I think the humans, elves, and dwarves were not only weaker/less armed/less trained at the time of the movies vs the initial fight, but also less united/allied
This. The war that culminated in Saurons initial defeat was literally called the “War of the last alliance”.
Is it realistic though to not have any advancement in technology or warfare in 5000 years? How could they be weaker than before? That sounds insane
Middle Earth’s magic is in decay by the third age. The elves are literally leaving it, and there are way less of them. Men also only live to ~80 instead of living for hundreds of years like they did in Numenor. Middle Earth eventually becomes a world like ours.
Especially considering how long some of the races live. Imagine how specialized in a specific field of science an elf could be when it can study a subject for hundreds of years.
Man literally described Feanor
The war was so hard on elves that the entire race was in decline, and most of them had already fled Middle Earth for Valinor by the time of the movies. At least 2 of the greatest dwarven cities were destroyed…1 by a dragon and one by a Balrog. Humanity was divided, and the greatest human city had been without a legitimate ruler for centuries. On top of all that, the most powerful wizard, who should have been a bulwark against Saurons return, was a double-agent and had likely been undermining the other races for decades or longer. Middle Earth was basically the remains of the Roman Empire during the Dark Ages
The war was so hard on elves that the entire race was in decline
That’s the whole thing for the elves, and really the entire LOTR saga. Everything declines, fades, weakens and runs down. But the elves especially never “grow” or improve.
What OP is suggesting: Give sauron the ring, it went well last time. We reckon we could take him
“Gets beaten ezpz”? Sure.
Yeah, even in the movie a LOT of people get seriously wrecked before that finger gets cut off.
Was his finger cut off in the book too? Is that how he lost the ring?
I never finished the Silmarillion, but from a synopsis I read, he was defeated first, then the ring was cut from his hand.
Yeah, aside from the numerous armies lost, includijg dwarves and elves, ~1000 years of fighting, it took two literal kings dying to defeat him, Gil-galad and Elendil. But, Sauron was also defated. In the end, Isildur showed up and chopped off his finger and took the ring.
Gil-Galad and Elendil both being Big Fuckin Deals btw, particularly Gil-Galad.
Keeping in mind that a lot of First Age/Second Age stuff is less a matter of crude physicality and more about spiritual strength.
“gg2ez” - Isildur
