Lord of the Rings Funny Poop

Top 11 Dumbest Lord of the Rings Moments
Released	July 11, 2013
Running time	32:07
Previous review	Are Superheroes Whiny Little B***hes?
Next review	Is It Right to Nitpick?
Link	http://channelawesome.com/nostalgia-critic-top-11-dumbest-lord-of-the-rings-moments/

(The opening)

NC: Hello, I'm the Nostalgia Critic. I remember it so you don't have to. Knock-knock! Who's there? Lord of the Rings is AWESOME!

(Footage from the film series is shown)

NC (voiceover): After winning critical praise, box-office praise, tons of awards, changing the way many blockbusters are made, and being one of the best known film trilogies of all time, who the hell is gonna argue with that? Lord of the Rings went from being "the story that could never be filmed" to the best known film fantasy of all time.

NC: But that doesn't mean it doesn't have some dumbass moments.

(An arrow is fired at him from the left, but NC ducks, making the arrow hit a viewer and causing her to scream in agony)

NC (voiceover): I mean, with 558 minutes of film, of course there's gonna be problems here and there, and when you have a film series that needs to bring in a big crowd, you need to take big risks. Some of them pay off; some...not so much. And hey, it's still good to look over the weaker aspects of a film, because, truly, no film is without flaws, and it's fun to review the mistakes and creative choices that, maybe in the future, could be tinkered with more, especially seeing how, technically, these films are still being made. And while on the subject, I'm not gonna put The Hobbit films in there, seeing how they're still in the process of being put out, and I'm also not gonna draw too many differences from the books. It's an adaptation, things have to be changed, I get that. I'm only judging these goofy choices in the realm of the films themselves.

NC: So, let's look over one of cinema's greatest accomplishments, by acknowledging its Top 11 greatest downfalls. Why Top 11?

Gollum: Stupid fat hobbit!

NC: This is the Top 11 Dumbest Lord of the Rings Moments.

(The title for "The Top 11 Dumbest Lord of the Rings Moments" is shown, with NC heard singing LOTR gibberish. For each interlude on the Top 11, NC sings mock Elvish over The Fellowship of the Ring Aragorn/Arwen romance scene with the number fading onto the screen)

#11 [ ]

NC (voiceover): Number 11--Just Letting Gandalf Die. Yeah, kinda shocked nobody ever talks about this one. In the book, as well as in the animated movie, when Gandalf is facing the Balrog, the Balrog uses the whip to drag him down with him, causing Gandalf to shout, "Fly, you fools!" as he plunges to his death.

Gandalf (Bakshi): (falling to his death) Fly, you fools!

NC (voiceover): But in Fellowship, he hangs onto the cliff, most likely trying to make the line more dramatic.

Gandalf: Fly, you fools!

(Gandalf falls to his death)

NC (voiceover): But the question is, "If he's hanging onto the cliff, why is everyone just looking at him?" Nobody thinks to run over and actually pull him up! Go! Save him! He's right there! You've still got time, you little idiots! No! I take it back. Frodo does! It's one of the few times he actually tries to take action, but what do they do? They hold him back! Why? There's no reason to! I suppose if you want to go out on a stretch, you could make the assumption that maybe the Orcs are firing at them, but hell, if you're just going to stand there and look at him anyway, the very least you could do is be a moving target by walking forward and picking him up. But, uh-uh. Boromir is like...

NC (voiceover; mimicking Boromir): No, no. He's gone. (then mimicking Gandalf) Bullshit, I am! I'm right here! (then Boromir) He's never coming back. (then Gandalf) I haven't even left yet! (Boromir) We must move on without him. (Gandalf) I can hear every word you're saying. (Boromir) Remember he told us to fly. (Gandalf) Yes! Fly forward and grab me, please! (Boromir) He will live forever in our hearts. (Gandalf) I'd much rather live the real way. (Boromir) Our friend...is gone. (Gandalf) Oh, fuck this noise. (falls to his death) Tell Bilbo I never liked hiiiiiimmmmm!!!!

Frodo: NOOOOOO!!!

NC (voiceover): It still makes no sense whatsoever. The only justification I can have for this is that, well, it did give us a cool intro to Two Towers.

(Gandalf lands on the Balrog and stabs it)

NC: I mean, come on. That opening was awesome...even if they did...

NC (voiceover): ...land in a giant lake and somehow ended up on top of a mountain.

NC: In fact, why were they concerned for him if he could survive...

NC (voiceover): ...a fall into a lake and yet still have the strength to walk up to the top of a mounta--

NC: Ah, I've nitpicked this enough.

Gandalf: Fly, you fools!

(Gandalf falls to his death)

(Interlude to the next entry)

#10 [ ]

NC (voiceover): Number 10--Those Bajillion Endings. Yeah, you all knew this was coming. On the one hand, you can't blame these people for having an ending that goes on forever. I mean, it's wrapping up three very big, very long movies. Lots of characters and stories need closure, but that's not what I necessarily take issue with. What I take issue with is the fake-outs. Every other second, it looks like the credits are about to roll. Instead, they keep the plot coming. At first, it looks like it's going to end with Sam and Frodo together on the volcano, but then it keeps going. Then it looks like it's going to end with them reuniting, but then it keeps going! Then it looks like it's going to end with them in Minas Tirith, BUT THEN IT KEEPS GOING!! AND THERE'S STILL FIVE MORE ENDINGS ON TOP OF IT!!! There's so many goddamn fade outs in this film, you could confuse it for the ending of Clue!

Frodo: Here at the end of all things.

(The screen fades out, the words, "That's how it could have happened. But how about this?" from Clue pop up, Frodo and Sam smile at each other, the screen fades out again, the words, "But here's what really happened." pop up)

Frodo: How do you pick up the threads of an old life?

NC (voiceover): It doesn't help either that ending 1.2 looks a lot like a curtain call.

(We are shown the scene of Frodo reuniting with the Fellowship at Rivendell, with NC speaking over the scene as a curtain call announcer)

NC (voiceover; mimicking curtain call man): Ladies and gentlemen, your Lord of the Rings players: Billy Boyd and Dominic Monoghan as Merry and Pippin, John Rhys-Davies as Gimli, Orlando Bloom as Legolas, Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn, Rudy (Sean Astin) as Sam, "Big-Scary Eyes" (Elijah Wood) as Frodo, and Sir Ian McKellen as the always enduring, always heartwarming Gan-- (Gandalf is shown laughing) UWAHHHH!!! That is fucking terrifying! Please don't show that aga--AHHHHHH!!!!! By Jesus, that's gonna haunt my nightmares! Stop that!

NC (voiceover): Now, for a lot of people, these several endings are a big complaint, but I put it pretty low on the list, because, honestly, I actually do like the endings. I mean, yeah, there's too many and they fake you out too many times, but the actual endings themselves are very poignant and kind of touching. So, on the whole, I can't be that angry at them. Maybe just...a little angry...and a little terrified.

(We see Gandalf laughing with a creepy face, and then NC making that same face and laugh)

(Interlude to the next entry)

#9 [ ]

NC (voiceover): Number 9--Gimli's Idiot Moments. So, again, when making an adaptation as big as Lord of the Rings, you can't go into quite as much detail as the books can. So, a good chunk of the time, characters have to be simplified; understandable enough. But, good God, what did you do to Gimli?

Gimli: Arr, yes. The dwarves that go swimming...with little hairy women! HA HA HA HA!

NC (voiceover): At first, he started off okay. He was simple and emotional, but still had a sense of honor and dignity.

Gimli: Let them come! There is one dwarf yet in Moria who still draws breath!

NC (voiceover): But as the movies went on, he just got goofier...

(Gimli hiccups)

NC (voiceover): ...and goofier...

Gimli: What do trees have to talk about, except the consistency of squirrel droppings?

NC (voiceover): ...and goofier.

(Gimli faints)

NC (voiceover): He went from being his own unique flavor of badass to just silly comic relief.

Gimli: (various scenes) Ugh, you could've picked a better spot. / I cannot jump the distance! You have to toss me! / Not the beard!

NC (voiceover): Even he seemed to realize that his whole race merely existed to get a chuckle out of the real heroes.

Gimli: It's true you don't see many dwarf women. And in fact, they're often mistaken for dwarf men. And this in turn give them rights in beliefs that there are no dwarf women, and the dwarves just spring out of holes in the ground.

(Éowyn laughs)

NC: Don't believe me? Just watch this scene and tell me if the punch-line music doesn't write itself.

(Gimli's horse rides off and Gimli falls off, followed by the "wha-wha" music. We are shown a clip of Thorin Oakenshield from The Hobbit)

NC (voiceover): It's ironic that we would have to wait for a prequel to actually get a dignified dwarf character, but until that time, we only had Gimli as the dignified representation of the dwa--(Gimli slightly lifts from his chair and farts) ...ugh!

Gimli: Salted pork?

NC (voiceover): Thank God he had his badass moments in there, too, because if not, I think this would be Middle-earth's interpretation of dwarf Blackface.

Gimli: It's a little tight across the chest.

("Wha-wha" music plays again)

Gimli: Salted pork?

(Interlude to the next entry)

#8 [ ]

NC (voiceover): Number 8--Legolas' Perfect Moments. If one character can be too flawed, then another can be too perfect. Again, Legolas started out as a very precise, somewhat advanced hero in the first movie, but as the films went on, you start to wonder why he couldn't just fight this war himself. Look at this son of a bitch. While everyone's doing their best to fight off soldiers on ground...

Aragorn: Legolas!

NC (voiceover): Yeah! Aragorn's like, "Hey, Legolas, would you mind bringing down a five-story elephant? Come on! You can do that in your pointy-eared sleep!" But the bizarre thing is: HE CAN! Without even batting an eye! Is there even a bead of sweat on his forehead?

(Legolas kills an elephant with an triple arrow shot, followed by "The T-Rex Song". I'M A MOTHERFUCKING T-REX!)

NC (voiceover): Why is it there was even still a struggle at Helm's Deep? At first, it looks like all the humans are gonna have to fight, but then, look, they suddenly get an army of giant dinosaur elephant killers. This battle should be over in 10 minutes! Look at the scene from earlier: their fighting skills seemed too good to be true.

(The elves fire arrows at the the orc army, and then the elves struck at the army with the swords)

NC (voiceover; mimicking elves): Ha-ha! We knew they would come at us in descending order from left to right, resulting in this cool-ass shot! Everything is coming up Elf!

NC (voiceover): But even with all these badasses on their side at Helm's Deep, EVEN THEN Legolas has to show off...by going shield-surfing! I'm sure that was essential to taking out those five guys you could've just as easily killed walking down the stairs.

(Legolas shoots the shield into an orc)

NC (voiceover; mimicking orc): Rarr--Oh, my God! That was awesome!

NC (voiceover): In fact, I'm surprised Legolas didn't just end this whole war in one fowl swoop! He's so friggin' perfect, I'm sure he could do it.

(Cut to a skit involving NC playing Aragorn and Rachel playing Legolas)

NC (as Aragorn): Legolas, a great evil is spawning in Mordor.

Rachel (as Legolas): Fear not, my flawed mortal friend. I shall handle this...

(She shoots her arrow (which contains the Ring on the needle) into Mount Doom, destroying Sauron)

Rachel (as Legolas): Like a motherfucking boss.

NC (voiceover): Legolas, you're too good to be true, and that...is precisely the problem.

("The T-Rex Song" plays again as Legolas leaps off the elephant. I'M A MOTHERFUCKING T-REX!)

Gimli: That still only counts as one!

(Interlude to the next entry)

#7 [ ]

NC (voiceover): Number 7--Those Close-Up Shots. I've mentioned this before how a lot of movies and shows back then felt they needed to get a lot of wide-angle close-up shots. This would be fine if the idea was to create an uncomfortable scenario, but for a while, it seems like a lot of directors did it just to be different and artsy, and here, it's no exception. While this decision did tone down big time in the other two movies, and thank God for that, we had to put up with quite a lot of it in Fellowship of the Ring. And don't get me wrong; sometimes, it's called for, like this scene, where Frodo is about to put the Ring on at "The Prancing Pony," which, by the way, might not be the best name for a place like this.

NC: I look at the atmosphere and I feel more...

(A close-up picture of one man with a pipe accompanied with the words...)

NC (voiceover): ..."The Decaying Mule." But like I said, here, it's supposed to be a little off and uncomfortable, so the close-ups work. But come on, when Bilbo is just talking normally, do we really need to be this close? Even when Gandalf is saying, "Goodbye," look at that! You can count the wrinkles under his eyeballs! How would you like if I filmed conversations like this?

(We cut to a conversation between NC and Malcolm. This conversation is filmed with each faces close-up)

NC: Hey, Malcolm, did you hear they might be getting a new judge for American Idol?

Malcolm: Yeah, I heard they might be getting a new host, too.

NC: Oh, really, you mean they're getting rid of...what's his name?

Malcolm: Yeah, what is that guy's name again?

(Santa Christ grabs Malcolm's arm, surprising him)

Santa: Is it Seacrest? Is he safe?

NC (voiceover): I know we're supposed to feel close to the characters, but good God, we don't need to be this close.

Gandalf: Is it secret? Is it safe?

(Interlude to the next entry)

#6 [ ]

NC (voiceover): Number 6--Denethor. Just...just Denethor. If there's any character I think was more over-the-top simplified in these movies, it's this one. And I know a lot of you may disagree, but I got some serious issues with this guy. Everyone describes him as a Shakespearean villain, being very complex and very sympathetic.

Denethor: NOOOOOOOOOO!!!

NC (voiceover): Well, I'm glad you guys saw that, but for me, I just saw a crazy asshole. The whole time, he seems to have just two settings: extreme jerk or extreme nutball. Yeah, when he's not frowning, or slobbering, or shaking his head screaming, that leaves very little room to actually feel sorry for him, which I'm told is the intention they were going for.

Denethor: (various scenes) You will not take my son from me! / My line has ended! / Gondor is mine! / Abandon your posts! / Flee for your lives!

NC (voiceover): It looks like there was supposed to be a real tragic element to him, like he used to be a dignified steward and has gone mad with power, but there's just so little dignity you can see in this guy. And I know the idea is that he's supposed to have lost all his honor, but you're supposed to give some idea that there was some honor there to begin with, and you don't really get that. The only time the guy actually has sympathy, for me, was when he found out about Boromir's death and, oddly enough, when Pippin is offering his services.

Pippin: Until my lord release me...or death.

Denethor: And I shall not forget it...nor fail to reward that which is given.

NC (voiceover): He does actually seem thankful and somewhat kind in this brief moment. And I'm not saying we need a ton of that, but we just need more than what we got. But no, we need obvious symbolism to show that the decision makers in their ivory towers don't understand the fragility of life.

(Denethor is shown eating, while his army fights against the orcs)

Pippin (singing): Mist and shadow...cloud and shade...all shall...fade.

(Throughout the scene, the words "WAR IS BAD" flash at the bottom of the screen)

NC: I'm ignorantly benign!

(The words "Don't be a Douche, Don't Start a War" pop-up at the bottom of the screen)

NC (voiceover): Come on! If I wanted slurping disgustingness, I'd go watch more of Gimli.

(Gimli hiccups)

NC (voiceover): Even his death seems over-the-top goofy! Just when they're about to give him something close to a remorseful moment, what do they do?

(Denethor begins to burn in the fire and then runs screaming out of the bonfire)

NC (voiceover): W-W-W-Wh--This isn't Lord of the Rings. It's a fucking Itchy & Scratchy cartoon.

(NC mimics Curly's woop-woop sounds from The Three Stooges)

NC (voiceover): All I gotta say is, if you were looking to create a sorrowful Shakespearean villain, my guess is you need a little more dignity than this.

(Gandalf beats up Denethor with his staff, with Tom and Jerry sound effects representing the hits)

NC: We'll be back in a bit. Until then...let the emotional weight of this scene sink in.

(NC mimics Three Stooges sound effects as a burning Denethor falls to his death)

NC (voiceover; mimicking Denethor in a high-pitched voice): Hey, I can see them filming "Hobbit Part 12" from heeeere!

(We go to a commercial break, then we come back, showing NC still commenting on the earlier scene)

NC: That man can burn...that man can burn...Number 5...

(Interlude to the next entry)

#5 [ ]

Dead Body (from Monty Python and the Holy Grail): (voiceover) I'm Not Dead!

NC (voiceover): There's a saying that nobody ever really dies in TV, that's there's always a way to bring a popular character back. Well, the same definitely can be said for Lord of the Rings movies. First they think Gandalf is dead...

(He's alive! Hallelujah!)

NC (voiceover): Then they think Merry and Pippin are dead...

(They're alive! Hallelujah!)

NC (voiceover): Then they think Aragorn is dead...

(He's alive! Hallelujah!)

NC (voiceover): Then they think Frodo is dead...

(He's alive! Hallelujah!)

NC (voiceover): Good God! I thought the ending had too many fake-outs! This is like a new world record! Hell, they probably cut this "Mouth of Sauron" scene from Return of the King because it was twice that they did a Frodo death fake-out.

Mouth of Sauron: I have a token I was bidden to show thee. (He presents Frodo's mithril shirt) Know that he suffered greatly at the hands of his host.

(Cut to another skit with NC as Aragorn and Rachel as Legolas, with Malcolm now playing Gimli)

NC (as Aragron): We've done this! We've done this already!

Rachel (as Legolas): The whole "spider killing him" thing.

Malcolm (as Gimli): It didn't fool us then, it isn't fooling us now.

NC (as Aragorn): Honestly, we just want you to open your gate for a moment. Legolas!

(Rachel fires an arrow (with the ring) into Mount Doom, destroying Sauron)

Malcolm (as Gimli): That still only counts as one!

(The three shrug for the "wha-wha" sound effect)

NC (voiceover): In fact, I think the only reason Boromir never came back is because Sean Bean has it in his contract that he has to die in every single role that he's in, and stay dead! But everyone else--eh, death is just a roadblock to pass. It's like they build up that no matter what, these characters are fucking invincible. Look at this, how many times do they throw themselves into an army of killers and never even come out with a scratch on them? The funniest is probably this one with Aragorn and Gimli...

(Aragorn and Gimli fight through the hoard)

NC (voiceover): That is fucking ridiculous! This long line of killer monsters all being taken down by two men--one of them half the size of the rest of them! Even in the final climax, they know they have nothing to fear. Listen to how they talk.

Gimli: Certainty of death...small chance of success...what are we waiting for?

NC (mimicking Gimli): We've done this a million times! Even if we die, we're bound to bounce right back. Hell, we have an entire (the undead army is shown) army of dead people! It's like having a cold: (back to NC) you're out of commission for a bit, but you come back swinging.

NC (voiceover): Nothing like walking through "The Valley of the Shadow of Death," when that "Valley" is just the size of a thimble.

(Aragorn and Gimli fight through the Orc hoard)

NC (voiceover): That is fucking ridiculous!

(Interlude to the next entry)

#4 [ ]

NC (voiceover): Number 4--

Elrond: Arwen's Life is Now Tied to the Fate of the Ring.

NC (voiceover): Eh? Now, there's no doubt that Arwen's role has been expanded in the movies, and to be honest, I really don't mind. It's a bit of a sausage fest in here anyway, and hell, even the woman who does join the fight has to pretend she has a sausage, so having her do more stuff, I think was a welcomed addition. But then we get this really weird nonsense...

Elrond: Arwen is dying. The light of the Evening Star is failing. As Sauron's power grows, her strength wanes.

NC (voiceover): Uh, how the hell did that happen? We get something about the "Light of Bru-Ha-Ha" that's now somehow tied to Sauron growing because...I have no clue. It was made up for the movie, I guess as a means to give Aragorn something else to fight for, or...maybe keep her more out of the way so that they're being reunited would mean more. I'm not sure what the intention was, but, brother, does it make no sense. What is that light thing she gave up? If it makes her mortal, then how come none of the other mortal people in Middle-earth are dying? In fact, if it does make her mortal, then how come they were talking about how much it's gonna suck when she stays immortal in that other scene? In fact, hell, they make immortality look like such a bitch, she'd probably be welcoming death by this point! In most cases like this, you could say that it's explained in the book, but this was a new scene, and talked in very little detail about it. The more I think about it, maybe it would've be cooler if they wrote in that she went to fight with the rest of the army. She was originally filmed in the Helm's Deep battle, until they edited her out. Wouldn't it be nice to give her a little bit more battle damage than...a branch from a tree? Ooh, look at that scar! It shows she's tough and pushes on after battling...prickly leaves. I don't know, if you're gonna expand the character, at least do it in a way that makes sense. Until then, look pretty, cry, and...don't cut any hedges.

Elrond: Arwen's life is now tied to the fate of the Ring.

NC (voiceover): Eh?

(Interlude to the next entry)

#3 [ ]

NC (voiceover): Number 3--Sam and Frodo's Gayness.

NC: Okay, now let me make one thing perfectly clear before anyone has a heart attack: if Sam and Frodo were actually gay in the story, I wouldn't care.

NC (voiceover): Hell, it'd be cool. Maybe they'd be the first gay characters in fantasy... (a "He-Man" picture is briefly shown in the upper-left corner) ...openly gay anyway, but that's not what bothers me. What bothers me is that the intention was not to show the power of love, it was meant to show the power of friendship. Having a friendship and being in love are two different things. There's the love you share for a person you have an attraction for and want to live the rest of your life with, but there's also the love for a determined person who will always have your back and be by your side. And the reason that bugs me is that this relationship, while I do believe unintentionally makes them look more romantic than friendly, is that it's obvious Tolkien wanted to show the strength of friendship, for reasons of nobility and caring, rather than lust or romance. Lust and romance is fine, and we see it everywhere in big epic stories, but that's not what this is about. This is about two people who care for each other as the closest of companions. And truth be told, there's only a few popular stories I can think of that really dive into that. You don't often see two people of the same gender who give up their life for the other just for the reason of friendship. If it's opposite genders, pfft, fuck it, almost always hook up by the end of the story. So that's why I think it's more important that a friendship element was played up more than a romantic one, and again, I don't think it was intentional, but it's still hard to ignore that it comes off that way, and so much of that comes from just how friggin' lame these lines are. Let's just look at some of these scenes again.

Sam: (as one of his future children) Frodo was really courageous, wasn't he, Dad? (as himself) Yes, my boy. The most famousist of hobbits, and that's saying a lot.

Frodo: You left out one of the chief characters: Samwise the Brave. I want to hear more about Sam. Frodo wouldn't have gotten far without Sam.

Sam: Now, Mr. Frodo, you shouldn't make fun. I was being serious.

Frodo: So was I.

NC (voiceover): I'm just waiting for Gollum to roll his eyes and say, (as Gollum) "Oh, Christ! Just propose already!" (normal) And even the friendship/romance doesn't always make sense. Frodo sends Sam away because he thinks he ate the last of the Lembas Bread. Fair enough, he's possessed by the Ring and being manipulated by Gollum, but Sam actually starts to oblige, until he makes this little discovery.

(Sam grabs the cloth the bread came in and starts to squeeze it angrily)

NC (voiceover): What exactly is he supposed to realize there? (mimics Sam) So I didn't eat it! (speaks normally) Wouldn't his return have been a lot more powerful if they didn't show this scene? If Sam just said, "Fuck it! He's my friend! I'm gonna go and fight for him anyway!", that would've been a lot more noble. But no, he had to realize that he didn't eat the bread that he realized already he...didn't...eat...huh? Like I said, I don't think it was intentional, but the more cheesy these scenes are played out, the more you can't help but think of a corny romantic novel, so you can't act surprised at the comparisons, and I think we all know there's plenty of those. Granted, at the end, the relationship does work: Sam gets married, Frodo goes on his own path, and they do share a connection you legitimately believe in...just maybe you believe in it a little more than what was intended.

Sam: I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you!

(Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" plays as Sam carries Frodo up the mountain)

(Interlude to the next entry)

#2 [ ]

NC (voiceover): Number 2--Saru...Who? There is no doubt that the biggest "fuck you" to a character came when Saruman, the only human villain you had throughout any of these movies, was completely left out of Return of the King. What the hell?! He doesn't even make an appearance, a wave goodbye, or anything. He just doesn't show up. This is the guy that was the center of the poster in the last film. Your major villain second only to that giant eye-thingy, and he doesn't even get a little wave goodbye? What a rip-off! Now, in one sense, you could make the argument in that Sauron is really the villain, so you don't need to spend a ton of time with Saruman anyway. But there's two big problems with this: One. The excuse that they give is not to go after him, that he's too harmless now to do any real damage. Fucking what?!

Gimli: Well, let's just have his head and be done with it.

Gandalf: No. He has no power anymore.

Treebeard: The filth of Saruman is washing away.

NC: Yeah, he's learned his lesson. I mean, come on. What are the chances of an ancient evil that we don't kill all the way possibly coming back and biting us in the as... (Sauron growls) That doesn't count! He's an eye!

NC (voiceover): And second, they had a perfectly good scene of him shot and edited already! Yeah, if you go to the extended edition, it's right there, right at the very beginning. It ties up all loose ends, the connection between him and Grima, a final send-off between him and Gandalf, and, yes, they don't just ignore the big, evil genius who could obviously cause trouble later. (Legolas shoots Saruman) He's killed off, and in a pretty cool way, I might add.

(Saruman falls from the tower)

NC (voiceover): Well, I'm sure he can survive tha... (Saruman then lands on a spike) Maybe not.

NC (voiceover): I guess this scene was cut for time, which normally I would understand. For a film this long, you don't want to overstay your welcome, but it's the second scene in the movie! Nobody is going to be bored by the first few minutes! Really? Do you think anyone was gonna watch this and be like, (bored voice) "Ah, this first two minutes isn't grabbing me. I'm sure the next three hours will be more eventful." (regular voice) God, if it's a time issue, why didn't you shorten one of the other gajillion endings that you had? That's where people started to bitch and moan. They didn't need to know every single detail that went on after the war was over. But we did need to know what happened to one of your biggest villains in the entire film series! Of course, we always want to see the bad guy get the short end of the stick in the end, but next time, try letting us actually see it, because that short end of the stick can impale pretty nicely.

(His death is shown again)

NC (voiceover; as Saruman): Hey, Gandalf, do you still have that two-for-one coupon that can get you an extra life at the Pearly Gates? (as Gandalf) Sorry, already used it. (as Saruman) Oh, crud.

(Interlude to the next entry)

#1 [ ]

NC (voiceover): And the number one dumbest Lord of the Rings moment is...Those eagles that could've stopped everything!

NC (voiceover): Everyone in the world brings it up, and, of course, so am I. Why don't these creatures of awesomeness just fly over Mount Doom and drop the Ring off themselves? It's obvious that if they wanted to win this war quickly and more logically, they would've used these damn things from the beginning! And every excuse that people throw out in terms of the movie never holds water. "Oh, well, they're eagle gods who don't want to get involved in our world affairs." Well, that doesn't stop them from interfering one, two, and now three times in all of this*.

(He shows a picture of a scene from The Hobbit)

• (Note: There would be a fourth time that occurs in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies)

NC (voiceover): "Well, they wouldn't be able to get very far. The evils of Mordor are just too great." Oh, I don't know, they made it to the gate. They seem to be fighting off those Ringwraith things pretty good, and even if they didn't, you could have Gandalf night light reflect them off like he did before. It doesn't seem like Mordor has very many of those evil flying things. "Well, much like Gandalf, they would have been tempted to use it themselves and become evil in the process." For what? A two hour flight? If Frodo can resist for days on end, I think all the wise spirit gods can hold out as well, and, shit, how the hell are they gonna put that Ring on their claw anyway? "Well, they stick out too much. A sneak attack makes much more sense in the grand scheme of things." Really? Because how many times do Sam and Frodo get spotted, captured, and injured? For every day it takes them to walk on foot, thousands of lives are probably being lost. Let's face it, people. It's only by pure fucking LUCK that this plan worked at all. Even Gandalf, several times in the movie, acknowledges this was probably the dumbest strategy they've ever come up with.

Gandalf: I've sent him to his death.

NC: (as Gandalf) Oh, why the hell did I do this? I should've used the eagles.

NC (voiceover): I think all of us know how the ending of this film really should've gone down.

NC: Let's go back to the scenario we demonstrated before.

Mouth of Sauron: I have a token I was...

NC (as Aragorn): Yeah, yeah, yeah. Legolas.

(Rachel's Legolas fires the arrow at the ringwraith dragon as Malcolm's Gimli flies by on an eagle catching it)

Malcolm (as Gimli): The dwarves say Merry Christmas, motherfucker!

(He tosses the ring into Mount Doom, destroying Sauron)

NC (as Aragorn): Whiskey.

(He holds up a mug as Rachel pours some whiskey into it and the clink and drink while "Pig Power in the House" plays)

NC (voiceover): Even the series "How It Should Have Ended" did their take on this.

Sam (?): Well, that was incredibly easy.

Gimli (?): Yes, it was.

Frodo (?): Can you imagine what it would be like if we walked the entire way?

All: Don't be silly. Oh, my God.

NC (voiceover): You can make up whatever excuse you want, you can say that some way or another, this was the right thing to do, but for me, this is, by far, the dumbest Lord of the Rings moment.

Epilogue [ ]

NC: Now, let's count down the most awesome Lord of the Rings moments. Oh, wait, we can't, because there's too fucking many!

(Footage from the trilogy is shown once more as NC speaks)

NC (voiceover): Despite these problems and I'm sure even more that exist, it doesn't change the fact that Lord of the Rings is one of the best film trilogies of all time. It gave so much, it changed so much, and as much as we like to poke fun at it, there's still just too much to like about it.

NC: As for me, I'm off to partake in the ancient Middle-earth art of dwarf-tipping. I'm the Nostalgia Critic. I remember it so you don't have to.

Gimli: (offscreen) Salted pork?

(He is knocked out offscreen. The credits roll, followed by an outtake)

Rachel as Legolas: I shall handle this. (Her arrow falls off her bow)

Doug as Aragorn: You missed.

Channel Awesome Tagline: Gimli: With little hairy women!

Trivia [ ]

• This episode was scheduled to air on July 9, 2013, but was postponed to the following Thursday due to a power outage.

The Nostalgia Critic Transcripts
2008:	Transformers · Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue · Cloverfield Trailer Review · Power Rangers: A Look Back · Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Book Launch · Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movies · The Top 11 Scariest Nostalgic Moments · Super Mario Bros.: The Movie · Cloverfield Review · Street Fighter · Mortal Kombat · Space Jam · The Nerd Rant · The Nerd Rant Part 2 · Pokémon The First Movie · The Nerd Wizard Rant · The Wizard · The Top 11 Naughtiest Moments in Animaniacs · Batman & Robin · The Top 11 Catchiest Theme Songs · '90s Sports Montage · The Nerd Response…Response · The Top 11 Drug PSAs · The Battle of Epic Proportions · Captain Planet · Double Dare · 3 Ninjas · Top 11 Hottest Animated Women · Video Game Review · The Search for the Nostalgia Chick · He-Man and the Masters of the Universe · Follow That Bird · Saved By the Bell · Tom and Jerry: The Movie · Top 11 Saddest Moments · Nostalgia Chick Winner · Surf Ninjas · NC vs The Nerd Showdown · Top 11 Nostalgic Animated Shows · Kazaam · The Nerd vs. NC: The Final Battle · Off to Beat the Nerd · Drew Struzan Tribute · Halloween '08 Special · Double Dragon · Top 11 Underrated Nostalgic Classics · Howard the Duck · Mortal Kombat: Annihilation · Godzilla · Top 11 Disney Villains · The Super Mario Bros. Super Show · Top 12 Greatest Christmas Specials · Jingle All the Way
2009:	Nicktoons · Nickcoms · SNICK · Good Burger · The Making of the Final Battle · Ferngully: The Last Rain Forest · A Kid in King Arthur's Court · The Good Son · The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog · Top 11 Nostalgic Mindfucks · Twister · Garbage Pail Kids · Rock-A-Doodle · Titanic - The Legend Goes On · The Pagemaster · The NeverEnding Story · Moonwalker · Top 11 Dumbest Superman Moments · TMNT · Red Sonja · TGWTG Team Brawl · Short Circuit 1 & 2 · Batman vs. The Dark Knight · Full House · North · Critic and Nerd: TMNT Making of Coming Out of Their Shells · Sidekicks · Gargoyles · Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen · Steel · Top 11 Cereal Mascots · Barb Wire · New vs Old - LOTR Animated vs Lord of the Rings · Last Action Hero · Captain N · We're Back: A Dinosaur's Story · Warriors of Virtue · Captain America · Top 11 F*ckups · Alone in the Dark · Blank Check · Old vs. New: Willy Wonka · Cool as Ice · Suburban Commando · Next Karate Kid · Casper · Superman IV · Congo · Siskel and Ebert Tribute · Judge Dredd · Tank Girl · Jack Frost · He-Man and She-Ra Christmas Special · Next Best Christmas Specials · Star Wars Holiday Special · Ernest Saves Christmas
2010:	Commando · Junior · Conan and Conan the Destroyer · End of Days · Battlefield Earth · Bebe's Kids · Lost in Space · Top 11 Villain Songs · Quest for Camelot · Old vs. New: Nutty Professor · Bio-Dome · NeverEnding Story II · Top 11 Most Awkward Christopher Walken Moments · Flubber · Home Alone 3 · Old vs. New: King Kong · Drop Dead Fred · The Care Bears Movie · Kickassia: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6 · Jaws 3 · Free Willy · A Troll in Central Park · Theodore Rex · Top 11 Coolest Cliches · Hook · Independence Day · The Room · The Phantom · Zeus and Roxanne · Animaniacs Tribute · Flintstones Movie · Mr. Nanny · Rocky IV · Chairman of the Board · Next Top 11 NC Fuckups · Pound Puppies and the Legend of Big Paw · Pebble and the Penguin · Ernest Scared Stupid · Top 11 Scariest Performances · IT · Leprechaun · My Pet Monster · Commercial Special · Old vs. New: 10 Commandments vs. Prince of Egypt · The Thief and the Cobbler · Waterworld · Little Monsters · Rover Dangerfield · You're a Rotten Dirty Bastard · The First Couple: TMNT
2011:	NeverEnding Story III · Ferngully 2 · Secret of NIMH 2 · Care Bears 2 · Dungeons and Dragons · Top 11 Dumbest Spider-Man Moments · The Lost World: Jurassic Park · Return of the Nostalgic Commercials · Inspector Gadget · Old vs. New: The Karate Kid · The Langoliers · Airborne · Baby Geniuses · Raiders of the Story Arc: X-Men · The Magic Voyage · Double Team · Top 11 Dumbasses in Distress · Jaws: The Revenge · Gordy · The OTHER Animated Titanic Movie · Revenge of the Nostalgic Commercials · Once Upon a Forest · Little Nemo · Old vs. New: True Grit · Suburban Knights: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7 · Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon · Milk Money · Rad · Raiders of the Story Arc: Duck Tales · Care Bears in Wonderland · Cop and a Half · Top 11 Batman TAS Episodes · Alaska · Let's Play Bart's Nightmare · James and the Giant Peach · The Avengers · Simon Sez · The Tommyknockers · The Haunting · Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows · Exorcist 2 · Doug's 1st Movie · The Cell · Raiders of the Story Arc: Superman · Felix the Cat · Moulin Rouge · Babes in Toyland · How the Grinch Stole Christmas · Child's Play
2012:	Santa Claus: The Movie · Star Trek: The Motion Picture · Star Trek 3: The Search for Spock · Star Trek 5: The Final Frontier · Star Trek 7: Generations · Star Trek 9: Insurrection · Patch Adams · Ponyo · Dunston Checks In · Thomas and the Magic Railroad · Top 11 Nostalgia Critic F*** Ups Part 3 · Richie Rich · Jungle 2 Jungle · Old vs. New: Manhunter vs. Red Dragon · Star Chaser · Transformers Cartoon · A Simple Wish · Alien Resurrection · Jack · Heavy Metal · Mr. Magoo · Top 11 Simpsons Episodes · Signs · Digimon: The Movie · Top 11 F*** YEAH Movie Themes · Baby Geniuses 2 · Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom · The Wiz · Total Recall (with Sci-Fi Guy) · Scooby-Doo · To Boldly Flee: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8 · NC's Top 11 Favorite Jokes · The WORST Movies Nostalgia Critic's Reviewed
2013:	The Review Must Go On · The Odd Life of Timothy Green · Pearl Harbor · Son of the Mask · The King and I · Catwoman · The Cat in the Hat · Top 11 South Park Episodes · Jurassic Park · A.I. Artificial Intelligence · The Master of Disguise · Turbo - A Power Rangers Movie · Top 11 Dumbest Lord of the Rings Moments · Sailor Moon · Les Miserables · Top 11 Adult Jokes We Never Got as Kids · The Last Airbender · Bridge to Terabithia · The Shining Mini-Series · Sharknado · Devil · Dawn of the Commercials · Man of Steel · Top 12 Santa Clauses · Eight Crazy Nights · The Christmas Tree
2014:	Face/Off · The Wicker Man · Ghost Rider · Top 11 Strangest Best Couples · Ghost Dad · Disney's Alice in Wonderland · Top 11 Moments You Never Noticed in Ghostbusters · Disney Afternoon · Foodfight · Swan Princess · The Lorax · Old vs. New: Spider-Man · Blues Brothers 2000 · Jurassic Park 3 · After Earth · Bloodrayne · The Purge · Top 11 Trailers · Small Soldiers · The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement · Ghost Rider 2 · Top 11 Worst Avatar Episodes · Top 11 Best Avatars (with Dante Basco) · Maximum Overdrive · Top 11 New Halloween Classics · Monster Squad · Rise of the Commercials · Forest Warrior · Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (NC) · Christmas Story 2 · Care Bears Nutcracker
2015:	The Matrix · The Animatrix · The Matrix Reloaded · The Matrix Revolutions · AVGN Movie · Mamma Mia! · The Haunted Mansion · Daredevil · Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014) · Demolition Man · Top 11 Animaniacs Episodes · Legend of Zorro · The Ewoks Cartoon - Was That Real? · Fantastic Four · Cowboys of Moo Mesa - Was That Real? · Sharkboy and Lavagirl · Small Wonder - Was That Real? · Jupiter Ascending · Jurassic World · Top 11 TV Show Intros · Planet of the Apes · Osmosis Jones · Garfield: The Movie · Pixels · The Smurfs · Hammerman - Was That Real? · Mad Max: Fury Road · Event Horizon · Children of the Corn · Hocus Pocus · Conquest of the Commercials · Dragon's Lair · We Wish You a Turtle Christmas · Christmas with the Kranks · Star Wars: The Force Awakens (NC)
2016:	The Happening · Top 11 Funniest Shyamalan Moments · Lady in the Water · Labyrinth · Spawn · Cats & Dogs · The Phantom of the Opera · The Adventures of Pluto Nash · Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain - Was That Real? · Batman v Superman · Blade · Old vs. New: Cinderella · Spy Kids 3D: Game Over · Jem and the Holograms (2015) · The Grinch vs. The Cat in the Hat - Was That Real? · Scooby-Doo 2 · Alvin and the Chipmunks · Ghostbusters (2016) · Teddy Ruxpin Live Action Series - Was That Real? · Wild Wild West · The 3rd Animated Titanic Movie (Tentacolino) · The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle · Stephen King's Dreamcatcher · Freddy vs. Jason · Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows · Battle of the Commercials · Inspector Gadget Saves Christmas · Top 12 Christmas Commercials · I'll Be Home For Christmas · Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
2017:	Top 11 Best Movie Sequels · Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel · Top 11 Worst Movie Sequels · The Smurfs 2 · Garfield 2: A Tail of Two Kitties · Cool World · Old vs. New: Evil Dead · Top 11 WTF Alternate Endings · Balto · Fant4stic · Clockstoppers · The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas · Suicide Squad Trailer · Suicide Squad · Alien vs. Predator · Transformers: The Last Knight NON-Review · Wonder Woman · Norm of the North · Cats Don't Dance · Hulk (2003) · Tom and Jerry: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory · Monkeybone · G.I. Joe: The Movie · The Sorcerer's Apprentice · DuckTales (2017) · Eragon · Kangaroo Jack · A Goofy Movie · Green Lantern · Scary Godmother · It (2017) · Halloween (2007) · The Mummy · The Mummy (2017) · Dragonball Evolution · Bangarang · War of the Commercials · Super Mario Bros.: The Anime · Rapsittie Street Kids: Believe in Santa · A Muppet Family Christmas · Home Alone 2: Lost in New York · Star Wars: The Last Jedi
2018:	Mars Attacks! · Lara Croft: Tomb Raider · Top 11 Good Adam Sandler Movies · Yogi Bear · Horton Hears a Who · Batman Forever · Freakazoid · Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked · Maleficent · Alice Through the Looking Glass · The Jungle Book (2016) · Beauty and the Beast (2017) · Woody Woodpecker · Jack and Jill · An American Tail: Fievel Goes West · Starship Troopers · The Emoji Movie · Scooby-Doo: The Mystery Begins · The Boss Baby · The Spirit · Deadpool 2 · Chicken Little · The Angry Birds Movie · Do the Bartman · Fox Kids · The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen · Bartok the Magnificent · Mission: Impossible 2 · Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie (NC) · Doom · Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles · Ghostbusters 2 · Old vs. New: Teen Titans vs. Teen Titans Go · Freddy Got Fingered · Big Fat Liar · Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer · Grading Cartoon Show Intros · Sleepwalkers · Top 11 Stephen King Movies · Van Helsing · Rubber · The Powerpuff Girls Movie · Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom · A Wrinkle in Time · Escape from the Commercials · A Christmas Story Live · The Search for Santa Paws · The Nutcracker (2010) · Elf Bowling: The Movie
2019:	Max Payne · Robocop (2014) · The Black Cauldron (NC) · Top 11 Funniest Siskel and Ebert Reviews · The Country Bears · Donnie Darko · X-Men: The Animated Series · X-Men · X2: X-Men United · X-Men: The Last Stand · X-Men Origins: Wolverine · Best F(r)iends · Tom and Jerry and the Wizard of Oz · Hop · Stuart Little · Toonami · Balto II: Wolf Quest · Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within · Man on the Moon · Mary Poppins Returns · Movie 43 · Alien 3 · Barney's Great Adventure · Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief · Constantine · Kim Possible · The Lion King · Blade II · That Darn Cat · The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones · Underworld · Mulan II · Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip · The Pest · The Wall · Aladdin (2019) · Hannibal · It: Chapter Two · Demon Knight · Venom · Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island · Justice League · Frozen · Planet of the Commercials · The Grinch (2018) · The Most INSANE Christmas Rom Com · The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause · Die Hard
2020:	Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker · Beverly Hills Chihuahua · Con Air · Duckman · Supergirl · Spider-Man · Spider-Man 2 · Spider-Man 3 · The Amazing Spider-Man · The Amazing Spider-Man 2 · Trolls · Dolittle · Frozen II · Independence Day: Resurgence · Critters · Alpha and Omega · Avatar (2009) · Stuart Little 2 · Superman Returns · Totally Spies!: The Movie · Elektra · Alita: Battle Angel · Mouse Hunt · Battleship · The Hunchback of Notre Dame · The Lion King (2019) · The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland · The Animated Lord of the Rings · The Iron Giant · The Bill & Ted Movies · Mulan · Playing with Fire · Problem Child · Pokémon Detective Pikachu · X-Men: Apocalypse · The Lost Boys · The Stand · The Witches · Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark · Tusk · Curse of the Commercials · Sucker Punch · Krampus · The Muppet Christmas Carol · Deck the Halls · Batman Returns · Home Alone 4
2021:	Shark Tale · The FREAKIEST Raggedy Ann Movie · The Mummy Returns · Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles · 9 · Strange Magic · The Terminator · Terminator 2: Judgment Day · Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines · Terminator Salvation · Terminator Genisys · Terminator: Dark Fate · Wonder Woman 1984 · Freaked · The Prince of Egypt · Blade: Trinity · Mulan (2020) · Tom and Jerry (2021) · Scooby-Doo: Curse of the Lake Monster · Who Framed Roger Rabbit · The Banana Splits Movie · Ready Player One · Men in Black II · An American Tail · Monty Python's The Meaning of Life · Cats · Jetsons: The Movie · Atlantis: The Lost Empire · Mystery Men · X-Men: Dark Phoenix · Cinderella III: A Twist in Time · Top 11 Movies Saved by the Ending · The Mask · The Nightmare Before Christmas · The Ring · Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost · The Lawnmower Man · Leap! · Space Jam: A New Legacy · A Series of Unfortunate Events · Commercials Resurrection · Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas · The Polar Express · Home Alone 5: The Holiday Heist · Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever · Reindeer Games
2022:	Old · Birds of Prey · Rango · Daphne & Velma · Pan · Tarzan · National Treasure · Return to Oz · Batman Begins · The Dark Knight · The Dark Knight Rises · Batman · Batman: Mask of the Phantasm · Hancock · Bobbleheads: The Movie · Lilo & Stitch · Pinocchio: A True Story · The Rugrats Movie · Spider-Man: No Way Home · The Brave Little Toaster · Tombstone · The Fifth Element · Garfield and Friends · Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole · The Batman
DVD Exclusives:	Turkish Rambo · Video Game Review 2: Blues Brothers (SNES) · Reefer Madness · Doomsday Machine · NC - Kickassia · NC - Suburban Knights · NC - To Boldly Flee · NC - Live Review of Twilight Breaking Dawn Part 2 · Paranoia · Cup of Idiocy (Doug's Old Home Movies) · Night of the Living Dead · The Cinema Snob Movie · The Review Must Go On Review
Theme months	NostalgiaWeen · Christmas · Annual Theme Month

flanarysooking.blogspot.com

Source: https://thatguywiththeglasses.fandom.com/wiki/Top_11_Dumbest_Lord_of_the_Rings_Moments

Share this post