FotR EE throw-away scenes?

[Theron Bugtussle]

Here is an old thread...but I saw FotR-EE with my family for the first time this weekend. It was in a special limited run at a theatre. I thought it was awesome.<P>BUT, and here come the buts: <BR><I>1. The scene with Strider singing the Lay of Luthien in the wilderness before Weathertop left me at a loss.</I> Why insert that, if they weren't going to have Strider go into the story--however briefly--as in the book? So even the non-book readers have an idea that he and Arwen parallel Beren and Luthien.<P><I>2. Aragorn saying he didn't want Arwen to marry him, and renounce her immortality?</I> I think since he was 20 (LotR, Appendix A), this was his heart's desire, though, he patiently subordinated it to life tasks. Did I misinterpret something? In my opinion, it greatly adds to the wimpiness and indecisiveness of the movie Aragorn.