As a die-hard fan of Middle Earth and its inhabitants, I found myself reminiscing about my journey through J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic saga once again as I sat down to rewatch “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.” This time around, however, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of longing for one particular character – none other than our beloved Gandalf the Grey, now Gandalf the White.
In fantasy series on TV, it’s normal for significant time to pass without checking in on secondary characters, and there’s often a quick shift from one plot to another. On the other hand, managing multiple storylines in a fantasy movie can be challenging because the runtime is usually shorter – around three hours or less. Recently, when I re-watched The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, which is part of my mission to rewatch all the LOTR films twice, I found myself a bit frustrated by the numerous storylines unfolding, and one in particular left me craving more.
In “Two Towers,” there are three primary storylines:
Yes, Gandalf’s Big Reveals Were Epic
Allow me to clarify swiftly: I wholeheartedly concur with opinions on “The Two Towers,” it’s fantastic and ranks among the top Lord of the Rings movies. Moreover, though Gandalf’s screen time is limited, he more than compensates for it with his truly magnificent scenes.
Revisiting The Fellowship of the Ring following Rings of Power, I must confess that my initial opinions about the original Lord of the Rings films have undergone a significant transformation.
Whether you know it’s coming or not, the reveal that he’s alive and back as Gandalf the White is breathtaking. Plus, hearing his harrowing journey about how he got back to the Fellowship is incredible, and it reminded me of the true hero he is.
Later, upon reaching Rohan alongside Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas, his method of rescuing Théoden and expelling Saruman from him is truly memorable. Essentially, he strikes Saruman on the head with his staff, performs some magic, and saves King Théoden in a remarkable manner.
Ultimately, he departs for a span of five days (details forthcoming), only to return later accompanied by Éomer and an impressive number of men, ready to turn the tide.
Indeed, it’s truly enchanting, and Sir McKellen’s acting alongside the Lord of the Rings ensemble is nothing short of captivating (a nod to his magical character). Frankly, he outshines everyone else. Yet, I couldn’t help but yearn for more scenes featuring him!
However, I Wanted To See What Gandalf Was Up To When He Wasn’t With The Other Main Characters
To support my argument, let me share a summary of Gandalf’s on-screen appearances: Approximately 43 minutes into the movie, we see Gandalf’s reappearance, looking more powerful. Later, he journeys with the group towards Rohan, introduces his new steed, and rescues Théoden. Nearly an hour and ten minutes in, he tells Aragorn that he’ll return within five days and departs. In the film’s closing stages, around the 20-minute mark, Gandalf reemerges with Éomer before the ending credits roll.
In essence, “Two Towers” (the theatrical version) spans three hours, with Gandalf appearing in roughly one-third of that time. Being my preferred character, I wished for a larger presence of him and found it intriguing to speculate about where he might have been during his journey.
As a devoted gamer, I’ve got to say, the extended version of the film does offer a bit more Gandalf, but it’s just not enough for me. I mean, who wouldn’t have cherished witnessing his banter with Merry and Pippin right from the get-go? And honestly, I was yearning for an entire side-story where he goes on a quest to retrieve Karl Urban’s character – now that would’ve made the experience even more epic!
However, that’s all been left to the imagination.
Indeed, less can often be more, and without Gandalf’s presence, his brief impactful moments stood out even more to me. The mystery surrounding his actions during those five days added suspense to the story, making his appearance at the battle all the more impactful. However, Ian McKellen truly shines in this role, and I found myself yearning for more of him in this film.
It’s fortunate that Gandalf is featured in both the original trilogy and the movies based on “The Hobbit”, with Sir Ian McKellen expressing interest in reprising his role as the wizard in a potential Gollum film. While we get to see plenty of Gandalf overall, my recent viewing of “The Two Towers” made me acutely aware of how sparse his appearances are in that particular movie, and I truly missed him during those scenes.
If you’d like to understand my point better regarding the absence of Gandalf, consider watching either “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” on your Max subscription or through Amazon Prime streaming services.
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2024-09-07 03:37