Some TTT thoughts

[bluesqueak <pipdowns@etchells0.demon.co.uk>]

> 
> > David wrote:
> > Have I got the wrong end of the stick, or did the Rivendell 
> > scene where Elrond looks pained as she marches off mean that in 
> > ROTK there will be a scene where they find a barely-conscious 
> > Arwen under a pile of Elf bodies?  
> 
Abigail replied:
> I sincerely doubt this.  As I said eariler, I expect Arwen to get 
> all the way to the ship, only to gaze longingly into the East 
> and decide to follow her heart.  Frankly, I think I'd be happier 
> with her under a pile of Elf bodies.
> 

Pip adds:

I think you're right, Abigail. A pile of Elf bodies would be 
preferable. :)

Reading the IMDB cast list (http://us.imdb.com/Credits?016726 ) for 
ROTK, Elrond's sons, Elladan and Elrohir, are not listed.

This gives me the truly awful feeling that Arwen is going to turn up 
with the banner... Or since Aragorn doesn't take the reforged Narsil 
with him, while the DVD extended edition of FOTR (guess what one of 
my Christmas presents was?) has Elrond announcing that Narsil 
*could* be reforged, she may well have the reforged sword instead.

BTW, this has always been one of my minor niggles with Tolkein. 
IIRC, he has Aragorn carting the shards of Narsil about with him; so 
in the inn at Bree, when he draws his sword, it's the broken hilt 
(and he actually says: "Not much use, is it Sam?).

Yes, Professor Tolkein. It's not much use. Poor old Aragorn has 
presumably spent the last few years wandering the wilderness, 
fighting orcs, bandits, trolls and lord knows what with what is 
effectively a very large dagger... 

I hope he was allowed a spare sword tucked away someplace :o)

<Snip>
> 
> In this case, as in many others, Jackson has been truer to 
> the book than we give him credit for.  I was certain, for 
> example, that the gunpowder in the battle of Helm's Deep 
> was his invention until I went back and reread the scene.  

Indeed it is there. I think the first time I noticed this was when 
listening to the superb BBC radio adaptation, which also made a big 
thing of Saruman's 'blasting fire'. And when I went back to the 
book, yup, Saruman knows about gunpowder. (Well, why shouldn't he? 
He is a wizard.)

Abigail again:
> As it turns out, with the exception of the three glaring 
> changes that everyone noticed - changing Erkenbrand into 
> Eomer, adding Haldir's elves instead of Eomer's riders, 
> and removing the trees - the battle goes exactly as it 
> does in the book.

> Abigail
> Who really enjoyed the Hogwarts Christmas Play.

Indeed, and the battle of Osgiliath is in the book. The only real 
change is that Faramir decides to let Sam and Frodo go much *later* 
than he does in the book, so we see some of Faramir's travels after 
he's left Ithilien for Gondor. But the events are basically as per 
book; only Sam and Frodo were originally not there to witness them.

Pip
(The Extended DVD is superb, btw. The extended edition of FOTR makes 
a *much* better film and the documentaries are excellent; almost a 
short course in 'how to make a fantasy film').

(Oh, and David? I really enjoyed the Hogwarts Christmas Play as 
well. Especially the Bridge of Khazad Dum.)