January 16, 2004

Raggedyanndy's Confusion and Another Horking
Everett

Raggedy Andy, your confusion over Mr. Prager's column is understandable. He did his job well, too well, it seems. I suspected it might be a satirical piece when I read "Prager News Service" in the by-line, but then thought it might actually be a real news item up until the sentence "To see even trees fight and kill is enough to make any right-thinking person sick to his or her stomach." At that point, it was too over the top for it to be anything but satire. However, he provides an explanation of this column in his subsequent one, which can be found at http://www.townhall.com/columnists/dennisprager/dp20040113.shtml.

All I will say regarding the "fiction, but not false" bit is that, while this interview may not have actually occurrred (fiction), it is consistent with the principles espoused and expressed by the 39th President of the United States (not false).

Anyway, it's time for more complaining (I do love it so.). Another character given short shrift in the movies is Eomer. In the books, Eomer is one of the chief actors in Helm's Deep, displaying great valor in the fight, as well as in the Battle of the Pellenor Fields and in the healing of Eowyn. He is heir to the throne of Rohan and a participant in the counsel before the battle before the Black Gate. Additionally, he is quite witty, eloquent and clearly has a cheerful side. None of which is seen in the movies.

In TTT, he is introduced to us when Aragron, Legolas and Gimli encounter his host of Rohirrim. Of course, the only sides of his character we see are his angry side and his dismayed side. Then he rides off, and we don't see him again until the end of Helm's Deep (I'm not counting the added scenes, which only serve to give Eomer more reason to be angry or dismayed. Incidentally, why is Theodred the only man in Rohan without a beard?) Furthermore, he is never establushed as Theoden heir, and his role his role at Pellenor is almost entirely glossed over, not to mention that he is entirely excluded from the final debate over whether to hold out in Minas Tirith or pick a fight with Mordor.

What gives? I can see having him come with Gandalf to Helm's Deep instead of Erkenbrand to avoid confusing people, but was it really necessary to reduce from a relativley major player to an extermely minor role?