‘The Lord of the Rings’ Best Scenes

I’ve recently re-read ‘The Lord of the Rings’ books but my love for them was born from the film trilogy. I still think they’re the greatest films ever made. The writing, acting, direction is just brilliant. No other movies come close to the level of epic that these do. I can’t believe I haven’t done a countdown of my favourite scenes before, so here goes:

10. “We shall have peace”

Probably not a common choice this one, especially as it’s only in the extended editions, but I just love Bernard Hill’s passion as Theoden in this scene. Theoden needs to overcome his anger, but it’s hard not to feel his pain as he is brought face to face at last with the pathetic coward who tried to take his soul and his kingdom from him, and very nearly succeeded.

9. “My friends, you bow to no-one”

One of the main themes of this story is that it is often the small acts of good that overcome great evil. These small acts are personified in our four favourite hobbits, who even after defeating the greatest evil of all, are as humble as ever as they move to bow before their new king, only to be told that it is the world that should bow to them. This is an isolated incident in the trilogy where the CGI isn’t great, but, as a YouTube comment put it, nobody notices because they’re all watching it through tears.

8. “I can’t carry it for you, but I can carry you!”

Here Samwise Gamgee proves why he is stronger, in more ways than one, than any other character in the series. He acknowledges that he has a duty to his master above anything, and in this moment he fully resists the power of the ring, even after he temporarily had carried it. It is criminal that Sean Astin wasn’t nominated for an Oscar for his performance. And his acting is complimented here by Howard Shore’s score in a manner that can only be described as epic. Not to mention some excellent adaptation of Tolkien’s words by the screenwriters.

7. The blade that was broken

This is the scene where Aragorn makes the decision to be who he was born to be, where Elrond gives him the reforged sword, Anduril, and tells him “they will answer to the King of Gondor!” The sword is epic, and only Viggo Mortensen can hold it so convincingly, knowing, despite all his cynicism about his own abilities, that Sauron will not have forgotten the sword of Elendil.

6. The Bridge of Khazad Dum

Up until this point of the story, Gandalf has been the wise leader. Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas provide the action sequences. The closest Gandalf came was his battle with fellow wizard Saruman, who defeats him quite easily and quite comically. But in this scene, after telling his companions that this foe, the Balrog, is beyond any of them, it is Gandalf who makes his last stand alone against the demon. The line “you shall not pass!!” is of course iconic now, and Ian McKellen’s passionate performance is what carries the scene, accompanied by the impending doom of Howard Shore’s score and the incredible special effects of the balrog itself. I still can’t believe how good the CGI in these movies is. Gripping. Epic. Heart-wrenching.

5. The Tales that Really Mattered

I don’t care what anyone says. Sam Gamgee is the true hero of this trilogy. His loyalty, bravery and devotion are unmatched by any other character, even when all truly does seem lost and Frodo consumed by the ring. No more does Sam’s character shine through than this scene at the close of the second film, where all hope is gone. Sam remembers the stories of his childhood, and the heroes who always held on, because they knew there was some “good in this world, and it’s worth fighting for.” The most moving part is that Sam doesn’t recognise the importance of his own role and his own determination in fulfilling that end. It’s a powerful moment that sets up the third film really well.

4. “I am no man!”

I don’t think Tolkien was any kind of feminist, but the story of Eowyn and her determination to be allowed to fight for her people and her land is a great tale of female empowerment, which if I’m right was inspired by various real-life historical figures. But her showdown with The Witch-King, to avenge her uncle King Theoden, is also one of the greatest scenes in the whole story. An ancient prophecy states no man can kill the Witch-King, but with a little help from Merry the hobbit, Eowyn quickly reveals she is “no man” before slaying her enemy with one strike. Miranda Otto and the screenplay make this scene, which is not quite as brilliant in the book. The line and the way it’s delivered become truly cinematic.

3. The departure of Boromir

Boromir’s heroic redemption from being driven mad by the ring, as he bravely defends Merry and Pippin despite being loaded with arrows, is taken, if I remember rightly, from the 1978 cartoon adaptation, but Jackson doesn’t deny this - it’s supposed to be a homage. It’s Boromir’s final words to Aragorn that make the scene however, as he apologises for what he has done, and admits, after all he clearly felt about the return of the king to the throne, “I would have followed you my brother, my captain, my king!”

2. The Ride of the Rohirrim

Eowyn’s meeting of the Witch-King is a great scene but it isn’t quite the scene that shortly precedes it, the ride of the Rohirrim. I can’t watch this without getting goosebumps. It’s a combination of Bernard Hill’s acting and Theoden’s character development, as he chooses to aid Gondor in what seems to be a fruitless battle, the sheer brilliant, building crescendo of the score, and again, the special effects, as the few horsemen passionately overcome the orcs, who don’t know where to look.

1. Aragorn at the Black Gate

I like what they did with Aragorn’s character, turning him from the man in the books who has always known his destiny to the conflicted ranger who, despite always being loyal, brave and strong, fears that he is weak. Weak like his ancestor Isildur who gave in to the power of the ring. I like that we see him develop over the course of the films to become the Aragorn of the books, who is willing to lead a small band of what remains of the free world against the hordes of Mordor, determined until the end. He becomes the man he was born to be. But it is this scene in the third film where Aragorn really shows that he is the King returned, marching on the Black Gate like his ancestors. He has way more to lose but he embodies the man Isildur couldn’t be, delivering what must be the greatest speech in the whole of history and fiction, and cementing this itineration of the character as the ultimate warrior king. One day there may be a better scene, but it is not this day!