Boromir's death - book or movie?

[Daisy Brambleburr]

My question is, which version of his death did you prefer?<P>I ask this because it's one of the very rare example in which I think that the movie portrayed it better. When I read it in the book the actual death scene didn't get to me at all. A little lump in my throat may have appeared when Aragorn and Legolas sang a funeral song as they let his boat go, but nothing compared to how I felt in the movie. Sean Bean acted it so incredibly and I love that part of the script, especially 'my brother, my captain, my King.' For someone who never cries at movies, it made me bite my lip *very* hard.<P>So what do you think? Or are there any other parts of the script that you think were an improvement on the books?

[Rose Cotton]

We really didn't get to see the death scene in the book. They just find Boromir with the arrows in him. So one wasn't better then the other. They were just done differently. <P>However, I do agree that I was touched far more by the movie. Not until I saw it did I truly understand who Boromir was. Sean Bean was brilliant.

[Elentári_O_Most_Mighty_1]

I suppose I agree...but I'm not really too sure, because the Boromir of the books would never have said 'my captain, my king etc'. But it certainly was very touching, and I can't argue against Seen Bean (I mean Sean...oops ) being a great actor.

[Knight of Gondor]

I think the movie probably portrayed it better, but only because the book failed to show the heroism that Boromir showed ere he died. A friend (probably a Tolkine purist, so to speak) mentioned that it irked him that Boromir died from only three arrows, when in the book it was made clear that many arrows had pierced him.<P>Still, many scenes touched me from the movie that didn't in the book, like Aragorn jumping out to fight off the Ringwraiths at Amon Sul. I suppose it's the visualization (and Howard Shore's breathtaking music!) that lend emotion and power to the moment's dramatic affect.

[The Only Real Estel]

I liked the movie version better I think. One of my favorite parts in the movie by far. It was done very well I think & it helps me to imagine it even better when I read it in the books.

[peonydeepdelver]

I think the movie did an excellent job of portraying Boromir's death, and when Merry and Pippin finally try and avenge his death ("I'm not dead yet!"), er, mortal wounding...<BR>The only thing I didn't get that PJ changed was that Boromir said, "They took the little ones", and Aragorn doesn't wonder if Frodo was also captured. I mean, it was a possibility, but it was, unlike in the film, addressed in the book by Aragorn after Boromir died. <P>By the way, Estel, I like your signature!

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Knight of Gondor, I'm not sure I agree that the book fails to show Boromir's heroism. There is a line, for example, which tells of the numerous slain Orcs around him.<P>But I could not agree more about Howard Shore's sublime music.<P>I think when comparing the film and the book, you have to take into account your own imagination. My imagination, for example, runs wild at some points in the book, yet not so much at others. Boromir's death scene was one of the best parts of the movie for me, perhaps because I didn't have a particularly strong vision of it from the book.<P>However, I wouldn't say either one was better, just very different in terms of emphasis.

[Brinniel]

I've heard from others before that they thought it rather cheesy how Boromir kept fighting even after being pierced by two arrows, but I actually liked that idea.<P>In the book, I did not feel sorry one bit for Boromir when he died. I thought of him as some fool easily seduced by the Ring who tried to harm poor Frodo. But when I saw his death in the movie, I began to feel sad for Boromir. For once, I saw him as a strong and brave man, who was temporarily lead astray, but not given a second chance. Sean Bean was really able to display the human qualities of Boromir that were not shown in the book. His performance was beyond excellent and helped me understand his character better than before.<P>And as for the cause of his death: we really don't know how Boromir went down in the book, since he was found with arrows already protruding from his body. For we know, perhaps Boromir did go down with a fight as he did in the movie. The movie version of Boromir's death was definitely more dramatic than the book's version, but I think that was necessary.

[Cibbwin]

I liked the movie version much better. The book ending seemed a bit vague for me. The movie ending had me sobbing.

[samrohan]

I prefered the book version, though it did not protray the scenes in such detail. The film version shows a totally over-dramatised scene that may appeal more to non Tolkien fans as do the other flashy scenes PJ had to incorporate to the movie to attract viewers.<P>Sean Bean however was a very goog Boromir and I must admit that after reading the book nine times and watching the movie a few times the character of Boromir is my least favorite of all the characters, in both Book and Film.

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

I must say that I had noticed Boromir's qualities a long time before I saw the film. However, it is quite remarkable that so many people's opinion on Boromir changed having seen the movie.

[Liriodendron]

I enjoyed the movie death of Boromir more also. The character of Boromir seemed better developed in the movie, and more likeable. (IMO) I loved and missed the book's lamantful singing though. What do you call that mournful lamenting and singing of praise and great deeds after a warrior has died? I'm sure there's a word for that, but it escapes me. The singing of Boromir's bravery was a wonderful Legolas moment (and Aragorn too, I can't remember...did Gimli sing?) that I missed in the movies. Legolas had so few moments! (other than bow action)<p>[ September 15, 2003: Message edited by: Liriodendron ]

[Daisy Brambleburr]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> I've heard from others before that they thought it rather cheesy how Boromir kept fighting even after being pierced by two arrows, but I actually liked that idea. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>I didn't find it cheesy at all! I thought it was great. And I personally don't think that the death scene was overly dramatised. I'm a Tolkien fan but it still appealed to me. I could have done without Aragorn's little showdown with Lurtz though, but never mind.<P>Here's a question, do you think Boromir's book-death would have had a different effect on people if it had been placed at the end of the FotR instead of at the beginning of TTT? <P>It may seem to some that Tolkien suddenly thought 'oh no, Boromir's supposed to die, I'd better stick on a quick death scene at the beginning.' <P>But I thought the book death was good. If it had to be improved it maybe could have been a little more descriptive. But I love that poignant line that goes sometime like 'but Boromir did not speak again', and the image of his peacefully propped up against the tree so he looks like he's resting but then Aragorn sees the arrows.<P>And here's a thing, in the movie Isildur was shot with three arrows in the back when he ran away from the fight, and Boromir recieved three in the front when he (in a way) faced up to things. Do you think this means anything or that it's just a coincidence?

[The Only Real Estel]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>I've heard from others before that they thought it rather cheesy how Boromir kept fighting even after being pierced by two arrows, but I actually liked that idea.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I loved the idea. It's a testemant to the heart of Boromir, & to how much he wanted to redeem himself. Hats of to PJ. <P> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>By the way, Estel, I like your signature!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Thank you!

[Arwen Eruantale]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Hats off to PJ.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>*throws hat up in the air and misses trying to catch it* <P>That is a hard question to answer. I just read over The Departure of Boromir a few days ago...excellent. <BR>But the movie really brought the entire scene to life... In the theatre I actually asked my Dad if they were going to <I>show</I> what happened to him, because in the book poor Aragorn finds him slumped against the tree and riddled with black feathered arrows. <P>Anyway, I think I'm gonna go with the movie, if only because it (in a sense) completed the picture created by the Professor.

[The Only Real Estel]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Anyway, I think I'm gonna go with the movie, if only because it (in a sense) completed the picture created by the Professor.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P> That's the main clincher for me. Provided that the movie scene isn't ridiculously far off from the books, I usually prefer the movie, if only because it's on screen & not just paper.

[HCIsland]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> Here's a question, do you think Boromir's book-death would have had a different effect on people if it had been placed at the end of the FotR instead of at the beginning of TTT? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>I think if you put the Departure of Boromir chapter at the end of Fellowship, it would have been anti-climatic after the Breaking of the Fellowship chapter. Hence why PJ had Frodo and Sam leaving after Boromir's death.<P>I also think Prof. Tolkien was somewhat restricted by the way he chose to write the chapters. Sticking with one perspective, usually a Hobbit's. That meant he couldn't jump between scenes with the same luxury that Jackson had. Changing that structure would have changed the flavour of the entire book, and certainly none of us would want to see that.<P>H.C.

[sassyfriend]

Boromir's death in the movie hurts worse than in the book

[Mithalwen]

Blimey what a bit of archeology.

And there must be something wrong with me because I found Boromir's film death scene the funniest thing I had seen in years - only superseded by Frodo shrink wrapped by shelob for amusement...

[sassyfriend]

Why did you think it funny?

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

I quite enjoyed the display of heroism we are shown in the film, but it was always a balance act between the heroic and the slightly silly.

The way he was repeatedly pierced by arrows and still had strength to kill everything within a 2 meter radius, almost became to much, but it sort of worked.

I did find Aragorns fight with the Uruk to be over the top though.

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by sassyfriend

Why did you think it funny?

Because it was ludicrous the way the arrows were there and not there and not there again and it was cheesy, schmaltzy and in retrospect because anyone who gets kissed by Aragorn dies....