MovieChat Forums > The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) Discussion > The Bridge Of Khazad-Dum scene

The Bridge Of Khazad-Dum scene

posted 2 years ago by Firestarter (40)
5 replies | jump to latest

Can somebody explaine it to me? So Gandalf destroy the bridge halfeway with his Staff so the Balrog can not pass and falls down? Was it intended? What was his plan?

[–] willjbeau (725) a year ago

Yes, it was intended. He obviously didn't plan on the Balrog using one of its "whips" to drag him down with it.

[–] Otter (24464) a year ago

Exactly this. They couldn't fight the Balrog and I seriously doubt that they could outrun it, so Gandalf stopped its progress the only way he could. We don't know if he intended to tip the Balrog into the abyss or just leave it cursing on the other side of the gap, but we do know that he didn't intend to fall himself!

It was a good plan, but well. Shit happened.

[–] DancingintheDark (1614) a year ago

I do not think Gandalf intended on destroying the bridge, that isn’t to say he didn’t mean business, the “YOU SHALL NOT PASS!” spell was clearly meant to detour the Balrog from pursuing them but I do not think Gandalf anticipated the bridge collapsing, I think it was more an inadvertent part of the spell, an unexpected means to an end.

[–] Druff (1796) a year ago

It's clearer in the book, it literally says he "smote" the bridge which caused it to break. So yes it was intentional.

[–] R_Kane (15828) a year ago

Thank you for countering speculation (“I think”) with scholarship.

Reading that scene was the first and only time I have gasped aloud while reading. “‘FLY, you fools!’” Then he was gone.”