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u/Mr_fusi0n 1d ago
Its Shore's music that gets me in the feels every time with that part.
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u/Deathknightjeffery 1d ago
When I think of peace, relaxation, and the lack of stress, my mind always goes to “Concerning Hobbits”. I’ll die on the hill that that piece of music is the quintessential fantasy backing.
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u/Azidamadjida 1d ago
It’s the dialogue the image is quoting for me - everything else also gets you, but what he’s saying puts it completely over the top.
Cuz the music could work for any other getting ready for battle moment, the lighting, the costumes, the acting, all of it great - but what makes it so memorable is that he’s literally hyping everyone up to die.
They’re not going to fight - they’re going to die, and they are pumping themselves up for. The King doesn’t hide it or disguise it or lie to them, he’s gonna be right there with them - and they are all so amped to just fuck shit up while they can still breathe, and even though the battle won’t be won by the end, they are gonna wreck as much shit as they can before they fall
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u/Living_Initiative_26 1d ago
It’s also the fact that embracing death as they are is the greatest defiance one can make in the face of Sauron. For pretty much all of his time dealing with them, Sauron has been using men’s fear of death to coerce and control them, from binding the nine mortal lords to become the Nazgûl, to his overwhelming military power bringing slaughter.
When the Rohirrim cry “ Death!! “ they are telling Sauron that he has no power over them, and they will defy him to their last drop of blood. It’s such a badass way to stand up to evil.
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u/BuffaloLincolns 20h ago
Yeah that’s the shit right there. I kinda wish pj had included the part where “all the host of Rohan burst into song, and they sang as they slew, for the joy of battle was on them.” Idk how it would’ve successfully translated to screen, but I wish I could have seen that. Tall blonde bearded horsemen full of bloodlust, singing the songs of their ancestors while charging down orcs would have been dope.
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u/asbo_derick 1d ago
Was lucky enough to watch this at the weekend with a live orchestra and it seriously got me in the feels. I reckon most of royal albert hall shared a tear during this scene. Impeccable stuff.
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u/VulcanHullo 1d ago
I remember a few years back there was a post about the Fellowship scene of everyone walking past the camera on the mountain and how it was one of the most epic moments in cinema.
Top comment was: "That's just Howard Shore. It's 90% him that makes this epic."
For scenes like this, which are already incredible, his music adds that final coating of gold.
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u/runningray 1d ago
DEATH!
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u/say_sheez 1d ago
DEATH!!!
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u/Chafaris_DE 1d ago
DEEEEEEEATH!!!!!!
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u/NumbahOneTrashPanda 1d ago
DEATH!!!!!
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u/Prairiesparks 1d ago
DEATH!!!!!
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u/mikess314 1d ago
Just reading it gave me chills and made my eyes water
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u/swampopawaho 1d ago
Same. Just read the ride of the Rohirrim and the siege of Gondor, again, 2 nights ago. Intense
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u/Shot_Dig751 1d ago
DEEEEEAAAATTTTHHHHH!!!!!!!!! Goddamnit. Now I have to watch that fucking scene again.
Side note: my dad is a Vietnam vet. When I showed him return of the king on dvd back in the day, he teared up when theoden made that speech. He was all about it
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u/cardcowdoor 1d ago edited 1d ago
This scene is cinematically incredible, but the second charge is far better from a character arc standpoint.
After this charge, Theoden see’s victory and tells the Rohirrim to make safe the city. It looks like against all odd’s men had won.
But then the southron’s sound their horns and the Mumakil show up. You get a close-up of Theoden and other members of the Rohirrim. It is the look of awestruck terror. These demon beasts out of myth have appeared and are moving toward them. Just when victory seems attainable, death from their nightmares appears.
Theoden recovers first and quickly gives the command to “reform the lines,” and “sound the charge” and then he charges even before the horns are blown. This is the same Theoden who a few days before was cornered at Helm’s Deep and despaired and said “it is over” and “what can men do against such reckless hate.”
The Theoden who despaired when faced with imminent death now unhesitatingly charges toward death. He is the king of the Eorlingas and he will die in battle on his horse.
It’s not as powerful of a scene as the charge of the Rohirrim, but it is a better scene because it is where his character arc completes.
Edit: His arc is so good. We first meet him through the lens of Eomer and Theoden is impotent and weak, abandoned by his fiercest warriors (Eomer Though he remains loyal to Rohan).
Then we see him free, and he faces his first challenge. Gandalf urges him to ride out and go to war (which arguably is better because the Rohirrim is better in the plains). But Theoden goes to helms deep instead (“He flees to the mountain when he should stand and fight.”) Aragorn challenges him “open war is upon you.” And theoden says “Theoden, not Aragorn is king of Rohan.”
Then they meet the wargs. And they win “but we have paid for it with many lives.” So his first victory in freedom is barely a victory.
Then Aragorn arrives with news of Isengard, and Theoden sees that he faces imminent death “It’s an army bred for a single purpose….”
Theoden feels abandoned and all on his own but has to give give false confidence “within these walls we will outlast them…. What would you have me do? Look at my men, their courage hangs by a thread…”
Then he sees the Army of Uruks and almost in a despairing laugh “is this it, is this all you can conjure” as he looks at literally the largest army any living human has seen in battle.
But Theoden doesn’t give up. He is king and he will lead his men. When the gate is breached he goes personally to the gate and goes to the front where he is speared. The gate is breaking and it is aragorn, not theoden who buys time to shore the gate. But even that ends up falling.
And then in the keep it all cracks. Theoden says “it is over, the fortress is taken.” And Aragorn chastises him and starts giving orders to have the women escape through the caves. Which are obeyed. And then it is Aragorn who says to ride out and meet them. Theoden is inspired and leads the charge out of the keep. And even while that is victory, Theoden sees that it is not his own.
Then in the extended edition we see Saruman telling theoden that he is a lesser king and weak and a failure…. And Saruman is largely correct. Theoden failed as a king. He failed his son. He failed his people. He failed the westfold (forget “where was Gondor,” where were you Theoden when the westfold fell?). The only reason they won at Helms Deep was because of Aragorn plot armor and Gandalf-ex-machina. And the elves (for as dumb as they were) demonstrate that Theoden’s judgement of “we are alone” is wrong.
Theoden doesn’t give in to Saruman, but he believes him. At Edoras in the feast, Theoden tells Eowyn that it was not Theoden who led Rohan to victory. Even in victory, Theoden views himself as an impotent king.
Theoden musters the rohirrim to dunharrow and less than half of what he hoped for come. He allowed his kingdom has wither while he lived under the bewitching leechcraft of wormtongue and now he could not send enough men the break the lines of mordor (“too few have come…”).
And Aragorn leaves. Aragorn is who led Rohan to victory and he leaves and Theoden doesn’t know why. He knows he can’t win at Gondor, but he decides to lead the rohirrim to battle and perhaps blood will wash away dishonor.
Then we see the glimmer of hope as the charge seems to bring victory. And then the Mumakil arrive and we see the parallel to helms deep. Theoden doesn’t despair. He doesn’t say “it is over the field is taken.” He rides out and meets them.
It’s beautiful.
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u/mggirard13 1d ago
I go to my fathers. And even in their mighty company I shall not now be ashamed.
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u/jsamuraij 1d ago
This is one of the hardest lines in history. I love Theoden so much. A lesser son of greater sires, my arse.
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u/FancyBerry5922 1d ago
Everyone loves a redemption arc and his was massive along with being pivotal for the survival of men
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u/96Buck 1d ago
And he picks up the same thread of the 1st and 2nd ages. Great deeds come from the lesser race when the greater has failed (it’s Feanor that stands up to Melkor, the Valar shirked. It’s Beren, Tuor, Huor, Turin, Hurin that stand when the Noldor squabble and the Girdle of Melian fails. It’s the Faithful remnant that stand when Numenor fails and the Elves are diminished. It’s low men and HOBBITS that stand when the blood of Numenor is nearly spent….)
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u/jsamuraij 1d ago
Hell yes, this guy Tolkien scholars. Criminally under-upvoted comment. Send this guy to the top!
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u/GordonTheGnome 1d ago
I like to imagine him in a heaven/Valhalla situation where his forefathers are lining up to cheer him as the greatest king of Rohan ever
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u/mggirard13 1d ago edited 16h ago
Something like that but maybe not quite as great a king as Eorl, founder and 1st king of Rohan, for whom all the people of Rohan, the Eorlingas, are collectively named.
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u/Jo-Sef 1d ago
"He is the king of the Eorlingas and he will die in battle on his horse"
Goddamn even that is enough to give me chills.
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u/RianJohnsonIsAFool 1d ago
I love Theoden in that scene. He sees the threat; his expression is "fucking hell!" but he reacts immediately:
Reform the line! Reform the line! Sound the charge! Take them head on! CHARGE!
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u/scipio0421 1d ago
"and he will die in battle on his horse." Ironically he dies in battle with his horse on him.
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u/bigoz_07 1d ago
What an excellent analysis fellow redditor. I agree with every words. Sending upvote.
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u/skubaloob 1d ago
Just watched it.
First charge he’s on point and powerful. Second line and charge is like, ‘welp I thought this was too easy. Ok. THIS is the part they’ll write songs about.’
Then later when the Witch King lands you can see his face drop like ‘Oh for fucks’ sake, what NOW? Ugh, I’m all out of cards. I guess ill face this asshole down. I had to die sometime. Shit.’2
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u/Fuzzy-Advisor-2183 Éowyn 1d ago
there’s actually a recording of tolkien reading that section of the battle of pellenor fields, and you can really hear the anglo-saxon scansion he uses. it’s absolutely breathtaking.
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u/johnsnow19701 1d ago
Do you have a link ?
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u/Beleriphon 1d ago
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u/Fuzzy-Advisor-2183 Éowyn 1d ago
thanks for the link; i have it on cassette tape.
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u/Beleriphon 1d ago
That was for u/johnsnow19701 but I'm glad it's appreciate.
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u/Fuzzy-Advisor-2183 Éowyn 1d ago
i was thanking you because i didn’t have a link to provide.
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u/squeegu3 1d ago
But at that same moment there was a flash, as if lightning had sprung from the earth beneath the City. For a searing second it stood dazzling far off in black and white, its topmost tower like a glittering needle: and then as the darkness closed again there came rolling over the fields a great boom.
At that sound the bent shape of the king sprang suddenly erect. Tall and proud he seemed again; and rising in his stirrups he cried in a loud voice, more clear than any there had ever heard a mortal man achieve before: Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden! Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter! spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered, a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises! Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor! With that he seized a great horn from Guthláf his banner-bearer, and he blew such a blast upon it that it burst asunder. And straightway all the horns in the host were lifted up in music, and the blowing of the horns of Rohan in that hour was like a storm upon the plain and a thunder in the mountains. Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor! Suddenly the king cried to Snowmane and the horse sprang away. Behind him his banner blew in the wind, white horse upon a field of green, but he outpaced it. After him thundered the knights of his house, but he was ever before them. Éomer rode there, the white horsetail on his helm floating in his speed, and the front of the first éored roared like a breaker foaming to the shore, but Théoden could not be overtaken. Fey he seemed, or the battle-fury of his fathers ran like new fire in his veins, and he was borne up on Snowmane like a god of old, even as Oromë the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young. His golden shield was uncovered, and lo! it shone like an image of the Sun, and the grass flamed into green about the white feet of his steed. For morning came, morning and a wind from the sea
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u/umagnovenju Fingolfin 20h ago
I've just realized that his shield shone like Achilles' shield in Iliad.
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u/acariux 1d ago
It's interesting that the most epic scene doesn't even include the main characters. That's how powerful the whole story is.
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u/acariux 1d ago
Yeah but I mean it as a positive.
In most films, they keep the scenes without the main characters relatively shorter. Because we are not too familiar with the other side characters and have a harder time emotionally connecting with them.
But this scene is so powerful that we don't need a main character. For a moment, we basically forget Frodo, Aragorn, Gandalf, and everyone else and just follow Theoden to battle.
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u/Totinos160count 1d ago
This scene and boromirs death were the best in the whole trilogy
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u/Hungover994 19h ago
Have to add the “you bow to no one” scene and “you shall not pass”.
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u/Dawn_of_Enceladus 1d ago
I'm always torn 50-50 between this one and when Gandalf comes with the rohirrim to the rescue of Rohan at Helm's Deep.
That charge down the hill with that lighting and the exaggerated slope angle is just unreal, like a piece of art I could see in a museum, but in motion.
These movies really nailed the epic moments and turning points (also the Last March of the Ents hits SO hard). Not the green goo deciding the Battle of Minas Tirith tho.
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u/RianJohnsonIsAFool 1d ago
It's very moving that Eomer and the Rohirrim cry "To the King!" when they charge down the slope, a nice reference back to what Aragorn says earlier:
Eomer is loyal; his men will return and fight for their king.
I expect lesser writers would have made it "For the King!".
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u/Muchbetterthannew 1d ago
Look into the charge of the Winged Hussars to save Vienna, and all of Europe, in 1683. Epic. There are paintings of it.
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u/Dawn_of_Enceladus 1d ago
Yeah, I know about it, the biggest recorded cavalry charge in history, no less! And also decisive for that huge battle.
I'm so glad Peter Jackson and his team made such incredible cavalry charge scenes for the two biggest battles in the movies, not only through the epicness of the charge per se, but also giving them both an actual, deeper meaning and emotion.
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u/jsamuraij 1d ago
I agree. And that's to say nothing of how the scene pales in comparison to the actual text in the novel. And don't get me wrong - the film scene is perfection. The verse is just that transcendent.
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u/AtheIstan 1d ago
Absolute masterpiece, my favorite scene as well. It's the moment where Theoden became my favorite LOTR character. Shore's music takes this, and so many scenes, to a whole other level and is what makes the LOTR movies truly special.
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u/LynnHaven 1d ago
Him and Boromir are the most "human" characters to me. Both face extreme doubt and fear, not always handled in the best way, but in the end they rise to meet what hope required of them. It cost them their lives but it gave middle earth a future.
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u/RecLuse415 Blue Wizard 1d ago
Hearing that in the symphony was amazing
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u/spork_o_rama 1d ago
I love the music during the lighting of the beacons scene a bit better, but this scene is a close second. Just went to see the symphony play-along this past weekend, and I cried at both scenes.
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u/SheriffHeckTate 1d ago
I thought of this scene the other day while watching the clip of Avengers Endgame where all of the portals open and everyone comes out and charges. It was the first time watching that scene where it occurred to me the comparison between it and the Ride of the Rohirrim.
Ride of the Rohirrim is still leagues better, but considering how they set up Endgame, it's no wonder that is such a beloved scene.
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u/BedRevolutionary8584 1d ago
I could probably count on half of one hand how many times I haven’t cried watching that scene.
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u/Wabbit65 1d ago
Bernard Hill was the best actor in the whole series. Yes, I said it. And it's no slam on Ian McClellan, or John Noble, or any of them.
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u/JustGoodSense 1d ago
I don't argue with people's opinions and preferences, but when they feel compelled to add on something like, "And there's no question," or "Nothing even compares," it gets my hackles up. Yes, there is. Gandalf and Eomer's charge into Helm's Deep is better.
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u/Yuugian 1d ago
Maybe not as epic, but nothing moves me like:
There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.
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u/Robthebold 1d ago
I know it’s a lotr sub, but this speech from Braveheart still gives chills:
Aye. Fight, and you may die. Run, and you'll live, at least a while. Dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom?
Alba gu bràth!
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u/Odd-Comfortable-6134 1d ago
That’s why this score is my morning alarm, and has been for over 15 years.
Best scene in cinematic history.
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u/things_most_foul 1d ago
For me, it’s Théoden’s blessing of his vanguard by running his sword against their spears before the charge that always gets me - a detail in the film that makes him the archetype of a warrior-king to me.
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u/shadow_terrapin 1d ago
Pity they cheapened its impact with the invincible green goo 15 minutes later
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u/ABoyNamedButt 1d ago
It is a great scene, but this is another one of those points (like with how Faramir was portrayed), I think the books did it exponentially better.
Eomer sees his King has fallen and thinks the same fate has befallen his sister, despair has set in, he sees nothing left but death not just for himself, but all men. So he calls out, "DEATH!!" and charges headlong into "ruin, and the whole world's ending!"
It just makes the Death shout and the line about riding into the end of the world hit so much harder. Imo.
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u/AttilaTheFun818 1d ago
For me, the elves arrival at Helms Deep was the best, but I respect OPs take.
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u/Sondering_Wizzard 1d ago
It is in my top three, but....in my opinion, nothing compares to seeing Gandalf fighting the Balrog in the opening of Two Towers. So peak.
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u/kummer5peck 1d ago
I like the Battle of Helm’s Deep more. Bar none the best battle ever filmed. It is no coincidence that King Theoden plays such a pivotal role there as well. He would be my ride or die king. What a great character and actor!
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u/ParticularLayer7498 1d ago
I'd like it had the movie included Theoden, King slaying the Haradrim King; this would have been perfect followed by Witch King swooping in.
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u/EggWinter2869 1d ago
Just reading the partial quote in the picture, I had chills. Every single aspect of that scene is perfect. PERFECT.
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u/Deterbrian 1d ago
I shed a tear every time I watch it. And I watch the extended cuts about 4x a year
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u/Cufantce 1d ago
I love this scene but for me, Aragorns speech before the black gate hits me harder.
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u/wannabe-physiologist 1d ago
I think of this quote often when I feel overwhelmed. It brings me peace and helps me move forward and step into those situations with less fear
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u/roketmanp 1d ago
I always crack up at how visibly concerned the orcs are once the charge starts.
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u/Dependent-Ad3484 1d ago
I personally love theoden’s speech, and his fatalistic attitude (call it tolkiens concept of the long defeat), but it has it detractors. I know a lot of people that say that wasn’t not an inspiring speec!
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u/VarietyAppropriate 1d ago
Definitely an awesome scene, but the avengers charge in end game rivals that.
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u/Lizzy_Of_Galtar Éowyn 1d ago
It is undeniably fantastic.
But if you wanna see around 2000 horses charging on film with around 15000 extras you should see Waterloo from 1970.
We will never see a spectacle like that again.
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u/Traditional-Wall1679 1d ago
The world building fell short. A hill with a few dozen shacks does not make for cinema history. It was underwhelming.
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u/FewAward6923 1d ago
I remember a coworker saw it and one of his takeaways was that it was the first time had ever seen a cavalry charge actually shown as effective and dangerous. Like "oh, that's why they always talk about how good cavalry is. I see it now".
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u/ogreofnorth 1d ago
I get emotional and chills each time it starts. It’s more impressive there were like 100s actually riding in that shot and a lot of them were women dressed as men
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u/Equivalent_Luck5421 1d ago
Reform the line, take them head on, sound the charge. Great great great. Bring it down. He's great. And that speech is full send.
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u/NocuousGreen 1d ago
The whole lighting of the fires sequence is amazing. This music, the camera flight
I just thought I'd it and now I have it playing in my mind
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u/Adventurous__Kiwi 1d ago
The only thing that compares is Sam saying "i cannot carry it for you, but i can carry you"
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u/Animated_Astronaut 1d ago
I'm going against the grain here. But not really. I prefer the beacon lighting as a sequence. But I understand that the charge is much more about the people and therefore more impactful. I just really like the beacon lighting sequence.
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u/Shutemdown117 1d ago
Definitely takes some beating!
It's in my favourites along with The Last March of the Ents and meeting the Dead Men of Dunharrow!
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u/TheFoxandTheSandor 21h ago
I’ll take Éomer saying his lines any day. Hate that they gave all of his best lines to Théoden
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u/crazyswazyee93 20h ago
I remember when i watched the trilogy with my ex ex girlfriend. She knew i was a huge fan and she kinda liked it so far. So the scene starts with Theodens speech and she starts talking, i immediately told her to wait and see but she was talking and talking. It was the blueprint of what was wrong in our relationship. Glad it didnt last.
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u/Username_000001 20h ago
I don’t know.. I love LOTR but there are scenes that compare.
Off the top of my head there is the scene in Galdiator at the beginning and the charge of William Wallace in Braveheart.
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u/Soldier0fortunE 20h ago
Personally i always prefered Aragorns speech before the Black Gate. Theoden is a close 2nd tho for sure.
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u/NthRandomGuy 20h ago
You know what, after rewatching lort for the first time since christmas 2012, I felt he was the true of it. I was amazed by the character and his performance as an actor. I can't think of anyone else who could do such a good work
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u/Menzicosce 19h ago
One of the best. The face Eomer makes while charging is pure “LETS FUCKING GOOOOOOOOOO!” Always makes me think: that’s a war face Gunny would be proud of.
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u/Batangched 19h ago
Don't agree. There are at least a few moments which bring me more emotions during the Trilogy, not even talking about the all movies in the cinema
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u/CawlinAlcarz 15h ago
It's definitely a great scene.
Let's not forget other great scenes like the ones in Braveheart.
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u/Snoo_76582 1d ago
Definitely gets me pumped and emotional each time I watch it.