[LinnieBeth]

...The whole side trip to Osgiliath with Faramir was unnecessary, IMHO. More than that, it was a nearly complete savaging of Faramir's character.

I'm glad you said that. I felt the same way. The contrast between brothers was something Tolkien wrote with such sincerity, and Faramir-the overlooked brother- had such depth and spiritual 'insight' that I felt the whole episode with Faramir was done by Jackson so as it lost Tolkien's "intent".

There were more scenes that were fabricated in TTT, but mostly the intent was there. With Faramir, Osgiliath, Fell Beast- I thought the writers just did not keep the nuiances that the book had, and in fact, kind of turned Faramir's character upsidedown.

I think you may have said it better than I, rosebear, but it did seem that this "invention" is the one that really ditches the original inner virtue of Faramir - and he comes off more of a clod than his brother.

[HairOfTheDog]

This will probably be one of the more talked about subjects in the month to come!

I don't think he is more of a clod than his brother.... I think he is a rather sympathetic character in the film. He was not rash like Boromir, he didn't lose his composure and take the ring for himself or act brutish, only decided to take them all to his father. I thought his reactions were reasonably true... In the book he didn't automatically release Frodo either. It needs to be explained, or demonstrated, for it to make sense for him to let it go. If he wasn't seriously tempted to take it, then the premise that all are tempted is false, and wouldn't make sense.

[carton253]

I think the writers had to do that to keep the ring in jeopardy... and introduce Gondor... and stay true to Farimir's character when we first met him (he was severe in the books)... there was alot being accomplished in those scenes. To see the desperation of Gondor gave us a better understanding of Boromir also.

Allowing Frodo to go when he was so close to Denethor's grasp will set up great conflict/tension between Gandalf/Faramir/Denethor in ROTK. So... like I said, much was going on in those scenes.

But that's my opinion... and that and a $1.32 will buy you a gallon of gas as we say in these here parts.

[Wneighbor]

Greetings, in order to whole-heartedly agree with you about PJ's treatment of Faramir. I'm not sure that part can grow on me. I loved Tolkein's work-up of Faramir as the mirror image of Boromir. Looking alike but opposite in those good/bad traits of character which caused Boromir's downfall and Faramir to show his true greatness. IMHO, that was something very important to me in the reading and I missed that in the film.