New dudes and dudettes: Most annoying things about LOTR.

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by Boromir88

It's a Deus Ex Machina, latin for "God of the machines." When directors are stuck trying to solve a plot conflict they bring in supernatural beings (often from a godlike figure) to solve it.

Not that Tolkien would ever have dreamed of using such a technique ...

[Boromir88]

Not that Tolkien would ever have dreamed of using such a technique ...

Tolkien is a strong religious man that incorporates religion throughout his writings. Jackson just threw in the Army of the Dead to simplify things.

Also, Tolkien backs up his instances. One, these supernatural creatures are not the main cause for saving the day. Eagles are in control of Manwe, and help out when they feel like it. Army of the Dead just wanted to stop being cursed. Two, in the instant of Eru still caring about Middle-earth and destroying the ring....I'm assuming since Tolkien wrote in that one moment, when Frodo has to choose between destroying the ring, or claiming it, is when the ring is it's strongest and doubted whether anyone would be able to throw it in. So, how does he destroy it? Adds in help from the godlike figure.

Many critics of Tolkien criticize him for that. Using those reasons of Deus Ex Machina to say he's a bad writer. I don't agree with them, but everyone likes different stlyes. All I can say is with Tolkien it's something that we should expect, being a man with religious background, as well as a Mythology lover. Jackson added in the AotD for a quick solution, and to not have an audience (besides the bookfans) wonder, where did all these men come from?

Lastly, on the screen it appears much differently. Again, it feels rushed and sloppy. It's like, we're stuck, we don't want people to be confused about where these men showed up, so lets just have these ghosts wipe out the rest.

When reading, you can't say "The eagles saved the day on the Morannon," you can't say "The Army of the Dead saved the day on Pelennor." You can say "Eru saved Middle-earth," and is indeed a Deus Ex Machina, but the Mount Doom chapter is far from rushed.

[The Saucepan Man]

Well, I was being half-flippant. There is a basis for arguing that Tolkien does not use Deus ex Machina at all, or at least that he uses it in a credible and therefore justifiable manner. Here's an interesting thread with some further discussion on the issue:

Deus ex Machina

Obviously, Jackson has carte blanche to use the Army of the Dead, as they are in the book. And, as in the book, their use is foreshadowed by Aragorn and co's journey through the Paths of the Dead, so they do not simply appear unannounced (which is, on one view, a requirement of a "Deus ex Machina"). To simplify things, he included them in the Pelennor. I have no problem with that per se. But I have some sympathy with the criticism based on the manner in which they are used. They are simply too destructive, so that they end up winning the battle and saving the day, rather than the men of Rohan and Gondor.