[Glenethor]

Greets,<P>Well, they don't have to worry about that now. FoTR has made a profit worldwide. As a 'quasi-purist' I thought the Arwen scene at the Bruinen to be wrong, but it was still a dramatic scene. Loved when the fjord came down on the Nazgul. That was cool. If you watch closely, the first two Nazgul who get swamped by the water don't just get swept away. They get pulverized.<P>As for Elrond, I am probably the only person I know who hasn't seen 'The Matrix' so Weaving's portrayal was not contaminated with associations to his earlier character. I've wanted to see this movie, and I will definitely see it before the sequel comes out. <P>I certainly hope I don't see Arwen in the scene with Merry and Eowyn against the Witch-King.. The thing is, Jackson <I>is</I> paying attention to fans' opinions, and since some of the financial risk has been mitigated, I think (and hope) that he will be more true to the books.<P>Look: there was no way on earth that he was going to please everyone. No way. I loved the first movie, but I am well aware that I could be disappointed by the last two. I doubt I will be, but there is always the chance.<P>I thought the change of location for the 'It's a pity Bilbo didn't kill him when he had the chance!' discussion between Frodo and Gandalf was appropriate. Thinking back to what happened in September, and what is happening now in the world, and what may happen in the next couple of years, that scene hit me right between the eyes. They are discussing Destiny, and then, a little while later, Gandalf falls. That change from the text works for me; The changes to Boromir's death scene works for me;<P>Here is what didn't:<P>Arwen at the fjord; I don't want to see 'Arwen: Warrior Princess' in the rest of the story.<P>The chance meeting between Frodo and Sam with Merry and Pippin; then again, if fulfilling Destiny is one of the themes of the LoTR, this is consistent with that. Merry and Pippin were <I>meant</I> to bump into them at just that moment. I know I am stretching that a little, but I am a generous person by nature.<BR>The meeting with Strider: Bad editing. Will hopefully be fixed in the DVD.<P>The pacing. It is really impossible to determine how much time is passing. This is where Jackson fails, IMO. When we get to Rivendell, we don't know if Bilbo is so much older because of time passing, or whether he aged overnight when he gave up the ring.<P>Finally, I didn't appreciate (although I laughed with most everyone else) Gimli bellowing 'NO ONE TOSSES A DWARF!' in a scene that had no business introducing a bit of levity; As well, I found Aragorn's line 'Let's hunt some Orc' and Gimli's bellowed 'YEESSSSSS!' to be a bit too Hollywood. It jarred me out of the spell.<P>All I can say is, I hope I don't join the minority of people who hate Jackson's vision in the next two films.<P>Pax,<P>Glenethor