The Witch-King: A Closer Look at the Lord of the Rings' Most Terrifying Villain

The Witch-King is a prominent character in the epic fantasy series "The Lord of the Rings" written by J.R.R. Tolkien. He is the leader of the Nazgûl, the nine Ringwraiths, and wields immense power as one of Sauron's most trusted servants. Known as the Lord of the Nazgûl or the Witch-King of Angmar, he is introduced as a formidable antagonist.

Known as the Lord of the Nazgûl or the Witch-King of Angmar, he is introduced as a formidable antagonist. His identity and true nature remain concealed for much of the narrative, adding a sense of mystery and fear to his character. The Witch-King's physical appearance is described as towering and menacing, adorned in a dark cloak and armor.

Elsa doll with magical movements

Well, I am making some progress through my crazy-busy week (seven more lanterns done!) and wanted to post a short review of a Frozen doll. in honor of yesterday's much-anticipated DVD release. Many of us were hoping for an enduring re-stock of Disney Store Frozen dolls to accompany the DVD debut, but this hasn't happened yet. Most of the dolls seem to have come back into stock a few days ago (I don't know exactly when..I missed it), but they quickly sold out again. As I'm writing this, only the mini doll set is still available.

I reviewed the Disney Store's 16" Singing Elsa doll a few months ago, and so today I want to give you a quick overview of one of Mattel's musical dolls, Musical Magic Elsa. There is also a Musical Magic Anna, and these dolls have a retail price of around $26 each. Musical Elsa, like every other Elsa doll on the planet these days, has become quite scarce, and so her current asking price is more like $50-$60.

This doll's musical feature is activated by touching two metal discs on the palms of her hands. The box has holes in the plastic window so that you can sample the music before you buy her. This test gives a very short snippet of music, rather than activating the full song.

Elsa's ice dress looks really frumpy in the box. This is partly because of the clumsy yoke neckline, and partly because one of the plastic strings that holds the doll in place is wrapped around the train, making the outfit look like a loose-fitting, dropped-waist pinafore. or maybe a flapper dress:

Here's Musical Elsa removed from her box. The dress looks a little better with the train released from the packaging, but it's still not a very attractive dress:

Elsa has a sweet, slightly blank face with features that are very similar (identical?) to the Mattel Anna doll:

Elsa's hair is styled into a messy, lopsided, thick ponytail with one stray curl of bangs in the middle of her forehead. This might be the worst I have ever seen play doll hair look right out of the box:

Elsa is wearing a large, glittery blue plastic tiara. The tiara is held on with a clear head strap, but is also stapled to her head with plastic ties:

Elsa is wearing a tunic-style cape and a blue skirt with an elastic waistband. I was disappointed (but not surprised) to see that the pretty snowflake decorations on the cape do not continue in back. Ironically, it's the back of the dress that really needs some decoration--to hide the obvious singing apparatus.

The fabric of this outfit is extremely cheap and very few of the edges are finished. The neck piece is sewn all around both edges, but it's not sewn particularly well:

The polyester skirt is simple and unadorned, but it's very easy to slide on and off and would be perfect for younger children just getting started with changing the clothes on their dolls.

The design of the cape makes this piece of clothing slightly difficult to put on and take off. The garment opens in the back, but only at the top. In front, the collar prevents the cape from sliding on over Elsa's shoulders. You have to have Elsa step into the cape, pull it up, wrestle her arms into the arm holes, and then fasten it in back.

I think these shoes are the only thing about Mattel's Elsa that is superior to the 12"Disney Store Elsa dolls.

Musical Elsa's body has only five points of articulation (her knees don't bend). Her hips have ball-jointed movement, but her shoulders can only spin around. Her head can look up and down a little bit.

In order to facilitate activation of the music and lights, this doll's arms are slightly bent at the elbows, and angled away from her body. This position is great for triggering the song (and joining hands with Anna, as we'll see. ) but it's not so great for playing or posing.

Elsa has a very glittery, translucent torso with a molded snowflake pattern This area lights up when the music is playing.

The back of the doll reveals all of the features necessary for the song mechanism. There's a small speaker, a battery compartment and a plastic tab that prevents the whole song from playing in the stores.

At this point, I was anxious to activate the musical part of the doll. In order to play the song while I was filming, I attached a wire to one of Elsa's hands and then touched the other end of the wire to her other hand once I got the camera ready:

As you can hear, there are no words to the song, but it is a fairly pleasant (maybe slightly shrill) version of Let it Go. It's hard for me not to love this song in any form. The nice thing is, Elsa stops singing once the connection between her hands is broken, so she can't be left crooning on for ages like the Disney Store dolls. I do wonder how easy it is for younger kids to maintain this connection throughout the whole song, though.

As much as I enjoy the a cappella Let it Go sung by the Disney Store's Singing Elsa doll, this instrumental version really invites a child (or adult. ) to sing along.

This doll's hair looks much nicer once it's taken down. It is very thick and reasonably soft. While it brushes out well, I had a hard time re-braiding it in a way that looks tidy. I think part of the problem is that the hair isn't long enough for a solid braid, and also that the ends are quite rough and tend to frizz out.

Of course I had to see what Anna and Elsa sound like when they're singing together. I was very curious about how this would work.

Rather than playing an instrumental version of For the First Time in Forever (as I had hoped) Anna just plays back-up to Elsa's song:

The mechanism for making the dolls sing together is actually quite clever: the metal contact points on the dolls' hands stick to each other with magnets, so it's very easy to activate the songs and keep the dolls connected until the music is finished. The problem is, the dolls will keep singing until you pull them apart.

The bigger problem is that if they are left connected, they will continue to sing. but will get increasingly out of synch. It becomes downright unbearable after a while:

The dolls look adorable when they're singing together, though:

Bottom line? I am ridiculously excited to have the Frozen DVD in my house. I cannot wait until this weekend, when I plan to make some serious popcorn and watch this amazing movie again. and then maybe again. Unfortunately, I am not as enthusiastic about the Musical Magic Elsa doll. I certainly don't think she's worth the inflated prices on eBay and Amazon. She is minimally articulated, with awkward, half-bent arms that stick out from her body. Her clothing is very cheaply made and is nowhere near as attractive or movie-accurate as the Disney Store outfits. The combination of a molded bodice and an elastic-waisted skirt is a great idea for making the doll easy to handle for younger children, but the awkward tunic-like cape negates this by being unnecessarily difficult to use. This Elsa's face is not bad--she's happy and bright, but her features are missing all of the movie character's wonderful spunk and personality.

This doll's electronic features will probably delight younger Frozen fans, provided that the activating mechanism isn't too difficult for small hands. Elsa's blue illuminating torso is quite pretty. In fact, the glowing plastic bodice of the dress is the best part of the whole outfit. The instrumental version of Let it Go might be missing Idina Menzel's voice, but it will invite children to sing the words themselves, karaoke style. Singing along to the music (as I've discovered from personal experience) is really fun (although maybe a little off key. ). Whatever you do, though, don't let the two sisters sing their duet. It's a train wreck.

The Elsa doll market is difficult to navigate right now. Prices and availability are highly unpredictable, and while reason and experience tell me that both the Mattel dolls and the Disney Store dolls will come back into stock eventually (at their regular prices), how much help is that for an excited young child who desperately wants a Frozen doll to play with now? Given the current market, I would say that if you are shopping for a child, and can find this Musical Magic Elsa for $25, go for it. That's about as good as you'll get right now, and the musical element of the doll is a fun reminder of the movie. However, if all of the prices remain inflated, I'd much rather pay too much for a Disney Store doll than for a Musical Magic doll. The Disney Store's 12" Elsa has more articulation, a beautiful outfit, softer hair, a more unique face, and better overall quality. Even my J.C. Penney version of Elsa, with her simplified dress and unarticulated arms, is a superior doll in my opinion.

I think that the best option by far is to get a Disney Store Elsa doll at its normal, reasonable price. That seems a bit like a fairy tale right now, granted, but the dolls will be re-stocked eventually, and they--just like the DVD, will surely be worth the wait.

Elsa is wearing a large, glittery blue plastic tiara. The tiara is held on with a clear head strap, but is also stapled to her head with plastic ties:

Throughout the series, the Witch-King plays a significant role in Sauron's quest to regain control of the One Ring. He leads the Ringwraiths in their relentless pursuit of Frodo Baggins and the Fellowship of the Ring, seeking to retrieve the Ring and bring it back to Sauron. His presence and aura inspire terror among both allies and enemies as he exudes an aura of darkness and malevolence. In the Battle of Pelennor Fields, the Witch-King faces off against the mighty warrior, Éowyn of Rohan. Despite his fearsome reputation and seemingly invincible nature, Éowyn manages to strike a blow against the Witch-King, allowing the true hero of the story, Meriadoc Brandybuck, to deliver the final blow. The Witch-King's defeat signifies a turning point in the war against Sauron and showcases the power of bravery and hope in the face of overwhelming darkness. The Witch-King's character represents the corruptive nature of power and the all-consuming desire for control. He is a tragic figure, once a powerful human king, who succumbed to Sauron's influence and ultimately became a servant of evil. His story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of yielding to temptation and the destructive consequences it can have on one's humanity. Overall, the Witch-King is a compelling and memorable character in "The Lord of the Rings" series. His commanding presence, relentless pursuit, and ultimate downfall contribute to the epic nature of the story, leaving a lasting impression on readers and viewers alike..

Reviews for "The Witch-King's Role in the Battle of Pelennor Fields in Lord of the Rings"

1. Sarah - 2/5

I honestly don't understand the hype surrounding "Lord of the Rings: The Witch King." The story was convoluted and difficult to follow. There were too many characters and subplots, making it hard to keep track of what was going on. The action scenes were okay, but they failed to make up for the lackluster storytelling. Overall, I found the movie to be disappointing and not worth the nearly three-hour runtime.

2. Mark - 1/5

I couldn't stand "Lord of the Rings: The Witch King." The acting was wooden, and the dialogue was incredibly cheesy. The plot felt contrived and forced, with little character development. The special effects were also underwhelming, especially considering the technological advancements in filmmaking at the time. I was bored and unengaged throughout the entire movie, and I regretted wasting my time on it.

3. Emily - 2/5

For someone who hasn't read the books, "Lord of the Rings: The Witch King" was a confusing mess. The movie relied too heavily on prior knowledge, leaving newcomers like me scratching their heads. The pacing was slow, and the dialogue was filled with unnecessary exposition. Despite the breathtaking visuals and epic battle sequences, the story failed to capture my interest. I can see why fans of the book series might enjoy it, but for me, it fell short of my expectations.

4. John - 2/5

As a fantasy fan, I had high hopes for "Lord of the Rings: The Witch King," but sadly, it didn't live up to the hype. The plot felt disjointed, and the characters lacked depth. It was difficult to connect with any of the protagonists or understand their motivations. The movie also dragged on for far too long, with unnecessary scenes that added nothing to the overall story. Overall, it was a disappointing adaptation of a beloved book series.

Unmasking the Mystery: The True Identity of the Witch-King in Lord of the Rings