**RotK - Faramir (David Wenham)**
 

Did you like the way Wenham played Faramir in this movie and the way his character was shown?

Bear in mind that I was never one of the Downers crying about Faramir's portrayal in <I>The Two Towers</I>. I do think that he was a lot better in this film though. His acting with John Noble was very moving indeed.<P>Just a pity we couldn't see him with Eowyn.

I loved it. I really sympathized with him, totally understood his motivations, bravo. <P>I have to admit that I wasn't really crazy about what they did with Faramir originally in TTT, but upon seeing the Extended Edition, I've completely changed my mind. The scenes that got left out of the original really made Faramir seem less like a jerk and more like a complex and multidimensional character who was desperately trying to prove himself to his father, but who was genuinely good and compassionate and feeling. <P>I think that they included some of those kinds of moments in RotK, rather than just waiting for the EE to come out, and I'm glad of that, because it helps to create a more balanced vision of who Faramir is. And I think Wenham did a great job bringing out Faramir's complexity without being too over-the-top.

I liked him, and would have liked to see more of him.<P>It was nice that we got to see him and Eowyn standing together at the end, it hints at the relationship for those of us in the know. And since I already knew the rest of them together was relegated to the EE, I was glad at least a <I>hint</I> of it was preserved.

As with TTT, I have mixed feelings about the character, but I liked him better this time around.<P>I found Wenham's acting really moving. His delivery when he said "think better of me" brought tears to my eyes. At the same time, I found the character just a bit too pathetic and spineless. When Faramir rode out, he seemed like a whiny adolescent. I wouldn't have been surprised if he were muttering to himself: "You'll all be SORRY when I'm DEAD!"<P>I'm still waiting to see the gentle and insightful leader of men that Faramir should be. I know David Wenham can deliver if he's allowed to. Only the extended edition will tell.<P>-Lily

Much better that in the TT. MUCH better. He still wasn't the book Faramir, but it's a little too late for that. :P

I have to disagree. Now that I have seen the Extended Edition of <I>The Two Towers</I> and the short version of <I>The Return of the King</I>, I believe that Wenham in general didn't really make the most of what he was given in the script. That's only in general, mind. There were definitely times when he performed well, although I never thought he stood out as being exceptional. <P>In fact, John Noble's performance as Denethor kind of cast a bad light on him, unfortunately. Sean Bean is a very good actor as well, and I think Dave's inexperience showed through when acting next to these two. That said, I can fully understand his performance. I saw an interview that showed how shocked he was at the changes made from book to movie in his character. If you don't fully believe in the part you are playing, you can't possibly be expected to act to your potential. <P>I think that in general David Wenham did well in trying circumstances, but that Faramir still remains as one of the let-downs of the movie. He shows all the weaknesses that Denethor believes him to have, but none of the strengths that make up for this. And to add insult to injury, in the <I>Sons of the Steward</I> scene in TTT EE, Boromir is shown as the sensitive one who hopes to bring light and music back to Osgiliath. Bah.

I really like Faramir. In ROTK it almost brough tears to my eyes when he said to Denethor that he should have been in Boromir's place (don't remeber the actual words) and Denthor said yes. I felt so sorry for Faramir. I hope that in the EE they will have more about him and Eowyn! The EE will probably be like 4 hours!!!!(or more)

The material: At first I thought, "why are they rehashing all this? We already know Denethor likes Boromir better." Then I remembered not everyone has the EE. And I think more should have been made of the "then my life is forfeit" decision Faramir apparently made in TTT. If his life is so forfeit, why doesn't anyone mention anything about it? It's as though Faramir's only problem was the loss of Osgilliath.<P>The acting: perfect except his last line to his father, which did, as others have commented, seem a bit spineless.

I liked Faramir's character, although I would have liked to have seen more of him. David did a good job at portraying his character, sure he could have gone farther with some of the lines, but overall it was good. It is a great improvement from the TTT, even the extended version. I still don't get how everyone but him was killed at Osgiliath and he was somehow dragged by his horse across a field full of orcs, trolls, and creatures of the worst kind.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> And I think more should have been made of the "then my life is forfeit" decision Faramir apparently made in TTT <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Good point <B>BoromirsBeard</B>. When I saw TTT, I thought that this line, and the fact that Faramir willingly gave up the Ring (eventually ) was there to set up the interplay between him and Denethor in RotK. I suppose that it's not a major issue for me, since the fact that it was not revisited in RotK did not occur to me while I was watching the film. But now that you mention it, it is strange that, having had Faramir allow the Ring to go and supposedly forfeit his life in doing so, Jackson did not use this to play up the tension between him and his father in RotK.

I just read ROTK but Tolkien also does not seem to develop on the the line "Then my life is Forfeit"

Agreeing with Eomer of the Rohirrim, I really did not mind TTT Faramir, becuase they justified his actions in the movie (which is why they could get away with a lot which was not in the book)<P>I just burst out crying when he was saying did Denethor wish Boromir and he had switched places.<P>One of the things i was really wanting to see was the love blossom between Faramir and Éowyn and to see the starry cloak which belonged to Finduilas, i really wanted to see that.

I agree, I really wanted to see Faramir and Éowyn in the houses of healing. David Wenham did a terrific job with the 'forfeit' scene in the TT and 'think better of me' in ROTK. I'm sure he could do wonders with the words spoken to Éowyn....<P>What are the chances of the houses of healing scenes being included in the EE?? It seems like PJ thinks that this stoyline deviates away from Frodo/Aragorn to be even included. What do you all think?

I think David Wenham did a very credible job as Faramir- it was a difficult part to play, considering that he got more screen time than his brother did. And besides, Faramir was a far more complex character than Boromir [which is one of the reasons my name ain't Wenhamir of Gondor]; he had to deal with his father's rejection along with the tempting of the ring. Even Sam said that though Faramir was 'much like his brother in looks,' he was 'a man less self-regarding, bother sterner and wiser.' For Faramir to be compared in this way to his big brother, the future Steward of Gondor, it means a lot. I take the passage to mean that Faramir was deeper than his brother, and could either be a better friend, or a more dangerous enemy.<BR>David Wenham didn't quite achieve this, which is a little disappointing, but he did give a very good portrayal of trying to do as good of a job at everything as his better-loved brother, and failing. As someone on this page said [though I don't recall who and am too lazy to leave this post and look again], it was heartbreaking when David recited the EXACT SAME LINE as from the book, "Do you wish then, that our places had been exchanged?" and Denethor said "Yes, I do." I burst into tears reading it in the book, and when I saw it in the movie went home afterwards and started a Lynch Denethor Campaign. And I disagree that Faramir was whiny in the movie. I took those scenes as his being defeated- he could be as great as his brother, but to do that he had to defy his father and risk banishment, and that was the last thing he wanted. So he sacrificed his self-belief and followed his father's orders, just like his Big Brother Boromir would have done. Which is why I cried when the horse dragged him through the gates of Minas Tirith.<BR>On a second tangent, that scene was definitely a throwback to Boromir. Arrows through the chest, though in different places. What movie does Sean Bean not die or get tortured in, can anyone tell me?

He doesnt die in Ronin.

Thanks Everdawn, but he was only in that movie for like, a half-hour. There has to be some movie Sean STARRED in that he didn't die or get tortured, but I haven't found it yet.

Well, Sean Bean is in TROY as Odysseus, isn't he? He clearly won't be getting killed in that (not the star, but presumably amajor character).:-)<P>Sorry,that was off-topic... David Wenham did well with the material he had. I'd have *liked* to have seen him a bit more as the cluey guy he was in the novel, but there's only so much you can put into a film, so they concentrated on the neglected second son who can't do right by his father. That's okay. I'd have liked it better, though, if, in the scene where Denethor runs out wailing to see Faramir on his stretcher he'd spoken the lines from the book where he regrets having sent him off with harsh words instead of just, "Damn! My line's ended!" It would have made Denethor a bit more sympathetic.

Good news!<BR> I just stumbeled across a picture on TORn where you see Aragorn healing Faramir so I am sure it will be in the EE!!!!!<BR>Just thought you might want to hear that.

Nah, i liked how Denethor was worried about his line ending, it was more dramatic and it made me (along with my friends) cry, not for Denethor, but for Faramir.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> I just stumbeled across a picture on TORn where you see Aragorn healing Faramir so I am sure it will be in the EE!!!!!<BR> <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Yes, the Houses of Healing, and additional scenes between Faramir and Eowyn, were definately filmed, so I am sure that they will be in the Extended Edition. I remember reading an interview with Miranda Otto where she expressed some slight disappointment at these scenes being "played down" (ie completely omitted, as it turns out) in the theatrical release.

They'll be in the EE?!!! Yayayayayaya!!! Ahem...sorry, I just didn't hold out any hope that that lot had even been filmed...<P>I thought Faramir did some heartbreakingly good delivery, namely with the Denethor stuff...although yes, he didn't really stand out overall.<P>Now was it just me, or did Boromir call Gandalf 'Gandalf'? Because EVERYONE in Minas Tirith calls him Mithrandir, which struck me as incongruous. But I may be wrong...

In Rivendell, Gandalf was called "Gandalf," (by Frodo, Sam, Elrond, Aragorn, Merry, Pippin, Gloin, etc.), and since, as far as we know, Gandalf and Boromir never really interacted before meeting in Imladris, it seems only logical that he would be called Gandalf.

You mean like this?<P>"Hey, it's Mithrandir!"<P>"Shh!"<P>"Oh, sorry, can't call you what I always do...um...*make up a name*...Gand...dalf? Yeah, that'll do."<P>

Haha, precisely.

I thought David Wenham is an amazing actor, and really performed Faramir well. Though Faramir did change from the books to the movie, he did wonderfully with what he was given. The scenes where he interacted with Denethor were superb!<P>Thumbs up!

This is not a judgement, but an observation. He reminded me of Robin Hood more than anything else.

That is the first thought which came to my head when i saw that scene of him in Ithilien, and i said to my friend "Where art his merry men?" and then the others poped up from the bushes and it was hysterical!

The changes from book to movie don't really bother me, and I was extremely happy with his acting. The dialogue with papa was realy moving, it was the first time during the movie that got tears in my eyes. Oh, and I was pleased with how he seemed to know gandalf from before as he was supposed to.