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Taking my heart back to Middle Earth part 2
Ah! I made it through all 3 movies last weekend, back to back, baby! Checked out the director’s commentary per the moment when Denethor hallucinates seeing Boromir in Minas Tirith and PJ Jackson was saying how awesome Sean was and goes on to talk about how they called the people that were lusting after Sean Bean the ‘beanstalker’s and that Philippa was their leader. Philippa giggles, denies it and says she showed ‘restraint’ and then giggles some more and wow, but that’s just gold, right there! If left up to Philippa I think we’d have gotten at least one Boromir stand alone movie! Ha!
Massive steam of consciousness goings on, convoluted meandering thoughts regarding the movies as follows so beware...also I'm sleepy so some of this may be kinda wacky, also,I have kind of a, let's call it a rather narrow focus on one Son of Gondor, so...yeah...
I have Mr. Sean Bean to thank for my love affair with Boromir. I had only heard of the books, and did not know Boromir’s fate until I saw FOTR. At the time I was going through some life/stuff and I completely keyed into Boromir’s theme of someone who just wants to make the right choice, to make things right, and the visceral pressure of that, the longing for that, totally connected with me. Of course, soon after I discovered Boromir fanfic, and then A/B fanfic and that was that, I was hooked for life!
I've always loved that Aragorn took Boromir's vambraces. I did not know that this wasn't in the script and that was Viggo's idea (insert VigBean here, :D ) Thank goodness! I needed that little touch, that assurance, however small, Boromir wasn't forgotten. I've read lately where some argue this wasn't an gesture of respect but Aragorn was just basically thieving from Boromir's belongings since he wouldn't need them anymore but the people who think this are probably flat earth thinkers or have the emotional range of a snow pea, so, yeah. I wish there'd been more mention of Boromir in TTT and ROTK, and I get it, it's not a Boromir movie/s but, something more between Merry and Pippin would've been poignant.
Maybe it's not the most popular view but I like the doubting movie Aragorn. I like that it's Boromir, essentially, that sets him firmly on the path to kingship--something his Elf-lord 'dad' and Elf-love couldn't do. I love that it's the son of Gondor that passes the mantel of responsibility to Aragorn; it couldn't come from a finer, more appropriate person. Poor Denethor surely would never have done. Faramir perhaps could have done, but it wasn't his fate. (And for the record, I like ambivalent movie Faramir too!)
For the record, all those Boromir, Boromir & Faramir character moments that (thank God) were added to the extended versions should have been in the theatrical release. We're supposed to want the world of men to be saved, what better way to show their worth than these...but I could amble along all day, so, just going to hit on the things that stuck with me most, for good or ill:
As ever, eternally, Boromir's death. Nothing else need be said, except, be at peace, Son of Gondor.
As follows naturally: Aragorn's wearing of the vambraces, *almost* the whole way. He got his Elessar glow-up and they disappeared with no explanation. Actually those that he wore looked rather generic to me, though I get that they were part of the uniform, but they had no legacy like those of Boromir. Though he does wear Boromir's again upon his death, or rather, upon his burial so I forgive him.
Theoden burying his son. Ah, the ache. This hits totally different for me now that I personally know a bit more about loss.
Aragorn at Helms Deep: 'Then I shall die as one of them!' He's going to keep his promise, do or die. I felt that. Additionally, that moment of salute in TTT in Rohan where they raise a drink to the dead; Aragorn hesitates and looks troubled before drinking, I like that touch.
Arwen at Aragorn's burial: beautiful, deeply sad, that whole sequence looks almost like a painting. Left behind by the one she loves, I could feel her anguish. That's when it kills you, in the quiets spaces afterwards, when everyone has gone away and you're alone. It's the absence that breaks you.
It annoys me that Merry and Pippin never talk amongst themselves about Boromir, not even to wonder what happened, etc. I guess it was obvious but a mention would've been nice.
The amazing, surfing Legolas kind of annoys, I don't know why. Just seems like they were trying to hard to make him cool. He's Legolas, he's already cool.
The lighting of the beacons, powerful, beautiful, but how the hell did some of those guys manning these mountaintop stations survive?! Surely Amazon Prime doesn't deliver to most of those addresses.
Rohan -I love the somewhat gilded, homespun feel of Rohan. Edoras felt totally lived in, yet still majestic.
Everything Eomer. Everything. All the blondness and intense eyes. All of it.
How in the name of Duraflame did Denethor manage to run from the tombs (not sure of the actual name) to jump off the cliff...that's like four football fields he ran while on fire. Also, I didn't like how disgusting the movie made him. I get it, he was corrupted and going mad, but show some respect, dude.
Denethor hallucinating Boromir: this scene struck my heart, as Boromir looked so wholly beautiful and golden and I was seeing him, happy and smiling, in his home, only it wasn't real. And contrasted by Faramir's utter heartbreak at finally realizing, he'd never be good enough for his mad father no matter what he did. He truly was walking to his doom and I wish he would’ve rebelled and refused to go, because he survived and his men did not. Alas, fate.
Ewoyn, I am no man, badass. Wish we could've gotten more of her character.
Minas Tirith: let me live there. I will sit on my balcony and write bad poetry and ever northward gaze. Boromir's city was proud and beautiful and I wanted more!
Grima-somebody needed to dark night this boy-o, as in, one dark night he'd just go missing and never be seen again. That he kept a father from his dying son is some dark shizz.
The whole notion of Arwen's life force something-or-other tied to the fate of Middle Earth. Excuse me, but Aragorn had already lost his lover....er, I mean his friend and countryman, he'd already had his epiphany, it didn't need to suddenly be all about the girlfriend.
All the goodbyes are most difficult: Boromir, Bilbo, Gandalf, Frodo, Theoden...whether into death or to the Grey Havens.
TTT and ROTK got tedious in places, but man those dead marshes were creepy as hell. I keep wondering who all those people were, what their story is.
The reuniting of the Fellowship scene in ROTK kills me, not only for the one who is missing, but because they are all in his beloved City.
Gandalf the White's arrival with the might of Rohan on the fifth day....and as wonderful it was to have Gandalf back, I think I prefer Gandalf the Grey.
Thou shall not pass...ok, so if the bridge broke under the Balrog's weight, and he stopped because he couldn't cross over why didn't Gandalf just book it to the other side and just take off? Could the Balrog have gotten over the chasm? Guess Gandalf had to fill his 'fate' prompt on his scorecard and have that big boss fight.
I wish there'd been some inkling of how Arwen felt about being Queen of Gondor. Did she even want to? Were there those who didn't want an Elven queen rule over them? I guess that was just a package deal with being bound to Aragorn, but I wonder what she thought about it. Did she have any kinship at all with these people? Though, as wise as I like to think Arwen is, I think she made a good queen.
Ok, the kid Arwen sees in her vision was such a handsome little guy, but boy did he ever give her the most intense look...like, momma-to-be, go get your man so I can get myself born and so can one day rule over the White City and be a badass like papa.
Favorite moment: the talk between Aragorn and Boromir in Lorien. If only Aragorn had reached out instead of doubting himself...
I wonder if Aragorn ever tells Faramir that Boromir did give into the ring, but regretted it almost immediately, and the price of him rejecting the shadow was his death. Faramir tells Denethor something like, if Boromir got a chance at the ring he'd take it and return to Minas Tirith and Denethor wouldn't recognize his son...only Boromir had a chance but ultimately rejected it. Strangely, Like Galadriel, he would remain himself, and diminish.
Random wrap up: the eagles...I stan them. Sam-the real MVP though he was pretty savage to Gollum. Frodo totally went dark side and would've pulled an Isildur if not for poor, ruined Gollum.
Boromir is love.
The end.
Massive steam of consciousness goings on, convoluted meandering thoughts regarding the movies as follows so beware...also I'm sleepy so some of this may be kinda wacky, also,I have kind of a, let's call it a rather narrow focus on one Son of Gondor, so...yeah...
I have Mr. Sean Bean to thank for my love affair with Boromir. I had only heard of the books, and did not know Boromir’s fate until I saw FOTR. At the time I was going through some life/stuff and I completely keyed into Boromir’s theme of someone who just wants to make the right choice, to make things right, and the visceral pressure of that, the longing for that, totally connected with me. Of course, soon after I discovered Boromir fanfic, and then A/B fanfic and that was that, I was hooked for life!
I've always loved that Aragorn took Boromir's vambraces. I did not know that this wasn't in the script and that was Viggo's idea (insert VigBean here, :D ) Thank goodness! I needed that little touch, that assurance, however small, Boromir wasn't forgotten. I've read lately where some argue this wasn't an gesture of respect but Aragorn was just basically thieving from Boromir's belongings since he wouldn't need them anymore but the people who think this are probably flat earth thinkers or have the emotional range of a snow pea, so, yeah. I wish there'd been more mention of Boromir in TTT and ROTK, and I get it, it's not a Boromir movie/s but, something more between Merry and Pippin would've been poignant.
Maybe it's not the most popular view but I like the doubting movie Aragorn. I like that it's Boromir, essentially, that sets him firmly on the path to kingship--something his Elf-lord 'dad' and Elf-love couldn't do. I love that it's the son of Gondor that passes the mantel of responsibility to Aragorn; it couldn't come from a finer, more appropriate person. Poor Denethor surely would never have done. Faramir perhaps could have done, but it wasn't his fate. (And for the record, I like ambivalent movie Faramir too!)
For the record, all those Boromir, Boromir & Faramir character moments that (thank God) were added to the extended versions should have been in the theatrical release. We're supposed to want the world of men to be saved, what better way to show their worth than these...but I could amble along all day, so, just going to hit on the things that stuck with me most, for good or ill:
As ever, eternally, Boromir's death. Nothing else need be said, except, be at peace, Son of Gondor.
As follows naturally: Aragorn's wearing of the vambraces, *almost* the whole way. He got his Elessar glow-up and they disappeared with no explanation. Actually those that he wore looked rather generic to me, though I get that they were part of the uniform, but they had no legacy like those of Boromir. Though he does wear Boromir's again upon his death, or rather, upon his burial so I forgive him.
Theoden burying his son. Ah, the ache. This hits totally different for me now that I personally know a bit more about loss.
Aragorn at Helms Deep: 'Then I shall die as one of them!' He's going to keep his promise, do or die. I felt that. Additionally, that moment of salute in TTT in Rohan where they raise a drink to the dead; Aragorn hesitates and looks troubled before drinking, I like that touch.
Arwen at Aragorn's burial: beautiful, deeply sad, that whole sequence looks almost like a painting. Left behind by the one she loves, I could feel her anguish. That's when it kills you, in the quiets spaces afterwards, when everyone has gone away and you're alone. It's the absence that breaks you.
It annoys me that Merry and Pippin never talk amongst themselves about Boromir, not even to wonder what happened, etc. I guess it was obvious but a mention would've been nice.
The amazing, surfing Legolas kind of annoys, I don't know why. Just seems like they were trying to hard to make him cool. He's Legolas, he's already cool.
The lighting of the beacons, powerful, beautiful, but how the hell did some of those guys manning these mountaintop stations survive?! Surely Amazon Prime doesn't deliver to most of those addresses.
Rohan -I love the somewhat gilded, homespun feel of Rohan. Edoras felt totally lived in, yet still majestic.
Everything Eomer. Everything. All the blondness and intense eyes. All of it.
How in the name of Duraflame did Denethor manage to run from the tombs (not sure of the actual name) to jump off the cliff...that's like four football fields he ran while on fire. Also, I didn't like how disgusting the movie made him. I get it, he was corrupted and going mad, but show some respect, dude.
Denethor hallucinating Boromir: this scene struck my heart, as Boromir looked so wholly beautiful and golden and I was seeing him, happy and smiling, in his home, only it wasn't real. And contrasted by Faramir's utter heartbreak at finally realizing, he'd never be good enough for his mad father no matter what he did. He truly was walking to his doom and I wish he would’ve rebelled and refused to go, because he survived and his men did not. Alas, fate.
Ewoyn, I am no man, badass. Wish we could've gotten more of her character.
Minas Tirith: let me live there. I will sit on my balcony and write bad poetry and ever northward gaze. Boromir's city was proud and beautiful and I wanted more!
Grima-somebody needed to dark night this boy-o, as in, one dark night he'd just go missing and never be seen again. That he kept a father from his dying son is some dark shizz.
The whole notion of Arwen's life force something-or-other tied to the fate of Middle Earth. Excuse me, but Aragorn had already lost his lover....er, I mean his friend and countryman, he'd already had his epiphany, it didn't need to suddenly be all about the girlfriend.
All the goodbyes are most difficult: Boromir, Bilbo, Gandalf, Frodo, Theoden...whether into death or to the Grey Havens.
TTT and ROTK got tedious in places, but man those dead marshes were creepy as hell. I keep wondering who all those people were, what their story is.
The reuniting of the Fellowship scene in ROTK kills me, not only for the one who is missing, but because they are all in his beloved City.
Gandalf the White's arrival with the might of Rohan on the fifth day....and as wonderful it was to have Gandalf back, I think I prefer Gandalf the Grey.
Thou shall not pass...ok, so if the bridge broke under the Balrog's weight, and he stopped because he couldn't cross over why didn't Gandalf just book it to the other side and just take off? Could the Balrog have gotten over the chasm? Guess Gandalf had to fill his 'fate' prompt on his scorecard and have that big boss fight.
I wish there'd been some inkling of how Arwen felt about being Queen of Gondor. Did she even want to? Were there those who didn't want an Elven queen rule over them? I guess that was just a package deal with being bound to Aragorn, but I wonder what she thought about it. Did she have any kinship at all with these people? Though, as wise as I like to think Arwen is, I think she made a good queen.
Ok, the kid Arwen sees in her vision was such a handsome little guy, but boy did he ever give her the most intense look...like, momma-to-be, go get your man so I can get myself born and so can one day rule over the White City and be a badass like papa.
Favorite moment: the talk between Aragorn and Boromir in Lorien. If only Aragorn had reached out instead of doubting himself...
I wonder if Aragorn ever tells Faramir that Boromir did give into the ring, but regretted it almost immediately, and the price of him rejecting the shadow was his death. Faramir tells Denethor something like, if Boromir got a chance at the ring he'd take it and return to Minas Tirith and Denethor wouldn't recognize his son...only Boromir had a chance but ultimately rejected it. Strangely, Like Galadriel, he would remain himself, and diminish.
Random wrap up: the eagles...I stan them. Sam-the real MVP though he was pretty savage to Gollum. Frodo totally went dark side and would've pulled an Isildur if not for poor, ruined Gollum.
Boromir is love.
The end.