Inconsistencies in the book

[The 1,000 Reader]

Originally Posted by Mansun

Rather I think they underestimate their opponent, being as they are not involved in battle all that often.

I think the sheer fact that the enemy has forced them to fight should cause them to fight with seriousness. Even with that...well come on, the "Dark Lord of Middle-Earth" was owned by a dog. He wasted his entire army when sending it out in numbers would have worked, and if I recall correctly, the top of the tower had a window which saw over the entire island, meaning he could have just looked out of it instead of sending scouts. Finrod must have sang a song to shut down Sauron's brain, because ever since he had made large mistakes and failures.

As for the Battle of the Last Alliance, I don't mean to rag on the Professor, but PJ's version did a better job of making Sauron look powerful. In the Professor's works, Sauron, with the might of the Ring, was defeated by two characters who have little impact or reference in the book. In the film trilogy, however, Sauron takes out multiple men with each swing, and it is only by chance and the luck of Isildur that he is defeated, giving off more of a "If he gets it back, we die" feeling.

Originally Posted by The 1,000 Reader

In the film trilogy, however, Sauron takes out multiple men with each swing, and it is only by chance and the luck of Isildur that he is defeated, giving off more of a "If he gets it back, we die" feeling.

The movie Sauron was much more like what I had imagined, a figure of immense power who suffered no rival in battle.

[Raynor]

Sauron didn't actually see Luthien in his tower, because he was "wrapped in black thought". Interestingly enough, Tolkien makes a passing refference in Myths Transformed, that evil begets stupidity

Regarding Sauron in the movie, I found his depiction at the battle of the last alliance as distasteful. He was sweepping numenoreans and elves, when the books mention he was forced to fight himself. And to go from that to have his hand accidentally cut (not cut after being thrown down) is ridiculous.

Originally Posted by Raynor

Regarding Sauron in the movie, I found his depiction at the battle of the last alliance as distasteful. He was sweepping numenoreans and elves, when the books mention he was forced to fight himself. And to go from that to have his hand accidentally cut (not cut after being thrown down) is ridiculous.

At least the presence of Sauron in this scene was amazing in that he put the entire opposing army at a standstill as they looked on in mesmorizing fear. No other character, not even the Witch King at the height of his power, could have managed that.

[The 1,000 Reader]

Originally Posted by Raynor

Sauron didn't actually see Luthien in his tower, because he was "wrapped in black thought". Interestingly enough, Tolkien makes a passing refference in Myths Transformed, that evil begets stupidity

I know, but it still is highly pathetic. It had such an impact, I now get the feeling that a standard soldier could have beaten him in a one-on-one fight. Honestly, he seemed too pathetic to take seriously after that event. He just seemed like a fickle idiot.

Originally Posted by Raynor

Regarding Sauron in the movie, I found his depiction at the battle of the last alliance as distasteful. He was sweepping numenoreans and elves, when the books mention he was forced to fight himself. And to go from that to have his hand accidentally cut (not cut after being thrown down) is ridiculous.

Dude, the movie would lose a lot of impact if we saw the main, dangerous bad guy get taken out by two relatively minor characters just like that. A big part of the movies that made me interested was that the enemy seemed powerful. If it started out with the Dark Lord getting taken out and utterly defeated like the books, a lot of film-goers would say "So they can kill him just like that? All I see as a problem is the Ring!" If the villain is already demonstrated as defeatable and the armies soundly crushed, a large amount of the epic feel is lost. What works for books doesn't always work for movies.

[Raynor]

I feel that we are straying away from topic, and the tone isn't helping either. I will step out for a while.