December 30, 2003

Mr. Underhill and Danny
Melkor

It's once again the wee hours of the morning (the only time I'm ever near my computer) so forgive my spelling and what not I am tired.

I read both of your responses and first of all thanks for responding, I had a sneaking suspicion that since I kind of bashed the movie no one would read my article.

Believe me I'm as sorry as anyone that I did not enjoy the movie. I'm as big a fan as any so it was kind of heartbreaking to watch. I'd like to first say that I cannot disagree with the fact that the movie was visually marvelous. Everything from Smeagol to Shelob to Khamul's stead looked fantastic, well maybe not the fact it was always bright out and the coming darkness never came, but that aside nothing looked corny and Weta must be congratulated on a fantastic job.

The serious side of my complaint of course was the lack of story. Also some of the alterations from the story. I'll start with the alterations, the big three I can think of now are Frodo's helping Gollum's fall into the fire, Denethor's preposterous death and Gandalf kicking Pippin while offering his sword to Denethor. What ever happened to "I did not hinder it, for a generous deed should not be checked by cold counsel" It seemed so out of place and non-Tolkien to have Gandalf treat Pippin that way. Denethor's death is a capricious example of the abandoning of story for action. Instead of the dialogue between Gandalf and Denethor that would have helped exceedingly in developing the story line of Aragorn becoming king they have him scurry of a cliff. As for Frodo assisting in Gollum's demise that should completely destroy Frodo mentally to know that is was his push that destroyed the precious. In the book he struggles with the fact that it is gone so much that he has to leave Middle Earth, and that’s when he gave up on the ring and watched Smeagol is disbelief. If the way PJ depicted it had happened would that not have completely decimated Frodo's mind?

I can't disagree more about you’re comment that there is story in the movie. It's not the short quip here and there that’s missing its the actual story. In the movie every decision is made by a couple of heroic sentences instead of the true debate and character development that is in the books. I know you cannot put all that in cause it would seem boring to some (not me). Also all the quiet scenes where the characters are sitting on the brink, the deep breath before the plunge stuff, is missing. That was the best part, the part's where you got to see what the characters were really like and how they truly felt while they were talking to their companions, it showed the real struggle and mental anguish that such a war and such an uncertain thing like Frodo put on their minds. Also the Frodo and Sam sequences lacked all that made them feel so real in the books. The great struggle from the tower to the mountain was unforgettable in the books. The way it really showed the deterioration of Frodo's mental condition plus Sam's longing for home but pure determination to see Frodo through the task. It's the old fashion story telling that’s missing that sort of slow paced companionship in the heat of the battle that I really miss.

This I think only really scratches the surface if you are still interested post another article and I'll try and make a more coherent response.

Still splashing around in a puddle of my own tears……. Praying for the Hobbit

Melkor