Year: 2001. Directed by: Peter Jackson
Oscar: Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, Best Make up, Best music.
Scene: The Bridge of Khazad-Dum.
The Lord of the Rings takes the viewers to a journey in which they can forget about reality. It is filled with epic battles and classified as action, adventure and fantasy. In this particular scene there an emotional twist, nobody expects Gandalf to die therefore it is a shocking and dramatic scene, with great visual effects, camera movement, mise-en-scene and astonishing music.
The first scene starts with FS, LK lighting and we see the characters running away from something, and fire in the background. Next shot is a CU of Gandalf’s face, the edit here is seamless, you don’t even notice it because of the tension of the moment and the fast cuts along with with upbeat music. Next shot is again a FS in which we only see Gandalf and fire, next camera tilts up and we have a FS of the beast coming out from the fire, camera moves forward closer to the beast’s mouth, no cut portraying its ferocity as fire comes out of its mouth. Shot reverse shot, HA Gandalf staring at creature, creature LA staring at Gandalf. The HA puts Gandalf in a vulnerable position while the beast is shot from a LA (Gandalf’s P.O.V) puts the beast in a superior position. The wizard is clearly small in comparison to the monster. The background is out of focus, which leads our attention exclusively to the beast.
Next it cuts to a FS, LA in which we can see the characters running away, this shot permits the viewers to clearly see the size of the monster in comparison to the tiny characters. Next cut, characters crossing the bridge, long shot, crane moves higher we have a Bird’s eye angle, this portrays the vulnerability of the characters facing a monster as well as showing the depth of the abysm they are crossing. In this same long shot Jackson decided to play with camera movement, combining bird’s eye angle, and a sort of Dutch Angle, stopping at a HA, FS from the other side of the bridge, allowing the audience to watch the characters and the beast at the same time. These combinations of angles in one single shot, clearly show the contrast in size, (beast and characters), it perfectly reveals the urgency to get away as well as what the characters are up against.
Next cut, CU, HA, LK lighting of Gandalf ‘s face confronting the beast. This portrays the power of the beast, background is also out of focus. Cut to MS, LA Frodo watching the wizard followed by a HA, FS of what Frodo is seeing. Here we have a series of quick cuts from FS, MS and CU in which portray the tension of the moment also allowing the audience to see the scene from multiple POVs as well as reaction shots to what is happening.
The music throughout the scene is Non Diegetic, it creates great tension and it portrays danger. At the beginning it is very fast-paced, right before Gandalf’s fall music slows down showing an second of uncomfortable silence which mirrors that something is about to happen. Slow paced music starts once Gandalf falls, and slow motion increases the drama switching the scene from an action to a dramatic scene. This combination of music, slow motion, and reaction shots are keen for the scene because it allows the audience to feel the shock of losing a main character so soon in the film. At this point the sound of arrows hitting the walls is the only Diegetic sound, and it is mixed with the non-diegetic music. Music plays a huge role in setting the mood.
Finally, it cuts to the outside, once the characters are out of the mines, we see an ELS, and the Mise-en-scene sets the mood of what just happened, although darkness is left behind, the whiteness on the rocks portrays the feeling of sadness. Here we see available lighting, and aerial shot. Music continues Non-diegetic, there are several cuts CU, MS, reaction shot, portraying the characters sadness with the loss. Even though the characters are crying and some are speaking, we cannot hear it, because the director’s choice was to use the non-diegetic music to maintain the emotion in the scene a bit longer.
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