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The LOTR Movie Site
June 23, 2000The Movies Could Answer Some
Riddles
John R.
While Jackson is probably doing what he must, in cutting
characters and scenes and adding new composites, I wonder whether he will use the
opportunity to surprise the loyal followers by answering some of the riddles?
Face it, if you are reading this, then you've
re-read the trilogy more times than you can remember. The movies will be
exceptionally tedious for us if then only aspire to be a documentary of all details
in the book. Jackson can add some surprises for the purists and jaded
readers, by answering some of the riddles left in the story by Tolkien. A few
suggestions:
(1) Boromir and the Ring. I've previously
postulated that Boromir came under the Black Breath while unsuccessfully attempting to
hold back the unseen Ringwraith(s) at the Bridges of Osgiliath. Shortly thereafter, he
unaccountably abandons his generalship of the Gondor army in order to wander in the
wilderness in search of Imladris. It is shocking that a general officer would abandon his
command in this fashion, so the influence of the Black Breath could have something to do
with it. Faramir was by far the most logical choice for the journey. Denethor and Faramir
thought so too, and they did not agree on much of anything.
So the movie could show Boromir unknowingly coming
under the Black Breath, then mumbling something about a ring in his sleep, then Denethor
and Faramir wondering what's wrong with Boromir after he leaves Minas Tirith. This also
helps show that Boromir is not a bad guy from the start, which some might infer from the
book.
And, it explains why mighty Boromir, among all the
good elves and men, is the only one to succumb to the lure of the Ring.
(2) Boromir "loses" his horse at the
Tharbad crossings. Boromir remarks that he "lost" his horse in the crossings
at Tharbad, and walked the rest of the way to Imladris. I'd naturally assumed that the
horse drowned. But wait. Eomer says the horse they loaned to Boromir came back. And,
Tolkien had a little fun with the word "lost" when Treebeard told the hobbits
that the Ents had lost the Entwives. The hobbits assumed, as did I, that the Entwives had
died. No, says Treebeard, we lost them.
So how does Boromir, as physically capable as
Aragorn, "lose" his horse crossing the river?
Well, about the same time, the Black Riders were
coming north. Although they are deathly afraid of water, they managed not to lose their
horses in the river.
A logical explanation is that while Boromir slept
by the riverbank, the Black Riders passed close nearby, spooking his horse who ran home.
(Typical horse trick.) Maybe he even comes under the Black Breath again.
(3) Gimli and Frodo look into the Mirrormere.
Gimli tells how Durin first looked into the pond and saw a crown. Gimli and Frodo look
into the water, and see the encircling mountains. Gimli leaves, and Frodo follows, deep in
thought. What is Frodo thinking?
Probably, Frodo is thinking that Gimli may be the
incarnation of Durin: the encircling mountains resemble a crown! We also know from
the family tree that Gimli can claim some degree of direct descent from Durin. And, Gimli
seems to accomplish more than any other dwarf in middle-earth, even though he never had a
ring.
So perhaps a suggestion that Gimli is the
incarnation of Durin. And maybe Gimli is allowed to find Durin's Axe?
(4) The Entwives in the Shire: Sam and Ted
argue in the pub about a walking tree seen on the north moors. Later Treebeard observes
that the Entwives would like the Shire, and asks Pippin and Merry to send word. But
Treebeard does not talk to Sam, and we don't know if Sam, Pippin and Merry made this
connection.
So perhaps, when Sam replants the Shire at the end of the
last movie, he will be assisted by the Entwives.
Little nuggets like these are consistent with the
book, and would provide a welcome surprise, at least for me.
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