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Hmmm.... I don't personally have a strong emotional reaction either way on the Sauron issue, Dan.

Anyone else? I know this is a hot issue for a lot of folk.

I can admit that the enemy unseen is often scarier, but for whatever reason PJ can't get his head around that and make it fit into his vision. Can't say why.

One of the great moments in the story is the moment with Frodo at the cracks of Doom where Sauron suddenly realizes exactly what is happening.... [double-take] WHAAAAAAAAAAAAT ?????????????????

I can see it in my mind, but it looks sortof like a red lighthouse beacon, the eye looking somewhere else, searching.... and then suddenly whipping around to spotlight Frodo on the mountain. I don't know if that vision could be made to have drama in pictures without a face or not! But I can picture the Sauron from the Prologue doing what I imagine, suddenly, in the midst of battle, a sense in the back of his head, slow realization, stopping, turning, zooming in.... helpless to stop it. Crying out perhaps or a futile gesture of rage.

And Faramir, as you know, will be made right in the end, probably even made more right in the Extended Version of TTT, as there is reported to be added scenes coming that show some flashbacks to Faramir and Boromir, and show how Faramir knew that Boromir was dead. Also added will be more scenes with he and Frodo after he decides to release them. He was used a little bit to add some suspense and doubt in TTT, but I think when you look at him as a whole after the third film, he will look better. Right now he is one chapter out of the complete context he will have.

I've hear PJ mention it in various commentaries and interviews several times. The formless Dark Lord presents a dramatic problem. The antagonist needs a protagonists, and the camera needs a character.

I hope PJ does not "anthropomorphize" Sauron--but I don't have a problem if he does--PJ will have the problem, because to make Sauron have a form will make Sauron less menacing.

What I'd do, if allowed to play--I'd make the Mouth of Sauron a surrogate, and have Sauron "possess" him like a demon possession, jump into the Mouth's body. That'd let PJ have it both ways--body and spirit...and Aragorn could have someone to swing at.

Can't wait for Eowyn and Merry to take on the Nazgul king. That's what I've waiting all my life to see dramatized.