eub | why the movie's Balrog is wrong

What it was could not be seen: it was like a great shadow, in the middle of which was a dark form, of man-shape maybe, yet greater; and a power and a terror seemed to be in it and to go before it.

A Balrog is not a dumb beast, this fire-breathing troll with horns. A Balrog is a divine being, created greater than elf or man. It is awe and despair.

We can see every detail of the movie's fire-breathing troll. The Balrog is a shadow, never seen clearly. Well, we once see its nostrils.

The FBT is huge and lumbering. The Balrog "leaped across the fissure", "raced towards them", "suddenly drew itself up to a great height", "with a bound leaped full upon the bridge". Its sword leaps too.

The movie was doing fine when an unseen thing of flame moved among the columns. But the FBT, gah. Swiftness, darkness, and awe. The awe is not available on tap, but they'd have been well towards it with an obscure creature of fire spreading a vast darkness and moving like a shadow, weightless. In its presence the torches shed no light. Then lose the crumbling-staircase bit and you'll have time for Legolas to quail and drop his arrow when he sees the Balrog, maybe time for it to counter-spell Gandalf's holding of the door.

"I have done all that I could. But I have met my match, and have nearly been destroyed. But don't stand here! Go on!"

I want to whine about the stupid way the movie had Gandalf's arms give out, but that's another rant for another day.