[The Saucepan Man]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> As for the why, this is part of the explanation but the bigger part is that these movies are already stuffed with characters and PJ has shown that if he can tell the story just as effectively without them, they go. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>I agree that it was sensible to leave out characters like Fatty Bolger and Tom Bombadil, who don't advance the story as portrayed in the films. But I don't hold with leaving out the Dunedain on the same basis. Including them would help to flesh out Aragorn's history, which seems to me to be very relevant to his personal journey, one of the central themes in this film (it is called Return of the King, after all).<P>And there aren't too many extra characters in RotK to confuse your average film-goer. TTT was able to accomodate a fair number of "background" characters from the books, such as Hama, Gamling and Mablung. I would see Halbarad (together with Beregond and, possibly, Prince Imrahil) as falling in the same category.<P>Also, the presence of Halbarad and the Dunedain, in addition to lending substance to Aragorn's story, would greatly enhance the scenes in the Paths of the Dead and at Umbar (assuming that's in), which might otherwise seem slightly underwhelming.<P>And, in light of <A HREF="http://forum.barrowdowns.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=4&t=002284" TARGET=_blank>this possible sighting of Halbarad</A>, I remain hopeful. <P> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> and they showed quite a few clips of the Paths of the Dead, it didn't seem that freaky at all, it didn't send chills up my back or anything like I had hoped. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Well, we're unlikely to see the Oathbreakers themselves until the film's release (or possibly shortly before).