February 24, 2004

Comparisons
Eonwe

The problem with the book-film comparisons on this forum is that they really only work one way: the film is compared to the book, but not the book to the film. We get a big list from Brett C. about all the stuff 'missing' from the movies that makes Gandalf look cool, wise, powerful, compassionate, etc... But what about the movie moments that are 'missing' from the book that makes Gandalf look cool? Here are a couple off the top of my head, in the spirit of Brett C.'s email:

-In FotR, we get to see Gandalf going on his
journeys and escaping from Orthanc. In the books, this stuff happens off screen and is summarized long after the fact.
-Ditto for Gandalf's awesome fall with the Balrog in TTT. The books makes you feel like when Gandalf's not with Frodo, he's not important.
-He fights a lot in RotK and kicks some serious orc butt.
-Gandalf's healing of Theoden is much more dramatic and powerful.
-His charge downhill to Helm's Deep is amazing and beautiful. In the book, it gets about two sentences.
-He gets Pippin to light the beacons, summoning Rohan. In the book that was 'given' to Denethor, cheapening Gandalf's role.

I am 100% positive that if Tolkien's book had included some of the film changes listed above and then Jackson had NOT included them, people would be complaining about it. 100% positive.

Eonwe