February 1, 2003

Changes in Two Towers
Danny

In reading this, don't get the idea that I liked the change to Faramir. I did not like that change at all, but thinking about it, I have a guess at Peter's strange reasoning.

First off, Someone said that the Nazgul seeing Frodo with the Ring throws all the logic off, and allerts Sauron to who has the ring. Actually, if anything, that would give Sauron the impression that the Ring was taken to Minas Tirith. Frodo would have appeared to be en route to Minas Tirith, so that change (while not one I agree with) doesn't drastically destroy the mystery of the rings whereabouts.

Okay on to my guesses as to why they changed Faramir. I for one enjoyed the rest of Frodo and Sam's story immensely, but I suspect that Peter wanted to add something to add some action and physical danger to the story. When Helms Deep is happening, doing a flash over to Frodo and Sam who are quietly talking with Faramir in Ithilien would have made for a strange transition. I suspect that Peter did it do give Frodo and Sam's story some suspense and action. Without Osgiliath there would have been no action for the Hobbits (not that I would have minded.) So I suspect that PJ's change to Faramir was purely for suspense and drama. I do say that judging that as a film, with the books asside, those scenes work.

I also think that Peter added Osgiliath to very graphically show that Sauron's war machine is in motion, and to show us an important moment in the story that is only talked about in passing in the books.

I don't have any real idea why they did the Nazgul ring episode, and found it kind of weak that one arrow in the flying beast would have been enough to stop it from taking the Ring.