Chapter 258: Using the Protagonist to Highlight the Supporting Characters

The plot continues to unfold.

All the audience members in the theater are completely engrossed in the story, their attention fully captured by the events on the screen.

At the same time, there's a subtle sense of anticipation in their hearts.

They eagerly await the reappearance of Legolas's handsome face.

Meanwhile, as the most unfortunate and insignificant protagonist in cinematic history, Frodo doesn't seem to matter much to the audience.

In fact, many people are secretly hoping that this hobbit will find himself in danger, just so they can see Legolas drawing his bow and shooting arrows again.

...

The interior of the Mines of Moria is vast.

It takes four days to travel from the entrance to the far end.

And within these mines, many unknown terrifying creatures reside.

This is far from the Dwarven paradise Gimli once mentioned.

Perhaps it was once a paradise.

But now, it's more like a veritable cage for monsters.

And Gimli's cousin, Balin, has long since become a corpse inside a stone coffin.

Human nature is inherently drawn to adventure and curiosity.

Peter Jackson depicts the Fellowship's journey through Moria in a thrilling, bizarre manner—filled with monsters, strange sights, and unexpected events—

It's truly magnificent, making the audience's hearts race in excitement.

With wide eyes, they eagerly await what comes next.

And for a moment, they even forget about Legolas?!

Well, that's impossible!

Legolas's heroic presence is always a fixed point of expectation for the audience!

Merry and Pippin, those two hobbits, once again display their "monster-attracting" ability—these two seem to exist only to increase the difficulty of the Fellowship's mission.

Their "accidental" actions awaken the terrifying monsters in the Mines of Moria.

The creatures in the cave immediately straighten their bodies, raise their heads, and turn toward the source of the disturbance.

Then—

The orcs and cave trolls lurking in the shadows pounce toward their location.

The battle begins again.

Everyone in the theater sits up straighter.

Hooray, the protagonists are in danger again!

Scratch that!

Hooray, we get to see Legolas again!

The most intense battle since the opening war begins.

Though there are many orcs, their individual strength is clearly no match for the Fellowship, especially our Legolas—

Peter Jackson really is biased—

He almost makes our "Elven prince" appear as a shining beacon in the midst of this bloody battle!!!

Even amidst the slaughter, he remains graceful and dignified—

Whether leaping, drawing his bow, or unsheathing his sword to kill, everything he does exudes beauty.

Just look at the glowing eyes of the audience… It's clear that Peter Jackson's favoritism is well-deserved.

The Fellowship faces danger again. After defeating the orcs, the cave trolls, a terrifying species, bring a deadly threat.

The group is scattered in the chaos.

The protagonists? They're basically just trying to survive.

Aragorn, Gandalf, and the others fight while retreating.

And Legolas continues to maintain his graceful posture, nimbly jumping between cliffs and strange rocks, continually drawing and shooting arrows, drawing and shooting arrows, drawing and shooting arrows...

His fluid and beautiful combat style, unparalleled beauty, and effortless elegance make Legolas the most captivating presence in this battle, and the next, and the one after that.

This is what you call the "spotlight package"!

Do "spotlight packages" annoy people? Yes!

How do you make them less annoying?

Simple: just make the character as beautiful as Martin's portrayal of Legolas.

Beauty is justice!

Frodo, undoubtedly one of the most tortured protagonists in cinematic history, gets severely injured while everyone else is fighting for their lives. The "poor little thing" is pierced by an arrow.

If not for Legolas's rapid-fire arrows, Frodo would have been dead by now!

What's even more tragic is that, already wounded, Peter Jackson still uses him to highlight Legolas's heroism.

Legolas fires a series of arrows, then leaps over Frodo's fallen body, and with a sword in hand, he plunges it into the eye of the cave troll—

This is yet another visually stunning action, and it seems that Peter Jackson has poured all his cinematographic skills into Martin's portrayal, with perfect lighting, angles, and color grading.

Meanwhile, Frodo becomes even more insignificant beneath this heroic display.

Whoosh!

The sword pierces the cave troll's eye.

Pulling the sword out, spinning, landing, and not disturbing a single speck of dust!

Legolas elegantly pulls the battered Frodo to his feet and gently asks, "Are you alright?"

"Oh, Legolas is so gentle, so caring!"

"Oh, Legolas is so brave, so amazing!"

In the audience, pairs of eyes sparkle with "little stars."

The other members of the Fellowship then begin to engage the cave troll, who now has one eye gouged out. Legolas helps Frodo to the side, quickly jumps onto a large stone, leaps high into the air, and shoots an arrow that kills the cave troll!

Then, the group checks Frodo's condition.

Fortunately, the mithril shirt has blocked the blow and saved the poor protagonist's life.

But they don't have time to relax, as more orcs appear, surrounding them in the open hall.

Then, something even more terrifying appears. An ancient fire demon, driven by flames, dispels the orcs. This fire demon, which Gandalf had earlier stated could not be defeated, becomes the new tormentor for the Fellowship, beginning an unrelenting pursuit.

At the theater, no one has the time or energy for anything else—

Need to go to the bathroom? Hold it!

Popcorn? Forget it!

Eyes burning? Deal with it!

Then comes one of the most iconic scenes of Gandalf in The Fellowship of the Ring:

"I am the servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the Flame of Anor…"

Gandalf glows with bright silver light as he stands on a bridge across the abyss, facing the massive fire demon.

"The dark fire will not avail you, Flame of Udûn!"

The Secret Fire is a power, the power with which Eru Ilúvatar created the world.

Ilúvatar not only created the world but also the gods.

Gandalf is one of the most well-known "Maiar," essentially a god, and so he claims to be the servant of the Secret Fire.

"Stop, this path is closed!"

With a powerful shout, Gandalf uses his magic to shatter the bridge.

The fire demon falls into the endless abyss below with the crumbling rock.

However, just as the group breathes a sigh of relief, a fiery whip suddenly lashes out and wraps around Gandalf's ankle, pulling him down as well.

The Fellowship loses their wise leader and guide.