Nuclear Galadriel...

[Finrod Felagund]

I've seen several posts about how bad G's temptation was shown, and most seem to dissagree with how PJ portrayed it. It was a little more drastic than how JRR described it, her going all creepy and green and radioactive did give you an impression of her power. Short of the various Maia, she was the most powerful creature in MiddleEarth. JRR compared her to Feanor. Yes she was good but she always had a desire to rule, one of the reasons she left Valinor. I kinda liked the fact that she was portrayed as very dangerous. Just thought I'd stir the pot and see what everyone else's take was

[Sindarin]

An interesting observation. I like it. :thumbs:

[Catz]

sorry to be so accomodating:naughty: ;) lol but i totally agree. While the CG wasnt the greatest, i felt the interpretation of Galadriels character was spot on....she was proud and powerful and very dangerous. I think that a lot of those who disliked it had perhaps only read LOTR and not the Sil and thus didnt have any of the background on her character. In LOTR it really didnt go into who she was, nor how powerful, and i think a lot of people had this idea of her as a goody two shoes, where in reality she was one tough cookie ;) roflmao
:catz:

[Algamesh]

Ya know ...

To take this a step further ... where did all that power come from? Because not only did she change but the wind started swirling around ... there was a bunch of noise, etc. etc.

Here's my take on this ... she implanted this vision into Frodo's mind or something. I have two supporting reasons for this observation:

1. All of Lothlorien would have been in arms immediately or at least any who were in close proximity to the glade. It seemed one could hear a pin drop in those woods and we all know about Elvish senses ...

2. Galadriel's power lies in the mind. I'm sure she probably knows her way around a sword but it's her mental capacity (probably coupled with Nenya - the Ring of Water) that could project such an awful and educational image into the mind of a small Hobbit who needed a reason to carry forth ...

Oh ... I just love the the depth with which Tolkien's works & Jackson's translation can be discussed (and I say this here ... in this movie thread ... because it applies to both mediums)!

[Sindarin]

Although a new interpretation and somewhat sudden to watch, I too thought Galadriel's temptation was well portrayed in the sense that she did indeed possess great power.

When Galadriel succumed to the temptation of the One Ring, she descended into its abnormal control and the great force of her true strength, however uncanny is appeared on-screen, was released.

:elfqueen:

[Catz]

i agree that the effect had to be in Frodos mind, tho i dont know that Galadriel put it there......wasnt there something said in LOTR about how a ringbearer can see things that others cannot or would not? i think it was in relation to seeing the other rings of power.....i think thats why Frodo could see her temptation, because at that moment they were linked thru the ring....but thats just a theory lol :cool:
:catz:

[Sindarin]

And a good theory at that. :)

[Fatty]

Hmm I think I agree with Catz RE the vision. But I thought it was very badly done, I cringe at that part of the film. Seems like some manga cartoon animator tied PJ up and painting over the film!

I think all the racket and daft voice effect also took away from the power of the speech when you read it. But I liked the bulk of the way Galadriel was played. Just not her phosphoured phantom! :-)

[Bonos-Girl]

it's a really cool idea how galadriel planted the image in frodo's mind and it makes more sense than that actually happening....although i still think that it was a bit overdone (understatement!!!)

[Finrod Felagund]

Good point Fatty, I was too shocked to really appreciate what she said, such sensory overload doesn't lend to understanding that she was powerful enough to potentially overthrow Sauron... sounds like a good premise for a fanfic, sure wish I could write, might be fun

[Mirkgirl]

I tend to agree with the greater part of what is said here... but IMO, she might have looked this way when she decided to follow Feanor. After passing the ices (not sure for the correct original name) and especially Melian. This gave her some grim look... and the sense of replessed, restricted force. As if she knows the price of power and she's not ready to pay it. Again.

That was what I felt reading LotR long before reading the Silm, after it just the pieces came in place.

And by the way, I never expected more from Cate Blanchett - she's a not a bad actress, but she's not Galadriel too

[Arwen, Elven Princes]

I don't think all that wind and stuff happened in the book (or i missed something) I thought that she just told Frodo that was what she would be if he gave her the ring. My opinion is is that PJ over did that a tiny bit. But! That's my opinion.

AEP

[Undomiel]

I hated that bit of the film coz it made me want to laugh. I agree that Galadriel is powerful but it was more subtle than that. I thought it would have been good if they could have made her do something similar to Gandalf (when he says "Bilbo Baggins, do not take for some cheap conjuror of tricks") coz he goes scary but its more subtle and way less over the top.

[Mirkgirl]

I have to agree on that, Arwen. IMO it would have been better if Frodo just sees for a moment the Dark Queen's face deep under Galariel's coming up.

By the way when I saw her (not only that part her acting as a whole) I believed that she'd take the ring no matter I knew well she wouldn't, she was too assured for that time Galadriel. And the 'talk to Boromir would be "Hey pal, you need help to get the ring from that little creature?"

[Sindarin]

True, yet Gandalf is a wizard, and his powers are somewhat different from Galadriel's.

Besides, P.J. only chose to make Galadriel all freaky in that scene for dramatic effect.

[Catz]

i think thats the impression they were going for tho Mirky....a real sense that she could take the ring....that is was a real possibility.....and i think that it was a real temptation......
In a situation like this in a movie youre always treading the fine line between subtlty and OTT.....play it too cool and the audience will never realise that this powerful woman was tempted so sorely by the power of the ring.....go just a little over and you end up with Nuclear Galadriel....and thats what we got....a pity, but i still liked the performance....Cate really got the sadness of Galadriel, as well as the potential for great power
:catz:

[Sindarin]

That's true.

[Mirkgirl]

There was a temptation. But in the movie there was only lust, at least that's what I saw. Pure lust. She looked like Saruman to me.

[Sindarin]

Although Galadriel was tempted by Frodo's offer to take the ring, she did say her heart had always desired to possess it. So I suppose there was some lust invloved.

[Daughter of Finarfin]

I actually pictured this scene very similar to this (maybe not AS creepy), though I don't think I would have understood her character if I hadn't read the Silm. I think that Cate was an awesome Galadriel. My only problem, and no disrespect to Cate she is very pretty, but I expected Galadriel to be much more beautiful. Her and Arwen are supposed to be the two most beautiful beings in Middle Earth at this time. I realize that there are few actresses who IMO could play the part. Cate did wonderful acting, it is just that I pictured the look of Galadriel a little differently.

BTW, the lines in FOTR when Frodo offers the ring are these:
She lifted up her hand and from the ring that she wore there issued a great light that illumined her alone and left all else dark. She stood before Frodo, seeming now tall beyond measurement, and beautiful beyond enduring, terrible and worshipful.

[Sindarin]

I also pictured Galadriel's eerie temptation in the novel very similar to that in the film.

Except it wasn't as intense, and she wasn't shouting. :elfeek:

Yet I do enjoy seeing the iridescently-beautiful blue lighting which arises during the scene. :elfqueen:

[Pil]

:elfqueen: INDEED! :elfeek:

I went to see it with my little brother and he got so freaked out by it he closed his eyes and covered hi ears! lol :p

[Nessa]

I have learned to ignore the visuals of that paricular scene by concentrating (or trying to) on the dialogue. Very powerful, and nearly directly from the book if I'm not mistaken. I agree with most everything everyone has said, the visuals were overdone, but a lot was overdone in the movie, Jackson tends to be a little heavy-handed at certain moments.

I think it did convey her power, but I've found most non-Tolkien people I've watched it with are confused about it. They can't see past that moment to her goodness, I think the gift-giving in the extended version or further development in the Two Towers may remedy it.

[Eowyn]

I was confused when I saw the film the first time. but I've read the books since then and it makes a lot more sense when I watch it now.

[Catz]

oh i agree Nessa, i think that with the gift giving Galadriels character will be much more rounded out...youll get a sense of her kinder side.....
:catz:

[Elanor of Lorien]

that's the part of the movie that i always make fun of....it's...well..it's just weird....funny...and not how I would have protrayed her.

[Arwen, Elven Princes]

She lifted up her hand and from the ring that she wore there issued a great light that illumined her alone and left all else dark. She stood before Frodo, seeming now tall beyond measurement, and beautiful beyond enduring, terrible and worshipful.

PJ did most of that... Most of that. He missed TWO teeny, tiny, itsty, bitsty little minor things.
"Come to the point."
1. It says she lifted her hand, that's singular, not plural. So she held up ONE hand. in the movie she lifted both hands.
2. It says she was beautiful beyond enduring. And in that situation she didn't look THAT beautiful. They had every thing else, save that. Though it does make you know she is tempted, but I call it "Getting Psyched." And that happened to Bilbo, but it wasn't the same when it happened to Boromir. And when it almost happened to Aragorn(Phew!).

I just thought of something: There not going to do that to Faramir are they!!!! It didn't happen in the book... To late they might have, though I certenly hope not!

[Nessa]

I agree that PJ was going for the effect in the book, but I think he missed it.

The 'light that illuminated her' did not have to be GREEN, nor did it have to morph her features so badly. And I hate that freaky voice thing happenning, completely unnecessary.

If something similar happens to any other character I shall scream. I've already seen nightmare visions of Frodo on Mt. Doom........ gone nuclear! :o :o :o

Please PJ, don't do it to us! (I'm sure he wouldn't...)

[Eowyn]

he better not do anything to faramir! :angry:

although funny image of nuclear frodo! :) roflmao

[Alkarie]

I think PJ did an AWESOME job of that sceene (although not many may agree). For one, it shows her awesome power :angry: and the audience is as surprised and shocked by her transformation as Frodo must have been (a more subte approach may not have had the same effect).

Second of all, the sceene shows an awesome interplay of light and dark vying for dominances in her entire person. If was as if a darkness withing her pearced her very essence and streamed out in all direcitons in the form of some dark light. As she overcomes her temptation, you can see more and more white light in and around her person.

I think Cate Blanchett did a wonderful job on the character. Who can tell what is beautiful enough?? and her expression after that sequence is very powerful and haunting.

[Eowyn]

ok thats true but I still think it was slightly over the top! ;)

[Black Rider]

that scene was thoroughly messed up! it was not how i imagined it at all, although it does give the same effect. she looked posessed:wicked:

[Sindarin]

Extremely possessed! :batty: :elfeek:

[Eowyn]

yikes!

[Lady Ashley]

I always saw her being surrounded by that white light...Elves shouldn't go nucleur. But I was impressed that movie Galandriel had a deep voice, like the book said Galandriel did.

[Eowyn]

I think she has a naturally deep voice. well kind of :)

[Arwen, Elven Princes]

The efects were great (the same answer every time, computers), but I think it was pictured the wrong way on how it happened in the book, and that voice. *Shudderes* I would have been scared in the thearter if my dad hadn't warned me a few minutes in advance. Though, Cate did a VERY nice job, she made the perfect Galadriel, Lady of the Golden Wood.

[Tillia_hobbitlass]

Well I belive i have miss the potin of this but I belive that Cate did a wonderful job on Galadriel. Right on my Spot of looking so to speak.
Frodo: What that supposed to mean?
ME: Ummm....Welll....Um it' for me to know and you to find out!
Frodo:*Smile* You don't know......
ME: Watch it bub! I can get as freacky as Galadriel and twice as green...I mean, mean!

*Grins*
Tilly

[Adamenta]

Hi all. First post so I thought I might just as well jump in at the deep end.
I love this scene. I agree with those who say that the ambitious Galadriel had to be portrayed, and that lust someone mentioned yes her lust for power.
Actually I took this whole scene where we see radioactivity to be a portrayal of Galadriel in the wraith world. Whether she portrays herself thus or Frodo is able to see in the wraith world I'm not sure. I do think that PJ has made this struggle very literal and a very exposed physical struggle between Galadriel and the ring ( we know PJ has already given the ring an entity). There is the colour of light and dark, that ongoing struggle btw good and evil. There are the two voices we hear. One voice, Galadriel the other, male, ?the ring. I thought this a great ideal on PJ part and worked particularly well, when you think Galadriel is saying what she will become and the voice over of the ring promising this is indeed what she will become. A Queen of war, breastplate and all.
Anyway just wanted to add my $0.02 worth.
I think Galadriel offering Frodo the phail of Earndil was stunning, completely opposite to the Galadriel who seems forboding and withdrawn before her temptation.

[Catz]

and what a wonderful first post it was:thumbs:
Welcome Adamenta and thank you for some insightful comments:cool:
and i do agree that the gift giving Galadriel will just illustrate another facet of her character, and balance the scary part
:catz:

[Bonos-Girl]

Originally posted by Ashley T
I always saw her being surrounded by that white light...Elves shouldn't go nucleur.

i totally agree...elves are all fair and everything...they are very white/gold/silver people if you see what i mean....it wan't very elven really.....green is an elven colour but not like that....

[Catz]

yes but you have to remember that just because Elves are fair theyre not neccessarily good as well...she was being sorely tempted by her own dark urges...that was not a pure or good thing, it was evil, cloaked in her own ambitions, and i love that idea Adamenta, of the ring being that second voice.....it fits very nicely with it having its own will....
:catz:

[Adamenta]

Catz thank you for the welcome. I agree about the Elves. The Noldar didn't exactly clock themselves in glory getting to ME.
Bonos; yes your right that shade of green wasn't particularly good;) I think PJ tried to show us the Lady of the light when the fellowship first meet her. I read somewhere, or someone mentioned (so don't quote me) that thats why PJ wanted a night scene so he could make her more contrasting, well aside from the fact that they did meet her at night in the book.:grin:

[Bonos-Girl]

it was way too....nuclear!!! if they had used dark green then it wouldn't have shown her power enough though...they should have had silver light or something like that.

[Legolas' Angel]

:gofatty: :evil: Good observation. I was surprised that she went totally psycho when she was offered the one ring. She wants to be as powerful as she can be even if that meant turning evil. :o
:flamer:

[Pil]

I liked how in the book they talk about how the light of the stars shines with a white light with her ring...and frodo notices it for the first time. I agree with bonos-girl that the use of colours was all wrong. Even when displaying evil thoughts, galadriel was the lady of the light. It would have been better to have a blinding light of white and gold. :elfqueen:

[Catz]

why tho? at that moment she was NOT the lady of light....her dark and light sides were warring for control....cant say as i liked the green thing myself, but it should definitely not have been pure white light....at that moment she was the Dark Queen she spoke of, not the Elven lady of Light.....
:catz:

[Bonos-Girl]

if they had to use green then why that disgusting radioactive green???

[Lady Ashley]

*sniff* I just got past "Farewell to Lorien" and nearly cried...I just can't see her going nuclear. Bah. Silly PJ. She needs WHITE light.

[Pil]

THANK YOU! What i was trying to get at catz is that white light doesn't have to be pure...or nice...a blinding white light can be powerful...threatening... Anyway, doesn't she say:

"In place of a DARK lord, you will have a queen. Not DARK, but beautiful and terrible....etc..."

She actually says that she would not be dark...only terrible, beautiful, tretcherous, stronger than the foundations of the earth and all that. A blinding white light would give the impression of all these. What is more powerful than light. Without it the world would end. Think...deep impact... ;)

[Bonos-Girl]

that is exactly what i was trying to say i'm just REALLY bad at english!!!

[Pil]

U R NOOOOOOT!!!!!!!!!!! :angry: