Gandalf Vs. The Witch King

[alatar]

Originally Posted by Snorri Swifthammer

That position is PJ is right to weaken Gandalf because by doing so he increases the heroism of the humans (Aragorn and Eowyn). The fact that Gandalf loses to the Witch-King shows how heroic Eowyn was in standing up to him. The fact Gandalf is hesitant gives Aragorn a chance to assume the role of leader.

I agree; however, one of the many issues I then have is that if W-K was so terribly powerful, why does Eowyn have to be chased by Gothmog after killing W-K? Wasn't that enough, like in the books? She kills the 'boss,' then has to run from the Gimp. Ouch!

What does finally put her in a death-like state, PJ version?

[Guinevere]

Originally posted by Snorri Swifthammer

I think PJ tries to humanize everyone too much and they come off looking weak a great deal. The human element in LotR has, for me, always been the hobbits. Heck, by the end of RotK in the book Aragorn is only ever called Elessar and seems much more removed. But it is the hobbits that symbolize the reader in the book, they are normally the ones that you can most relate to in the books.

I agree very much with that!
It seems PJ et al think that movie watchers today would not accept heroes that are "superhuman" :nobler and wiser and less flawed than we are. But by changing these characters they take away something essential.