Mistake in the first movie?

[AZDMIN16]

If I might be able to post to this, I have a small idea of why they didn't make Gandolf's sword glow. Like those who said that it was to make a show for those who haven't read the hobbit, it probably is so. I think, though, that it was to show importance to Frodo. If Gandolf's sword glew, too, then there wouldn't be as much importance on Frodo's role like there is throughout the whole movie. It would've shown that Gandolf had the same priority in the movies, even though he was a great character. That's just what I think...

[Marky Lazer]

That is true, I think, as Jackson says the main focus on the three films lays with Frodo. The rest of the story lines are side-stories (Aragorn becoming king, for example). Frodo is the main character of the whole film, and a glowing sword would draw the attention to Gandalf, also because Frodo isn't really fighting, and Gandalf is.

[Treikayan]

Good thing Gandalf doesn't play D&D, because he wouldn't be able to wield a sword.

[HieroGlyph]

Originally Posted by Treikayan

Good thing Gandalf doesn't play D&D, because he wouldn't be able to wield a sword.

Ahh, but in D&D 'rules', could Gandalf not be a warrior-wizard? Not that I have played D&D board games, but what rule says that once a character masters one skill, they cannot master another? Especially given the time and powers of an immortal in the semblance of a man (as opposed to an elf).

And as for mistakes in Peter Jacksons rendering of the Lord of the Rings, well the Nit Pickers Guide says a whole lot more - link first provided on this thread by juseftu: http://jackflannel.org/lotr/ and from what I have read of it, it is still incomplete LOL!!!

HG

[Alicia]

Originally Posted by I, Brian

That would be my first thought, actually, too - the film almost certainly wanted to emphasise the magical nature of Bilbo's gifts and the central impotance of Frodo - if Gandalf's blade was shining it might have made the magical nature of it all somehow common and unremarkable.

I agree entirely. If Glamdrang would have been glowing as well, it would have dissipated the "specialness" of Frodo's weapon. Chances are, it would have failed to "stick" in the minds of the viewers and they would have been lost in ROTK when Stong glows, and Sam realizes Orcs are coming.

[Treikayan]

Originally Posted by HieroGlyph

Ahh, but in D&D 'rules', could Gandalf not be a warrior-wizard? Not that I have played D&D board games, but what rule says that once a character masters one skill, they cannot master another? Especially given the time and powers of an immortal in the semblance of a man (as opposed to an elf).

I suppose only if he were a multi-class (and specifics by the DM), but then again, if he were strictly a wizard, he would not be able to wield a sword. And, yes, Gandalf assuming most of Beregond's roles in Return of the King, would make him warrior/wizard status. Oh, D&D is not a board game per se ( ). It's a product of your own imagination. ::echoes old 80s ad from TV::

[Psychogirl]

I always thought that it was just that no-one ever explained it in the movie (They might have, but I can't remember that far back) and PJ might have thought that it was "unnessary information" so didn't put it in

[steve12553]

I remember the book referring to "Sting" glowing but Gandolf's sword was not specifically mentioned in the Trilogy as glowing. Glamdrang's glow would have required someone adding that from the Hobbit which the continuity people may not have even read.

[Rujokiwa]

Well me, I didn't enjoy the LOTR movies at all - I almost walked out in it, I was so disappointed with it.

[dragula_66]

in the movies, frodos sword is explained to the audience as having the power to detect the presence of orcs. gandalfs, however is not. only people that have read the books would know this. so it could have been left out simply because it is unnessary to the storyline, whereas frodos sword glowing is important.

[Pointfinder]

Wow, never noticed that, thanks for pointing it out.

[Delvo]

The books don't say all Elvish weapons are supposed to glow like that. Only one or two of them in the world are said to do so. Frodo carries it (or one of the two), and none of the other main characters do. The movies have this correct.

[Cloud]

I never noticed that. I just think Sting, and to a lesser extent, Narsil/Anduril, have more of a central role than Glamdring does.

I like to look at movie mistakes, too. IMDB has a list, as does Movie mistakes - goofs, bloopers, pictures, quotes and trivia from thousands of movies

[devilsgrin]

Originally Posted by Delvo

The books don't say all Elvish weapons are supposed to glow like that. Only one or two of them in the world are said to do so. Frodo carries it (or one of the two), and none of the other main characters do. The movies have this correct.

But no-one is actually saying that all elvish weapons glow. No-one has mentioned that the white knives of legolas glow - because they don't. However it is clearly mentioned in The Hobbit when the three weapons are discovered - Orcrist for Thorin, Glamdring for Gandalf and Sting for Bilbo. All are weapons that glow in the presence of orcs. That they are elven weapons does not necessarily imply they glow... it is that Tolkein stated that they glow that is relevent.
I do also believe that during the Moria chapters it mentions something about Sting and Glamdring both glowing before they are attacked in the tomb. Also during Gandalf's battle with the Balrog.

[areader]

It should have glowed white or appeared white in the presence of enemies, which the first age swords did...er blue for Glamdring if an orc/goblin king was around according to the Hobbit.

And so should have Thorin's sword Orcrist: white reportedly (first age swords did a lot of glowing, but you had to have one...and there weren't that many lying around of the high elf swords). Narsil gleamed with the light of the sun and the moon.

Why was Bilbo's sword different/well it was a knife for starters...it glowed white, but the edges glowed blue. Don't think it says anywhere that all the swords did that. And it definitely doesn't say Glamdring sword shone blue in Tolkien's book for that scene. The other famous knife of that age was Beren's knife that cut iron and the simarillion stone (Dwarf-made), but it broke. Possibly the knives were dwarf made as Bilbo got it from Thorin and were different altogether. Its probably not so much an error as a common belief about them.