I'd never thought about Gondor in the movies this way before, but it does really ring true. The Shire and Rohan are both predominantly well-lit and the music is cheerful and/or uplifting. Rohan is slightly overcast, but there is still plenty of light. Gondor is almost entirely drearily-lit, overcast, and the music is mournful/sonorous. As much as I dislike the riding up to Edoras with the town barely peopled, Gondor is that multiplied by a factor, and all that extends to the costuming. The same goes for Ithilien in particular. I wonder why PJ didn't spend time developing Gondor as much, *especially* since it's the final film in the trilogy and where everyone ends up together again. Strange choices.