Sauraman death scene-LOTR: ROTK

[Dr. Manhatten]

I had a bit of a random thought today. I'd read interviews with Christopher Lee recently and he said that he didn't think his death scene from ROTK should've been cut and seems to be really bitter over it. It was cut from the theatrical release and was reinserted into the Extended version (though correct me if I'm wrong but he didn't contribute to the cast commentary, whereas he did on the other 2) and plays as is. It was cut because he doesn't play any big role in the 3rd movie and to better the pacing, Jackson cut it out so that the story can progress faster now that Lee wasn't fully necessary.

Do you think it was right for it to be cut? Or should it have stayed in?

 

[The Amazing Lee]

I dunno...I liked the scene in the extended version...but at the same time...it still worked ok without having seen whether Saruman was dead or alive.

Neither the theatrical or the Extended version did it wrong to be honest...but it was nice to see the death of Saruman.

 

[Speedball]

Jackson does change the death from the books though. Wormtongue does stab him in the back, but not at Isengard, but in the Shire.

 

[Storm22]

I was particularly disappointed when his scene was cut from the theatrical release and can understand Christopher Lee's anger. Saruman was Sauron's puppet for the trilogy, he was the embodiment of evil for the films, Sauron was the looming threat/evil. It was only right to show his demise in the EE DVD and I'm glad it was included, it's a great scene for a great villain.

 

[TheVileOne]

After Saruman was built up so much in the first two movies, it was a disappointment yes.

To me the scene felt like the perfect conclusion of the character in the movies. I think it was a bad move to cut the scene.

 

[Mr. Socko]

Jackson just had a lame ass off scene death for the theatrical cut. Saruman was the only psychical enemy of the Fellowship that had any powers. He controlled the Orcs! But there was still the little orange eye

Shame I have to watch a 4+ hour uber extended edition just to see one of my favorite actors. Damn you Jackson.

 

[TheVileOne]

In the theatrical version he never had an off-scene death at all. They just said he was stuck in his tower and let him stay there.

 

[Mr. Socko]

Even worse, so he had no resolution at all in the theatrical cut!


At least Lucas placed him in Act 3 of Star Wars even though he was only in the first 15 minutes. To hell with Lucas and Jackson.

 

[superkong 500]

I was disappointed when his scene was cut from the theatrical version. I believe that his character's resolution needed to be i nthe first cut, after all he was the main physical villain and getting excluded to me was undermining the character.

 

[OptimusCannabis]

I had a bit of a random thought today. I'd read interviews with Christopher Lee recently and he said that he didn't think his death scene from ROTK should've been cut and seems to be really bitter over it. It was cut from the theatrical release and was reinserted into the Extended version (though correct me if I'm wrong but he didn't contribute to the cast commentary, whereas he did on the other 2) and plays as is. It was cut because he doesn't play any big role in the 3rd movie and to better the pacing, Jackson cut it out so that the story can progress faster now that Lee wasn't fully necessary.

Do you think it was right for it to be cut? Or should it have stayed in?

It definitely should have been in. After seeing the third one I was left with the question ‘What the hell happened to Sauraman?’

 

[Warhammer]

I couldn't have cared less if his death scene was in the final cut or not.

It was fine with, or without it.

 

[Grievous]

I had a bit of a random thought today. I'd read interviews with Christopher Lee recently and he said that he didn't think his death scene from ROTK should've been cut and seems to be really bitter over it. It was cut from the theatrical release and was reinserted into the Extended version (though correct me if I'm wrong but he didn't contribute to the cast commentary, whereas he did on the other 2) and plays as is. It was cut because he doesn't play any big role in the 3rd movie and to better the pacing, Jackson cut it out so that the story can progress faster now that Lee wasn't fully necessary.

Do you think it was right for it to be cut? Or should it have stayed in?

it makes people who have not seen the extended version think he is not dead, thats my only thoughts on it.

 

[dpm07]

I dunno...I liked the scene in the extended version...but at the same time...it still worked ok without having seen whether Saruman was dead or alive.

Neither the theatrical or the Extended version did it wrong to be honest...but it was nice to see the death of Saruman.

I agree with everything you said.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

Saruman was awesome in FotR, but he becomes almost a generic bad guy in the other two.

In FotR, he is genuinely frightening. You believe he's a good guy, a colleague of Gandalf, then you realise he is deranged and in league with Sauron("The hour is later than you think."). Chilling.

In the other two he is great (it IS Lee after all), but far less menacing.

 

[Storm22]

In the ROTK EE when he's talking down to Gandalf and co. from the top of his tower he's also very menacing imo - "You're all going to die"

I agree though, his scene with Gandalf in FOTR is brilliantly chilling.

 

[Starscreamer]

Jackson should have LEFT IN Lee's scene at the beginning and trimmed down that hour long goodbye at the end GEEZUS!

 

[GreenKToo]

it makes people who have not seen the extended version think he is not dead, thats my only thoughts on it.

you are correct. I havent saw the extended version yet, and didnt know about that.

 

[Whiskey Tango]

What is the house of Rohan but a thatched barn where brigands drink in the reek and their brats roll on the floor with the dogs? The victory at Helm's Deep does not belong to you, Théoden Horse-master. You are a lesser son of greater sires.

I liked that scene quite a bit. I would have left it in personally.

 

[FVD]

^I love that passage to pieces. Quite a grand moment for Christopher Lee there. Awesome line. And I love Theoden's anger back at him too.