You cannot pass!

First off, in case you didn't already know, it isn't "you shall not pass" at least not in the book. It's one of those changes that I don't really care about, but also don't particularly understand. It's the same number of syllables either way, and they would both sound great in the Gandalf voice in that moment. Just imagine him saying 'cannot', it sounds great. 

While I don't really mind the change, I do think it is important to note the difference between 'shall not' and 'cannot'. 'Shall not' implies more power in Gandalf himself, whereas 'cannot' is more like the child saying to a friend 'we cannot go into that room, because mom said so.' There is no other reason. The balrog simply can't pass. 

That word shows Gandalf surrendering himself to the powers that be. He doesn't know that 'he will make sure the balrog doesn't go one, because he is a powerful wizard', he knows that the balrog cannot go on, and that he is the tool that is going to stop it. "I don't know how I'm supposed stop you, I don't know what is going to happen next, all I know is you cannot go any further. I honestly don't know why you can't, I mean you have wings so you could just fly, but you can't go over there." 

It's a small and subtle difference, but it's there for a reason (in my opinion). 

Now then, the real purpose of this post is to talk about an unexplained...thing, in the movie. It's not really a plot hole, it's just one of those moments where everyone said "but, why?". Specifically: "why didn't Aragorn just pull him up?" 

A moment where, had the movie stuck with the book, they wouldn't have created a question. 

MOVIE: Gandalf falls, and clings to the edge of a bridge which is not crumbling at all, and stays there long enough for someone to come help him up, and then lets go, for no particular reason."

BOOK: Gandalf breaks the bridge, the balrog falls, and as it plummets downward, swings its whip, wrapping it around Gandalf's knees. In a small space of time, not long enough for anyone to help the wizard, Gandalf "staggered and fell, grasped vainly at the stone, and slid into the abyss." In that last second, he cries 'fly, you fools!' and is gone. There is no time for anyone to save him. He doesn't catch himself on the stone and hang out (pun intended) for a chat with the fellowship. 

So there you go, yet another moment where everything would have made much more sense if they had just stuck to the book. 

 

What Really Happened?

I am going to start a thing on here, where I just make tie-ins and comparisons between the book and movie. So...if there are any movie scenes that you want me to break down with a comparison to the book, or try to find the inspirations and origins of the lines, let me know. A lot of the dialogue that you can look at and not have found at that spot in the book, is actually present elsewhere. The writers used as much of Tolkien's actual writing as they could, and the franken-lines are kind of fun to track down in the books.

For starters:

I: In the movie, at Helm's Deep, Theoden says something along the lines (pun intended) of: Saruman's arm will have grown long indeed if he thinks he can reach us here.

In the book:

Referring to Sauron, not Saruman:

"'His arm has grown long indeed,' said Gimli, 'if he can draw snow down from the North to trouble us here three hundred leagues away.'"

II: You know that part where Legolas talks about the Crebain from dunland? Well in the book, in the chapter The Ring Goes South, Sam and Aragorn on on the watch, and Aragorn (not Legolas) wakes Gandalf up to tell him about the crebain. 

III: In the movie, Gimli wants to go to Moria, and Gandalf REALLY doesn't. In the Book, Gandalf thought they should try Moria, and Aragorn didn't want to, so they attempted Caradhras, but were eventually driven down. So Aragorn agreed to go through Moria, as Gandalf had originally said they should, but says to Gandalf:

"And I say to you: if you pass the doors of Moria, beware!"

IV: In the movies, there is a surprise warg attack on the company fleeing from Edoras to Helm's Deep. While the book has no such attack in it, and it is quite the little twist, the fellowship is hunted by wargs in The Fellowship of the Ring, on their way from Caradhras to the Gate of Moria. 

 

Fly, you fools!

THE DAY

On January 15, 2019 TA, the Fellowship of the Ring fought their way out of Moria, and lost Gandalf to the Balrog of Morgoth. Honestly, that part never made me terribly sad, because even when I read it for the very first time, I knew somehow that he couldn't be dead. Not really. The part that makes me miserable is right after, when they are outside of Moria, and that wonderful piece of music begans to play. Its very sad.

THE YEAR

In the year 2995 TA, Eowyn of Rohan was born. 

Of course, we all love Eowyn. And if she hadn't been around, Middle Earth would have been in trouble, because she wouldn't have killed the Witch King of Angmar, and the Witch King would have killed Gandalf. And Gandalf wouldn't have been able to talk to the eagles and tell them about Frodo, so the eagles wouldn't have gone to get Frodo. So Frodo and Sam would have died. And if it wasn't for Frodo and Sam, Merry and Pippin's hot hotheadedness would have caused them to fight well and die well, but ultimately lose the Shire. And Saruman would have lived much longer. Also Faramir would never have found love or happiness. And Eomer wouldn't have had a sister. And Theoden wouldn't have had a niece. Also Merry wouldn't have gotten to go fight. You get the idea. Eowyn is quite important. 

 

Still Here

THE DAY

January 14th, 3019 TA
The company spends the night in "hall twenty-one"

THE YEAR

Int he year 2994 TA, Balin dies in Moria, and the Dwarf Colony there was destroyed. It becomes overrun with goblins, trolls, balrog (1), etc. But come on people! Balin died, how sad is that? He was basically Bilbo's best friend, after Gandalf, and he just died. Its very depressing. Or, as Tolkien said, "Balin Perishes".  

Pure Uneventfulness

THE DAY

I haven't posted for a bit, and nothing much happened on the next three dates in the Fellowships journey, so I will do three at once.
On January 8th, 3018 TA, the company reached Hollin. Which is...right here: 

And then on January 11th and 12th, they tried not to die in the snow on Caradhras. It was much more exciting in the book then it sounds right here. Believe me. 

THE YEAR

Coincidentally, our year this time is 2989, which was the year that Balin left Erebor and entered Moria. And we all know what happens NEXT!!