For the most part I agree. I can see Jackson and team downplaying Denethor, because it would stress the fact that Gondor needed a king. However, PJ takes it way to far with the weakness of Gondor. This is a mighty country, which I think is much more powerful then Rohan. However, Rohan has a much better leader in Theoden. Despite Denethor's good times, he's slipping away, and Theoden is a much better commander of men. Anyway I'm getting to far off track. Point is Jackson downplays Gondor and Denethor to the point where it's just over the top.
Denethor, ok may the guy look like a butthole (which he is in some regards) but do you also have to make him look like a butthole that has no manners? Also, the Gondorian soldiers are so stinkin stupid they shoot a large wooden moving block, and have to be told by Gandalf to "aim for the trolls." Seriously, how stupid are these people?
There was no need to make Gondor look like incompetant soldiers that aren't even smart enough to see you aren't going to do any good by shooting a moving wooden tower.
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Lossarnach, Ringlo Vale, Morthrond, Anfalas, Lamedon, the Ethir and Pinnath Gelin,
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Don't forget the 50 ships full of men from Lebennin coming with Aragorn. They are replaced by the green slime. I thought the third age was the time of men? But, in both battles (Helm's Deep, and Minas Tirith) the kingdoms can't fight on their own, they have to have elves, or some supernatural indestructable dead people come and help them.
Now for my disagreeing parts, or atleast parts I think that you have missed...
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The book Minas Tirith has many engaging named characters besides Faramir and Denethor, and Beregond, Bergil, Ioreth, Mablung, Damrod, the Steward of the Houses of Healing and Imrahil are all vital, engaging personalities.
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Mablung's in the movies, he's the guy that goes up to Faramir and is like, "Osgiliath is under attack, they call for reinforcements." When Faramir just discovers about Frodo and the Ring, in TTT. However, it is a minor role, and I don't think this guy does anything anyway.
I am disappointed of the absense of Imrahil and Beregond. Without them you lose two faces of Gondor. Imrahil's Knights' the true splendour and might of Gondor, the one's able to resist the Nazgul shriek. Beregond you miss the compassion, their love behind their captain's of the city. However, it's not a heartbreaking absense that I cry over. (Not that I cry over any of the changes
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they even invented characters who weren't even in the books to further flesh out Rohan on screen, Morwen, Eothain, Freyda, (just so we can empathize with the peasants of the Westfold), Haleth, Aldor (the old guy who shoot the first Uruk at Helm's Deep),
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All these people are from Rohan, currently, or well, long dead, but atleast he used characters from the book. Morwen, being Thengel's wife, of course she's long dead. Eothain is a member of Eomer's Rohirrim in the books, he's a little boy in the movie. Freda, I know is in the books, just don't remember who he/she is. As for Haleth and Aldor. Well both are long dead, but were characters in the books. Aldor, the king Aldor the old. Haleth is a son of Helm Hammerhand I believe.