While it's kind of nice in the book to start off at a plodding pace, and have Gandalf come and go as the years go by, the movie couldn't really afford to have another huge gap in the narration, as there was between the Last Alliance scenes and the intro to The Shire. <P>As well as the fact that we can be introduced to the main hobbits at the party (very nicely done!), it means that there is no hiccup in the pace. It also enabled the filmmakers to carve huge meaty chunks out of the chapters before Bree, as we already know a bit about the hobbits. Placing Merry, Pippin and Sam at their later ages in the party enabled them to cut A Conspiracy Unmasked out completely. All in the name of 'saving time', that false idol Saturn.
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But Gwindor answered: 'The doom lies in yourself, not in your name'.
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