[ksen]

If that is true, it will definitely mar the entire LOTR film trilogy. The whole point of the story is either you do something about evil or this is what happens to your idyllic life.

I don't know. I think you are putting way too much on the importance of the Scouring, IMHO. So far the first two films have shown pretty well what happens if you don't do something about evil, re: Theoden.

Also in TTT there was a sequence with Merry & Pippen at the Entmoot where Pippen said something along the lines of, "let's just go home Merry, we have the Shire." And Merry said that if they didn't do something then there wouldn't be a Shire left. I think that moment shows that the Hobbits knew what the stakes were.

Well, those are my thoughts anyway. Hope you had a good weekend.

[Maigret]

I think you are putting way too much on the importance of the Scouring

You may be right, I just know how important it seemed to me when reading the book. And you are right the message is given a couple of times, I guess it is the culmination of the story as far as Merry, Pippin and especially Sam are concerned and it seems it will be difficult to tie up those ends without the scouring. But I'm going to enjoy it I'm sure!

[Mamzelle]

Remember the gift-giving scene in FOTR, when Galadriel gave the rope to Sam? She didn't give him the little box with the mallorn seed and the miracle-gro dust. Indicated to me that the Scouring may not figure importantly in ROTK. The Scouring and the Death of Sharkey was not, IMO, one of Tolkein's better creations, though I enjoyed the theme of rebirth and Frodo's sacrifice.

So is the final scene the Grey Havens? What I'd find disappointing is if they neglect Sam's final cozy moment with Rosie..."Well, I'm back."