SPECIFICS: ROTK scene by scene. (after one viewing of course from memory-let me know if I missed something)


Movie opens with scene of Deagol and Smeagol fishing. Deagol is pulled underwater by a large fish in a serio-comic scene. Deagol finds the Ring. Smeagol is relieved to see Deagol crawl up on the bank, and then spies the Ring. Smeagol throttles Deagol.

Quick scenes showing transformation from Smeagol into Gollum. v. effective.

Cut to scene of Sam and Frodo resting in a culvert of the Osgiliath sewer (I presume) Frodo cannot sleep. Sam wakes up, the two talk about conserving the lembas for the 'return journey'. Sam Frodo and Gollum continue toward Mordor, Frodo obviously weary.

Next scene, Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, ride to Isengard. I think Theoden and Eomer are with them, but in background. They meet Merry and Pippin at the gates, the hobbits enjoying the spoils of War, smoking and feasting-and Merry seems a tad stoned!

(Scene of Gandalf confronting Sauruman was cut here, would HAVE LIKED TO SEE IT)

Pippin spies the palantir in the waters and picks it up. Gandalf snatches it from him. Pippin looks after the Wizard with a light in his eyes.

Cut to Edoras-Merry and Pip sing and dance on a table for the enjoyment of the revelers. Gandalf and Aragorn watch smiling. Eoywn brings Aragorn a cup and bids him drink from it, her love showing in her eyes. Aragorn gives back the cup, slightly averting his eyes and walks away. Theoden approaches Eowyn and approves of her choice of Aragorn as a prospective mate. (?)

Gandalf and Aragorn speak of Frodo and Sam-Gandalf is convinced that Frodo is still alive.

Cut to Frodo and Sam asleep. Smeagol is awake and speaks to his reflection (Gollum) in a pond, together they plot to take the hobbits to the stair and the tunnel and let 'her' kill them. Sam overhears the conversation-(a very nice effect when Smeagol drops a stone into the water and when the ripples clear, Sam is standing there.) Sam attacks Gollum. Frodo comes to Gollum's rescue.

Sam tries to convince Frodo that Gollum means to kill them, and that he is a villan. Frodo takes Gollum by the hand and leads him away-there is a moment for Gollum to look back at Sam with a smile-very nasty and Sam is the picture of frustration.

Back to Edoras. Everyone is asleep. Pippin wakes up to approach Gandalf who sleeps with the palantir under his arm. Pippin replaces the wrapped palantir with a chamber pot. Merry wakes up to ask Pippin what he is doing. Pippin unwraps the seeing stone, we see swirling in the orb.

Outside Aragorn is smoking a pipe. He goes to stand with Legolas who is watching Mordor. Legolas can feel Sauron's eye watching.

Inside, Pippin wakes the palantir, which begins to glow, he holds it in his hands and writhes (effectively) on the floor in pain, Merry shouts.

Legolas turns to Aragorn. "He is Here!" (meaning Sauron.)

Aragorn and Legolas break into the room to find Pippin with the glowing palantir. Gandalf wakes. Aragorn grabs the palantir from Pippin to send it rolling across the floor. Gandalf covers the globe.

Gandalf goes to Pippin who lies prone on the floor. He questions Pippin as to what he saw. Pippin saw a tall city with a white tree in flame. (Minas Tirith.) And so the Enemy's plan is revealed. Gandalf is relived that Pip did not tell Sauron of Frodo or the Ring.

Next day, Theoden is in council, Aragorn tells of the coming need of Gondor, but Theoden is reluctant to assist those who did not come to Rohan in its time of need. Gandalf will ride to warn Minas Tirith.

In a very moving scene, Merry and Pippin follow Gandalf to the stables, Merry tells Pippin that Sauron belives he (Pippin) has the Ring. Gandalf puts Pip before him on Shadowfax. Pip is heartbroken when he realises (too late) that he and Merry will be seperated.

Gandalf and Pip ride off, Merry runs over to a tower, Aragorn running after him, to watch the White Rider and the hobbit dissapear into the distance. Aragorn comforts Merry.

Gandalf and Pippin arrive at Minas Tirith, very neat shot of the city rising at the spur of the mountains. We see it as very prosperous, and the shot follows Gandalf and Pippin as they ride up through the seven levels, at last reaching the summit, where a broad courtyard reaches out into a point, like the deck of a great ship. Pippin sees the White Tree-but it is dead.

At the doors of the Citadel, Gandalf exhorts Pippin not to speak of the death of Boromir, or of the Fellowship and the Quest. They enter into a hall flanked by statues of dead kings. Denethor, the Steward sits on a chair below the Throne of Gondor, holding a broken horn on his lap. Pippin recognises this as Boromir's.

Flashback to Boromir's death defending Merry and Pippin. Pippin, overcome at the memory, offers his service to Denethnor. Gandalf waves Pippin away with his staff.

Denethor, bitter at the death of his favoured son, tells Gandalf he does not need his assistance, and that he will not be supplanted in the rule of Gondor by a 'Ranger from the North.' Gandalf tells Denethor that that will not be his descision to make.

Pippin and Gandalf are in chambers, Pippin is looking at his new livery as a Guard of the Citadel, and hopes he will not have to fight.
Gandalf mentions one whom he knows he will have to fight-the Witch King of Angmar, Lord of the Nine-who stabbed Frodo at Weathertop. (flashback here)

We see a scene of the Witch King preparing his armor.

Cut to Frodo and Sam and Gollum, hiding beside the road at the entrance to the City of Minas Morgul-all lit in green and very creepy.
Gollum encourages the hobbits to climb the hidden stair, steep and trecherous. Frodo is drawn to the City, and staggers in the road, clutching his shoulder wound where the Witch King stabbed him.

Gandalf and Pippin discuss the fate of Frodo and Sam, and Gandalf tells Pippin that there was 'never much hope, a fool's hope.' that they would succeed.

When Sam grabs Frodo back, it seems to set off an alarm. Sam drags Frodo into hiding just as the Witch King rises from the ramparts on the back of a winged steed.