Artist intent versus viewer perception

[littlemanpoet]

I tend to agree with juvenility and immediacy of the moment as characteristics in Jackson's approach that defeated more honorable, virtuous, approaches.

However, let's suppose that one could find justification for Aragorn to lop off the head of MoS in this movie. After all, Jackson DOES indeed underestimate the ability of a modern audience to appreciate honor (which may say something about Jackson). Is his intention effective within the confines of his interpretation?

What about with Denethor's death?

Faramir?

For that matter, one of the biggest differences between the book and the movie is that Jackson has intertwined the tale of Aragron and Arwen throughout the whole whereas Tolkien felt he had to resort to the appendices though he would rather have not (according to his letters). Was Jackson successful in carrying out his intent? What was missed? What could have been done better?

[Boromir88]

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

And why no Grishnack? I think I've asked that before so leave it alone if you like. If the point was to show how much pull the Ring had, why remove ol' Grish?

Quickly, on this, there is an orc credited as Grishnakh.

This one.

(Edit: Ah hah, found the old Grishnakh thread I started - Ring-Driven or Meat-driven)

The difference being instead of getting a fascinating exchange between Grishnakh and Pippin leading Grishnakh to believe he has the Ring with the "gollum" trick...the movies Grishnakh just wants to nom on some Hobbit legs...which starts the orc fight. And I believe Grishnakh is eventually squashed by Treebeard.

Nice thread idea, lmp. I have to throw my voice in with the others, that it seems the more honorable the book-character the more Jackson liked to just tear them down. Don't forget, in Faramir's interrogation of Gollum, he gleefully looks on as 3 of his men turn Gollum into a kicking bag. In the extended edition interviews Jackson just smiles and says "They're softening him up."

It's difficult to catch some of the other, subtler and perhaps interesting artist intents when the artist sways more to the violence/juvenility that's been brought up. I would never have caught the intended message with Theoden had I not read this thread. Of course, now that you mentioned it, the light bulb went on, but it took knowledge of the scene and the intended message before it finally clicked.