, in The Hobbit they are specifically described as being pretty bloody big - until all of a sudden Frodo and Sam need a disguise, and then up pops the miniature orc armor.
Aha, then you see, PJ was thinking ahead, as he has already given us visual proof in two films that orcs come in all sizes, and that some are, in fact, not much bigger than a hobbit. I can't log out of this window to check, but I believe the orc-armour dolls have something wrapped around their feet, so PJ (or at least Ngila Dickson) has thought about the foot issue as well.
In the book, Sam meets up with an orc in the tower of Cirith Ungol, whom he describes as a "little frightened rat." Now, I know Sam wants to be insulting here, but if the orc truly did tower over him, I doubt he would have used "little" as one of his insults of choice. Frankly, I've always been of the opinion that orcs, like cockroaches, come in all sizes.
Regarding the issue of eyesight, Moria orcs may not be the best example, since over time, they might very well have developed night-vision capabilities that Mordor orcs would not have.
I'm willing to grant you the smelling thing.
There are a number of things in the book that are improbable, but that work within the context of the story. Off the top of my head, I think of "Flight to the Ford," where I find it very improbable that a weakened, mortally injured, three-foot-six hobbit could successfully maintain his seat on a wildly galloping horse that was big enough for a six-foot elf (regardless of how much the elf shortened the stirrups), especially since hobbits have very little opportunity or cause to practice their equestrian skills. Yes, this scene was changed for the movie, but not because of its improbability, but in order to give Arwen a heroic sequence.
As for improbable scenes in the movie? Well, it's pretty improbable that even the noble Aragorn would be able to fight off five armed, pissed off Ringwraiths with nothing more than his sword and a flaming brand, and yet the Ringwraiths politely take him on only one at a time, so that he can chase them ALL away. The same thing happens at Amon Hen, where two men, a dwarf and an elf somehow manage to obliterate an army of orcs and Uruk-Hai. Such courteous behavior among bad guys is a staple of any filmed fight sequence...done poorly, it IS laughable, done well, it's thrilling.
The truth is, I've never had any trouble accepting the orc-march scene in the book, and I know that if PJ did it right, it would be far from high comedy, unless he mistakenly decided to make his Mordor orcs comedic (perhaps we should direct PJ to Europanya's "Round Room"?  ). PJ himself has complained that Frodo and Sam don't "do" anything for most of the latter part of the book except walk around...this is the chance for something to happen, and I hope that he will avail himself of it. The casual moviegoer would probably accept the scene with more ease than a nitpicky Tolkien fan: that moviegoer loves angst and action, and won't pooh-pooh the scene like the Tolkien fan, who has a head full of details about orcish height and senses!
__________________
Yes, he is altogether lovely! -- The Song of Solomon 5:16
Over the sands he wandered, a hobbit whose soul was scarred;
He embraced his friends there closely, whose love could not be marred;
He took a ship to the Havens, and he will be waiting there
for the friend who dearly loved him,
One who dearly loved him,
For all who dearly loved him, Frodo the Halfling fair.
--Alfred Noyes, reinterpreted by Peachy
And all is dross that is not Frodo. -- Marlowe, reinterpreted by Peachy
Last edited by Eldalieva on 07-14-2003 at 08:59 PM
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07-14-2003 01:21 AM
Of course, they could also choose to go thus disguised even if still in possesion of all of their hobbity clothes, but we still hold out hope for a nekkid Fro!
+ 3
of my action figures). I promised myself I wouldn't buy a single other LotR collectible until I re-organized and made proper room for all the ones I have now, as they were spilling all over - mugs and puzzles and pins and what-not everywhere!. I felt a little silly using the feather duster on orcs and heros alike, but it had to be done. The Easterling warrior tried to leap to his death due to the humilation. 
(Titters in true Carry-On fashion.)
