Character fight style study FOTR: Who is the best?

[ScokeRiderofRohan]

Well, this is a character study for the guys in LOTR:FOTR. about the weapons the characters used, how their fighting styles reflected their characters, etc.

I have to say that Aragorn fought the best, but Boromir fought the bravest.

Any other comments that can spark a conversation are welcome.

[Jude]

So true, Boromir gave his life defending the hobbits, and though it is still sad to watch these scenes, he fought magnificently

[raba nethe]

i think legolas had the best fighting style. i just loved the bit in ttt when the wrgs attack and he sumersaults onto the back of arod. its so cool. and the shield surfing in helms deep.

[ScokeRiderofRohan]

He had the more flashy skills, I'll give him that. But, you can kill the enemy like Aragorn does with the same results, just not as crowd pleasing as stabbing an orc in the face with an arrow, then shooting the same arrow a second later at another one behind the dead orc..

[Arwen the webmaster]

I do think Legolas is the most talented, but that's probably because he's had many thousands of years of practice! Elves shouldn't count. They have a totally unfair advantage. Of the other races, I'd say Aragorn is the best fighter, since he can use a bow (in the Mines of Moria, at least), a torch (on Weathertop), and a sword. Go Strider!

*~Arwen~*

[Krissy]

i dont know..i agree with Arwen

[LegolasLover]

I think that I loved Legolas's style more, but Boromir fought the most couragously! So, hmmm... Aragorn fought well too.

[Darknight]

From a man who is trained as a swordsman (me) . . .

The style of the fighters in LotR was influenced heavilly by their builds and the weapons they were using. For example, Boromir (played by Sean Bean) is a big, muscular man (the vast majority of that was not layers of costume, but layers of muscle - he only wore armour on his arms). The sword he used was incredibly heavy for its length, despite having a full length fuiller - it was very wide and would have required considerable strength in the arms and shoulders. Boromir's style can be seen in the fact he uses lots of overhand chopping motions and keeps the sword moving - once it is spinning around, it is hard to stop. He used the shield offensively on occasion, but primarilly fought with the sword. In many ways, it has a lot of similarities with Talhoffer Germanic styles; the sword point describing circles that just happen to have enemies within them. You will also note that, at Amon Hen, Boromir makes use of his height and weight by using downward stabbing motions, pinning Uruks to the floor.

In all cases, Boromir's style is strength over finesse - he grapples with the Uruk and takes its axe off it, he flings a dagger hard enough to knock one back, and his sword shatters limbs. This is in character with Boromir, and within the build of Sean Bean.

Viggo Mortensen is leaner and wirier that Bean, and Aragorn was raised by the elves. His sword is lighter, thinner and slighly longer. His style of fighting is influenced by the Elven styles used by Elrond, Haldir and Arwen - as he was taught by the same people. His cuts and parries are more elegant and economical, and he tends to fight with the whole of the weapon - pommel blows, quillion strikes - and also to use the rest of his body (punches and headbuts being most common). This is in character with his traning (speed and agility) and his character as the "ready for anything" Ranger. It is interesting to note that Aragorn is the only character in the film to reverse his blade and stab behind him (Amon Hen) - this is an extremely difficulty maneauver to accomplish with any degree of strength or accuracy, and highlights his training and skill.

Legolas's style is similar to Aragorn's - although it is far closer and more personal, as he has a much shorter weapon. Although his style could be regarded as "flashy" there are in fact less moves in it that are neither parries or strikes than there are in Boromir's (for example). It looks flashy because of the speed and because he is using both hands. Again, Legolas is a "strike of opportunity" warrior, and simply has to use everything available (or he will get swamped).

The style used by the Elves in the Battle of the Last Alliance and at Helm's Deep bear observation - they are curving strikes owing much to axe styles of Northern Europe. The curved elements of the blades (the double-handed ones at least) lend themselves to these long "draw cuts", and the weight and power of the swords (together with the leverage imparted by the length of hilt) overcomes the weakness of the Elves in comparison to the Uruk-Hai.

The use of Hadafang (Arwen's / Erond's sword) is also interesting. It is a blade similar in many ways to the infamous oriental "katana" (a blade no where near as good as people make out!) - it can be wielded single- or double-handed. Elrond uses it double handed during the Last Alliance in a style which is virtually perfect mediaeval Japanese single-sword work (at least certain Schools). Arwen, on the other hand, uses it either in a style which can be called "cavalry katana" or "cavalry sabre". Both of these are curved sword styles, and rely on the speed and power of the horse to deliver the strength to the blow - the weapon is meant to be held double-handed, but single-handed on a horse supplies sufficient power. Arwen does not really do much with the blade, which makes it difficult to judge her exact style, but the two are quite similar (witness Tom Cruise in "The Last Samurai"!)

The Elven swords - being curved - are mostly used for the draw cut, although the compressive strike is an option. The curve of the blade means that a small portion of the edge comes into contact with the enemy initially and then, as the sword moves into the flesh, the cut is widened and deepened gradually and elegantly, allowing for a terrible wound to be inflicted with ease (this was the priciple behind the katana). The katana - being double-handed - was also used as a parrying weapon (it is almost unique in real-world swords in that respect, in that it is a weapon which is both offensive and defensive) and this can be seen with the work of both Elrond, Haldir and their warriors. The katana cannot easilly be used in this manner on horseback, and so it is unlikely Arwen would use it this way (although I would have loved to have seen her fight!)

A mention can be made on fighting styles of the Rohirrim and the Gondorians - the Rohirrim fight with relatively short swords reminscient of Dark Ages Anglo-Saxon weapons, and fight in a style which is most appropriate for those swords - swift parries followed by equally swift strikes. The speed of these can be seen with Theoden's parry's against the Warg Riders and Eowyn's "disarm" of Aragorn.

By contrast, the Gondorians are using much longer and later-styled swords; possibly even Renaisance in style. Many of the moves used by Faramir's rangers are reminiscent of Italian styles of the 1600s. Faramir's sword is sharply pointed, showing it was designed for thrusting as well as slashing, and this is indicative of the skill he would have had with the blade. It is also interesting to note that the Rangers of Gondor are skilled in unarmed techniques - they throw Frodo and Sam to the floor with little effort and silently.

A word can be said of offensive shield use - the only armies who appear to make use of this are the Goblins (whose shields resemble the Balrog's wings), the Uruks (whose shields feature points to stab and can be locked into a "tortoise") and the Elves (whose shields are fitted with a highly unusual handgrip which runs the length of the shield and allows it to be used as a weapon with ease). One of the most impressive uses of the shield offensively is Gil-Galad's fighting style at the opening of the film.

There you are, just a few observations. Don't even get me started on the fighting styles of the Ringwraiths . . .

[Krissy]

LegolasLover said:

I think that I loved Legolas's style more, but Boromir fought the most couragously! So, hmmm... Aragorn fought well too.

Legolas is an elf he doesnt count

[LegolasLover]

why not? Leoglas is a huge part of why th fellowship survived. He can do so much with one little arrow! lol

[ScokeRiderofRohan]

Darknight, you really know what you are talking about. Kudos!! ;D

Very nice observations..

[Krissy]

LegolasLover said:

why not? Leoglas is a huge part of why th fellowship survived. He can do so much with one little arrow! lol

because he is an elf and elves have thousands of years of practice. and what he can do with a bow and arrow in the movies are so fake........lol

[Aerochick]

Boromir ;D
But Aragorn is good to
Ik haat Legolas!

[ScokeRiderofRohan]

krissy1234 said:

because he is an elf and elves have thousands of years of practice.

Yeah, when you have lots of time on your hands..

[Krissy]

yeah so he dosent count...lol