January 23, 2004

One More Time Wiht the Nitpicking
Brett C.

If you loved ROTK and thinks its blasphemy to say a word about it that might in anyway be disparaging, read no further. For the rest of us, here we go with the nitpicking Tolkien fan's guide to The Return of the King. Remember, in order to qualify these occurences must fall into the category of really small, almost petty details, not major plot changes, additions, or significant omissions.

1. When stealing the palantir from Gandalf to sneak a peek, Pippin uses a jug to replace the Stone, where in the book he used a rock.

2. In the book, the top of the Morgul tower revolves one way, then another. In the movie this is replaced by the swirling lightning of the Great Signal.

3. Again, in the book, the Morgul host is led by a vanguard of black-clad cavalry, headed by the WitchKing on horseback.

4. Rammas Echor? What Rammas Echor?

5. The book specifically states that Gandalf had to dismount at the 6th level of the city on arrival, because no horses are allowed in the 7th level of Minas Tirith.

6. In the novel the crown above the throne of Gondor is made of marble, not bronze.

7. In the movie Aragorn and co. lose their horses at the entrance to the Dimholt, while in the book they lead them through and ride them on the other side.

8. In the book, the siege towers attacking the city are drawn forward first by Mumakil, instead of pushed by trolls as in the cinema release.

9. The trebuchets in the movie could reach as far as the Mordor catapults, while the Professor states that during the siege none of the war machines in the city could reach far enough to hinder them.


And finally for the moment...

10. During the initial charge of the Rohirrim in the book, Theoden is armed with his spear, not his sword.

But I still love the movie :)