November 24, 2003

A Chance for Faramir...to Show His Quality!
Brett C.

Time for me to do a bit of a jig here. Months ago on my February 17 posting I submitted an article that specualated that Faramir's line in the theatrical release of TTT where he speaks of the chance to 'show his quality' was actually relating back to the strained relationship wiht his father. I finished watching the extended cut recently, and was [as you can imagine] extremely happy to be proven right :)

But what made me far happier is the vast improvement in the portrayal of Boromir's baby brother in the extended cut. The lines he uses to describe the young Hardrim soldier he has just shot at the end of the first disc [actually lifted from the book where they occur as Sam's internal monologue of the event] gave me shivers, and really showed you how this relatively young commander struggles wiht the burden of his duty in defending Gondor when he really abhors bloodshed. His concern with Frodo's destination when they depart Osgiliath seems genuine and heartfelt. The scene where the Rangers are really beating the crap out of Smeagol does grate, but considering the previous rendition I would call this a vast improvement.

Still seem to be some things missing form the extended version though. We still have no explanation of where Gandalf gets his Lorien cloak?

Ah well. Maybe in the "Ultimate Collector's Edition".