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Well, that's kind of what I wondered...I can come up with ways that I imagined they did it -- but I'm interested in the interpretation of others (including the moviemakers).

They can certainly move around heavy objects with alacrity -- given that they stopped up and redirected rivers (with no machinery!).

Good Morning!

I suppose they can always use their limbs/hands too.

RE: the Ents marching to war. HotD posted this link:

http://www.tolkien-archives.com/audio/tolkienreads/book3/ch4-22.mp3

It is Tolkien himself reading the Ents Marching song: Hightly Recommended.

After this song; We get: Treebeard, "We Ents do not like being roused: we....". Reasons they were aroused.
Treebeard: "It is the orc-work, The wanton hewing--(of trees)" and:
..."the treachery of a neighbour, who should have helped us.(Saruman)

Then "Will you really break the doors of Isengard?' asked Merry?

We are stronger than Trolls Interesting Troll Comment coming later We can split stone like the roots of trees, only quicker, far-quicker, if our minds are roused! If we are not hewn down, or destroyed by fire or blast of sorcery, we could split Isengard into splinters and crack its walls into rubble."

This shows the determination and capability of the Ents, it also tells us the reasons that so 'aroused' them. The one passage about their ability to split stone--"like the roots of trees", this seems to indicate that they can penetrate stone like the roots of normal trees, but that Ents can do this very quickly. For an unhasty folk, they can sure make up their minds and take action quickly, and it sounds like once in action the aren't to unhasty there either!

RE: the Trolls: Treebeard talking to Merry and Pippin says, "Maybe you have heard of Trolls? They are mighty strong. But Trolls are only counterfeits, made by the Enemy in the great Darkness, in mockery of Ents, as Orcs were of Elves

this directly parallels Satan counterfeiting the things of God.

I found these passages very telling. How say ya'll?

Oh, one more comment on the Ent - Entwife reunion- - Treebeard expressing sadness, sensing that they may be marching to their own doom - says,
"Still, I should have like to see the songs come true about the Entwives. I should dearly have liked to see Fimbrethil again.

But there, my friends, songs like trees bear fruit on in their own time (season).