LOTR:ROTK Questions

[kung flu]

No, Gandalf didn't die. At best, he lost his physical form and had to get a new one. The Valar (basically demi-gods, or more accurately angels) sent him back (they sent him and the other wizards to Middle Earth in the first place).

So is the white Gandalf, more powerful than the gray one or is it just a makeover?

[JELEINEN]

So is the white Gandalf, more powerful than the gray one or is it just a makeover?

It's a change of status. He replaced Saruman as the leader.

[kung flu]

It's a change of status. He replaced Saruman as the leader.

Thanks for answering my questions JELEINEN also thanks to everyone else who answered my previous questions.

[Seven]

In the book, the dead only help Aragorn free Southern Gondor so they in turn can help break the siege of Minas Tirith. The scrubbing bubbles bit was one of Jackson's lamer ideas, and by the movie, you're right that it would have been better to keep them.

To be fair to Jackson, he was opposed to the inclusion of the army of the dead at first since he wanted to go for a more historic feeling less supernatural direction. He was vetoed either by fan outrage/disapproval or his writing partners.

[Seven]

It's a change of status. He replaced Saruman as the leader.

I saw his return as the white not only as a promotion in rank but also the powers attributed to that authority as well. Gandalf the Grey would not have been able to pull off disarming Saruman or other later deeds but Gandalf the White has that capability and authority.

[1st Border Red Devil]

In the book, the dead only help Aragorn free Southern Gondor so they in turn can help break the siege of Minas Tirith.

More specifically, they aid Aragorn and the Grey Company (Elladan, Elrohir, Halbarad and 30 of the Rangers of the North) retake the port city of Pelargir.

The scrubbing bubbles bit was one of Jackson's lamer ideas, and by the movie, you're right that it would have been better to keep them.

It showed Jackson did not understand what the Army of the Dead's power was: mortal terror. For them to have come to The Battle of the Pelennor Fields would actually have been disastrous for the Minas Tirith and Rohan. The fear they exude works on EVERY mortal, but not on Elves (Elladan, Elrohir and Legolas were unaffected, all the rest only held course due to the will of Aragorn, who was likewise 'insulated' by dint of his birthright as a descendant of Isildur) and likely would not have worked on the Orcs, Uruk-hai and Olag-hai in Sauron's Army.