[The Saucepan Man]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> Really, I think Faramir is more believable here than in the book. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>I do agree to a certain extent, Meneltarmacil, in that the character that we are presented with in the film is far more believable as a film character, given the limitations of film, than "book" Faramir would have been. This is because there was simply no time, in my view, to get across in the film the full impact of the wonderful dialogue between Frodo and Faramir at Henneth Annun. It is this dialogue which explains Faramir's decision to let Frodo and Sam (and Gollum) continue their journey to Mordor with the Ring. In its absence, non-readers would be perplexed as to why a Captain of Gondor, and brother of Boromir, would simpy let two small Hobbits and a rather curious, sinister creature simply walk into Mordor with the Ring.<P>In the book, when Faramir and his Rangers initially come across Frodo and Sam, they are mistrustful of them, as one would expect in the circumstances. The film extends that period of mistrust until the scene in Osgiliath, when Faramir says that he thinks that he and Frodo finally understand one another. <P>Yes, Faramir's character in the film is different to that in the book, and this did trouble me when I first saw the film. But on reflection, I think that it does work for the purposes of the film. The non-reader expects him to be similar to his brother and have a similar attitude towards the Ring, and this expectation is fulfilled until the Osgiliath scene. But, crucially, we then see Faramir give up the Ring voluntarily, potentially forfeiting his life, and certainly incurring his father's wrath, in doing so. This is something that Boromir was unable to do until after he had made a violent assault on Frodo and been forcibly denied the Ring. It is here, I think, that the crucial distinction is drawn between Faramir and his brother. We start to see the noble Faramir of the book, and I agree with those who say that this aspect of his character will be developed further in RotK, particularly in the interplay between him and his father.<P>As for Osgiliath, I go along with the view that the tension of Sam and Frodo's journey needed to be built up throughout the film and finally released near the end, in parallel with the other two threads of the story. The journey to Osgiliath and the confrontation with the Nazgul acheives that. Now, you may say that the fight with Shelob could have acheived the same, but I agree with Meela that introducing such a major sequence right at the end of the film would have been too much (and could well have reduced its impact). And it would have left too little for Frodo and Sam to do in RotK, Cirth Ungol and the Sammath Naur being the only other major incidents that occur during their journey through Mordor. Personally, I am very glad that Shelob has been saved until the last film, since I believe that she will provide a fantastic curtain raiser for it.<P>The only real problem that I have with Faramir's portrayal is the basis for his decision to allow Frodo and co to continue their journey to Mordor. He has just seen Frodo almost give himself (and the Ring) up to one of the Nazgul, and yet this is portrayed as the reason for his sudden change of heart. If I had witnessed such an event, I seriously doubt that I would be happy to let this same Hobbit go wandering off into enemy territory carrying the Ring. Some argue that this incident allows Faramir to understand the effect of the Ring and see that it would be folly to bring it to Minas Tirith, but I still think that this particular part of the film could have been handled better. Having Frodo resist the lure of the Ring and stand up the Nazgul might have provided a more believable basis for Faramir's decision.<P>Overall, however, while I was intially disconcerted with the portrayal of Faramir, I do, on reflection, think that it works well within the story portrayed in the film. Of course, he is not the Faramir we all know and love from the books, but then the story told by the films is not exactly the same story that we all know and love from the books either. "Film" Faramir is an adaptation of the character in the books, just as the films themselves are adaptations of those books.