LOTR analysis

LOTR Analysis

The Scene begins with Frodo entering the darkness of the cave, the low-key lighting creates shadow and suspense for the character, as well as playing on the common fear of ‘fear of darkness.’ The director used a wide shot, to show the walls of the cave, to inform the audience that there is only one way for Frodo to go forward. This also creates a ‘frame within a frame’ and directs us towards Frodo and how he is entering the darkness. The only source of light in this frame is from outside, and Frodo is leaving the safety of the light to enter the cave. Entering the darkness also represents the path the character is on, having just told his friend Sam to go home, he is also on his path of darkness, and the further he goes, the darker his quest becomes. The next shot shows us a dark silhouette of Frodo, this reflects the darkness from the cave, but also the darkness within him, as he enters the cave both he and we know nothing about, this also adds to the tension of this scene because we don’t know what is going to happen to our hero who we have became attached to.

The next shot shows us another low-key scene, it is also a wide shot, showing is both walls of the cave, this creating a claustrophobic feel to the scene. Our only light source is now out of shot but we are now isolated from the light and can see it fading in the back. The wide shot also shows how big the cave is compared to Frodo, and he is not used to this environment, as he is a hobbit. The fact that there is no direct light in the shot further shows that Frodo has swayed from the path of light into the darkness, and is quickly being consumed by the darkness.

The next shot is shown from Frodo’s point of view, this puts us in the shoes of the hero as he is looking around the cave. This is the first time we see light in the cave, at the far end of it, this reflects on the rocks on the wall, and shows giant holes in the rocks. This grabs the audiences attention because of it looks irregular and hints at whatever lurks in this tunnel, isn’t small. The blue tint put over the shot is mainly used in horror movies to create a cold/tense atmosphere. The POV shot is also a tracking shot as Frodo is moving through the cave towards the light. At the end we can first see the webs of the monster, who we later know to be Shelob, and plays on another common human fear, spiders. The unnatural rock formation and the webs allows the audience to put it together before Frodo and realise it is a giant spider, and this also gives us information before the character, adding more fear for his mortal health.

The next shot Is filmed from Smeagol/Gollums POV lurking in the shadows from Frodo having tricked him into the belly of the beast. Our attention is drawn straight to Frodo as he is now starting to panic, because the POV is from afar, and is also a wide shot creating another frame within a frame. This further shows the darkness of the scene and that Frodo is being watched. The handheld, un-natural movement of the camera shows that whatever is watching Frodo, is agile, alive and not human. We now know the hero is in mortal danger, even before he does because he doesn’t know he is being watched. There ever increasing darkness creates more tension and fear for whatever is lurking in the cave because the light is getting further and further away and there is more darkness for the beast to lurk in.

The next shot starts with the Foreground blurred at the bottom, but with Frodo in the background looking lonely, distressed and scared. The shot then uses depth of field to fade out Frodo to a more important piece of Mise-en-scene, a dead skeleton. This Visually relates Frodo to death and foreshadows the path he is headed on. The size of the skeleton shows that the monster isn’t small, and is capable of taking down someone of Frodo’s size. Frodo doesn’t see the body, so this yet again plays on our fear for Frodo, because we know this is a common place of death before he knows. Also, tying together the webs, and the dead bodies, we know this is a trap set by Smeagol to place Frodo in danger.

The next shot begins with a mid shot then tracks towards Frodo’s face into a close up, this is to focus on his reaction to the webs and realisation as he falls backwards after discovering he is now in danger. He realises he is alone, scared and stuck in a trap in a monsters lair. The tracking shot follows him backwards showing his fear on moving forward, but the only source of light, and possibly safety, is forward, towards the webs.

This then goes immediately to the next shot, which is a Mid shot with the depth of field on Frodo, we can still see the webs in the background, this is irrelevant to the situation, but the director still wants us to know they are there. The low-key lighting as in every shot creates a form of fear, and suspense for Frodo’s situation as he has being walked into a trap of Shelob. The mid shot tracks to a close up of Frodo to focus on his emotion, and mainly his blue eyes, which represent light and the hope of good within him, and his battle with darkness. Frodo mentions Sam, and reflects on his mistake of telling him to go home, and feel sorrow, and this is he acknowledging he is going to die, as he is reflecting on his life, and his mistakes. He hears a noise to his right, then the camera pans around him, to show he is being circled by whatever is lurking waiting for him. Whilst this is happening, the only thing in focus is a close up of Frodo, showing that Shelob is focused on Frodo, nothing else. His expression and the combination of the low key lighting, the webs, and the dead bodies show that we can now only associate one emotion with Frodo, fear.

This continues immediately to another shot of the camera panning to the right, but from behind the webs, from afar. The wide shot used shows there are web everywhere, and this is the main part in where the monster lurks. It creates the question whether it is actually Shelob stalking him, or merely Smeagol waiting for Shelob to get him. The unusual movement is handheld, but more creature like, and is a POV or whatever it is, on the move for Frodo.

 The shot we are shown next is first a close up of Frodo as he is reflecting on his mistakes, and is certain he is going to die, this is shown to us because his fear transforms into sorrow and his mistakes. It then switches to a POV shot as Frodo stands on a dead body, which has deteriorated into a skeleton. And this further supports Frodo’s feeling that he is certain of death and adds to the audience’s empathy for him, as we want him to succeed and to live, because he is the only hope. There are three cut-ins to three dead animals of the monster. One is human, and this also visually relates Frodo to death, and what is coming in the future if he doesn’t get to safety.