[Nuranar]

I shan't get into the debate about <I>how</I> the script was written (although I enjoy reading it), but I must say I agree the most with <B>Tar-Palantir</B>:<P> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>It was an indirect way of taking more from the novels. It seems as though if they needed a line, and something previously unused from the novel fits, then they used it. I'd rather hear Gollum recite that song under his breath in a psychotic way, than something made from scratch. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Now the question that has not been fully addressed:<P> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>2) If it's raining at Helm's Deep, wouldn't all the torches go out?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>I confess up front that I have little or no experience with torches. However, I have gathered from reading that the wood is soaked or daubed with some kind of fuel such as oil. In other words, the torches aren't merely burning up their own wood. I think flames fed on something that burns that readily would not quickly extinguish in the rain.<P>Even if there is none or but little oil on the torches (or if my theory on the strength of the flame is faulty), it would take a lot of rain to put a torch out - this I know from personal experience. I have kept a campfire from going out in the rain, and the bigger the flame the harder it is to put it out. (Actually, the biggest problem we had was with the firepit flooding - we had to bail it out! )