First, it is patently unfair to hold a film to the book. The mediums are different and Tolkiens use of exposition is impossible to convey clearly in film. So point 10 is moot in my opinion.
Second, if you are to compare the book to the film, read the book first. Gimli was spouting one-liners in the book, he was funny in a "Alright! Now I get to kill orcs!" kind of way. Legolas was supposed to possess super-human agility and dexterity. (The "surfing" wasn't near as bad as the out of context commercials made it appear.)
Third, the elven scenes I thought were very well done. The movie makes it appear (although those who know the books know differently) that Arwen accepted her Father's wishes and left Middle-Earth. This is important as she is Aragorn's inspiration and his hope. The elves represent the people that men wish they could be and their departure puts the mantle of that goodness and greatness on the weak shoulders of the human race. Do you think that Elrond doesn't have a scrying device like Galadriel has her mirror? It's very possible that they indeed could communicate over long distances.
Fourth, I think the change in personality in Sam and Frodo could possibly be caused by the Ring and the hard traveling and lack of food and water, don't you? Aragorn I think stepped up into a leadership role and Gandalf had obviously been transformed into a different incarnation.
Fifth, the Urak-hai army arrived, but we did not get a good look at every block in that army. The light infantry arrived first, then the baggage trains. Basic military procedure for marches.
Sixth, the Urak-hai who came in contact with the horses on the causeway didn't die, they were knocked off the causeway! You try and take a shoulder check from a good sized horse and see if it doesn't push you back a step or two. Sadly, the Urak-hai were on a narrow piece of stone arched high off the ground. The horse "nudged" them and off they went.
This is clearly what I was talking about. People remember the most insignificant things that irritate them and they get blown up because of how good the movie was. I would like to know what scenes in particular were washed out, I'll look for them next time.
You should look for the boom mic dropping into view in The Sixth Sense when the boy and his mother are sitting in the car and he reveals his secret to her. Doesn't ruin the movie, not even worth noting, but a couple of "washed out" scenes were worth complaining about?
Sincerely,
Someone who only read the first book as a teenager, but has seen the incredible FOTR 5 times now, and can't wait to see the new one Friday night.
Nothing like a pointless love/sex scene. The only thing I can say they are good for is taking a piss after drinking 40ozs. of Coke.
It's in the book!! From The Return of the King, chapter 6, "Many Partings":
Here now for seven days they tarried, for the time was at hand for another parting which they were loth to make. Soon Celeborn and Galadriel and their folk would turn eastward, and so pass by the Redhorn Gate and down the Dimrill Stair to the Silverlode and to their own country. They had journeyed thus far by the west-ways, for they had much to speak of with Elrond and with Gandalf, and here they lingered still in converse with their friends. Often long after the hobbits were wrapped in sleep they would sit together under the stars, recalling the ages that were gone and all their joys and labours in the world, or holding council, concerning the days to come. If any wanderer had chanced to pass, little would he have seen or heard, and it would have seemed to him only that he saw grey figures, carved in stone, memorials of forgotten things now lost in unpeopled lands. For they did not move or speak with mouth, looking from mind to mind; and only their shining eyes stirred and kindled as their thoughts went to and fro.
Thank you for putting
up your post! It's true this film
ends up more or less
on track with the books.
But the strange little changes
were just un-nerving.
And really pointless.
I really, really, really
hope Jackson doesn't
screw up the magic
of Arwen and Aragorn.
He seems to want to...
Didn't notice this. Well, except for one particular scene when Gandalf appears in Fangorn Forest.
2. The scenes with Arwen are 11 minutes and 20 seconds of wasted film. It adds nothing, means nothing, and made most people around me start looking at their watches, the ceiling, or go the bathroom.
Somewhat agree. The story seemed to move the slowest at these points.
3. Gimli was already absurd in his situation. He did not need to be made into a baffoon by bad one liners and prat falls as well.
I thought his comedy, was for the most part, quite natural. I doubt he spends much time riding horses or doing long distance cross-country racing, so he was way out of his element and relieved the burden somewhat with humor.
4. Since when are Elrond and Galadriel telepathic?
I guess they're not, but it was Galadriel who sent the elves to Helm's Deep, not Elrond, so that may not be what the scene was trying to portray.
5. The characters apparently forgot their personalities from the first movie - Sam was a jerk, Frodo was an arse, Merry and Pippin were totally inconsequential. Aragorn forgot he was supposed to be a leader and Gandalf was grinning all the time (was he high?).
Highly disagree. Character development on all sides. Frodo under the influence of the ring, Sam getting more brave while at the same time sensing that they will not survive this, Merry and Pippin actually became something of a hero for their trickery of the Ents, Aragorn became more like a king and less like a antisocial ranger, and Gandalf played perfectly like someone who had died, went to heaven, and came back with a renewed sense of purporse and more confidence in their abilities.
6. The orc army at Helms Deep arrived empty handed - but suddenly were able to produce massive (metal) seige ladders.
We weren't shown the whole entire army up close, not a problem here.
7. They blasted the outer walls - which crushed half the attackers - but the orcs numbers were replenished immediately - and the giant rubble was gone!
No, only a handfull of orcs were affected. The entire force was a good few hundred meters in length.
8. Legolas stair surfing??? Please......
This was cool.
9. I think the horses of Rohan must be made of very sharp materials - when the 6 riders rode out through the orcs - every orc that was even brushed lightly by a horse died.
This part of the movie needed expanding. More of the end of the battle needed to be on film. Like at least 10 minutes more.
10. Faromir...who would have thought that he could have been interpreted so badly on film?
Haven't read the book.
- I could go on like this for hours but instead i'll give equal time to the Good-
1. The first 10 minutes is incredible! The fight between Gandalf and the Balrog will be a classic forever.
Nice, but could've been better. How did they end up high on the mountain peaks after falling into the depths of that chasm for minutes?
3. Anthony Serkis' voice characterization of Gollum were perfection - match that with a very believeable CGI and you've got the best character in the entire film.
The one part where I thought for sure would suck. It rocked.
4. Eowyn was incredible as well. Her acting is unmatched in the film.
Didn't really do anything for me. More of this could've been cut to add a longer Isenguard sequence, or Shelob.
5. The ents and the attack on the Orthanc were likewise beyond expectations albeit the were very short scenes.
The high point of the movie for me.
7. Grima Wormtongue was everything you expected to hate - great acting.
Typical slimy villian. Should not have been let go, but that was in the book and would've been too much of a departure.
8. Beautiful scenery and flyovers.
Not as much as FOTR, but that movie had much more varied scenery to chew on.