Changes that you weren't bothered by.

[Sapphire_Flame]

Originally Posted by Elianna

nor the Hobbits' ages (although it is funny to know that Pip would've only been 8 at Bilbo's party).

Eleven, actually.

I agree about the removal of Bombadil. I always found him a little...odd. o.O Tolkien himself even said that Bombadil was only in there as a nod to his (Tolkien's) own poems and things about him. He wasn't essential to the story. (This is said in Letters somewhere...)

Although I would have loved to see the Barrow-Downs... *sigh*

I also didn't mind Eomer filling in for Erkenbrand. That would have been a bit confusing for non-readers.

Also, *hides behind a shield* I've decided that I don't really mind that the Scouring was cut out. This way I get to keep my own mental image of it, instead of getting stuck with PJ's ideas. That could be the case with a lot of deleted scenes. You can keep your own thoughts on it. *nod nod*

Abedithon le,

~ Saphy ~

[Boromir88]

Also, *hides behind a shield* I've decided that I don't really mind that the Scouring was cut out. This way I get to keep my own mental image of it, instead of getting stuck with PJ's ideas. That could be the case with a lot of deleted scenes. You can keep your own thoughts on it. *nod nod*

A wonderful thought Saphy, never considered that before. I always thought what SpM stated (which I believe is actually in another thread), that by the time people have been sitting watching a movie for over 3 hrs, they wonder when it is done. I know my butt got sore and the movie was only half over . I'm dissapointed, but it is a change that I can live with. PJ did state that it would have been too much for the actors to have to do even more filming, and I agree with the guy.

[Guinevere]

Most of the changes in FotR didn't bother me - because they were in character and some of them actually enhanced the story!
- Merry and Pippin letting off the fireworks at Bilbo's party etc. and Sam dancing with Rosie.
-I agree with you that it was much better to leave out Tom Bombadil!
-the shortened journey to Bree didn't bother me too much , although it seemed a bit strange how Merry & Pippin just run accidentally into Frodo &Sam , and then join them on the journey ...
- Pippin saying "what about second breakfast?" that wasn't in the book, but it fitted so well!
- I didn't mind Arwen replacing Glorfindel and I thought it was well done to show more of her, because of her story in the appendices.
- The council of Elrond was changed and much shortened, but well done. (In the book nobody quarreled)
- I think the depiction of Boromir was actually better than in the book! For example the scene where he teaches the hobbits how to use a sword, or when he picks up the Ring on Caradhras. Not to forget the dramatic death scene. I think his words to Aragorn were very much in character.
- Moria was great. The troll-fighting scene was too long for my taste, but it didn't really bother me.
(The worst things for me in FotR was the wizards fight and Frodo being so weak.)

In TTT most of the changes were quite drastic and did bother me! Especially the changed characters! But I won't go into that here.
- the Elves in Helm's Deep weren't logical if one knows the history, but they looked so noble and I love the "martial Lothlorien-theme"music when they march in... so it didn't bother me too much.
- I thought it was quite ok to show Arwen , as she must have been in Aragorn's thoughts, and after all she was "watching over him from afar" (Only Elrond wasn't in character!)

In RotK most of the changes do bother me .
- But I loved the scene in the SEE DVD where Pippin & Faramir talk together.

[Rose Cotton]

The thing about making changes in the movie is that it does three things:

1. It makes what happens in the book dramatic on the screen. Although Tolkien was a brilliant story teller he does make very questionable decision in his book. Many major scenes and battles are presented through someone talking about it after the fact. How many people do you think could have sat through 20 minutes of Merry and Pip talking about how the Ents destroyed Isengard? Also it takes out scenes like the Mouth of Sauron which in the movie's chonological order simply don't serve the story.

2. It makes the books more accessible to a larger audience. The Lord of the Rings really is like reading rather enjoyable moment in history out of a text book. Which means that there are uncountable characters, subcharacters, and sub-subcharacters. The references to the history of Middle Earth are mind-boggiling. I'm sure we all agree that that would never have totally transended into film and what was put inte the films was great. But, while your simplifying this would it also means that changes must be made.

3. To me this is the most important. The changes make the book fans fly to the edge of thier seats. For those who know the story cover to cover it alows us to enjoy little suprises. It makes us think as PJ says in the RotK: EE Director's commentary 'If they can do that, what else will they do?'

Therefore, while at first I did resent some of the changes that took place in the movie and I lament the exclusion of some of the scenes that I love I still like and/or understand the changes that were made. (yes, even the separation of Sam and Frodo)

[Laitoste]

Originally Posted by Sapphire_Flame

Also, *hides behind a shield* I've decided that I don't really mind that the Scouring was cut out. This way I get to keep my own mental image of it, instead of getting stuck with PJ's ideas. That could be the case with a lot of deleted scenes. You can keep your own thoughts on it. *nodnod*

Exactly! Which is why I'm quite glad that dear old Tom was left out-I absolutely love him and I would be devestated if he was somehow ruined.

To be perfectly honest, it would probably take me less time to state what changes I DON'T like rather than those I don't mind. There are far less of those. A few that come to mind, however, are the slimming of events in the Shire before departure, and the same with Bree, the age of the hobbits (the stupidity of the hobbits is another matter...), changing Arwen for Glorfindel, and so on. And while I did mind the elves at Helm's Deep at first, I came to accept it. Now I love the first part of it-especially when Aragorn hugs Haldir. The look on Haldir's face is priceless!

[Boromir88]

And while I did mind the elves at Helm's Deep at first, I came to accept it. Now I love the first part of it-especially when Aragorn hugs Haldir. The look on Haldir's face is priceless!

Haha, I actually made a parody on that scene, with Haldir like, "woah now..." I did like the guy who played Haldir, in the movies, I don't know why, maybe because he died and he wasn't supposed to, but I've just liked his character in the movies. Much more so then Celeborn, that guy just annoying.

[gorthaur_cruel]

First, I'm not sure what you mean by "Changes that you weren't bothered by". There are changes that I feel indifferent to, changes that I'm not too happy with, but willing to accept, and changes that I actually like.

Good Changes
-Bombadil, I really don't mind. In fact, I'm glad they cut him. I don't think he'd look good on screen. (Imagine...all the Nazgul encounters set this dark and creepy atmosphere. Then all of a sudden, there's this guy who laughs at everything, sings at everything, and handles the Ring like a piece of stone. Not only does he bewilder the audience, it sort of takes away from the beginning atmosphere...which is usually the most important.

-I'm glad they actually showed the scenes instead of them talking about it, but I don't see how any sane movie director would have done otherwise

Changes I feel indifferent to
-Warg attack was nice...don't really see anything wrong about it.

-Eomer being reduced to an extra.
(Wasn't too fond of him anyway )

-Imrahil and Beregond being cut.

Changes I dislike, but willing to accept
-Showing Arwen was a nice touch, since they had to make the people realise who this Elf that married Aragorn was, but I think they overdid it. Especially in RotK with her "dying" and seeing her future son.

-Scouring of the Shire cut. The main complaint I hear about LotR is that it's a too-happy ending (unlike the book's bittersweet ending). I think this may have changed that opinion. But I suppose the movie's got to end somewhere.

I do have a whole lot of changes that I WAS bothered by, but these are the MAIN ones:

-All the magic mumbo-jumbo
Theoden being exorcised by Gandalf, Saruman's fireball (RotK EE), Wizard duel...I suppose I should be glad that Gandalf didn't kill orcs with lightning.

-The Demented Father and Wicked Sons
Faramir becomes evil. Denethor is a madman who hallucinates (RotK EE). 'nuff said.

-The Dead at Pelennor....?
Seriously, why didn't they follow Tolkien in this? It could've been done much much much better. Grey mists, echoes of a battle, eerie voice out of the air, terrifying the enemy instead of rolling into them...I think this part had the potential to be one of the best scenes ever out of all 3 movies.

I also think they cut the most dramatic scene from the book. Gandalf facing the Witch King at the Gates of Minas Tirith. This was the scene that moved me the most from the books, and I'm disappointed this got completely cut in the TE, and tampered heavily with in the EE.

[AbercrombieOfRohan]

I really enjoyed the Houses of Healing scene in the ROTK:EE. I didn't mind that there was no dialogue and that they cut most of it so it was a shorter scene. I was kinda sad that Ioreth didn't make it in because she's so funny,( she always reminds me of what Tolkien must of thought of the Innkeeper lady that he stayed with). I also really liked the song in the background, it really showed more about how eowyn was feeling, more than it could've been portrayed through dialogue.

At first I was really upset that they left bombadil out, but all of you convinced me that it would be ok and that it was a good idea for him to remain in the books. It's like a therapy group. Thanks!

[Boromir88]

This was a rather minor change, but it really added in a lot of "good emotions" into the story, and I enjoy this scene, with Merry and Pippin dancing on the tables.

Theoden being exorcised by Gandalf

I think the way the movie showed it, was obviously not how it was done in the books. However, Tolkien leaves us with a sense that Theoden is a "new" man, hence he's called "Theoden Hal." It may not be to the extent that the movie showed, but when reading certain parts, you get a sense that Theoden even went through a "visual change."

[Boromir88]

Morgul:

But Faramir taking the Ring to osgiliath...it's not so much that fact that the Ring is in Osgiliath, it's that the Nazgul are there, they know Frodo's got the Ring and is in Osgiliath, which, incidentally, is also where they are...and they don't do anything about it. The book!Nazgul and Book!Sauron would have Frodo surrounded, killed and the Ring taken before the Great Eye could Blink

Yes, and it also makes that whole palantir scene with Pippin useless. The Nazgul saw Frodo had the ring in Osgiliath, so why the heck would Sauron all of a suddenly think a different hobbit had the Ring in Rohan? Makes no sense, unless The Wikkie was evil and didn't tell his master.