Monday, February 07, 2011 . 8:50 PM
Ride of the Rohirrim
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCARXI0WvGo
In my opinion, the best scene in The Return of the King, possibly all the best of all 3 movies.
It's the 2nd day of the battle in Minas Tirith, where all hope seems lost as the men of Gondor are vastly outnumbered in battle. The gate has been breached, Denethor is about to burn his son alive, and Gandalf just got his ass handed to him by the Witch King. Just as he is about to move in for the kill, a horn sounds from afar. Rohan has arrived!
But it's a paltry force (in comparison) that arrives to combat the orcs. 6,000 riders against tens of thousands of the vile creatures, and they stand little chance of surviving, let alone winning the battle. King Theoden knows this, and given the overwhelming odds, calls to his men to embrace death:
Arise, arise, riders of Theoden!
Spears shall be shaken, shields shall be splintered,
A sword day, a red day, ere the sun rises!
Ride now! Ride now!
Ride! Ride for ruin! And the world's ending!
Death!
Death!
Death!
Forth Eorlingas!
And instead of cowering in fear, instead of running in shame, they scream "Death!" and charge, at first purposefully, menacingly, then the theme song of Rohan plays. Epic moment. The riders break into a headlong charge screaming "DEATH!" as they ride to their doom in an attempt to save their brethren.
Simply beautiful scriptwriting, screenplay, music and acting. Wonderful.
"You'll Never Walk Alone"
Archangel
__________________________________________________________________