November 30, 2003

Gollum...gollum...
Brett C.

Some of the problems with the handling of the Gollum and Faramir issue derive form the fact that PJ is trying to make the story beleivable to modern audiences, and also because he does not have the luxury of the wonderful author's narrative that Tolkien could make use of in the story. In the book it is clear from the narration that Faramir cannot be decieved by Gollum and can actually read some of his thoughts and purposes; there appears no attempt to put this across on screen, where it would be tricky to do so anyway. A large amount of the difficulty I think comes from the apalling decision to have Frodo lie about Gollum in the first place - in the book he did not, but I suppose it decided that this, like tha Rangers non-violent handling of ther prisoner, was 'not realistic'. How sad that realistic these days has come to mean the same as brutal and sneaky...probably why Tolkien himself said that the story is in no way a realistic portrayal of how a war would be fought by the 'good guys'.

Another point to remember is that in the book Gollum begins plotting his betrayal much earlier, just before or after the Black Gate, whereas in the movie it is actually the Smeagol side that come out on top of this debate.

As for Donald Sutherland, milord Annatar? Well, yes credit there, though for myself I always hoped to see Patrick Stewart in the role. Any other wish lists for Denethor?

And does anybody know ANYTHING about Imrahil?