February 27, 2003

Two Towers 'Changes'
Magic Fire

There has been so much written about the deviations from the book in the Two Towers that I just felt that I had to add my two cents here. I have seen the movie 6 times and I think that it is fantastic. I have read the book numerous times and the movies will never replace them in my heart, however, Peter Jackson's vision has been as close to mine as anyone is ever going to get. Now please understand me, I have my own choice for the scene I don't like from the movie, and it is Aragorn's near-death experience. I accept it because I respect the entire body of work and care that has gone into making these movies. My feeling about Faramir is this: I don't feel that he is so different as that Jackson is portraying the feelings of the second place son of Denethor. After all, it is pretty obvious who Denethor's favorite son is in the books, and, if you really pay attention to the scene, you don't see a desire for the ring so much as a desire to please a father. What gets to me about some of the people who are taking issue with the changes in the movie is that many of them will say, "oh, I loved the Fellowship". The other night while watching it again, I lost count of the changes or omissions from the book in the first movie.(and yes, I loved the first movie.) My other complaint is that people will also say that something wasn't shown in the movie or someone didn't say this or didn't say that, and I have to wonder what movie they were watching because the very thing that they were complaining about I saw! I really believe that this movie takes viewing at least two times before you can take all the information coming at you! Anyway, hope the movie grows on those of you who were disappointed th first or second time around!