The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - LotR2-TTT-Seq09

Tuor of Gondolin · 04-06-2006, 06:50 AM

A good summary above of (a typical) slice of
plus and minus PJ filmmaking. An argument is
frequently made, sometimes correctly, that
changes by PJ and friends to LOTR for filming were
necessary. Some are, and some aren't. To dicuss
just one here, Eomer. Instead of book Eomer
being pardoned by the king and fighting with and
forging a friendship with Eomer, Eomer just bizarrly
disappears (where?) and with whom? His household
followers/fighters are about 100, why did others go
with him, where were their families (they deserted
them?), where did they ride 900 miles to and where were
they going? Yes, a non-book viewer probably wouldn't
be overly concerned, but it was unneccessary .
The only ratiuonal reason I can see is that PJ wanted
the cavalry to ride to the rescue at Helm's Deep but
didn't want to introduce another character to lead them.
So cut out some of the other added PJ bits.

But, as Alatar notes, there is also some breathtaking
cinematography and solid acting (Wormtongue and Eowyn).

My take on movie Hama is 1) It was foolish to cut Hama's
line [something like] "It is said that a staff in the hands of a wizard may be more then an aid for old age. But when in doubt a man of worth will trust his judgement. I believe you to be people of good will." But of course this hint of a check on Gandalf would effect PJ's view of white wizard G as "The great and powerful Oz". 2) My reading of the scene of Hama restraining his men was that
the attackers of the Three Hunters were Grima's thugs, not any
of Theoden's guards, and that without Hama's restraint Aragorn,
Gandalf, and Gimli would have been tossed around.

There is much more to discuss here, both pro and con, of PJ's works.
And it is still my view that FOTR was by far the best of his three pics,
Largely because he took less liberties with LOTR there.

04-06-2006, 06:50 AM	#2
Tuor of Gondolin Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Pennsylvania, WtR, passed Sarn Gebir: Above the rapids (1239 miles) BtR, passed Black Rider Stopping Place (31 miles) Posts: 1,548	A good summary above of (a typical) slice of plus and minus PJ filmmaking. An argument is frequently made, sometimes correctly, that changes by PJ and friends to LOTR for filming were necessary. Some are, and some aren't. To dicuss just one here, Eomer. Instead of book Eomer being pardoned by the king and fighting with and forging a friendship with Eomer, Eomer just bizarrly disappears (where?) and with whom? His household followers/fighters are about 100, why did others go with him, where were their families (they deserted them?), where did they ride 900 miles to and where were they going? Yes, a non-book viewer probably wouldn't be overly concerned, but it was unneccessary . The only ratiuonal reason I can see is that PJ wanted the cavalry to ride to the rescue at Helm's Deep but didn't want to introduce another character to lead them. So cut out some of the other added PJ bits. But, as Alatar notes, there is also some breathtaking cinematography and solid acting (Wormtongue and Eowyn). My take on movie Hama is 1) It was foolish to cut Hama's line [something like] "It is said that a staff in the hands of a wizard may be more then an aid for old age. But when in doubt a man of worth will trust his judgement. I believe you to be people of good will." But of course this hint of a check on Gandalf would effect PJ's view of white wizard G as "The great and powerful Oz". 2) My reading of the scene of Hama restraining his men was that the attackers of the Three Hunters were Grima's thugs, not any of Theoden's guards, and that without Hama's restraint Aragorn, Gandalf, and Gimli would have been tossed around. There is much more to discuss here, both pro and con, of PJ's works. And it is still my view that FOTR was by far the best of his three pics, Largely because he took less liberties with LOTR there. __________________ Aure Entuluva!