Exceptionally Uncaught

There's been something tugging at the back of my mind this week with all the talk of Star Wars, and I only just realised what it was.

Several years ago I went to see a movie with some friends. I don't remember what it was (which is fine, since it's got nothing to do with the post), but it was the first place I (and probably everyone else in the theatre) had seen a preview for the second Lord of the Rings movie, the Two Towers. As pretty much everyone (except perhaps Stilly) knows, about half way through the first movie Gandalf the Gray is forced to fight the Balrog. He wins the fight, but gets pulled down into an abyss along with the creature. It's probably my favourite scene from the book, and certainly didn't disappoint in the movie.

So anyway, the preview is playing, we're all excited because it's the first glimpse of the new movie, and we suddenly get a shot of Gandalf the White smiling. Someone calls out in total surprise "he comes back!" I burst out laughing before I could stop myself. I found it amazing that anyone didn't know Gandalf would be alive and well for the rest of the story.

But then I started thinking. Lots of people have read the books, but there are still lots who haven't. Of those who haven't (and who actually care), a lot would at least know the story. Failing that, there were interviews, posters, people talking and the fact that it was kind of predictable. But apparently this person had missed all that, and genuainely didn't know Gandalf survived. And now this preview had "ruined" what would have been a truly amazing moment for that person when the movie was finally released.


So what's been tugging at the back of my mind this week is the thought that maybe somewhere in the world there is someone who still doesn't know (but cares) that Anikin Skywalker becomes Darth Vader. When they see Revenge of the Sith in the next few weeks, they are in for a big surprise.

And I'm kind of jealous.