[The Squatter of Amon Rûdh]

My impression of the Faramir in the books was that he had a greater sense of what ought to be done. He was a more thoughtful and introspective character than his brother, which was why he took it upon himself to allow the Ring to pass on and did not try to take it into his keeping. I feel that the film portrayed him as a suspicious, small-minded and bureaucratic man, without the clear, decisive thinking that distinguished his literary counterpart. <P>Moreover his very motivation for trying to detain Frodo seems different in the books: <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>[Frodo]'Then what would you have me do?'<BR>[Faramir]'I know not. Only I would not have you go to death or torment. And I do not think that Mithrandir would have chosen this way.'<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>The film makes taking the Ring to Minas Tirith his motivation, which doesn't sit well to my mind with his respect for Gandalf's judgement.<P>I fail to see, Meela, what there was to despise about Tolkien's version of Faramir: he was clearly a very able commander, and he was certainly no coward; but he combined these soldierly virtues with common sense and decency. Perhaps you could enlighten us with the passages that led you to your opinion.<p>[ July 23, 2003: Message edited by: The Squatter of Amon Rûdh ]