[The Saucepan Man]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> I really think Arwen ought to have the back seat in this film, because Éowyn's and Faramir's story was much more important in this book <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>But surely Aragorn's story far surpasses that of Faramir in terms of importance (hence the name of the film). And since we know that his wedding to Arwen is one of the set piece endings to the film (and therefore all three films), it makes sense to me for their romance to feature at least as much as it has in the two films to date. (I know that many are unhappy over Arwen's extended role, but personally I have no problem with it - provided of course that she doesn't take to the battlefield. )<P>Which is a roundabout way of saying that, while the romance between Faramir and Eowyn will undoubtedly feature, it will probably (and in my view should) take a back seat to the romantic aspect of the story of the central figure, Aragorn (or joint central figure, with Frodo).<P> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> what did you think of Éowyn's portrayal? Some reviewers said that she lacked presence and emotion and all that...but I thought hang on, isn't that exactly what she is meant to be like? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>On the contrary, I thought that she wasn't emotionally distant enough. In the film, we have her lauging and joking with Gimli, something that the soul in turmoil in the book would never have done. And her flirtatious behaviour towards Aragorn contrasts with the anguished desire presented in the book. For me, this isn't a problem. I think that Miranda Otto's portrayal of the character works well in the film (and I currently have the pleasure of her face looking down on me from the August page of my calendar as I type ). It's just that she's not the same character, to my mind, that we met in the book. <P>Although I do wonder how plausible her 'death wish' ride to the Pelennor as Dernhelm will seem in RotK in light of her portrayal in TTT. In the book, it was Faramir's love that rekindled in her the will to live. But it seems that, in the film, Faramir is not really going to be required to do much in the way of rekindling. <P> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> In the preview of TTT:EE they showed part of a new scene in which Faramir grabs Gollum by the throat and throws him to the ground, <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Although Gollum was pretty badly treated by Faramir and his men in the cinema release, as I recall. And anyway, surely Sam gets the prize for the main Gollum-abuser (in the book as well as the films, I might add).