So why am I watching The Two Towers on TNT right now

[pokerfan]

when I have the extended editions sitting right here on my shelf? I do this all the time.

Anyway, a bit of Tolkein lore for those who saw the movie but never read the books for whatever reason.

For me, one of the hight points of the story is when Ewowyn and Merry defeat the Witch-king of Angmar, Lord of the Nazgûl from The Return of the King. There was a point about prophecy and even a sly nod to Shakespeare that never made it into the film. And I was hoping for it. Wiki has a good summary.

Confronting the Witch-king, who boasted that "no living man may hinder me," she removed her helmet, exposing her long blond hair and declaring,

"No living man am I! You look upon a woman."

Just as MacDuff disconcerted Macbeth by revealing he was not "of woman born", Éowyn found the loophole in the 1,000-year-old prophecy by the Elf-lord Glorfindel, foretelling that the Witch-king would not be slain by a man.

Éowyn slew the Witch-king after Merry stabbed him behind the knee. Strictly speaking, Merry is also "no man," being a Hobbit. However, the stab behind the knee likely would not have been fatal, even if it did break the bonds that "bent his unseen sinews to his will", thanks to the magic of Merry's barrow-blade. The consensus is that Merry's stab made the Witch-king vulnerable while Éowyn's slash actually resulted in death.

They also didn't have room in the film for the Barrow Downs where the Hobbits acquired their blades. Not even in the extended editions.

Sigh. Welcome to my love/hate relationship with this adaptation.

[twenty4blackbirds]

1. Witch King at the Gates of Minas Tirith

That's one of my favourites. I always stayed to 'watch' that in the MUD.