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It's to discuss was Aragorn's act out of his character, and did he break the rules of war (killing a messenger)?
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Totally gratuitous, in my opinion. After all, it doesn't really matter whether or not Sauron broke the rules before Aragorn (head catapulting and all...); if Aragorn uses the tactics of the enemy, he becomes no better than the enemy. As he stands at the Black Gate, ready to fight what could be his last battle on Middle Earth, it would disconcert me a little to know that he would stoop to the tactics of the evil guys. It makes me wonder what he would do at the last extremity and allows some doubt to enter in about the purity of his purpose. But then again, I'm an idealist. On the other hand, it broke the tension of the scene and moved things along in a definite way by movie-logic.
Incidentally,
Lalwendë, I used to find the book Aragorn almost intolerably pompous, but as I've read and re-read, he is slowly becoming one of my favorite characters as I come to understand the difficulties of his position and mandate. Whereas I passed over incidents in previous readings, they recently became more resonant, i.e., Aragorn's effective understanding, mercy and shrewd use of the troops marching toward Mordor after Pelennor, who, for one reason or another, did not have the strength or heart to continue on to the Black Gate...he allowed these soldiers not only to save face but to contribute meaningfully to the retaking of Gondorian territories. And his poetically perfect decision regarding Beregond after the latter's transgression at the entrance to Rath Dinen. That is not the same Aragorn who cuts off the head of the Mouth of Sauron in the movie.
I guess I just see them as two different people, and what might be in character for Viggo-gorn would not be in character for Aragorn-proper. I suppose I didn't really address the question of consistency within the movie context, though, did I? Oops!
Cheers!
Lyta