[The Saucepan Man]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> I doubt I will ever watch the theatrical TTT version again. This is my Two Towers and I think I have made my peace with PJ. It seems he makes the theatrical version for the general population, but the extended version is made for us...the REAL FANS! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Hear hear, Faramir Fan, and I can see why you, as a Faramir Fan, liked it so much. <P>I have spent the evening watching the Extended Edition and thoroughly enjoyed it. I agree with much of what has already been said here. The award for the most improved character certainly goes to Faramir. I really appreciated him being given the line about the dead Southron (even though it is Sam's in the book). It softened him right from the outset.<P>Like the rest of you, I thought that the Osgiliath scene with Boromir and Faramir was the best of the additions. It had the dual benefit of increasing the viewer's sympathy for both of these characters. Not so for Denethor, of course. It looks like he is going to be portrayed as a fairly unlikebale chap, and I feel that there is more to him than this in the book. But I can live with that. And I loved the brothers' reaction to his arrival. I also liked the way that Faramir's words about proving his worth (which were in the theatrical version) were foreshadowed by Denethor's mocking words in this scene.<P>Lots of other good stuff: the Elven Rope, some excellent lines for Gimli, the conclusion of his contest with Legolas at Helm's Deep (although didn't Gimli win on 42 in the book?). One point here though, Gimli is shouting "22, 23, 24" at the beginning of the battle, and yet he only adds another 19 to his tally throughout the rest of it, despite being in the thick of the action for most of it. But that's a minor point, I suppose.<P>I liked the interaction between the Uruk-Hai and the Orcs, and was glad to see Ugluk given a little bit more character (although I would still have loved to see him utter the immortal line: "I am Ugluk. I command!" ).<P>I didn't go a bundle on Merry and Pippin dozing off to Treebeard's poetry, but appreciated the greater screen time that they both got. The Ent-Draught (and Merry's concern over being taller than Pippin) was great. And I did like the "Old Man Willow" scene. I thought that it was nice to see Jackson adding a little bit of a homage to Bombadillo. It was good to see the Huorns in action too. I liked the few understated shots, before the Uruk-Hai retreated, to show that a forest had suddenly appeared where there had been no forest before. And I actually thought that the fate of the Uruk-Hai was well done - not too overstated.<P>The scene with Eowyn's stew was delightful, although her line about Aragorn being a descendant of the Numenoreans, blessed with long life was a bit too expositional for my taste. It was nice, though, for us fans to get a bit more of a detailed explanation of Aragorn's heritage (in the Ring of Barahir scene too), and for the Kingdom of the North to get a mention (if not by name).<P>I knew before that the initial scene with Brego would make much more sense of the bit where the horse later comes to Aragorn's aid. Seeing it now, though, it does make me wonder why they included that in the theatrical version (but then I never liked Aragorn getting dragged over the cliff anyway). Arwen got a few more lines too, which probably won't thrill too many people here ( ), but I thought that they were nice.<P>I wasn't too sure why they included the discussion between Gandalf and Aragorn at night on route to Edoras. This just seemed to me to be explaining things that we knew already, although Gandalf's reaction to Aragorn telling him that Sam was with Frodo was wonderful (Ian McKellen is always able to convey so much in just one small expression).<P>Finally, Faramir showing the Hobbits and Gollum the route through the sewers finally explains that old chestnut about how they got to the other side of the river with all the Orcs about (although those of us who are spoiler nuts knew about this already). Again, it softens Faramir's image and his threat to Gollum clearly shows his concern for Frodo and his mission. Personally, I wouldn't have included his reference to there being something terrible in Cirith Ungol, since I found that this detracted somewhat from Gollum's subsequent foreshadowing of Shelob.<P>But overall, I thought that the Extended Version was a real treat, and it really is the definitive version of TTT for me now too. I can still see why these scenes were left out of the theatrical version, since they do slow the film down in parts where it should, for a cinema audience, be going at a faster pace (especially towards the end). Personally, though, I would have included some of these scenes in preference to a number of those that were in the theatrical release, particularly the re-taking of Osgiliath, but hey its not my film. And, with all these great scenes, I do have some sympathy for Jackson. It must have been really quite difficult deciding what to leave out.<P>Edit: Oh, and how could I forget Eomer recovering Theodred's body from the aftermath of the Battle at the Fords of Isen. That was a nice touch. And Eowyn's elegy at Theodred's funeral was wonderful - both haunting and moving.<p>[ November 18, 2003: Message edited by: The Saucepan Man ]