because the rotating blades or net would
- cause a huge air resistance
- cause a momentum against direction of move
which simply would lead to slowing down the projectile and make it drop after some metres.
The main thing about all that (for me) is the differences to the Lord of the Rings trilogy. In that movies nearly everything (besides supernatural creatures like Sauron, Gandalf etc.) was "realistic":
- a Mumakil cannot fly without wings
- a troll cannot jump 100 metres high
- someone who falls down a high wall dies
While in the Hobbit movies there are far too much "unrealistic" things (ballista projectiles, suicide trolls, wyrms, nearly every second Legolas move ...) that do not fit to the Middle Earth presented by the LotR trilogy.
My problem is not the action in the Hobbit. My problem is the action in the Hobbit compared to the one in the LotR. It just does not fit together, and it´s still the same world.
They are all interesting facts, but this is not a scientific essay.
How do you know, precisely, what kind of Art or unknown Techniques the Dwarves used in the creation of these machines?
The Dwarves are not Elves nor Ainur, but they aren't also Humans.
Most of their Arts are unknown and willingly kept hidden by them.
I really think that a scientific approach like yours, to this kind of topics, is certainly the worst and most counterproductive that one could ever have.
It just basically ruins the whole atmosphere and spirit of this
FICTIONAL World.
There is a lot of physics in Lotr.
Tolkien always tried to make middleearth realistic. It's the same as in old sages:
You have all of the things you knew from our world... and then you just add something like magic and dragons.
Those weapons were always created by gods or similar creatures. (as written above)
So it would be 'more' okay for me if Saruman would have invented them, but not the dwarves. Again: I have written above why.
That has nothing to do with "thinking to much", just with a different approach to the movies. Everyone has a different taste and looks at different points. I personally like many of the non-fighting-scenes, but most of the fighting-scenes are really... irritating, unrealistic and boring for me. Other people love those scenes.^^
Gnomi, I saw just now your reply.
I don't want to write unnecessary walls of text, but I will just say that I respect your opinions, but there is definitely something more than adding some Dragons here and there in a semi-fictional World
Magic influences everything, one way or the other, in the Tolkien's World; and it has always been a part of the foundations of Arda since the Beginning.
Also, Tolkien often reminds us that, instead of pure 'Magic' (out of nowhere), the imaginary and 'magical' things that we read about in Middle Earth (about Ainur, Elves or Dwarves and specific Humans) should be better considered as specific and proper 'Arts' of each race of Arda (Ainur included), with which the different races influence the surrounding environment.
This is a pivotal topic, as Galadriel (Tolkien) tells us in FOTR, speaking about the 'Art' of the Elves, and considering the 'human' term 'Magic' as a negative and wrong word.
Concerning the creation and mechanism of those ballistas, I think I already replied above to korner, expressing what I truly think
Also, don't forget that the Dwarves have been present in Middle Earth since the Years of the Trees, and that they thus overall possess a superior, ancient and hidden Knowledge about the general crafting of things; a Knowledge that the Humans can easily regard as 'magical', as they do with most of the Elven Arts.
We are still talking about the Third Age, a dark and disenchanted Age, in which, though, Magic is still generally present in the World (obviously in a minor scale); the Fourth Age is the real 'dividing' Age, which definitely marks the ineluctable 'Transformation' of the World.
It's obvious that the general physical laws exist and have their importance in Arda, but I would say that they are 'integrated' in this fictional World in a naturally different way.
Talking thus about atoms, prehistoric creatures or strict mechanic laws is really counterproductive, and it might divert you from the real Essence of this extraordinary Legendarium
This is the crucial fact: no race really thinks to have pure Magic in its hands.
Every race considers and sees its Arts as a natural display and modification of the World according to its own proper and natural qualities.
As the Valar always remembered the Men of Númenor that the Immortal Lands are not immortal by themselves, but they were made so by the Immortal Beings who dwell there
Are you sure that they are the best blacksmiths?
What about the elves of the first age?
I totally agree with you.
One of their most beautiful 'Jewels' (speaking about the Noldor of Aman in general) is the main theme of my signature