Depiction of 👁️Sauron in the Movies

[Absolute Hogwash]

I've always found the movie depiction of Sauron a bit strange- I couldn't find anything in the books to support that design. The most I can think of is that Sauron was described as sort of a shadow of his former self after his defeat in the end of the Silmarillion, but as far as I know he was still able to shapeshift, and was still the "Lord of phantoms and beasts" (paraphrasing, I think) which would lead me to believe he would present more as a werewolf or like any of his former shapes. Does anyone know what caused PJ to show him like this? Is there anything in the books that aludes to such a design?
Also, what do you guys think about the movie design of Sauron?

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

Sauron should be thought of as very terrible. The form that he took was that of a man of more than human stature, but not gigantic.

Letter 246

As far as I know, this is Tolkien's only artistic depiction:

But I believe that's an illustration of the scene describing the destruction of Barad-dur:

And as the Captains gazed south to the Land of Mordor, it seemed to them that, black against the pall of cloud, there arose a huge shape of shadow, impenetrable, lightning-crowned, filling all the sky. Enormous it reared above the world, and stretched out towards them a vast threatening hand, terrible but impotent; for even as it leaned over them, a great wind took it, and it was all blown away, and passed; and then a hush fell.

Did PJ ever show him without his armor, helmet, and face mask?

 

[Vardarianna]

... what do you guys think about the movie design of Sauron?

To use your username to depict my thoughts... it was 'Absolute Hogwash'.
the whole searchlight tower was idiotic. The armored Sauron at the beginning when he gets his fingers cut off was a better depiction.

 

[Deimos]

To use your username to depict my thoughts... it was 'Absolute Hogwash'.
the whole searchlight tower was idiotic. The armored Sauron at the beginning when he gets his fingers cut off was a better depiction.

The "Searchlight Tower" as you so aptly name it always reminded me of [HP movie] Mad-Eye Moody's swiveling eye, especially in the ROTK movie.

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

He's long been referred to here as "Sauron the Evil Lighthouse".

 

[Radaghast]

I don't care for the armored Sauron. To my eye it looks silly.

 

[Deimos]

I don't care for the armored Sauron. To my eye it looks silly.

But he would have had to wear some kind of armour, yes?
Or do you mean the particular armour hw wore in the movie?

 

[Radaghast]

But he would have had to wear some kind of armour, yes?
Or do you mean the particular armour hw wore in the movie?

Yeah, not a fan of that design.

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

An older thread on the subject:

👁️Sauron's Form

Alright, so I’ve just finished reading the Two Towers for the umpteenth time, and I’ve caught something that bugs me a little. It has to do with Sauron and his form at the time of the War of the Ring. In the past, I’ve accepted that Sauron took the form of a great Eye that is covered in...

thetolkien.forum

 

[Vardarianna]

I don't care for the armored Sauron. To my eye it looks silly.

Oh I agree. I just thought it was better than Sauron the Evil Lighthouse.

 

[d4rk3lf]

I've always found the movie depiction of Sauron a bit strange- I couldn't find anything in the books to support that design. The most I can think of is that Sauron was described as sort of a shadow of his former self after his defeat in the end of the Silmarillion, but as far as I know he was still able to shapeshift, and was still the "Lord of phantoms and beasts" (paraphrasing, I think) which would lead me to believe he would present more as a werewolf or like any of his former shapes. Does anyone know what caused PJ to show him like this? Is there anything in the books that aludes to such a design?
Also, what do you guys think about the movie design of Sauron?

Sauron could shapeshift after the World of Wrath (end of first age).
But in the second age, after the destruction of Numenor, and when Sauron was forced to travel across the sea without body, he took his final form (of a cruel tyrant), and he lost his ability to shapeshift forever.
Now, in that regards, movie depiction of him is sort of fateful with armor and all (although, many could imagine "cruel tyrant" differently). But since he killed Elendil and Gil Galad, no doubt he was very very strong.

So I personally don't have objection on armor design Weta studio did him in the movie... looks cool to me.
But the tower with installed large flashlight on it, was indeed very silly.

 

[Elthir]

To my eye it looks silly.

In light[house] of this thread, I'm counting that as a pun.

sorry

 

[Ent]

We know the description and spot in the text where the "eye" of the tower comes from.
It's just completely done wrong, and misunderstood. (intentionally, perhaps. Cinematically, it does make for something "neat" and its no worse than skiing down stairs on a sheild or off an Oliphaunt's trunk. It's all about "what sells" as you know... and there's a great market out there for "the eye" now. One not existent before, and impossible without the film.)

 

[Erestor Arcamen]

As much as I hate the Hobbit trilogy, personally, and the scene of Galadriel confronting Sauron, I do love how they made him look in the movies.

 

[Glorfindel Goldtress]

As much as I hate the Hobbit trilogy, personally, and the scene of Galadriel confronting Sauron, I do love how they made him look in the movies.

That is literally the best scene of The Battle of the Five Armies, and considering this isn't even the overly drawn out, lifeblood-draining titular event, it says something... Just what that something is... can only be conjured by the mind.

 

[Elthir]

As much as I hate the Hobbit trilogy, personally, and the scene of Galadriel confronting Sauron, I do love how they made him look in the movies.

And don't forget, in this same scene, those ten partially-Telerin toes of terrifying beauty!

Or do (forget)!

 

[d4rk3lf]

Galadriel looks so creepy and spooky in that scene, that puts Nazguls to shame.

I highly doubt professor would approve that.

 

[Idril Celebrindal]

I liked the depiction of Sauron when Frodo sees him in the Mirror of Galadriel, but I found both the searchlight and the armored version slightly odd. I like that the book didn't actually show Sauron or make Frodo have a confrontation with him. It kind of made him more menacing, for me at least. Still, I get that there are limitations in movie making, hence the searchlight eye.

 

[Maedhros_Nelyafinwë]

And don't forget, in this same scene, those ten partially-Telerin toes of terrifying beauty!

Or do (forget)!

I wish I could forget what you just made me read. 😐

 

[Elthir]

Apologies Maedhros. LOL! Toes.