[zb]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Merry and Pippin suddenly show up in the fields with Frodo and Sam, without any hint that they are very good friends with Frodo, making the two young hobbit's choice to go join the fellowship even more irrational (if thats possible) and confusing...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>I disagree. I think this is a case of 'showing, not telling' - most audience members with an iq higher than their shoe size will either:<BR>a. have read the books and know who M&P are; or,<BR>b. realise that the reason why the hobbits all get along as if they know each other is beacuse they do, indeed, know each other.<P>I think sometimes we forget that movies can imply events and relationships without having to show them.<P>I also don't see why "one has to realize that NO ONE will EVER make LotR EVER AGAIN" - I can think of many books/plays which have been made into multiple movies. Shakespeare's stuff being the most obvious answer, but also <I>Animal Farm</I> and <I>The Secret Garden</I>, off the top of my head. We'll just have to wait another 20 years, that's all.