How the Films Changed the Balrog, Durin's Bane (& the Wing Issue)

The Lord of the Rings films changed a few aspects of the Balrog, Durin’s Bane, but how much? Let’s take a look, and speak about whether or not Balrogs do or do not have wings! As always, a great thanks to the online artists whose visual works made this video possible! If you are one of the artists, please let me know and I will post your name and a link to your work in this description!

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[baschdiro]

The Balrog is probably my most favourite monster of any movie, as it just looks so badass.

[DanTheYoutubeAddict]

I have always thought that Durin's Bane was aware of Sauron but refused to serve him since he was not Melkor and Sauron didn't try too hard to recruit it since he could tell that it would not serve him.

[geviesanta]

The balrog, Durin's Bane is that one LOTR villain can definitely be considered so deadly for our heroes to face regardless of which version you prefer. Whether if it be the book version or the movie version of Durin's Bane.

[orrointhewise]

"What is this new devilry?"

Yet another subject to get the fan base riled up 😏
I personally really like the depiction in the film, it's almost as iconic as the fellowship and Sauron himself. As for the wings issue, look the book Balrog didn't have wings the movie version did, there debate over lol we can have and enjoy both for both give a different take on the character and overall story
I rather think the shadowy wings help remind us that these were once beautiful Mair that fell by following Morgoth.

[mirygarrido]

Wings or no wings, Balrogs really were one of the scariests “monsters” ever imagined! At least in my experience, I could really feel the terror the company was feeling during their encounter

[chrisazor]

Great point on Gondolin!
Also, Since falling with Ecthelion and Glorfindel, the balrogs did not benefit from these apparent "wings" 🦅😅

[terjidjurhuus]

A few things to consider.

Maiar are clearly not uniform in appearance. You have old men (Istari), beautiful and fair beings (Annatar), terrible monsters (Balrogs), and literal birds (Eagles).

Granted, there may be some quote I don't know of to prove me wrong, but I can't see why we should assume that all of Morgoth's Balrogs should look the same. Maybe some had wings, and some didn't. Maybe the wings were literal, but completely useless. Who knows.

As for the quotes from the book, it can be interpreted both ways.

But consider the following made-up quote:
"As he rose with the setting sun shining its last light behind him, a halo could be seen around his head, like a gleaming crown of heavenly light.

[...] but the crown he so briefly wore was now a testament in memory alone, since it could not endure the cold embrace of darkness."

It describes the crown in the same manner as the wings of the Balrog, but there's no doubt that there wasn't ever a literal crown.

My conclusion:
There is nothing to suggest that Balrogs didn't have wings. Even though the description in the books is rather vague, and seems more figurative than literal, it proves nothing either way.

But the movie Balrog was in my opinion so incredibly awesome that I will forever perceive it as the canonical appearance, no matter what.

[paulwagner]

One of the best scenes in Fellowship was when Gandalf names the Balrog, the camera pans to Legolas, and you can see the naked FEAR on his face. He is a descendant of Doriath. He knows the tales. He is not some Avari Silvan Elf. Thranduil was born in Doriath, so he KNEW.

[KimP]

Wings or no wings aside, I think the wings in the movie were meant for the Balrog to look more imposing and as we saw, the wings didn’t work because they were full of holes.

[upschutt]

Wings are not necessarily for flying (see ostriches), but also to scare enemies etc. So I have no problem with Balrogs having wings

[solowingborders]

In the movie, it looks to have the "skeleton" of wings but no membrane like a dragon. Kinda a like a demonic peacock; "wings" are for show. I love the movie version as that's the one I grew up with, I didn't get into the books until more recently.

[Sindraug]

You're forgetting one of the descriptions. It's in the chapter "The Bridge of Khazad-dum" as they are approaching the bridge:

"The ranks of the orcs had opened, and they crowded away, as if they themselves were afraid. Something was coming up behind them. 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 terror seemed to be in it and to go before it."

[allenrussell]

It's interesting to me that the balrog caused Legolas to cry out and drop his bow but he had no fear in the Paths of the Dead.
And BTW, I f finally got a notification from YouTube for this video. First one in months.

[random]

1:00 to 1:07 Synopsis award goes to you, Yoystan! The Balrog called Durin's Bane was awakened when the Dwarves 'delved too deeply for mithril.'
1:35 to 1:52
2:32 Concerning Balrogs, and WINGS

[markstott]

Personally I like the wings even though I had been reading the books for 23 years before the films came out. It's a case of live and let live or each to their own. I see no point in fighting over it in perpetuity. ❤❤❤😊😊😊

[whiteknightcat]

Wings? No wings? In any case, wings just look SO flipping cool.

[TETASARAIVACS]

Not everything that have wings can fly
Not all that is dead is forever gone
The fire that burned hot was now quenched
The wingless again shall be flown 👀

[GhostOnTheHalfShell]

One of the highlights of Jackson’s films is the excellence of the Balrog.

[annecarter]

Movie Balrog is really good. Scary, demonic. Even in the book, I don’t visualize the Balrog with a humanoid form.

[davepowder]

The Balrog in the movie LOTR had just enjoyed a Red Bull before the Fellowship arrived. So it gave him wings!