What I didn't like about TTT, and a couple of things I did

[pippin_999 <foxmoth@qnet.com>]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "bluesqueak 
<pipdowns at e...>" <pipdowns at e...> wrote:

Amy:
> > 
> > (6) Faramir's temptation.  Pip noted that in the book
> > he's tempted for about ten seconds, the implication
> > being that the movie's way has more dramatic tension. 
> > The thing is, you know, you have to trust your actors.
> >  A good actor can let us see that he's tempted and
> > resisting temptation, with nothing more than a few
> > words and a few seconds.  

> We don't see a heck of a lot
> > of Faramir in the book, but we see enough to realize
> > that he doesn't make this painful choice with ease. 
> > We have his brother for context.  Boromir wasn't a
> > power-hungry bad guy; he was a brave and noble future
> > Steward of Gondor who was motivated by his
> > responsibility to his people (intermixed with less
> > lofty motives, to be sure) to want to use the Ring to
> > save them.  Faramir struggles with the same dilemma,
> > but rightly concludes that there is no way to use the
> > Ring for good.  We don't just think he's an angel; we
> > see the struggle.  That's because JRRT gives us some
> > dialogue.  But this is an Action Movie and Action
> > Movies don't have too much dialogue—the audience might
> > get bored.

Pip:
> My problem with arguing against this is that I do actually think 
> that the scriptwriters made the wrong decision here. I think they 
> changed the book's plot so drastically at this point because 
they  wanted to establish that Gondor (in the shape of Boromir, 
Faramir  and Denethor) are tempted by seeing the Ring as the 
weapon that can save them. Plus they wanted to establish in 
advance that one of  Faramir's other temptations is that his father 
has always seen him as the second-best, and now he, not 
Boromir can be the one who  brings the Ring to Gondor.
> 
> They also wanted to establish that Gondor is up that famous 
creek sans paddle, and since this is a moving picture rather than 
a  European style talking picture, they needed to (you've guessed 
> it) 'show, not tell'. So we got dragged along to the battle of 
> Osgiliath.
> 

The filmmakers also needed to establish that Gondor is half in 
ruins, that it has fallen far from its former glory. They did it in 
FoTR with the ruins at Parth Galen, but the scenes Tolkien used 
for this in TTT -- Frodo's sight of Minas Morgul and the ruined 
statue at the crossroads-- are all set after Frodo encounters 
Faramir.

 I understand why it was done, but the sequence in Osgiliath 
seemed rushed. Also, not sure about this, but did Gollum hear 
that Frodo is trying to destroy the Ring? That's *very* different 
than the book and changes the whole dynamic between Frodo, 
Sam and Smeagol.

I think the comic relief with the horse smooching Aragorn was 
intentional.  Tolkien isn't above poking, very gently, at  Aragorn's 
occasional pompousness. The film lost the bit about Aragorn 
being so high and mighty about leaving his sword against the 
wall, then trying to persuade the guards to let Gandalf keep his 
staff.

Pippin
who agrees with Judy that the songs were the best part of BoTR 
and would love to update some of the refrains

And since that day tis said by all
In story, lay and poem
Only trust an Elf or Dwarf
As far as you can throw 'em
Sing porta-pac, bric a brac, NASDAQ and SCUD
As far as you can throw 'em.

Pippin