Gibbets and crows!

Over Thanksgiving break I decided to rewatch THE LORD OF THE RINGS movies for the first time in a really long time.

I’m glad the Voice of Saruman scene ended up in the extended edition of RETURN OF THE KING.

First, it is very satisfying to see Theoden throw Saruman’s false offer of peace into his face and chew him out for all the destruction and death in Rohan.

Second, Christopher Lee did a superb job as Saruman. You see all the wounded pride and arrogance and furious thwarted spite Saruman has at the end of his life. It’s not quite the same as Saruman’s end in the Scouring of the Shire in the books, but film is generally a less subtle medium than a book.

Third, it makes for a good contrast with Sauron. Saruman spent the first two movies acting like he was the chief villain…but then Sauron’s army marches from Minas Morgul, and we see what a real Dark Lord is like.

It is impressive how nearly twenty years later the movies still hold up very well.

-JM