January 15, 2003

Blemishes
Gwahir

I would have to agree with Satinder's article in the news section entitled "Blemishes." This film has problems. I didn't hate it, and I realize that I did pre-judge it from the trailers, for it truely is a beautiful work of art, however after my second time viewing I have noticed little things that bother me with the film.

Aragorn's scream: Satinder said it, and I'll resay it, it was stupid. Doesn't really fit his character does it? Doesn't seem very king-like to me. I understand that he must've been frustrated after all that long journey only to find, or think, that the hobbits were dead, but to lose control like that was totally out of whack.

Gollum's scream: I totally over-reacted at the hideous shots given to us in the trailers, and Galactus, you were right about my pathetic attitude to assume that Gollum would look bad. He looked absolutely fabulous. His little scream, however, was pretty strange. During my second view of the film, the hype from opening night had worn off a little and I could sit down and try to enjoy it for what it's true worth was, and after Faramir asks Gollum what the hobbits have taken from him he screams "my precious... AAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!".... I'm sorry but I had to laugh out loud in the theater.

Plot importance: the significance of Rohan is pretty important in the books, and it's understood why, but in the film it's barely mentioned why Gandalf & co. ride there, and why they don't just keep persuing the hobbits, or why Gandalf didn't take the hobbits with him after treebeard etc... It just seemed like there were holes in the plot (and I've talked this over with a non-reader who felt the same).

The ease-into-story: Even part 2 needs some kind of introduction. I felt like the whole movie was rushed, and by beginning the way this film did we lost a little of the characters. All the shots of Aragorn & co. was just them running in the wilderness. Why can't we have a little dialogue or something to ease into the plot, or perhaps to set up the importance of the film's events? Instead we get a load of tiresome shots of running into the sunset.

Anyway, sorry for the extended version of what was supposed to be a short post. Maybe I'm still too judgemental of this film, which I did thouroughly enjoy, so don't get me wrong. Those are just my few gripes.