Sound And Film Analysis: Death Of Gandalf

The scene starts off with music. Balrog becomes the focus and there is silence, as characters are in awe. Footsteps of Balrog. Roars and chase, music returns. Drums and horn increase tension. Gandalf on the bridge, silence, very quiet music, just sound affects. Music rises. After fall music disappears. Whip. No music. Reactions and Gandalf says, Fly you fools. Music, no other sounds. Arrows whiz past but no sound. We imagine how it sounds. Cuts to reactions. Aragorn breaks the silence.

Ever since I was little I always really liked this scene. It always stayed with me. I'm not sure why. It may be because the scene is so different from the rest of the film. I like how the audience can only hear the music. For me this made me imagine the sounds of he other things that were muted, such as arrows clattering against rock, and footsteps, which were both visually shown in the centre of the frame, so the audience can clearly see it, as our eyes follow aragorn.