- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
re: Least-Favorite Peter Jackson changes to Lord of the Rings
Posted on 10/3/19 at 9:37 pm to RaginSaint43
Posted on 10/3/19 at 9:37 pm to RaginSaint43
Fellowship was the best of the trilogy, because he changed that the least.
Yes, he omitted Tom Bombadil, but I think he had to. That would have made the show much longer, or else cheapened the scene too much.
Similarly, the Conspiracy was drastically shortened, but they had to do that in order to get things rolling.
In other words, he edited things out for time.
Starting in Two Towers, he begins seriously changing things, and it fundamentally alters the characters.
1) He flip-flops Gandalf and Theoden about Helm's Deep; in the book Theoden wants to ride out and meet Saruman's forces on the plains, in open battle. Gandalf tells him he can't win, and his people will suffer because of that.
In the movies, Gandalf tells him to ride out to battle, and Theoden says no, we will hole up in Helm's Deep.
*this changes Theoden from an aggressive, revived warrior king who honors Gandalf's wisdom, to a bit of a curmudgeon who doesn't take advice*
2) Faramir waffling in the movie about Frodo and the Ring... in the book, he senses Frodo's burden and steers the conversation away while around others. Then, in the cave, he deduces the actual quest, and the Ring, and instantly and completely recognizes the danger, and rejects the Ring without hesitation.
*Book Faramir is the contrast to Boromir, gentler and more learned, but with more wisdom and foresight. He is the TRUE Numenorean, not Boromir, who is the product of the dilution with regular men. This also lessens the Ring significantly- Faramir recognizes that even entertaining a claim to it, hopelessly dooms you (as it did Boromir).
3) Elves at Helm's Deep...
I guess the Last Alliance wasn't the last alliance afterall...
2 huge issues with Return of the King, for me.
First, Aragorn commanding the Dead into battle... that changes his character completely.
Book- Legolas remarks that Sauron was wise to fear Aragorn, upon seeing him take command of the Dead. He could see his force of will, and the power he could wield with the Ring. But Gandalf points out that Sauron has a flaw- he's incapable of understanding that Aragorn WOULD NOT use the tools of the Enemy (like the Dead), even against the Enemy- and it makes him blind to Aragorn's true purpose.
In other words, Aragorn acts like Sauron would expect him to, in the movie. In the book, he doesn't. Sauron wins when he understands what people would do, he only loses when people act out of goodness and virtue.
The other issue, is Denethor. Movie Denethor is sniveling. Book Denethor is wise and great, proud and dignified... but embittered by the impending defeat.
Book Denethor, I think, really is touched by Pippin's innocence and frivolousness. When Pippin says "I don't know any songs worthy of the halls of Gondor", I think it breaks his somber mood, and he's serious when he tells him to sing, they need to be reminded of the peoples he protects by being on the front line. That's why Gandalf was ultimately pleased with Pippin's presence there, he eased the man's pain for awhile. In the movie, it's more like tormenting Pippin for the sake of it.
Yes, he omitted Tom Bombadil, but I think he had to. That would have made the show much longer, or else cheapened the scene too much.
Similarly, the Conspiracy was drastically shortened, but they had to do that in order to get things rolling.
In other words, he edited things out for time.
Starting in Two Towers, he begins seriously changing things, and it fundamentally alters the characters.
1) He flip-flops Gandalf and Theoden about Helm's Deep; in the book Theoden wants to ride out and meet Saruman's forces on the plains, in open battle. Gandalf tells him he can't win, and his people will suffer because of that.
In the movies, Gandalf tells him to ride out to battle, and Theoden says no, we will hole up in Helm's Deep.
*this changes Theoden from an aggressive, revived warrior king who honors Gandalf's wisdom, to a bit of a curmudgeon who doesn't take advice*
2) Faramir waffling in the movie about Frodo and the Ring... in the book, he senses Frodo's burden and steers the conversation away while around others. Then, in the cave, he deduces the actual quest, and the Ring, and instantly and completely recognizes the danger, and rejects the Ring without hesitation.
*Book Faramir is the contrast to Boromir, gentler and more learned, but with more wisdom and foresight. He is the TRUE Numenorean, not Boromir, who is the product of the dilution with regular men. This also lessens the Ring significantly- Faramir recognizes that even entertaining a claim to it, hopelessly dooms you (as it did Boromir).
3) Elves at Helm's Deep...
![](https://images.tigerdroppings.com/Images/Icons/Iconrolleyes.gif)
I guess the Last Alliance wasn't the last alliance afterall...
2 huge issues with Return of the King, for me.
First, Aragorn commanding the Dead into battle... that changes his character completely.
Book- Legolas remarks that Sauron was wise to fear Aragorn, upon seeing him take command of the Dead. He could see his force of will, and the power he could wield with the Ring. But Gandalf points out that Sauron has a flaw- he's incapable of understanding that Aragorn WOULD NOT use the tools of the Enemy (like the Dead), even against the Enemy- and it makes him blind to Aragorn's true purpose.
In other words, Aragorn acts like Sauron would expect him to, in the movie. In the book, he doesn't. Sauron wins when he understands what people would do, he only loses when people act out of goodness and virtue.
The other issue, is Denethor. Movie Denethor is sniveling. Book Denethor is wise and great, proud and dignified... but embittered by the impending defeat.
Book Denethor, I think, really is touched by Pippin's innocence and frivolousness. When Pippin says "I don't know any songs worthy of the halls of Gondor", I think it breaks his somber mood, and he's serious when he tells him to sing, they need to be reminded of the peoples he protects by being on the front line. That's why Gandalf was ultimately pleased with Pippin's presence there, he eased the man's pain for awhile. In the movie, it's more like tormenting Pippin for the sake of it.
Posted on 10/3/19 at 9:46 pm to Scoob
Agree with everything you said. I had forgotten about the changes to Faramir’s character. That definitely moves up to my number one spot. They butchered him for no good reason at all.
Posted on 10/3/19 at 10:17 pm to Scoob
Very nice breakdown. Can't argue with any of that.
Posted on 10/4/19 at 1:02 pm to Scoob
Well, it turns out that after rereading your post I do have issue with one thing you said. Your first point regarding Return of the King, that Aragorn never commands the Army of the Dead in battle in the books, is incorrect. He just do so “off-camera,” if you will. He uses the Dead to defeat the Corsairs and seize their fleet. In fact, the Dead had to fight for him at least once in order to fulfill their oath. However, the remainder of the conclusion that you draw is still valid, because Aragorn was under no obligation to release them from their service at that point and could have forced them to follow him to Gondor if he had chosen to do so.
Posted on 10/4/19 at 2:34 pm to Scoob
quote:
When Pippin says "I don't know any songs worthy of the halls of Gondor", I think it breaks his somber mood, and he's serious when he tells him to sing, they need to be reminded of the peoples he protects by being on the front line. That's why Gandalf was ultimately pleased with Pippin's presence there, he eased the man's pain for awhile. In the movie, it's more like tormenting Pippin for the sake of it.
Gandalf was actually kind of happy for Pippin. And Pippin was pretty happy while he was in service to Denethor. Also, the Faramir and Eowyn love story taking place at the time was probably a better love story than Aragorn and Arwen's.
Popular
Back to top
![logo](https://images.tigerdroppings.com/images/layout/TDIcon.jpg)