**RotK - Denethor (John Noble)**

[HCIsland]

Obviously the palantir was a major piece of the Denethor puzzle that really would have helped. I'm assuming it was filmed but editted out. Hopefully we'll see it in the extended edition.<P>I thought Noble's performance was great, my favourite moment being when Pippin was stumbling through the lines of his oath and Denethor was smiling down on him in a grandfatherly way. Just a slight hint that there is more to this guy than just a crazy villian. I thought his sense of dispair came across well, just not what was the root source of it.<P>The pyre scene was a little wierd, but then I was never quite comfortable with the visual image of Gandalf closing the door while Denethor burnt away. I think it would be tough not to have the audience think that Gandalf couldn't have done something to safe the old buzzard. Having him run off seems to solve this problem.<P>Still think it likely could have been done better though.<P>H.C.