Arwen & Aragorn's romance
 

Just for intrest's sake, I wonder if the LOTR movie made troo much of a big deal of Arwen and Aragorn's romance, because it wasn't as vividly mentioned in the books as it was in the movie. Anyone agree?

DEFINATELY!!! The movie made way too big a deal out of the relationship of Aragorn and Arwen. I liked how it was in the books much better: rarely mentioned! I mean, come on PJ! Let's stick to the material a bit better, shall we?

I think it was necessary and welcome in an otherwise testorone powered story. Although dream sequences and such aren't in the book, the romance certainly was and was given it's own section in the appendix.<P>H.C.

I agree with HCIsland, besides the dream stuff could have happened, its almost implied in the books.

Its a little overdone, but very well done all the same. I cried at just about everything romance related during TTT (in a good way) so there must be something being done right.<BR>Plus, just think of the feminist uprisings (*slaughters all feminists*) if all romance was blocked out. A male dominated movie? It'd be banned.

I'd have to agree with HCIsland as well. It's a nice change from all the fighting that's always going on. At first, I didn't like all the changes they made, but then I learned to love the movies for what they were and not for what had been left out or changed.

I enjoyed the romantic scenes and thought that they brought out a different side of Aragon's personality. I think that it was important to PJ to portray Aragon with a somewhat softer side to make him more human.

Personally I loved Aragorn and Arwen's story from the moment I first read it. It's a story of a true, tender love and also of sacrifice...<P>I mean it always amazes me that Arwen gave up not only her immortality but also her place with her family in the Blessed Realm to be with him! <P>I am glad that PJ decided to expanded on their love story a bit and I am glad he did it within the context of what the books implied about Aragorn and Arwen's relationship...

I agree with something (I think) HCIsland said in another thread: without introducing Arwen in the beginning and fleshing out her relationship with Aragorn early on, it would be really weird in the last movie for her to just show up and marry him! Everyone would say: who the heck is she and what does he see in her? PJ and Co. effectively made her a real character and not just a prize doled out to Aragorn in the end for being such a great guy. Plus, she's needed to show part of what motivates Aragorn. The romance was tastefully done, though I could have done without the falling-off-the-cliff-scene.<P> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> Plus, just think of the feminist uprisings (*slaughters all feminists*) if all romance was blocked out. A male dominated movie? It'd be banned. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>As a feminist, I take exception to this. I don't need romance in order to enjoy a movie. For example, Black Hawk Down didn't have a single female speaking role in it and that didn't bother me at all. I think you have feminists confused with someone else. <P> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> fem·i·nism noun <BR>Belief in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>What about that belief is worthy of death?<P>-Lily<p>[ March 31, 2003: Message edited by: Lily Bracegirdle ]

I agree with Lily. Arwen does just appear out of nowhere and snatch Aragorn from the far more deserving Eowyn in the book - and I've detested her for it since I was thirteen.<P> On the other hand PJ's actually got me liking and sympathizing with movie Arwen. I mean when you see what the two men in her life are putting that poor girl through!<P> Girl, heck! she's nearly three thousand years old, she knows perfectly well what she wants and what she's willing to pay for it. Elrond and Aragorn ought to respect her decision instead of trying to pressure her into changing her mind.

I dunno... I was always kinda hoping that Éowyn and Faramir would get together ever since I learned of Faramir's existence and of Éowyn's "love" for Aragorn. I thought, "Aragorn should keep is Elf-maid! Let Faramir have Éowyn." Maybe that's why I shed a tear or two when they fell in love. <P>As for the Aragorn-Arwen romance bits, I thought it worked well in the film, though there wasn't much of it in the books. You see, in the books it just kinda seemed that Aragorn was marrying her casually; that he didn't truly love her (think "forced marriage" only not). In the movies, they bring out their love a bit more, which helps in visualizing <I>why</I> they're marrying each other (and I think it also helps the non-readers realize that Aragorn WILL marry Arwen and not Éowyn). Or I could just be rambling. I just spent an hour hauling another algae-eater home for my tanks.

Yes, you guys make good points. There was need for romance in the movies, but I was just thinking maybe it was bigger in the movies than in the books. Thanks for posting!

The romance element was ok. Not vital, not great, but ok. <BR>What *was* ridiculous to me was the spurious Elrond-banishes-Arwen-to-Valinor theme which was not only detrimental to the character of Elrond, but also completely changes the premise of Aragorn's relations with Eowyn. In the book, Aragorn's straight dealings with Eowyn showed his noble character almost better than anything else. In the film there is now a question-mark over what his intentions are, and that rather spoils movie Aragorn for me as a hero.

Elrond isn't 'banishing' Arwen, he's pleading with her not to break his heart by becoming Mortal, and she seemingly gives in - but I wouldn't count on it.<P> IMO Movie Aragorn's behavior towards Eowyn has been perfectly proper - he clearly hasn't recognized she's falling for him, (as his literary counterpart did at once) but then he does have a lot on his mind.