August 31, 2003

Re: Frodo_lives, Niphredil, and Lilly
Bob Praz

Here we go...

1: Response to Frodo_Lives

I looked at Merry's gash on the DVD, and you're right. In all the scenes before Treebeard's meeting, Merry's cut is above his right eye, but when they are running through Fangorn Forest, pursued by Grishnakh, his scar is above his left eye. Then, while they are in Treebeard's arms, the scar is again above his right eye. Well, I guess that's one of the many mistakes people claim are in the movie. hehe.
As for Gimli and Legolas's competition at Helm's Deep, I agree this was brilliantly done, and I look forward to the extended DVD, where supposedly they will compare their scores in the aftermath of the battle, at the end of the movie. In fact the entire ending of TTT seems to have been greatly extended in the Special Edition: aftermath of Helm's Deep, Merry and Pippin finding a storehouse in the flooded Isengard, Faramir threatening Gollum, and Frodo and his companions sneaking through the sewers of Osgiliath.

2: Response to Niphredil

I was indeed quite disappointed at first with the "exorcism" of Theoden by Gandalf in the movie. I thought this was almost cheesy, and I couldn't see why PJ didn't follow the original healing of Theoden in the book. I soon realised, however, once I re-read that part of the book, that the more subtle healing of Theoden by Gandalf's mere counsel would have been rather boring in the movie. Let's face it; the beginning of TTT needed all the action and excitement it could get, because that part of the book is mostly plot developement and storyline. The only real action in the second book is the Battle of Helm's Deep and a few parts like the slaughter of the Uruk-hai by Eomer's men and the flooding of Isengard. Apart from that, there's not much more excitement that is worthy of three hours in the theatre. That's why PJ changed some scenes like the meeting with Treebeard, the "close call" of Frodo and Sam with the Easterlings at the Black Gate, and of course the whole Faramir affair. The Warg attack is also another scene that was added in order to insert some action in the middle of the movie. Although I must admit Faramir's behavior and Theoden's exorcism are some of my least favourite changes, they are nonetheless necessary to making TTT a brilliant and exciting film, and I can't picture any other way this could have been done.
As for Eomer's banishment, I'm sure it could be successfully argued that having him locked up would have been better for Saruman's plans. But, leaving aside the fact that this change was made for the plot of the movie, I think it should also be said that Wormtongue was more afraid of Eomer's influence on the King and the people of Rohan than anything else. He might have guessed that Eomer could cause some trouble even in banishment, but his priority was to get him as far away from the King and Edoras as possible, so that he himself could have complete dominion over Théoden and the governing of Rohan, without needing to worry about the son of Éomund rousing the soldiers of Edoras to overthrow his counsel.

3: Response to Lilly

About the gunpowder in the movie, this is one of many possibilities of what the "Fire of Orthanc/Devilry of Saruman" could be. Tolkien never says exactly what Saruman's army used to blast a gaping breach in the Deeping Wall (not to mention the barricade of the Hornburg's gate; although that wasn't in the movie), so it's really up to you to guess. Gunpowder isn't out of the question; Saruman was obessesed with machinery and developping weapons of war, and since gunpowder was discovered in the Middle-ages, I don't see why he, with all his ingenuity, craftsmanship and knowledge, could not have discovered it himself. Also, since the wizardry and magic in LotR is very subtle, it is not very likely that the orcs used such craft to blast holes in walls. Just like Tolkien never DIRECTLY refered to the Oliphaunts as a greater and ancient race of "elephants", he would probably not have refered to the fire of Orthanc as "gunpowder" or any other modern name for it. Tolkien was also a veteran of the first world war, and he was horrified at the destructive power of modern weaponry and warfare. Therefore this horror could have been embodied in LotR by the first use of gunpowder during sieges, which dismayed and devasted defenders. Anyways, that's one way to see it, and for PJ it seemed to be the best option to use in the movie.