The importance of Tolkien's minor characters

[Lobelia]

Yeah, the clouds were definitely important in the story of Bilbo and the dwarves:-), but I was thinking of Fili and Kili - slack, both of them! ;-)

[Keeper of Dol Guldur]

Yep, it's true. Pieces to a puzzle.

I think Tolkien understood the idea that everybody has some part in everything, no matter how little that part is. I think that's where they nabbed that line for Galadriel in the Fellowship movie, "even the smallest person can change the course of the future" and so forth.

That's what makes the story a little more realistic (and coincidentally was a common practice in the writings of the early 20th century), including lots of characters that show up, and are practically never seen again. It certainly makes things more realistic, seeing as how you meet and see people once, and then never see them again.

[Dininziliel]

Gil Galad & Kransha, Merry & Pippin are still prime movers in Treebeard's/Ents moving against Isengard.

Gandalf makes reference in the book to their part:

The coming of the hobbits and the tidings that they brought have spilled it: it will soon be running like a flood; but its tide is turned against Saruman and the axes of Isengard. A thing is about to happen which has not happened since the Elder Days: the Ents are going to wake up and find that they are strong.

(From "The White Rider")

And, from "Treebeard":

Treebeard was however especially interested in everything that concerned Gandalf; and most interested of all in Saruman's doings. The hobbits regretted very much that they knew so little about them: only a rather vague report by Sam of what Gandalf had told the Council. But they were clear at any rate that Ugluk and his troop came from Isengard, and spoke of Saruman as their master.

I find it rather sad (yet interesting) how the movie changes my recollections of a story I've been reading over 30 years!