[ReededGoat]

I've been burning with a number of questions ever since I saw the FOTR (seven times in the theatre - yes I loved the film). I find that it is the things I like the most that I often have the most problems with...seems contradictory, but I'm sure most of you will understand.<BR>I wonder if anyone has heard anything from the PJ camp that answers any of my 'problems' with the picture...I'm sure some of these might be answered in the Extended DVD, but I can't be overly sure.<P>Why the drastic change in Aragorn's character? Yes, it is very drastic, and I wonder why it was thought to be more dramatically effective to make him doubt his ability to take up the Kingship of Gondor. The Aragorn of the novel is incredibly assertive, though humble, and is more than ready to take up his position as leader and king. One of the worst effects this change had in the film was to totally take the punch out of his introduction at the Council of Elrond...Legolas introducing him was so anti-climatic, whereas the scene in the book would have been powerfully effective on the screen if left as-is (he casts the shards of Narsil onto the table and proclaims his true name and heritage). This is probably one of my biggest problems with the film so far.<P>Why does Gimli think that everything is going to be a party time when they show up in Moria? There is even a pretty awkward moment when they first enter the suspiciously dark chamber beyond the doors when Gimli is walking amongst skulls and skeletons (which he doesn't seem to notice, somehow) talking of the food and beer they will enjoy in the Dwarven Citadel. In the novel he was more concerned about finding out what happened to Balin and his followers...he definitely doesn't think they'll be happening upon a pretty picture since they were never heard from after they set out to Moria.<P>The double bridge sequence in Moria was a bit much as well...when the stairs fall away and there is that painfully long, obvious, formulaic cliffhanger sequence when Aragorn and Frodo are separated from everyone else. I understand the most likely aspect of this scene from a character development point of view would be to show how Aragorn will stay with Frodo no matter what, but you could have nixed it (weighing in at a hefty few minutes) and kept more Lothlorien stuff in the cinematic version. Just my humble opinion (I know everyone has their own things they would do, I'm just trying to see what other people are thinking).<P>Peace,<BR>RG