Withdraw the Army of the Dead, or men of Dunharrow in RETURN OF THE KING after the siege on Palarguir (Pirates of Hardad). While still giving a sense of conclusion and resolution to the penultimate battle at pelennor fields.

In virtue of fidelity, logical enforcement, maintaining the urge of mystery, while insuring the Battle on Pelennor Fields is a sacrifice and victory of men.

It is, of the entire Trilogy the most catastrophic modification to my eyes, and I am sure it is to many of you fine folk.

I am sure there is an appetite for such a thing. And since Middle Earth projects are on the rise with 35mm scans of The Lord of The Ring, 4K Dremastered, and multiple Hobbit revisions I think the time has come.

Here is a video analysis of the battle in question:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztdO04dpHN0&ab_channel=MasterSamwise

The scene in question: https://youtu.be/m9ZKhmggzA8?list=PLl_OlQ5T_zq20QaHEKqbLgRckbPaITu8E

Deleted and extended material that could be used as filler: (https://youtu.be/q2Vxf4gwEWE?list=PLZ5AsSyYpoXY_F27gunYnoTdDYi_F6o3t), (https://youtu.be/aMCxhavzF5g?list=PLZ5AsSyYpoXY_F27gunYnoTdDYi_F6o3t), (https://youtu.be/zPE1goA7tyA?list=PLZ5AsSyYpoXY_F27gunYnoTdDYi_F6o3t)

Some of the unreleased material yet to come out of the vault:
https://youtu.be/4CxqTBTAeBQ?t=3510

Although some of the scenes and shots seen above can be found in very high quality in the movie presented at the Cannes film festival released in 2020 through the Middle-Earth 4K Ultimate Collector’s Edition.

That sequence is around four minutes run time. While the extended cut expands it and features a few more character moments that are of interest, including a reaction to Eomer in the aftermath of the battle from Aragorn.

The question is would digital removal be necessary? Could we generate new special effects depicting Gondorian men instead? Would any VFX artis be interested in such a task?

I know someone out there would be willing to go through such an affair.
Please follow-through with your ideas and possible cuts that you may have in mind.

The Dead might have been able to harm. (Though I agree they couldn’t slaughter anyone with non-corporeal weapons)

We know of two instances of death occurring. One is the old man that appeared in Rohan, proclaimed some spooky shit about the Paths, and fell on his face dead. Possessed?

The other, a Prince of Rohan who ventured the Paths, came across a sealed door, and was attacked by someone from behind, leaving his legs broken - hence unable to move, he died in the dark, alone. Was it the Dead (Stalking their prey from behind, like we see in ROTK)? Or living Men?

Both are indirect ‘kills’, so the quote of “I doubt their blades would still bite” may still ring true. But interesting regardless.

Wraths said:

The Dead might have been able to harm. (Though I agree they couldn’t slaughter anyone with non-corporeal weapons)

We know of two instances of death occurring. One is the old man that appeared in Rohan, proclaimed some spooky shit about the Paths, and fell on his face dead. Possessed?

The other, a Prince of Rohan who ventured the Paths, came across a sealed door, and was attacked by someone from behind, leaving his legs broken - hence unable to move, he died in the dark, alone. Was it the Dead (Stalking their prey from behind, like we see in ROTK)? Or living Men?

Both are indirect ‘kills’, so the quote of “I doubt their blades would still bite” may still ring true. But interesting regardless.

An interesting analysis indeed.

(Deleted)

I don’t much like the ‘green goo’ tsunami that insta-kills the orcs. I do think the Extended Edition improved it slightly as we see more of Aragorn and Gimli on the battlefield killing orcs including Gothmog, so they are still participating in the victory even after the Dead arrived.

I think the only way to accomplish it would be to have the Army of the dead arrive on the boats and join the battle but delete the shot of the green goo swarming over the Oliphaunt (Day Z style) and then flooding the streets of Gondor - really just 3 seconds of footage to cut. Replace it with some slo-mo battle footage of regular men fighting and perhaps a short voiceover by Gandalf “the turn of the tide…” to imply time passing and the battle being won, then segue into the aftermath of the battlefield.

ps. if you’re going to make an edit then also tweak Denethor’s burning man marathon run, that’s far sillier than the Army of the Dead!

Matt.F said:

I don’t much like the ‘green goo’ tsunami that insta-kills the orcs. I do think the Extended Edition improved it slightly as we see more of Aragorn and Gimli on the battlefield killing orcs including Gothmog, so they are still participating in the victory even after the Dead arrived.

I think the only way to accomplish it would be to have the Army of the dead arrive on the boats and join the battle but delete the shot of the green goo swarming over the Oliphaunt (Day Z style) and then flooding the streets of Gondor - really just 3 seconds of footage to cut. Replace it with some slo-mo battle footage of regular men fighting and perhaps a short voiceover by Gandalf “the turn of the tide…” to imply time passing and the battle being won, then segue into the aftermath of the battlefield.

ps. if you’re going to make an edit then also tweak Denethor’s burning man marathon run, that’s far sillier than the Army of the Dead!

Interesting ideas, of course all of those shots would have to go in an instance.
But replacing the mere presence of the Army of Dead is even more ambitious and involves a lot more digital manipulation, though it is less likely to happen.

The removal of Denethor’s marathon, although it can seem like a ridiculous scene, in reality is not quite so improbable per se. Especially if you look at the time it take for the burning of man to destroy your nervous system.

Not sure how you would transition from that scene onwards, do you cut the narration? Either way, it is of lesser importance.

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Matt.F said:

I don’t much like the ‘green goo’ tsunami that insta-kills the orcs. I do think the Extended Edition improved it slightly as we see more of Aragorn and Gimli on the battlefield killing orcs including Gothmog, so they are still participating in the victory even after the Dead arrived.

I think the only way to accomplish it would be to have the Army of the dead arrive on the boats and join the battle but delete the shot of the green goo swarming over the Oliphaunt (Day Z style) and then flooding the streets of Gondor - really just 3 seconds of footage to cut. Replace it with some slo-mo battle footage of regular men fighting and perhaps a short voiceover by Gandalf “the turn of the tide…” to imply time passing and the battle being won, then segue into the aftermath of the battlefield.

ps. if you’re going to make an edit then also tweak Denethor’s burning man marathon run, that’s far sillier than the Army of the Dead!

I am looking to emphasize the need of such manipulation and editing in this community. I myself am very green in movie composition and editing.

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The scene in question: https://youtu.be/m9ZKhmggzA8?list=PLl_OlQ5T_zq20QaHEKqbLgRckbPaITu8E

Deleted and extended material that could be used as filler: (https://youtu.be/q2Vxf4gwEWE?list=PLZ5AsSyYpoXY_F27gunYnoTdDYi_F6o3t), (https://youtu.be/aMCxhavzF5g?list=PLZ5AsSyYpoXY_F27gunYnoTdDYi_F6o3t), (https://youtu.be/zPE1goA7tyA?list=PLZ5AsSyYpoXY_F27gunYnoTdDYi_F6o3t)

Some of the unreleased material yet to come out of the vault:
https://youtu.be/4CxqTBTAeBQ?t=3510

Although some of the scenes and shots seen above can be found in very high quality in the movie presented at the Cannes film festival released in 2020 through Middle-Earth 4K Ultimate Collector’s Edition.