[Chi-townChief]

The portrayal of Denethor is one of my gripes about the movies: in the book, he is a wise but ultimately misguided and tragic hero; in the movie, he's merely a buffoon to be shoved aside.

[kcar]

In the story Denthor was reputed to be wise, and did assemble all the wisdom of the ages in his library / archives, which Gandalf often consulted. But the movie couldn't bring all subtle character nuances out - in the end it just portrayed him the way he essentially was, a coward who would have sacrificed his surviving son, and who believed victory was impossible and that all greatness was pastward. Bad steward. Very French.

I was less disappointed by the failure to draw out his character than to the total omission of Tom Bombadil and his good lady, Goldberry. They could've made a 4-hour movie of the escape from the Shire to Bree.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

in the movie, he's merely a buffoon to be shoved aside.

I too thought he was portrayed as too psychotic for comfort.