The Lord of the Rings (2003) - Haradrims vs Rohan army (The Mumakil) [4K]

Peter Jackson: "Wanna see me create the greatest cavalry charge in cinematic history?" Peter Jackson: "Wanna see me do it again?"

Imagine the balls it takes as a director to think "Okay we just made the greatest cavalry charge in film history. Let's do that again."

God, how the heroic theme of the Rohirrim just drops dead as soon as the oliphants start tearing the riders to shreds. The initial reveal of the oliphants was already amazing. Their massive size, the unnatural Haradrim horn and Theoden's face perfectly sold just how terrifying these massive beasts are, but then the riders of Rohan reformed the line and the same theme from the first charge starts playing, making us think that the situation is not that bad and that they got this. Then the music suddenly stops and you realize this is going to be a massacre. Amazing scene writing and execution.

The Haradrim battle chant sends shivers down my spine to this day. Tribal and brutal

The Haradrim dude that sounded the horn had more character development in 5 minutes than Jon Snow had in 2 seasons

That haladrim rider (the one Eomer kills) has like 6sec of screentime in just close ups and he makes the best of it. What a legend.

Most of all talk about the legendary Rohirim scene, but the Oliphant scene was, to this day, the best battle scene ever made in a film, every period for me. Pure epic, violent, wonderful shooting, no music during the clash and all the action scene. Peter Jackson, you're a master for made epic instant.

this quality of animation was unheard of in 2003. absolute masterpiece!

The decision to just cut the musical score and have the audience listen to the absolute carnage and horror of battle just grounds this scene and many others in the trilogy. Timeless classic and masterpiece of cinema

The way Theoden goes from complete shock and terror to leading the charge - what a king! Also, it’s brilliant acting! This is such a terrific scene.

The death of hope and joy in this scene is palpable. Theodens grim realization is amazing.

That first shot of the Haradrims at 00:46 is amazing. The viewer sees the reaction of the Rohan BEFORE the actual threat, but then understands the reason for their shock and awe.

Almost 2 decades later and I still have yet to find a battle scene that comes close to this level of epic, raw intensity.

I love how the music immediately cuts away when the two armies clash and you feel the reality of the power the mumakil have

1:36 this shot gives me goosebumps every time. The sheer size difference; the swarm of tiny soldiers charging at these towering beasts, the rumble of the hooves, the build up of the music... can't imagine what it must've been like seeing this in the theater for the first time in 2003

This scene is amazing. When Theoden sees the Haradrim with the Oliphaunts, he already knows half his men will be killed, himself included. Then he orders his men to "Reform the Line!". A brave king he is, he knows he will die, but nevertheless orders his men to do what is needed for his people to be saved, even as he dies. That is a real leader, a real King

It's hard to describe how this moment at 0:36 felt in theaters. Everyone was so excited that the good guys won, the cavalry had saved the day, and the audience was just ecstatic. And then you saw Theodin's face drop, you hear that oliphant roar, the booming and the chanting, and then the sudden reveal of the oliphant cavalry on the horizon. In a second you went from the audience cheering to being so quiet you could hear a pin drop

Peter Jackson shot all 3 LOTR movies at the same time from Oct 1999 to Dec 2000 with only some pickup shots made after. This movie magic is 20+ years old and still holds up against modern films. Absolutely timeless.

Each scene Haradrims are dominating, there's no score in background nor is there any soundtrack, just pure battle sounds of absolute carnage. You can just listen to the scene to feel brutality and destruction. And then, score returns each time, Men of Rohan get upper hand in battle, as if giving a glimmer of hope. Brilliant decision, whoever made it in editing room, Oscar worthy!

I get chills every time I hear Theoden calling out to reform the line. And the Rohirrim are so disciplined that the line snaps together immediately and they charge straight up the gut.