[Wordsmith]

No, I don't think you're "in your cups" - what a great expression! I think it has to do with having the mental capacity to make a choice. Seems like part of human nature for us to not feel the same remorse for someone manipulated who still consents of his own free will and someone who is manipulated and used and doesn't seem to have the comprehension to ever even contribute a free choice to the malicious ends he is used for. Thus the difference between Lurtz and the cave troll. Lurtz participates in the evil willingly, in a way that the cave troll doesn't, and the whisperings of Saruman from his "birth" are not felt - by me at least - as an acceptable excuse. My wife made the same comment, too, about Lurtz having a kind of raw evil sexual kind of power and energy. The scene where he screams with the other uruk as he grabs his head is all about unbridled passion. Like throwing a whole night's worth of firewood on the blaze all at once and kindling a bonfire. Interesting, to think about the contrast between the raw energy of his minions and the cool, calculating, dispassionate maliciousness of Saruman.

[HairOfTheDog]

Lurtz is more comprehending.... and entirely culpable for his own role. I suppose that accounts for a lot of our perception of him... Funny how a lot of wimmen seem to see this animal magnetism about him.

Poor cave troll...

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

Lurtz participates in the evil willingly, in a way that the cave troll doesn't,

Yeah! I was going to say that, but I was sitting parked in a parking lot when I thought of it.

Funny how a lot of wimmen seem to see this animal magnetism about him.

Checked my wife... she just thought he was gross.