The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

Ian McKellen: Gandalf

Photos 

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Quotes 

• Theoden : [pick up a white flower]  Simbelmyne. Ever has it grown on the tombs of my forebears. Now it shall cover the grave of my son. Alas, that these evil days should be mine. The young perish and the old linger. That I should live to see that last days of my house.

  Gandalf : Theodred's death was not of your making.

  Theoden : No parent should have to bury their child.

  [Theoden drops to his knees and starts sobbing] 

  Gandalf : He was strong in life. His spirit will find the way to the halls of your fathers.

• Gandalf : [to Aragorn]  Look to my coming on the first light of the fifth day, at dawn look to the east.

• Gandalf : The battle of Helm's Deep is over; the battle for Middle-earth is about to begin.

• Gandalf : [to Grima]  Be silent. Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I did not pass through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm.

• Gandalf : The veiling shadow that glowers in the East takes shape. Sauron will suffer no rival. From the summit of Barad-dur his eye watches ceaselessly. But he is not so mighty yet that he is above fear. Doubt ever gnaws at him. The rumor has reached him. The heir of Numenor still lives. Sauron fears you, Aragorn. He fears what you may become. And so he will strike hard and fast at the world of Men. He will use his puppet Saruman to destroy Rohan. War is coming. Rohan must defend itself, and therein lies our first challenge, for Rohan is weak and ready to fall. The King's mind is enslaved; it's an old device of Saruman's. His hold over King Theoden is now very strong. Sauron and Saruman are tightening the noose. But, for all their cunning, we have one advantage. The Ring remains hidden. And that we should seek to destroy it has not yet entered their darkest dreams. And so the weapon of the Enemy is moving towards Mordor in the hands of a Hobbit. Each day brings it closer to the fires of Mount Doom. We must trust now in Frodo. Everything depends now upon speed and upon the secrecy of his quest. Do not regret your decision to leave him. Frodo must finish this task alone.

  Aragorn : He's not alone. Sam went with him.

  Gandalf : Did he? Did he indeed? Good. Yes, very good.

• [Gandalf the White whistles and a white horse appears] 

  Legolas : That is one of the Mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell.

  Gandalf : Shadowfax. He is the lord of all horses and has been my friend through many dangers.

• Gandalf : From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak I fought with the Balrog of Morgoth... Until at last I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountain side... Darkness took me, and I strayed out of thought and time... The stars wheeled overhead, and every day was as long as a life age of the earth... But it was not the end. I felt life in me again. I've been sent back until my task is done.

• Gandalf : Three hundred lives of men I have walked this earth and now I have no time.

• Legolas : Forgive me. I mistook you for Saruman.

  Gandalf : I am Saruman. Or rather, Saruman as he should have been.

• [Shadowfax rears] 

  Aragorn : Gandalf.

  Gandalf : Théoden King stands alone.

  Eomer : Not alone. Rohirrim!

  [Rohirrim gather behind him] 

  Theoden : Eomer!

  Eomer : TO THE KING!

• Gandalf : Gandalf? Yes... that was what they used to call me. Gandalf the Gray. That was my name.

  Gimli : Gandalf...

  Gandalf : *I* am Gandalf the White. And I come back to you now - at the turn of the tide.

• Gandalf : The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late Théoden, King.

• Theoden : [upon being exorcised]  Gandalf...

  Gandalf : Breathe the free air again, my friend.

  Theoden : [stands up from the throne]  Dark have been my dreams of late.

  [looks at his hands] 

  Gandalf : Your fingers would remember their old strength better... if they grasped your sword.

• H.ma : I cannot allow you before Theoden King so armed, Gandalf Greyhame... by order of Grima Wormtongue.

  [Gandalf nods, and they hand over their weapons] 

  H.ma : Your staff.

  Gandalf : Oh... you would not part an old man from his walking stick?

  [Hama lets them through; Gandalf winks at Aragorn] 

• Gandalf : All our hopes now lie with two little Hobbits, somewhere in the wilderness.

• Gandalf : I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound.

• Gandalf : The fate of the world will now be decided.

• Gandalf : There is no way out of that ravine, Théoden is walking into a trap.