The Forbidden Pool

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=140 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="008dba33.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www,frodolivesin.us" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www,frodolivesin.us"><U><IMG SRC="00791330.jpg" border=0 width="145" height="51" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A>     |  </FONT>  <A HREF="http://www.frodolivesin.us" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.frodolivesin.us"><U> </U></A><A HREF="http://www.frodolivesin.us" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.frodolivesin.us"><U>home</U></A> |   | back to  <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Two Towers"><U><B>The Two Towers</B></U></A> </div> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Just a Dream"><U>"Just a Dream"</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Little Bit of Home"><U>A Little Bit of Home</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><B>The Forbidden Pool</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Faramir and the Ring"><U>Faramir and the Ring</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="id7.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Osgiliath: Theyre Here"><U>Osgiliath: "They're Here"</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="id8.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Osgiliath: On the Steps"><U>Osgiliath: On the Steps</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="id9.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Osgiliath: Internal Battle"><U>Osgiliath: Internal Battle</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="id10.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WideScreen Sword Fall"><U>Wide-Screen Sword Fall</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="id11.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Osgiliath: Leaving"><U>Osgiliath: Leaving</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=340 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="2d141413.jpg"> <bR> <div> <B>The Forbidden Pool</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>This is one of those scenes with several layers, as Elijah acts the part of a character who's acting.  Sometimes Frodo's acting is fairly successful and sometimes not, but we see clearly which is which. </B></div> <div>  <A NAME="forbiddenpool_top"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <B>Frodo continues the "I'm coming along of my own free will, but I'm not happy about it," facade  that he wore when Faramir summoned him.  There's a tiny bit of concern visible around the eyes, but he has it pretty well hidden.  He's learned a lot about Men since leaving the Shire, and a lot of it has made him wary.  He's still waiting to find out what's going on.   </B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a1d570.jpg" border=0 width="797" height="343" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="05b1f520.jpg" border=0 width="799" height="338" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>But he's not good enough to hide real alarm.  Forehead squinching commences.</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="05c1f580.jpg" border=0 width="799" height="344" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Sometimes, especially when there are a number of hobbit-only scenes, I forget how small they are.  These shots of Frodo looking up at Faramir are a good reminder of just how little control Frodo has over the situation. </B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="05d1f510.jpg" border=0 width="799" height="337" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="05e20530.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="339" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="05f1f520.jpg" border=0 width="799" height="338" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Some heavy-duty thinking going on. </B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="06020540.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="340" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="0611f510.jpg" border=0 width="799" height="337" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="0621c520.jpg" border=0 width="796" height="338" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="0631d500.jpg" border=0 width="797" height="336" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>He seems pretty calm, but that might be because he's telling the truth now--something he's more used to.  (OTOH, Mr. Lesnie is obviously embellishing reality a bit--with the "eye lights.")</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="064204d0.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="333" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>But that doesn't mean Frodo's not worried, especially when he talks about Gollum as his guide.  It's not that he doesn't have any pity for Gollum, but the quest is uppermost; after all, he decided a long time ago to </B><I><B>use </B></I><B>Gollum for that purpose.  </B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="06520530.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="339" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>One thing Faramir has in common here with his book counterpart is watching Frodo carefully for any hints of what's really going on. </B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="066204a0.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="330" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Everything's in Faramir's hands, and Frodo knows it.  </B><I><B>He's</B></I><B> also watching </B><I><B>Faramir </B></I><B>for any signs of what he's really after. </B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="067204f0.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="335" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>We're not really supposed to </B><I><B>like </B></I><B>Faramir here, are we?</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="068204e0.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="334" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="06920510.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="337" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Nothing hidden now.  Open pleading.  Frodo doesn't have enough experience to stay outwardly calm and try to talk his way out of the situation without giving too much away.  In the movie at this point we also have the added layer of Frodo's concern for Gollum based on his hope that Gollum can be "saved" from the Ring's influence, giving him some hope for himself.  </B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="06a1e510.jpg" border=0 width="798" height="337" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>(Great musculoskeletal action here. That little head tilt--and resulting neck muscle stretch--just emphasize his helplessness.)</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="06b20520.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="338" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="06c20510.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="337" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>He starts moving, fast enough to blur the frame, with his eyes still fixed on Gollum.  The impression is that he still doesn't quite know what to do, but he's not going to have the luxury of waiting until he does.   </B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="06d20510.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="337" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>   </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B> A couple of frames especially for those who appreciate some cloak action: </B></FONT></div> <div> <IMG SRC="06e1e530.jpg" border=0 width="798" height="339" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="06f20510.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="337" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>He may have been able to pretend to be cool and collected earlier, but Frodo's "innocent act" is pretty unbelievable. No wonder Gollum was skeptical!   Several layers here, as usual.  Is it harder for someone who's naturally innocent (Frodo) to </B><I><B>act </B></I><B>innocent because he doesn't quite know how to do it, never having had to "fake it" before?  Then the top layer, of an actor playing a character who's acting (or trying to).  A big difference between the earlier almost-hidden concern and this fear-based innocent act, but they're both exactly right for Frodo in those particular moments.  </B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="0701f4d0.jpg" border=0 width="799" height="333" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="071204f0.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="335" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="07220530.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="339" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>A very rare commodity on this website: an unflattering screencap.  But why?  Is Frodo getting a bit desperate?  That's not going to help Gollum's trust level, either. </B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="07320530.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="339" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="0741e530.jpg" border=0 width="798" height="339" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>    </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Would you buy a used car from this hobbit?</B></FONT></div> <div> <IMG SRC="0751f4e0.jpg" border=0 width="799" height="334" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="07620530.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="339" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>We still see Frodo from Gollum's POV as he's captured.  Frodo's helpless on two fronts, now: He can't control either Gollum or Faramir's men.   He tries to keep things calm for a moment...</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="07720510.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="337" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>...but all he can really do, again, is plead. </B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="0781f500.jpg" border=0 width="799" height="336" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="0791f530.jpg" border=0 width="799" height="339" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Frodo seems a bit shocked (as we all were!) at how rough the Men are with Gollum. </B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="07a20520.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="338" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>A very "adult" camera angle.  Frodo's still powerless, but he has to deal with the consequences, anyway.  Any hope he had for Gollum's "salvation" is pretty much gone, and I think he knows it here.  From this point on, he doesn't refer to that possibility again.  The purpose for keeping Gollum around from now on, from Frodo's point of view, is simply to show them the way into Mordor.   </B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="07f1d500.jpg" border=0 width="797" height="336" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="07e20510.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="337" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="#forbiddenpool_top" TITLE="The Forbidden Pool"><U><IMG SRC="0377d3c0.jpg" border=0 width="125" height="60" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>