[Essex]

Follows a list of the main differences, and why I believe they were done or were a mistake -

Gandalf telling Saruman that he's found the Ring.

In the book I think it works better that Saruman insinuates he knows Gandalf has found the Ring, and that Gandalf, in seing Saruman's mind, will not tell him so.

Saruman says:

For I have many eyes in my service, and I believe that you know where this precious thing now lies. Is it not so? Or why do the Nine ask for the Shire, and what is your business there?

and then Gandalf replies once he knows Saruman's intentions:

But I would not give it, nay, I would not give even news of it to you, now that I learn your mind

I think the reason why we can have it this way in the film is 'ok' because:

1/ the movie goers do not know the history between gandalf and saruman, and gandalf's growing mistrust of the head of the council (ie stuff read from unfinished tales, etc)

2/ Frodo hsa already left the Shire, so is 'safer' from Saruman going after him to capture him.

Not that it's better. I prefer the book version.

What I DO like though is the way the scriptwriters take mounds of narration from different sources and enclose it in one quick bit of speech from saruman ( who actaully states none of this in the book - but it works really well on film)

Sauron has regained much of his former strength. He cannot yet take physical form, but his spirit has lost none of its potency. Concealed within his fortress, the Lord of Mordor sees all. His gaze pierces cloud, shadow, earth and flesh. You know of what I speak, Gandalf. A great eye, lidless, wreathed in flame

These lines (or at least the Key words) were paraphrased from:

Silmarillion, Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age
FOTR, The Breaking of the Fellowship
FOTR, The Council of Elrond
TTT, The Passage of the Marshes
ROTK, The Battle of the Pelennor Fields
Silmarillion, AKALLABÊTH The Downfall of Númenor

Saruman showing the Palantir to Gandalf - As we all know Saruman does not show the stone to Gandalf, or tell him he has one in the book. Jackson uses this to show us Saruman's communication with Sauron, which we do not find out in the books until the Two Towers. I don't mind this change, it gives the audience information (again becasue he hasn't got a narrator!) by the characters

And finally, film Saruman:

They crossed the river Isen on Midsummer's eve, disguised as riders in black

- in the 'official' time line of LOTR the Black riders didn't cross the isen until after gandalf escaped - If we had more of a tie in to the books, imagine the scenes with saruman confronting the Witch King at his gates, and then Gandalf escaping as Saruman reaches the top of Orthanc (as told in unfinished tales, isn't it?) - of course this would mean a big change to the timeline of events prior to this scene.......ah well, can't have everything.

My 3 season mini series of Lord of the Rings will have all this back story in it once it gets made!!!