FotR: A Long-Expected Party

[lucidity]

FotR: A Long-Expected Party

(Began with fireworks)

Sam, Pippin and Merry were first introduced here. Sam was shown pining for Rosie and Frodo danced, (somewhat strangely looking to me).

There was a part where Bilbo wiggled his ear. My first thought was that he seemed less human and more animal. I’m not sure if that was in the theatrical release, but I doubt it.

Pippin and Merry stole the dragon firework and mayhem ensued.

Bilbo was quite nasty to his ‘guests’, IMO. They don’t know quite how to respond to him. Why do they all come when he obviously doesn’t care for them? Is it the free food and ale? Do they kowtow to him because he is wealthy by their standards?

[Raksha]

I loved the introduction of Pippin and Merry. Yes, they are depicted as more heedless than they are in the books, but it will make their maturation seem more vivid in the next two movies.

Sam's introduction was well-done.

Knowing very little about the history of dance, I think that Frodo's odd-looking dance was an attempt by the director to evoke European peasant/provincial dances of say, the 18th or 19th century, possibly earlier. There's a certain bird-like quality about Frodo's movements; and the fact that he is dancing alone, without a female partner, makes me think of fertility rites and dances that imitate them, where the male dancer is showing off, strutting his stuff. It's sort of a rooster-dance (look at the arm-movements, and visualize a strutting rooster surrounded by hens).

Speaking of dances, I just adore Gandalf's moments in this scene: his little laugh and mischievous expression when he comes back to set up the fireworks, and how he dances with the hobbit lady, lifting one arm and using the other to pull up his robe a bit so he doesn't trip. I mean, can you imagine what Saruman would think? But Gandalf is clearly relaxed and having so much fun...

Since I don't have the FOTR EE, I didn't see Bilbo wiggle his ear. I enjoyed his telling the tale of his adventure to the widdle hobbit kids.

The dragon firework was really quite splendid.


RAKSHA

[laerien]

I loved the introduction of Pippin and Merry. Yes, they are depicted as more heedless than they are in the books, but it will make their maturation seem more vivid in the next two movies.

Somehow, I didn't mind the exaggerated childishness of Pippin and Merry as well.
Anyway, a bit sense of homour is needed. I had no problem with the two hobbit. What they occasionally did to Gimli annoyed me far more.

I love this part of the movie. No matter how many times I watch it, I can never keep a smile off of my face.
My mother is not a LotR fan (and that is quite an understatement), but she loves the party as well, especially the little children, when they jump a little as "the trolls turn into stone" ;D ;D

I know nothing about the history of dances, but Frodo's didn't look strange to me at all. Now that I think about it, it reminds me a bit to some traditional dances here in Europe (including Hungarian)

[eggowaffles]

Love this scene... especially Frodo and Gandalf's dancing (somewhat reminiscent of the chicken dance and disco, respectively, I think ;D)