It is almost inevitable that any discussion of Bombadil turns into a 'who is he?' topic, but I think it is valuable to recall lmp's point here that the hobbits require and acquire important maturing experiences as they move from their beloved Shire to the outside world--or at least Frodo.
The movie Bree section was much darker than the book Bree section--Prancing Pony--specifically because the hobbits had not yet seriously realised any possibility that this quest ring thing would be dangerous. I supposedthat is a more glamerous and exciting entrance for Strider/Aragorn, but at the same time it represented a far more abrupt jump between the safe and happy, warm and cozy opening and the journey itself. There's nothing intrinsically wrong with that, but we do lose an aspect of understanding the Shire.
It is interesting that Jackson in fact removed both Bombadil and the Scouring. Tolkien's interest in the changes to Middle earth clearly were to Jackson less interesting than the action aspect of the adventure.
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I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.
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