Tolkien's 'Deus ex Machina'

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

You're right, but if one looks at the actual pictures in the movie, the army of the dead just does it all by themselves (see the green going through everything, not leaving the human defenders, Gondorians or Rohirrim, a chance to play a role!).

Looked at in comparison to the books, this would be an example of how they were 'dumbed down' for the films. But the question really is was that necessary in order to make a blockbusting set of films? Is film subtle enough to get the ideas of Tolkien across as he did?

All I have to say for now is that all of the criticisms I've heard about deus ex machina seem to come from those who have not read the books. Which to me suggests that Tolkien knew what 'dangerous machines' were, but Jackson maybe did not?