The Grey Havens

[squinteyedsoutherner]

After all the hype that the Grey Havens was Jackson’s favorite scene, I was very disappointed by it. Although the visual was well done (another “lift” from the Tolkien calendars) the whole place seemed deserted. Did I blink and miss Cirdan? Where were all the other Elves? I expected some beautiful, large majestic white ship, not a small sailboat. After all, it takes the elves all night to move through the Shire, and where are the Elves who dwell at the Havens who built the ship?

“With them went many Elves of the High Kindred who would no longer stay in Middle Earth; and among them filled with a sadness that was yet blessed and without bitterness, rode Sam and Frodo and Bilbo, and the Elves delighted to honour them".

“Though They rode through the midst of the Shire all the evening and all the night, none saw them pass, save the wild creatures”

“As they came to the gates Cirdan the shipwright came forth to greet them. Very tall he was, and his beard was long, and he was grey and old, save his eyes were as keen as stars”

from ROTK

“White was that ship and long a-building”

The Silmarillion

How about an exchange between Gandalf and Cirdan. After all:

“At first the ring had been entrusted to Cirdan Lord of the Havens but he had surrendered it to Mithrandir, for he knew whence he came and whither at last he would return.

“Take now this ring, he said for thy labours and thy cares will be heavy, but in all it will support thee and defend thee from weariness. For this is the Ring of fire, and herewith, maybe, thou shalt rekindle hearts to the valour of old in a world that grows chill. But as for me, my heart is with the sea, and I will dwell by the Grey shores, guarding the Havens until the last ship sails. Then I shall await thee.”

“It passed into the ancient West, and an end was come for the Eldar of story and of song”

This is my favorite chapter of ROTK, so perhaps the build-up is what let me down, but I don’t think this scene captured the spirit of Tolkien’s "last white ship" at all. The scenery was well done but something important was missing. It was sort of a final parting of the fellowship, but it missed completely the magnitude of what was really ending in Middle Earth, at least for me.

[Sister Golden Hair]

I have to agree here. Although the scenery was lovely, it was not how I imagined it. Speaking of artwork on a calendar, I imagined it to look more like the Grey Havens done by the Hildebrandt (sp) brothers. I forget the year of that particular calendar, but it was a beautiful piece of artwork. The Elves were amazing.

[Arathorn]

Now I know why, when many people in the moviehouse around me were using the tissue papers, I was wondering why the scene didn't connect with me. It just looked like one of those scenes in "What Dreams May Come"; a movie starring Robin Williams.

I know the scene was supposed to be a bit sad because of the farewell, but it just felt drearily deserted.

[Artanis]

Ugh. I don't like Hildebrandt.

This is my favorite chapter of ROTK, so perhaps the build-up is what let me down, but I don’t think this scene captured the spirit of Tolkien’s "last white ship" at all. The scenery was well done but something important was missing. It was sort of a final parting of the fellowship, but it missed completely the magnitude of what was really ending in Middle Earth, at least for me.

I missed that special feeling too like you, but that's because we've read LotR and the Sil and more, and we know the true identity of Gandalf, and we know the history of Elrond, Galadriel and Celeborn (though Celeborn shouldn't have been there of course). People who have not read the books won't bother.

I think the desolation of the Grey Havens was natural, after all it was the last ship to go (in the movie). If Cirdan was there I didn't notice him, I agree that they could have put him in, he was after all present in the prologue.

[Sminty_Smeagol]

The grey Havens were beautiful, but lacked emotional impact -Frodo's farewell to the hobbits was a little corny IMO. But I guess there are some beauties which only words can express, some feelings and emotions and sadness which can only be expressed by those words. They probably should have explained a little more that they were going to Valinor, the origin of Elves and the powers. And the beautiful thing about that in the books is the idea of ultimate peace and in a way a metaphor of death(IMO) for Frodo, who was exhausted of life and out of place... so beyond others' experiences that he was unable to communicate with other Hobbits of the Shire now... and the slow, euphoric idea of the destiny faroff in this metaphorical death hinted at by the great white towers... the movie just shows the ship sailing away to god knows where in the sunset or something... while in the books the farewells were less drawn out, and the glimmering of the light of Frodo's glass of Elendil glimmered one last time, and there is a portrayal of the idea of Valinor....

the movie lacked all this and it was less bittersweet and beautiful IMO

[Imric]

I had hoped to see Gandalf waiting at the quay with Shadowfax. A very minor touch that was unfortunately overlooked. I will say I was moved by the sight of the hooded Gandalf driving the wagon which carried the aged Bilbo. I was reminded of those myths in which Hermes escorts the dead down to the underworld. In his role as an angelic messenger Gandalf serves much the same purpose for he is now shepherding his halfling friends through the last days of their mortal lives to whatever fate may await them beyond the Uttermost West.

[Starr Polish]

Maybe I should just be flung into the unwashed masses of movie-only fans (just kidding, mods...), but I adored the Grey Havens scene, and cried deeply. Sam and Frodo's last hug, and the kiss...I was near sobbing at this point. I think that it was done quite well, and the acting, especially Sean Astin's (me, biased? Naw...) was well done.

I've never imagined the Grey Havens being a place with much bustling or activity. In my mind it was always very somber and, well...grey.

[Dúnedain]

Originally posted by Starr Polish
I've never imagined the Grey Havens being a place with much bustling or activity. In my mind it was always very somber and, well...grey.

I agree, I always pictured it with a few keepers or wardens along with Cirdan...

[squinteyedsoutherner]

I think an emptied Havens with the hobbits standing alone on the dock watching the ship sail off would have been a powerful image. But I don’t see how, given Tolkien’s description, the Havens could have been deserted while the ship was still moored. And not to nitpick but if I am remembering the film correctly, that was a boat not a ship. A vessel must have at least three masts to be considered even a small ship and Tolkien says this particular ship took a long time to build. To me, that has always implied that the ship was big and probably beautifully ornate.

I've read the Grey Havens chapter more times than any other in the book, and I guess I was expecting what Tolkien wrote (I know, insert Jackson joke here) A large beautiful white ship, a host of elves - enough to do justice to the statement that “they moved through the shire all the evening and all the night” Cirdan and his “crew” of builders, some verbal exchanges that at least hinted to Cirdan’s past with Gandalf and the other elves, and just a sense that something beyond the fellowship was ending. This is a big moment for Middle-earth, It was the perfect scene to throw the die hard fans a bone, and we got another rewrite for the worse. At least in my opinion.

[Willow Oran]

I'm with Starr Polish on this one. I love the Gray Havens scene and I think they did it beautifully for the movie. I admit that it wasn't quite as moving as it was in the book, but that doesn't change the fact that it was still an absolutely gorgeous scene despite the changes.

[Arien the Maia]

The third time I saw the movie, I noticed Cirdan standing behind Galdriel, Celeborn and Elrond...he was kinda way back there. And, why in the movie is he pictured without a beard?

[Arathorn]

About Cirdan, someone told me that he was there. He was a bit to the right and behind Galadriel.

Anyway, I still would have appreciated a more obvious role. After all, he rules the harbor.

[Rosie Gamgee]

I loved the scene, and the scenery- excepting the boat- ahem! ship, ship! I figured on there being some great greyish-white ship with a full company of elves. Sorry, the boat and the lack of people was very dissapointing. The sunset was great (very glad it was not one of those 'Barbie sunsets', where everything looks like that sick pink in the Barbie displays in toy-stores). And, as I've said before, PJ saved himself with his actors. The scene gets you very hooked on the faces. Frodo's parting smile is absolutely beautiful!! I did not cry (although I wanted too) but I thought the scene was very well done.

[thranduil]

I just wish it had been during the night, how i imagined it. but I was glad pip didn't say anything dumb, or anything at all when frodo hugged him.

[Laurelyn]

The . . . movie-alization of the scenery hit me like a blow. I didn't like some of the designs used constantly for the Elves in the film because some of them looked tacky, so seeing those again was unpleasant. And where was the sea? Not that lifeless, flat, shining blue thing. That's not the sea. That's not the entity that could turn Legolas' heart from the forests. Egads! Maybe it's just me, but seeing such a lackadaisical ocean was another big wrench. It was a big letdown.
Yes, though, Rosie, PJ did save himself with his actors. Although I really wanted to shoot Cate Blanchett. She had about as much life as the bloody sea.
*grumble grumble*

[Shadowfax]

Originally posted by Arien the Maia
The third time I saw the movie, I noticed Cirdan standing behind Galdriel, Celeborn and Elrond...he was kinda way back there. And, why in the movie is he pictured without a beard?

Hey me too! I finally noticed Cirdan at my third viewing as well! Yeah, and I was disappointed that he had no beard!

[azalea]

The scenery isn't the way I imagine it to be, but there was a good emotional impact for me, and of course I lived that Gandalf said his line "I will not say 'do not weep,' for not all tears are an evil." You can bet I teared up then! That whole scene is so bittersweet, and I felt when I watched it the same way I do when I read it, despite the look of the place being very different than I think of it.