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There are things I didn't notice until viewing 5 - every time you see another layer.

I agree. I just went and saw it for the fourth time, I know I’m just a piker compared to the rest of you ;^), and I just wanted to share a couple of observations.

The first one my daughter actually brought to my attention. After Frodo gets stabbed on Weathertop he is raced to a place where Strider tries to slow down the poison using the Asenath(?) weed. Anyway, during that part you can hear the Riders screeching in the background and Frodo lets out a holler as well. I thought he was just screeching with pain, but my daughter believes that he was answering the Riders, or calling them(?), since he was being slowly turned into a wraith because of his wound.

The second was that everytime I see the movie the more I like Boromir. His story is a very sad and tragic one. He is a noble man who would act with the utmost honor in any other situation, but the Ring works its deviltry on him and he succumbs.

There are many scenes that show Boromir’s “softer” side. The scenes that immediately come to mind are: 1) where he is training Merry & Pippin in how to sword fight; 2) in the mines of Moria, when Balin’s tomb is discovered and Gandalf is reading from the book he found, it is Boromir that comes up behind Gimli and lays a comforting hand on Gimli’s shoulder; and 3) Boromir’s bravery in attempting to defend Merry & Pippin, he has taken two arrows already is on his knees for what should have been the last time, but he looks up and sees Merry & Pippin looking at him and he gathers the strength to take out another few dozen orcs in a futile attempt to save them. (Wow, I got a little misty-eyed just typing that)

Anyway, that’s what I wanted to share with you all.

BTW, where is this TT trailer that I have heard rumored about? I waited until the end of the credits on Saturday night, and nothing. ;^(

-ksen

Thanks for your observations!... Now - At that point where Aragorn and company stop and you think Frodo cries out (I only remember one cry - for Gandalf - but I don't think that is what you mean... I will have to see it again) Did you notice where they are? - They are amongst the stone trolls, the ones who had captured the dwarves in The Hobbit, and were turned to stone when Bilbo confused them until daylight came. I think any description of that place was a little too heavily cut for many to notice the forms looming in the night.

I agree that I sympathize more with Boromir from the images in the film, than I did before the film.

TTT trailer - not out yet... latest rumors as to when it will be included are between the 22 and 29th of this month. I am sure you will hear us announce when it is actually out! According to the rumors, it will play as soon as the screen goes to black from Frodo and Sam's final scene... Before the credits... so no one should miss it.

I thought he was just screeching with pain, but my daughter believes that he was answering the Riders, or calling them(?), since he was being slowly turned into a wraith because of his wound.

I thought that was a very interesting dramatic choice to make. I think you're daughter is right, it's definitely that Frodo is slowly becoming a wraith himself. In fact, the most dramatic Frodo-screeching moment comes just after Aragorn says, "He's passing into the shadow world...he'll soon become a wraith like them." The wraiths howl and screech, and he sort-of screeches in response. Perhaps Frodo's answering screech added a little extra impetus to Aragorn and Sam looking for the athelas plant--it was pretty scary that Aragorn left them a bit defenseless at that moment while he went off looking for the herb. It brings out just how perilous Frodo's situation really was, that worse than being killed or injured by the Nazgul that lurked seemingly all around them would be losing Frodo to that shadow world--losing his very soul.

I think the same connection is illustrated when Frodo almost dies after the Nazgul are "drowned." It's almost as if he drowns himself--it really brings out that connection that he has with them, and it's quite frightening. I have a feeling this connection will come back in at least the final movie if not TTT, it will be interesting to see how they handle that.