[HCIsland]

If they were going to have Elrond's sons, they would have introduced them in the special edition of FoTR. Don't get your hopes up.<P>I think we need to give PJ a break (I feel like I'm perpetually saying this ). I count 26 named characters with lines that have been introduced so far. Here's the list.<P>Aragorn, Arwen, Bilbo, Boromir, Celeborn, Denethor, Elrond, Eomer, Eowyn, Faramir, Frodo, Galadriel, Gandalf, Gimli, Gollum, Haldir, Hama, Legolas, Merry, Pippin, Sam, Saruman, Sauron, Theoden, Treebeard, Wormtongue.<P>On top of that I count 32 places that are mentioned by name and I'm likely missing some.<P>The Shire, Hobbiton, Bag End, Bree, The Prancing Pony, Midgewater Marshes, Amon Sul, Rivendell, Imladris, Caradhras, Moria, Khazad-dum, Dwarrowdelf, Isengard, Lorien, Argonath, Caras Galadhon, Amon Hen, Rauros, Emyn Muil, Dead Marshes, Mordor, Black Gates, Ithilien, Osgiliath, Rohan, Fangorn, Edoras, Helm's Deep, Westmarch, Barad-dur, Mount Doom.<P>There is simply not another movie in history that compares to this in complexity. Even interpretations of the Bible don't run near this level of detail and I can guarentee you there are more people familiar with that story then Tolkien's.<P>PJ is pushing as much as he possibly can into these films. He is stretching the envelope to its very limit and the fact that these movies are even comprehensible to someone who has not read the books is an accomplishment. That both these films have been widely hailed as masterpieces and have been nominated for best picture academy awards (among numerous others) is nothing short of brilliant.<P>I can understand people disagreeing with character and plot changes, in fact I agree with some of them, but to complain about the absence of minor characters that are not necessary for progressing the plot in a film that already has more names and places than any other film in history ... I'm sorry, I just can't understand that.<P>There is not a single director on this planet that would be capable and willing of getting the funding to make a series of movies of the detail that you are asked for. This is as good as it gets. If you want more, well I can wish for wings to sprout out of my shoulders, but I ain't gonna get them.<P>H.C.