The author of the article makes the point that as portrayed in the movie Aragorn doesn't reflect as well Gandalf's song about him, "all that is gold does not glitter". He argues that JRRT's point is that Aragorn is at peace with himself, and with God, regardless of whether he succeeds in his mission or fails. And that this is lost in the movie.
I agree that it is lost as a explicit, plotted element. However, where I think I differ from the author is that I believe that Viggo and the other actors were actually able to project a lot of the spiritual elements through mannerism and expression, so that there is a deeply spiritual tone to the movie even though its not as explicit as in the books.
I agree with you that I prefer the Aragorn of the book - who is almost sinless, almost a Christ figure (the virtuous King who will be revealed). However, I completely understand PJ's need to give the character complexity and a development arc because of the different demands of filmmaking.
Don't you hate it when you are trying to have a serious conversation and you look out at your audience to find that they are in a food fight?
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Where is the Aragorn doubting that he will be king in the movie? - I just don't see it that way... I am trying to figure out where you all see that.
There is the one line of Elrond's... about him turning from that path, but other than that I never hear Aragorn doubting who he is... and I find him "kingish" throughout, even in Bree where we have just met him and he is at his roughest... I find him to have a majestic quality....
I like his lines when he first pulls Frodo in alot.... tells us that this is a really cool customer... the ranger. But when he later than night explains the ringwraiths to Frodo while he sits on guard with his sword on his lap... He has a worldly and educated tone... You realize that this rough ranger is an educated and deeper man.
I don't see the lines he has with Arwen at the shards to be doubting of his role at all... I see it as a doubt that he would also not fall into the power of the ring as Isildur did... A moment of close refection more than doubt about what he would do... But is that the part you are talking about?
-Hair the PJ-Bot