[Macalaure]

Good idea to take a short breather here. Somehow I think that the middle of TTT is one of the weaker parts of the movie trilogy. Luckily we know there's a lot of exciting things to come that are worth waiting for.

Cate, our beloved elf Queen and also the LotR trilogy narrator, appears as beautiful as ever. Her elven words are lost on me, but soon she begins to speak the common well enough.

The words are the same she said at the beginning of the Fellowship, the ones she was given from Treebeard. Why didn't PJ think of something new?

Though I really liked how TTT started, I too think a synopsis would have served better. There's a synopsis at the beginning of each of the books, so why not here. Also I really don't like parts of how it was done.
The map for example. Yes, I know, it's mainly for orientation and clearness precedes detail - but come on: the Lord of the Rings lives by its detail, even though there sometimes may be too much be perceived in full.
Galadriel says "Frodo begins to know the quest will cost his life" in a way which sounds like it truly will cost his life. (Or is this just another "cheap" cliffhanger?)
Saruman is Sauron's puppet? Surely you need to simplify now and then, but this is too much for me.

But at least now nobody can call Legolas Captain Obvious anymore, as Galadriel and Faramir fight so enthusiastically for this rank.


And just some thoughts on your thoughts.

I didn’t expect, however, for Rohan to be so brown – where’s the sea of green knee-high grasses?

I guess this was the one landscape they weren't able to find in New Zealand, which was awesome for most other locations.

you start to wonder if there isn’t much else in PJ’s bag of tricks.

You do indeed. I think Jackson sometimes struggles with creating tension in a subtle way. It's either one of these cliffhangers, or by monumental action.

The Black Gate was too contrived.

After having seen the movies a couple (or some couples) of times I have to agree. But I also have to admit, the first time I saw it in the cinema - I was blown away by it.

We will see later what Elrond’s decision will be: cut and run, or stand in the gap.

Interestingly, Elrond really does nothing in the movie: it's Galadriel (oh, and Celeborn, of course) who sends help to Helm's Deep, not Elrond. I have to say that I would have enjoyed elves at the Hornburg much more if they were led by Elrond's sons than by Haldir.