[Fenrir]

I'll try to explain my earlier post.<P>I certainly agree with many of the changes. Cutting out the Old Forest made sense since it was admitted by Tolkien to be a side adventure, an addition to please his children. By cutting him out they gave more screen time to important events. I suppose I'm only a semi-purist. When I heard that they had expanded Arwen's role I was a little upset at removal of Glorfindel but, I thought, it does make sense. It would be confusing things for people who have not read TLotR, my only demand is this: they do it <I>well</I>. When I watched Arwen's scenes it was the poor quality of the added dialogue that made me shudder. "If you want him come and claim him"? Does this 3000 year old elf have any idea who she's facing? They also messed up the Witch-King's archaic and almost <I>poetic</I> style of speaking. <P>Someone also decided to cut out the powerful "I am Saruman of Many Colours Speech" and replace it with an unconvincing wizard duel. Just think what Christopher Lee could have done with a speech like that, it would have allowed him to shine. <P>The list of unneccesary changes also includes the cave troll scene,Moria would have been more effective if the company had fled from the Chamber of Mazarbul after the "they are coming, we cannot get out" line. Imagine it, a faint shadow that fills the door behind them, drums pounding, orcs howling, the atmosphere would have been incredible in the cinema. <P>Before I finish another thought occurs. Why did they change the ending? If PJ can justify this in TT, fine, I just can't see Frodo leaving Merry and Pippin behind to be decoys while he possessed the ring. <P>I'll probably be more lenient on the next movie. My favourite characters, the Ringwraiths, appear a lot less so I won't be as inclined to be harsh. But if they add a single line of the Witch-King's dialogue on Pelennor fields then the person responsible will have the squeezing of his life, oh yes, my precious.<p>[ January 18, 2002: Message edited by: Fenrir ]