[Carorëiel]

This was an awesome idea. Hope no one minds if I toss in a few comments. I'll try to be brief.<P>1. Compressed time frame between Bilbo's party and departure of Frodo & Sam.<BR> *1--It's important that we know Frodo's story is not a "coming of age" story. The compression makes it seem like he's quite a young man (hobbit).<BR>2. Alternate method of having Merry & Pippin join the journey.<BR> *2--Merry and Pippin come off a bit too immature this way. Though I can see how the whole Crick Hollow bit may have been cumbersome to the film.<BR>3. Removal of Tom Bombadil & the Barrow-Wights.<BR> *3--I love Tom, but his removal doesn't hurt the plot. (Our complete understanding of the powers at work in ME, yes; the plot, no.) But I do have to wonder how, in the context of the movie, we can justify Strider hauling at least four extra weapons around with him.<BR>4. Arwen replacing Glorfindel.<BR> *2--In general, I'm against Arwen's expanded role. In the context of that expansion, however, if makes perfect sense to have her replace Glorfindel in the way that she did.<BR>5. Arwen taking Frodo to the Fords of Bruinen.<BR> *1--Grrr. Chance for important character development (Frodo's) lost. Lost!<BR>6. The Fellowship being formed almost spontaneously in the Council of Elrond.<BR> *4--Love this bit in the book, but it would definitely slow the film way down. Such a long stoppage of the action (I mean plot-forwarding, not battles etc) would be a major detriment to a film.<BR>7. Changes in the battle in Balin's Tomb.<BR> *3--Cave troll battle was a little much. I was personally disappointed that Frodo's mithril shirt was discovered in the mines instead of later. But that's just me. The scene outside the mines where Aragorn discovers the shirt was always one of my favorites.<BR>8. No Sam and other changes at Galadriel's Mirror.<BR> *3<BR>9. Aragorn's battle with Darth Maul - oops - I mean Lurtz.<BR> *4--I think the juxtaposition of Aragorn's warriorlyness here and his tenderness with Boromir following nicely develops Aragorn. And we get to see Viggo Mortenson kick a**. <BR>10. Changes in the healing of Theoden by Gandalf.<BR> *4-- <shrug> I thought this was cool.<BR>11. Changes in Eomer's role.<BR> *2--Grr. <BR>12. Eowyn and the citizens of Edoras going to Helm's Deep<BR> *2<BR>13. Attack by the Warg Riders on the road to Helm's Deep.<BR> *2<BR>14. Aragorn's fall and his journey to Helm's Deep.<BR> *1--Gratuitous attempt to get Arwen in the movie. Annoying. Besides, the scene when they come back and they tell Eowyn that Lord Aragorn "fell" reminds me of the scene in Wagner's Ring Cycle where the dudes who killed Seigfried tell whats-her-butt (sorry, not a big Wagner fan) that he was killed by a wild boar. Right. This great warrior was killed by a wild boar. Sure. And Aragorn would go flying off a cliff stuck on a warg. Don't think so. Though the scene between Aragorn and Legolas when Aragorn gets back is very good.<BR>15. Differences in the result of the entmoot.<BR> *2<BR>16. Changes in Frodo's & Sam's encounter with Faramir including going to Osgiliath.<BR> *1--Gaugh! Why? Why change it? WHY? There's no reason to, and it's illogical within the context to the plot.<BR>17. Elves at Helm's Deep.<BR> *2--Somewhat reserving judgement here until I see how PJ pulls everything together in RotK.<BR>18. Changes in Aragorn's character.<BR> *3--Since nothing immediately leaps to mind, I guess I wasn't overly disturbed by any.<BR>19. Changes in Frodo's character.<BR> *3--Frodo could have a bit more depth, but in general, I think the main points of his character are there. When a story of this magnitude is compressed into a film, some nuance of character is going to be lost. I think it's inevitable. He is portrayed as a bit too much of victim, though. Ie, at the Ford.<BR>20. Changes in Faramir's character. <BR> *1--Again, WHY? Without the stark contrast between Faramir and Boromir, we lose the "lesson" of Boromir's downfall, redemption, etc. Besides, we need to be strongly connected to Faramir (positively) in order for events in RotK to have the impact they must.