Hey dol! Merry dol! Get lost Tom!!! - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

alatar · 11-07-2008, 12:50 PM

In my latest reread of FotR, I now find myself agreeing even more with PJ et al's decision to leave Tom in the books (if I had a different opinion before, well, please disregard that one).

Tom saves the Hobbits from Old Man Willow. He is Master of tree and root and wight. The Ring, that oh-so-scary silent actor in the films, has no effect on ole' Bombadil. The Riders never search the Old Forest.

PJ would have to have shown some or all of this. And, after exalting Tom for a few minutes (or hours) in the film, he would disappear. So why bother? Other not-so-well-read viewers would wonder why Tom wasn't at the council, or why he didn't continually show up to assist the Hobbits.

(alatar suddenly imagines a tag-team wrestling match pitting Saruman and Ugluk against Tom and Treebeard...)

As much as some of us would have liked to see him and Goldberry, Tom would have just detracted from the flow of the story.

Gothbogg the Ripper · 11-07-2008, 05:30 PM

Wow, I pop my head out of the gutter and what should I see? An old thread of mine risen from the dead!
In any case, I agree with you altar. You cannot build up the Ring as this evil entity and then have it completely undermined by a midget in yellow boots.
Now, I can understand why Mr. Tolkien included old Tom, he valued nature and wanted to embody that snetiment in his writing. And that's all well and good, but in a film it would be nothing but noise for the sake of noise.
Especially as the power of nature is already well represented by Treebeard and his little massacre at Isengard.

alatar · 11-07-2008, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gothbogg the Ripper

Wow, I pop my head out of the gutter and what should I see? An old thread of mine risen from the dead!

I'd been meaning to state this about Tom, but, as usual, had other things to do first.

Quote:

And that's all well and good, but in a film it would be nothing but noise for the sake of noise.
Especially as the power of nature is already well represented by Treebeard and his little massacre at Isengard.

I never took Tom and Goldberrry as a sop to the power of nature but more of 'how weird and wonderful this new world of Middle Earth is.' Some stories are so tight that one begins to think that nothing happens by chance, at random, or that does not lead to some big revelation at the end.

Tom is completely unnecessary, like whipped cream on pineapple upside-down cake, but all the better for it.

So Peter Jackson wisely left Tom out. Though, as a secret bonus track on RotK, he could have filmed and added the Tom sequence, if just to say 'thanks' to the fans (and to make up for TTT).

Morthoron · 11-08-2008, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alatar

Tom is completely unnecessary, like whipped cream on pineapple upside-down cake, but all the better for it.

So Peter Jackson wisely left Tom out. Though, as a secret bonus track on RotK, he could have filmed and added the Tom sequence, if just to say 'thanks' to the fans (and to make up for TTT).

I agree that Tom was superfluous, and one of the few edits that PJ inflicted on the story that I actually agree with. I also agree with your pineapple upside-down cake analogy, as Tom was somewhat fruity.

Eönwë · 11-08-2008, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alatar

So Peter Jackson wisely left Tom out. Though, as a secret bonus track on RotK, he could have filmed and added the Tom sequence, if just to say 'thanks' to the fans (and to make up for TTT).

Well, on the EE he gave Treebeard Tom's part (the whole Old Man Willow thing).

Mirandir · 01-12-2009, 09:36 PM

When I first saw the movie, I was really upset that PJ had left out Tom. However, after having some time to calm down and actually think about it, I came to the conclusion that leaving him out was probably a good idea. Like so many people before me said, anyone cast to play him would just lead to disappointment and a lot of fans of the books would be unhappy with the portrayal of such a...special character (my vocabulary decided to short out on me on that one

)

MCRmyGirl4eva · 06-05-2013, 11:22 AM

Well, I'm personally disappointed that he didn't at least run by them or something, but I'm glad that Jackson didn't massacre their stay at his house.

11-07-2008, 12:50 PM	#1
alatar Doubting Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Heaven's basement Posts: 2,466	In my latest reread of FotR, I now find myself agreeing even more with PJ et al's decision to leave Tom in the books (if I had a different opinion before, well, please disregard that one). Tom saves the Hobbits from Old Man Willow. He is Master of tree and root and wight. The Ring, that oh-so-scary silent actor in the films, has no effect on ole' Bombadil. The Riders never search the Old Forest. PJ would have to have shown some or all of this. And, after exalting Tom for a few minutes (or hours) in the film, he would disappear. So why bother? Other not-so-well-read viewers would wonder why Tom wasn't at the council, or why he didn't continually show up to assist the Hobbits. (alatar suddenly imagines a tag-team wrestling match pitting Saruman and Ugluk against Tom and Treebeard...) As much as some of us would have liked to see him and Goldberry, Tom would have just detracted from the flow of the story. __________________ There is naught that you can do, other than to resist, with hope or without it. Last edited by alatar; 11-13-2008 at 02:34 PM.

11-07-2008, 05:30 PM	#2
Gothbogg the Ripper Wight Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Southend,U.K Posts: 113	Wow, I pop my head out of the gutter and what should I see? An old thread of mine risen from the dead! In any case, I agree with you altar. You cannot build up the Ring as this evil entity and then have it completely undermined by a midget in yellow boots. Now, I can understand why Mr. Tolkien included old Tom, he valued nature and wanted to embody that snetiment in his writing. And that's all well and good, but in a film it would be nothing but noise for the sake of noise. Especially as the power of nature is already well represented by Treebeard and his little massacre at Isengard. __________________ Thanks for abandoning me for three years guys. I really enjoyed being a total outcast.

01-12-2009, 09:36 PM	#6
Mirandir Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CT/NY Posts: 681	When I first saw the movie, I was really upset that PJ had left out Tom. However, after having some time to calm down and actually think about it, I came to the conclusion that leaving him out was probably a good idea. Like so many people before me said, anyone cast to play him would just lead to disappointment and a lot of fans of the books would be unhappy with the portrayal of such a...special character (my vocabulary decided to short out on me on that one ) __________________ Rise and rise again until lambs become lions.

06-05-2013, 11:22 AM	#7
MCRmyGirl4eva Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: The Elvenking's Halls Posts: 425	Well, I'm personally disappointed that he didn't at least run by them or something, but I'm glad that Jackson didn't massacre their stay at his house. __________________ "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit..." "'Well, I'm back.' said Sam."