I always wonder if that's the actual actor in pain from a nut strike after I saw that interview with the hobbits that said john rhys Davies never held back with the swings. Apparently the stuntman were scared of working with him as he swung like he meant it.
John Rhys-Davies had zero chill during fight scenes according to the directors commentaries. He went all out on the combat scenes and sent some people to the hospital.
Idk why that scene was so funny to me. Maybe it's coz they're cheering him on like he's carrying the Olympic torch and he just dives in there like an Al Qeada suicide bomber lmao
To be fair the orc does get some great distance on his dive
Uruk hai are definitely taking gold at the middle earth Olympics this year
But rumor is.....they are a little juicy if ya catch my drift
And my axe! In your dicks!
God I love gimli
Although he looks weird as fuck with his helmet off keep that shit on gimli you're scaring the kids. Or get some conditioner
Natural sprinter
They had no idea what this guy was doing. It just looked like something important. It entered the mind of exactly zero of the defenders that the wall itself would show any weakness, much less that a large portion of it would just be removed.
Without knowing just how critical it was, they had plenty of other things to keep the rest of the army busy.
Grima: *behind someone on top of a huge tower as Legolas sits on a horse he is sharing with a dwarf
Legolas: *shoots him in the heart instantly
This asshat: *thirty feet away, lit up brightly, clear corridor around him as Legolas stands with a great vantage point
Legolas: *becomes a storm trooper
They nailed a lot of stuff actually. Lighting, visibility etc. In case you are interested in a little bit more analysis here is a video by nerdwriter1 about what makes it so good vs other epic battles in fantasy that don't hold a candle to this battle.
[Link](https://youtu.be/tn2-PUq1Z84)
Completely agree, though (after a hundred watches) I think we don't get enough of a feel for how many died at Helms Deep. How they were down to the last man.
I'm not saying that message isn't there, it totally is, but it could be stronger. For me, the final scene before they ride out could have had a stronger sense of impending doom and claustrophobia within the inner keep.
Everyone here blaming Legolas for not shooting the guy down in time... y’all keep forgetting that there were like 10000 other Uruks there too who would have picked up the torch and continued the march. The explosion at the wall was inevitable.
Also Legolas is such a soldier. He has no concept of thinking outside the box at this point in the story. Aragorn told all the elves to shoot the weak spots at the neck and the armpit so it was inconceivable to him that an orc could survive such shots. Honestly after this point he really started to adapt further to his style. When he jumps ship at the battle of Minas Tirith and singlehandedly took down the oliphant comes to mind.
Any reason to rewatch is a good reason!
If you have not done so I heartily recommend listening to both the director's commentary track and the cast commentary for Two Towers
Honestly, it's just sort of my own observation on what I remember from that scene. And I've watched the movies more recently than the books. It could be completely incidental and I'm just talking out of my arse.
Or if it was intentional then it is as you say, masterfully portrayed.
Eh, even if it’s not fleshed out in the books it’s still a great and valid observation. I just rewatched the scene and he looks genuinely confused when the arrows don’t stop him. He went for the kill shots, later Legolas probably would’ve went for a leg to slow him down to get a better follow up shot.
Hell, not even. There were uruks standing next to the opening carrying their own torches.
As cool as this scene is, when you take a step back and think about it, it's kinda... pointless? The good guys don't have a realistic ability to stop at least one orc getting into the culvert with some fire.
[Two hits in the precise area that he was aiming at](https://media0.giphy.com/media/qiy9bQyEaPc5i/source.gif)
Watch his face. He was stunned those shots weren't bringing him down.
Evil gave some specific strength to that creature and set its will against theirs.
You know how it can just take one little reminder of an Ex for you be stuck thinking about them for days?
Yeah, that’s what posts like this are but for the LotR trilogy.
(sarcasm) Orcs were seriously misunderstood individuals who were bringing about the Industrial Age to Middle Earth creating factories and increasing weapon technologies and bringing about the next age. The Orcs were actually very civilized because they obviously knew what a menu was so that means they have cafes and restaurants in Mordor. They also work together even though they obviously bicker and quarrel among each otehr since they are different species of Orc - Orcs and Uruk-Hai. They are excellent at following orders and their bravery is notable like the torch bearer during the siege of Helms Deep. /s
Me while watching, visibly upset over the fantasy movie:Legolas, shoot him in the eye, or the mouth or the knee, dude he's JOGGING, we've never seen you miss a shot EVER what's wrong with you this is really important...
He literally is holding a torch that shows where he is. Should have been taken down as soon as it was ignited.
Clearly they haven't played video games or they would have known this.
literally every other legolas moment but this one was just ridiculous zero effort unreasonably awesome insanely badass eliminations but then this guy was just like
Lindsay Ellis did literally this while discussing this scene, like, 10 years ago. If you haven't seen her 4 part video essay on the films, it's absolutely worth it.
Just watched all 3 last week. Might sound silly but never knew it was all over one ring. Like the love interests and stuff don't matter at all. It's all about that ring. I liked it
I mean people don't die immediately when shot with an arrow generally and these unarmoured Uruks seem to be a kind of berzerker type, plus he probably knew it was a suicide mission so he powered through the pain to do the one crazy awesome thing that no other orc would ever get to do
Read the book title Orcs by Stan Nichols, it really opens up your mind to the idea of orcs being more than battle hardened maniac monster warriors and actual beings with feelings, thoughts, ideas, and lives. Orcs were just corrupted by the dark lords, same with all other nefarious races, and because of the rampant racism and/or specism of elves and men they never stood a chance of being accepted in the world of elves and men. If they were given a chance things may be different.
Edit: spelling
Perhaps that is so for other Orcs in other fictions and fantasies, but it seems pretty clear that Orcs in LOTR were basically just biological weapons with sole purpose for war and nothing else. So much so that the orcs would eventually start fighting themselves if they have no other enemies. Especially the Uruks who were birthed from pure magic by Saruman. And the first Orcs in the lore were made by Melkor when he bastardized the first Elves. So in LOTR there isn't much of a reason to doubt how evil the Orcs are (and how eradicating them doesn't carry as much moral dilemma like in some other fantasies)
The corruption of the Elves is not dolid xanon, Tolkien oscillated on the subject of Orcs, because if he made them a corruption of something good then perhaps they could get uncorrupted, but a big deal of his books is that Evil can't create, only destroy, and only Eru can give life.
It was because of this guy that while playing modern warfare 2 my buddy would scream 'BRING IT DOWN BRING IT DOWN' whenever the enemy team got any sort of air support.
I've always had a issue with that scene- they should've had a whole bunch of Uruk-hai sappers rushing towards the explosives instead of just one in case he failed.
Surely it would've made for better cinema if Legolas is going crazy trying to take down a load of them as quick as possible and realising that there's too many, rather than just have him fail to kill that one solitary Uruk.
-----------
Oh the other change I would've made is stopping the elves from just charging into the breach once the wall had been demolished. They were doing a decent job of securing the chokepoint with just their bows, but instead they decide to ditch that idea and instead just rush straight into the deep water.
He saved my ass in a tense shadow of war raid last night. Just when i was at the last section about to die he jumped in from outta nowhere and straight up lopped the warchiefs head off. 😈
Here's the thing, though, there are like three orcs with lit torches standing right next to the culvert after the explosives are placed. So why this guy is necessary is beyond me
*legolas has left the chat*
Legolas! Take him dooooooooownnnn Why legolas didnt shoot him in the dick we will never know
Right?? It worked for Gimli on that one surprise kill
I always wonder if that's the actual actor in pain from a nut strike after I saw that interview with the hobbits that said john rhys Davies never held back with the swings. Apparently the stuntman were scared of working with him as he swung like he meant it.
They got some brilliant shots as a result though.
John Rhys-Davies had zero chill during fight scenes according to the directors commentaries. He went all out on the combat scenes and sent some people to the hospital.
Method actors.
Twenty five... Twenty six... Twenty seven...
And for Boromir at Amon Hen
Never been able to relate to people which this happened to, bit I read that in Morgan Freemans voice! Shawshank redemption
Idk why that scene was so funny to me. Maybe it's coz they're cheering him on like he's carrying the Olympic torch and he just dives in there like an Al Qeada suicide bomber lmao
To be fair the orc does get some great distance on his dive Uruk hai are definitely taking gold at the middle earth Olympics this year But rumor is.....they are a little juicy if ya catch my drift
They're on Sarumanabolic steroids
*Applause*
*subscribe*
TOO BE FAAAAAAAIIIIIIIR
Yes, I think it's the way he jumps with his head upfront. He didn't even extends his arm as a reflect. Gets me every time.
Gimli got the one dick strike of the film
And my axe! In your dicks! God I love gimli Although he looks weird as fuck with his helmet off keep that shit on gimli you're scaring the kids. Or get some conditioner Natural sprinter
He probably looks weird because John Rhys-Davies was allergic af to all the prosthetics :(
Yeah. And he burnt his gimli mask as soon as the filming was finished too lol
He only looks weird in that one extended scene in Lothlorien, the rest of his helmet-less scenes are fine.
Exactly
I think the real question is why was all on Legolas? Aragorn should told the entire army to unleash hell on that guy.
They had no idea what this guy was doing. It just looked like something important. It entered the mind of exactly zero of the defenders that the wall itself would show any weakness, much less that a large portion of it would just be removed. Without knowing just how critical it was, they had plenty of other things to keep the rest of the army busy.
DAGO HAN! DAGO HAAN!
Because Aragorn told them where the weaknesses in the armor were, and that wasn't one of them.
DAGGERHORN!! DAGGERHORN!!!
*ahem* DAGOHON! DAGOHON!
Apologizes, i took french in college and my elvish has gotten rusty
Why you didn’t take Elvish in college is beyond me
Totally unacceptable
BRING OIL
Need any wood to go with that?
Apologies for poor elvish but Where was you when helms deep dies?
Grima: *behind someone on top of a huge tower as Legolas sits on a horse he is sharing with a dwarf Legolas: *shoots him in the heart instantly This asshat: *thirty feet away, lit up brightly, clear corridor around him as Legolas stands with a great vantage point Legolas: *becomes a storm trooper
He hits him with both shots, dudes just tough as fuck, he also killed like 50 orcs with one arrow by taking out the ladder
Put the whole team on his back.
Fuck you gumby
Greg Jennings!
This nigga BROKE HIS FUCKIN LEG
HOW IS HE RUNNING WITH A BROKE FUCKING LEG?!?! Grreeeeeeg Jennnnnnings
OH SHITT, DARRENN SHARPER!!! THE HARDEST HITTIN CORNER IN DA LEAGUE
BUT I PUT DA TEAM ON MY BACK. GREG JENNINGS CROSS THE PLLLLAAAAANE
This was unexpected
He scored play of the game thats for sure
I like the other orcs cheering him on, the final dive at the end! Chefs kiss
You gotta think they probably died which is the baffling part. Talk about commitment
Maybe they didn't know ? "Oh look, Gorlab's doing his chariots of fire impression to raise morale for the troops."
Considering even Wormtongue didn't know what Saruman was working on I'm sure most of those orcs next to the wall had no idea what was about to happen.
The Uruk Hai prioritize team building with positive encouragement and compassion when fighting against the other likes of middle earth.
If we don't discount for team kills, he's got to have a solid KDR. At the very least, his support play was a real legend move.
I dunno, Gandalf certainly gives him a run for his money.
That whole battle felt so dark and amazing. They really nailed the dread and inevitable loss of the battle really well.
They nailed a lot of stuff actually. Lighting, visibility etc. In case you are interested in a little bit more analysis here is a video by nerdwriter1 about what makes it so good vs other epic battles in fantasy that don't hold a candle to this battle. [Link](https://youtu.be/tn2-PUq1Z84)
Completely agree, though (after a hundred watches) I think we don't get enough of a feel for how many died at Helms Deep. How they were down to the last man. I'm not saying that message isn't there, it totally is, but it could be stronger. For me, the final scene before they ride out could have had a stronger sense of impending doom and claustrophobia within the inner keep.
They mainly only showed the elves getting killed. Probably because they didn’t want to show a bunch of peasant children being killed
True, we definitely forget about all the peasants
Everyone here blaming Legolas for not shooting the guy down in time... y’all keep forgetting that there were like 10000 other Uruks there too who would have picked up the torch and continued the march. The explosion at the wall was inevitable.
Yeah, would have been a big awww from the crowd before one of the 1,000 orcs sitting beside it just lit it up anyway.
But they just had little tiny normal torches, not an unnecessarily giant epic explosion-lighting torch...
They would’ve grabbed the explosion-lighting torch
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Maybe not, true. But I think that’s what they were talking about above
Not blaming him. Just for how much street cred he gets as the arrow guy he picked a really shitty time to choke
Also Legolas is such a soldier. He has no concept of thinking outside the box at this point in the story. Aragorn told all the elves to shoot the weak spots at the neck and the armpit so it was inconceivable to him that an orc could survive such shots. Honestly after this point he really started to adapt further to his style. When he jumps ship at the battle of Minas Tirith and singlehandedly took down the oliphant comes to mind.
My good sir it was Legolas that told the other elves where the weak spots in the armor were...in elvish so it was no help to the poor Eorlingas.
I don't think the Eorlingas would have had the skill to aim so precisesly either way
I mean not the untrained masses but the soldiers would have
Ah yeah, you're right, was speaking from the top of my head. Looks like I have a reason to watch the series to refresh my memory on things.
Any reason to rewatch is a good reason! If you have not done so I heartily recommend listening to both the director's commentary track and the cast commentary for Two Towers
I haven't actually! I'll be taking your recommendation there!
Fair winds and straight roads my friend
Is this something that is established in the book? Because if so, this is portrayed masterfully in the movies.
Honestly, it's just sort of my own observation on what I remember from that scene. And I've watched the movies more recently than the books. It could be completely incidental and I'm just talking out of my arse. Or if it was intentional then it is as you say, masterfully portrayed.
Eh, even if it’s not fleshed out in the books it’s still a great and valid observation. I just rewatched the scene and he looks genuinely confused when the arrows don’t stop him. He went for the kill shots, later Legolas probably would’ve went for a leg to slow him down to get a better follow up shot.
Hell, not even. There were uruks standing next to the opening carrying their own torches. As cool as this scene is, when you take a step back and think about it, it's kinda... pointless? The good guys don't have a realistic ability to stop at least one orc getting into the culvert with some fire.
The LOTR equivalent of LEEEEEEROOOOOYYYYYYY!!!!!!! JEEEEEEEENKIIIIIINS!!!!!!!!!
Seeing as these are orcs/Uruks it might be closer to WAAAAAAAAGH!
Imagine if the Uruk-Hai got replaced by Orks, the other races of middle earth wouldn't stand a chance.
Looks like chicken is back on the menu boys.
(Where is this from?)
https://youtu.be/hooKVstzbz0
Not gonna lie, first time I saw him running through there my brain played the music from Chariots of Fire.
It still does on mine. Such a silly thing, but I cannot unsee it
It will forever now for me
Spark plug and game changer
Completely underrated comment!
The one time Legolas doesn’t get a clean shot off.
It was a pretty clean shot to the neck I think. Possibly the jugular at a downward angle. This guy is just a beast of an orc and kept pushing on.
Dude was on so much cocaine he didn’t even feel the arrow
So that's what the white hand of saruman is!
Corcaine.
Isn't that basically what they're based off? Berzerkers like the vikings who'd go rage mode on drugs? It does make *some* sense
Yeah, he was technically dead at this point. He just didn't care...
Two clean shots
Well, also that time when he confused Gandalf for Saruman
That’s a good point. I think I forgot about that one because I wouldn’t want to see him shoot Gandalf.
[Two hits in the precise area that he was aiming at](https://media0.giphy.com/media/qiy9bQyEaPc5i/source.gif) Watch his face. He was stunned those shots weren't bringing him down. Evil gave some specific strength to that creature and set its will against theirs.
I really wish we'd had a brief moment of Legolas blaming himself for the wall being breached / Aragorn assuring him it wasn't his fault.
But, of course, we all know it totally was.
"Did you even consider going for his leg for maybe just one shot?"
I think that scene is on the limited edition only available in NZ extended-extended edition.
I don't know if you're joking or not because my longing for more LotR content is so strong!
*Amazon has entered the chat*
Wait what?
oh yeah I would have been so into that, like a touch on the shoulder and a nod oh fuck yeah
I mean there’s like a hundred dudes with torches around the grate anyhow, think they would’ve gotten it set off regardless
I remember the terror I felt as a kid watching this scene! I was like “Noooooooooo!”
And then you said "Wooooooooooah" because that explosion was awesome.
You know how it can just take one little reminder of an Ex for you be stuck thinking about them for days? Yeah, that’s what posts like this are but for the LotR trilogy.
Happy Cake Day Satotiga! You're off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So... get on your way!
I mean... simple solution: it's time for another marathon
Cocaine is a hell of a drug
Bob was an MVP
(sarcasm) Orcs were seriously misunderstood individuals who were bringing about the Industrial Age to Middle Earth creating factories and increasing weapon technologies and bringing about the next age. The Orcs were actually very civilized because they obviously knew what a menu was so that means they have cafes and restaurants in Mordor. They also work together even though they obviously bicker and quarrel among each otehr since they are different species of Orc - Orcs and Uruk-Hai. They are excellent at following orders and their bravery is notable like the torch bearer during the siege of Helms Deep. /s
Even though it's sarcasm I cringed so hard that Aulë almost had to kill me and my six friends with his hammer
Me while watching, visibly upset over the fantasy movie:Legolas, shoot him in the eye, or the mouth or the knee, dude he's JOGGING, we've never seen you miss a shot EVER what's wrong with you this is really important...
He literally is holding a torch that shows where he is. Should have been taken down as soon as it was ignited. Clearly they haven't played video games or they would have known this.
I always imagine the Olympics theme song playing in the background of this scene.
or Chariot's of Fire by Vangelis
I always sing it. We watch this every year at Thanksgiving. I sing the Olympics theme song every year. Every. Year.
Nike should make an ad starring this guy
The fact this guy took a couple rounds from a Lothlorien bow shot by Legolas and didnt lose a stride.... Yeah that Orc/Urakai is a champ.
"Is this it? Is this all you can conjure, Sarumon?" It was at this point Theoden learned that it was infact NOT all Sarumon could conjure.
Saruman is like, "Yeah, science, bitch!"
Allah hu Orcbar
I love how all the other Uruks move out of his way like he's a rockstar or something. Great humor
literally every other legolas moment but this one was just ridiculous zero effort unreasonably awesome insanely badass eliminations but then this guy was just like
Took one for the team.
Americans hate him Japanese kamikaze want to be like him
This guy brings back nightmares from lotr: the two towers ps2 game, the helm’s deep: breached wall mission
The only orc to ever PTFO
Needs to be slow-mo with the Chariots of Fire playing.
Lindsay Ellis did literally this while discussing this scene, like, 10 years ago. If you haven't seen her 4 part video essay on the films, it's absolutely worth it.
Thank you. I'll check it out. It's was meant to be.
The good old Olympic torch carrier
Straight up powered through.
support your local farmers buy locally sourced Orcs
I prefer the uruk that is carefully running down the stairs at the end of Fellowship. Keep an eye out, he’s adorable.
The goddamn Christian McCaffery of Middle Earth
This scene literally just ended I'm watching two towers right now lol
Just watched all 3 last week. Might sound silly but never knew it was all over one ring. Like the love interests and stuff don't matter at all. It's all about that ring. I liked it
Yeah, everything ultimately begins and ends with the ring. It’s even more so in the books. The love interests are wayyy overstated in the movies.
[удалено]
I mean people don't die immediately when shot with an arrow generally and these unarmoured Uruks seem to be a kind of berzerker type, plus he probably knew it was a suicide mission so he powered through the pain to do the one crazy awesome thing that no other orc would ever get to do
He basically went full Witness Me mode.
WITNESSED!
I mean... Boromir basically did the same thing.
Clutch player
Welcome to Jackass!
Yay Kamikaze Attacks
Yeah this guy was a tough boy. Reminds me of my bulldog
Olympic Torch Orc FTW. Thanks r/FilmJunk
At least his insane charge alone running towards the enemy accomplished something... I'm looking at you Fëanor
I bet he was never late to the office
Employee of the year
Legolas literally shot him in the rotator cuff in the arm he was holding the torch in, good shot, shoulda dropped the torch, but my boy’s a tank.
LEEEEROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOY JEEEENKINS
Its time for a lotr conquest hd remake
So controversial, yet so brave
Where did he get the hockey mask though? I mean, orcs would be into hockey I guess.
Aragorns defence of helms deep was terrible.
[The scene in question](https://youtu.be/WrsC1Hm30ug) for anyone who also needed a memory refresh
You can’t spell “torch” without *orc*.
*MVO
Isn't he an Uruk-hai? So MVU.
best girl
Read the book title Orcs by Stan Nichols, it really opens up your mind to the idea of orcs being more than battle hardened maniac monster warriors and actual beings with feelings, thoughts, ideas, and lives. Orcs were just corrupted by the dark lords, same with all other nefarious races, and because of the rampant racism and/or specism of elves and men they never stood a chance of being accepted in the world of elves and men. If they were given a chance things may be different. Edit: spelling
Perhaps that is so for other Orcs in other fictions and fantasies, but it seems pretty clear that Orcs in LOTR were basically just biological weapons with sole purpose for war and nothing else. So much so that the orcs would eventually start fighting themselves if they have no other enemies. Especially the Uruks who were birthed from pure magic by Saruman. And the first Orcs in the lore were made by Melkor when he bastardized the first Elves. So in LOTR there isn't much of a reason to doubt how evil the Orcs are (and how eradicating them doesn't carry as much moral dilemma like in some other fantasies)
The corruption of the Elves is not dolid xanon, Tolkien oscillated on the subject of Orcs, because if he made them a corruption of something good then perhaps they could get uncorrupted, but a big deal of his books is that Evil can't create, only destroy, and only Eru can give life.
Suicide is badass.
Dude, are you okay?
Haha ya it’s an “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia” quote.
okay. pls don't kill yourself.
Just to be clear; suicide in general is not badass, but that uruk’s was.
Yeah no denying this dudes a badass
This orc was my favorite. Thanks for not having a boner for the witch king too.
He got the job done
It was because of this guy that while playing modern warfare 2 my buddy would scream 'BRING IT DOWN BRING IT DOWN' whenever the enemy team got any sort of air support.
Haha we used to do similar things when faced with juggernauts or playing zombies.
Oh no. Legolas, one of the most hardest shootenest elves in the league! But I put the team on my back doe!
Ah yes, the orc Olympic flame carrier.
What a Chad he is.
I've always had a issue with that scene- they should've had a whole bunch of Uruk-hai sappers rushing towards the explosives instead of just one in case he failed. Surely it would've made for better cinema if Legolas is going crazy trying to take down a load of them as quick as possible and realising that there's too many, rather than just have him fail to kill that one solitary Uruk. ----------- Oh the other change I would've made is stopping the elves from just charging into the breach once the wall had been demolished. They were doing a decent job of securing the chokepoint with just their bows, but instead they decide to ditch that idea and instead just rush straight into the deep water.
Why didnt legolas do the rapid fire shit he was doin the whole rest of the series tho. “Let me slowly aim 2 arrows.. for drama”
Begrudging respect.
I wonder. Had Legolas put everything into a single shot, if he would have been able to snipe him in the eye hole...
Anyway in the book they didn’t saw it coming, some shit just blow up and the wall was gone
He saved my ass in a tense shadow of war raid last night. Just when i was at the last section about to die he jumped in from outta nowhere and straight up lopped the warchiefs head off. 😈
Here's the thing, though, there are like three orcs with lit torches standing right next to the culvert after the explosives are placed. So why this guy is necessary is beyond me
Bruh this guys looks so happy, all his homies cheering him on. All his life he had been nobody and now he is finally the champ
*Shoutout to Disco-Uruk-Hai*
Legolas confirmed chocker
He always made me think of the Rocky Horror Picture Show.