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I've been reading the stuff at TorN and a review they have there from one of their people has an interesting bit about the changes to Faramir. Where's the spoiler thread? Oh, well, I'll white it out.

And character than the one Tolkien wrote. Now, I'm not one to wail loudly about things being adapted and changed. I don't mind lots of Elven archers showing up at Helm's Deep. I don't mind that the healing of Théoden feels like a frightening "exorcism." All that is actually pretty cool to me. I don't fret much with all those changes from the book.

But David Wenham's Faramir is rather harsh. He is not always likeable. When I read the original text of The Two Towers, I see proof that Faramir is stern but also wise, and a good listener -- he is ultimately very kind and generous to the hobbits...

But the movie version of Faramir is not so openhanded. He keeps the hobbits as prisoners, making sure they know they are prisoners, and seems as prideful and rash as his older brother. It is important that Faramir be likable, for he is a foil to the arrogance of Boromir. In Towers, it is only after an extremely dangerous encounter with the Enemy, where Sam challenges Faramir with a passionate plea, that we see him begin to soften.

They go on to explain why this happens, according to the screen writer - but I still disagree. Thoughts?

Oh, the review is here.

I am gonna withhold judgment until I see it. I need to see and feel this stuff... I have seen some of the clincher moments, of course, in the preview clips. There was a part of that review where he quoted someone who had talked to Philippa Boyens about it. While I don't agree with all of her rationalizations... they are part of what we should consider.

According to his report, Philippa "had some interesting things to say on the above -- basically saying that Faramir's character is completely static in the books, and thus wouldn't translate well filmically. She wanted to extend his character to give him more of a journey, and also seemed to imply that it would seem incongruous were Faramir immediately sea-green incorruptible; whereas all other Men in the film (even Aragorn) definitely have to wrestle with their conscience to a greater or lesser extent."

Now this makes some sense to me. Perhaps this harsher Faramir will have the opportunity to grow and change during the third film. Perhaps he will show some of the charity and wisdom that makes Éowyn fall in love with him. So again I am reminded that this is a very different medium. It is not a novel, so it cannot succeed where a novel would have. It is ill-advised to judge a movie adaptation such as this as one would judge a book. They are just horses of different colors.

So there may be more in movie three.