January 27, 2004

Re: (praz) What I Miss the Most
Gub Overhill

Of the many scenes you mentioned as missing from RotK, I thing the Houses of Healing is the most glaring. Since I have studied and teach film theory, I can live with the adaptation, but this omition warrents concerns.

As many may know (from reading "Macbeth" and the like), kings of old like Edward the Confessor, had the healing touch. This was proof of their divine lineage. Similarly, Scyld Sceffing (from the "Beowulf" saga) was decended of Odin, High King of the Norse gods. That is why Hrothgar, Scyld's great grandson, was protected from Grendel when he sat upon his throne.

Now we come to Aragorn, decended from Numernorean Kings, who themselves were sons of Elros, brother of Elrond, an elf, who of course had some ineffible supernatural powers. I am not suggesting the newly-mortal Elros kept these power upon choosing his mortal life, but that Aragorn does exhibit many other notable kingly virtues. The healing touch should be one of these due to his lineage as well as his similarities to the literary counterparts mentioned above. Truly anyone can wield a sword, even the Sword that was Broken, and with that sword muster the Dead on his behalf. It was the Sword they responded to, not the man. Also, anyone can do the many other things, but no mere mortal can save the mortally wounded. We do get a sense that Aragorn knows his potatntial when he admits his healing skills are not yet enough to heal Frodo when stabbed with the Morgul blade--to me this forshadowed the Houses of Healing episode later to come (we thought). Without the crucial Houses of Healing scene, Aragorn becomes king MUCH too easily. (Please note that I am quite aware of this scene being included in the Extended Version due out [when?].) Without the Houses of Healing scene, characteraization of Aragorn is invalidated!

The other scene I felt strikingly absent was the Mouth of Sauron. Here we see Gandalf calling Sauron's bluff. Sure Mordor has the mithril coat, the sword, and Frodo's elfish cloak, but no ring!! "A-ha," saith Gandalf, "you don't have the ring, or you wouldn't be out here negotiating!" (I'm paraphrasing.) Without this scene, we don't see Gandalf staring straight into the "face" of the enemy and NEVER blinking. What a poker game that would have been. True, this does not invalidate needed characterization as the Houses of the Healing omition might, but it sure does miss a truly bitching piece of characterization. (Sorry, I could not avoid the low-brow adjective.)

These are only a few of the omitions of the many I could name, but these are the two most glaring.

As for the omitions I thought improved the film, The Scouring of the Shire missing from the film actually helps (the film, that is). Let's face it, RotK was anti-climactic enough. I never thought from my first notion of the films that this scene would add anything to our cinematic experience.

Please respond everyone. I'm anxious to see what you think.