December 1, 2003

Sandcastles
Annatar

One change to the ring the films did make was to make its effect immediate and overwhelming to the characters that encountered it. In the book, to my mind, it was more of an eventually wearing away at the will of all the characters that did not refuse it outright. While tempting, the ring could still be refused. This is why movie Faramir is so different to book Faramir. Movie Faramir was hit by the full blast of the Ring (in keeping with the movies concept of the Ring), and so, could do nothing other than send the Ring to his father, at least till he fully understood the peril.

Gondor will fall.
Who was to blame?!
Gondor.
All right thinking rulers when it became fully apparent that a new shadow was rising (even before), would seek out allies to stand against Mordor. But no!! the West was too blinding by its imperial past, by its eliteism, to align themselves with others. Rohan being the only exception, and then only because they were in dire straits (Eorl etc). Why was the peoples of Dunland shunned for so long? A fierce proud people could have been raised up and armed. Diplomatic ties to Harad and Umbar could have been set up properly in years past. These then could have borne fruit later, lessening the power of Mordor and strengthening the West.
The West had no one to blame but themselves for the peril they found themselves in during the War. They sat in their sandcastles when the tide was coming in and bemoaned their fate. (Note Annatar uses the word fate in a non "I believe the future is set" sense. Basically I mention this cos I hate the idea of Fate. Drives me up the walls).
Brett C, Patrick Stewart?! hmmmm I dont know if he has a cruel enough streak/look, but yeah, he could have been good in the part.

Anyways till later :) Ash Nazg...