Best and Worst changes of the trilogy

[TheRingBearer]

By changes, I mean alterations or brand new scenes, added by the writers and Peter Jackson.

Worst: My worst probably would be Denathor's character changes, mainly because they weren't explained well enough on screen. Maybe in the EE, I know but it should be able to do it in the theatrical version, the one most people will see.

Best: This may be controversial and I may change my mind after watching the other two but I really like Frodo telling Sam to go home. I realise it wrecks the beginning of Shelobs Lair by going off track from the book, but for me it was the most emotional part of the film. Forget the ending, the look on Sam's face is heartbreaking and even Gollum takes a second look at him as he walks off triumphant.

I know the worst one: Gimli the clown.

[Radagast]

I dont think you have a problem with just Gimli.. I think you have a problem with John Rhys Davis...

What makes you say that? I can't complain about the character changing from a serious char to a clown? John did a great job in FotR.

[Lady Luthien]

I would say the worst change would have to be Battle of Pellenor fields scene...it wasnt really different(well the lines were), but it just wasn't very effective, imho. The best change would have to be Denethor's character b/c I think it made it more interesting and (unintentionally) funny to watch his insanity

If you like simplicification then I bet you love movie Denethor. He's just like most other characters now, no depth.

[ImDaMom]

I see a great deal of depth in Denethor- a man feeling guilty about sending his first born away to his death, unwilling to accept the 2nd son (and any parent knows how hard it is to accept that sometimes we DO have favorites), fearful of the loss of his throne, anticipating the destruction of his people- no wonder he goes a little bonkers. As for the beating by Gandalf, no, I was not fond of that, nor was I fond of the leap to his death. I do think that could have been done closer to the book, but I still thank Eru I got to SEE Minas Tirith, Denethor, etc, despite the changes.

[Nyphistra Silvertree]

Favourite change - Okay, I'll get ready to dodge the hail of stones, but I'm glad they left out Bombadil. I find that part of the books kind of a dead-end. I liked that they at least gave him a nod by giving some of his lines to Treebeard.

Least favourite - Too much Arwen (though I don't mind the horse-chase in Fellowship), and Faramir wanting to take the Ring.

[nickk4]

I liked:
Arwen instead of Glorfindel in FOTR
Leaving Bombandil out
Helm's Deep battle (it 's better than the book)

I hated:
Saruman left out
the pink orc sergeant
Theoden's reluctance to aid Gondor

[Lady Luthien]

oh yea I forgot about Bombadill...I'm changing my favorite change to leaving Tom Bombadill out...a wise choice, imho

[Elanor]

I know its controversial, but I like that the Scouring of the Shire is not in the movie. It always broke my heart that after the huge ordeal all the hobbits went through to protect the Shire from Sauron, it and the hobbits there still ended up suffering at the hand of Sauraman. It seemed like a cruel twist.

I liked Arwen extended inclusion in the film, but I didn't like the part where she was "dying" if the Ring wasn't destroyed. It was overkill--I'm sure Aragorn didn't need any added reason to fight and all--he was already completely committed to the Quest. It wasn't like he was thinking, "Well, in that case, I better do something about this return of the king thing!"

I also really wanted Gollum to be crying out, "My Precious" even at the very last possible moment before he was totally engulfed in flames--it was such a vivid image in my head from the book.

And I really really wanted the white ship to the Haven to actually be WHITE. It wasn't very Elvish or majestic.

But I love the scene where Pippin is singing to Denathor and Faramir is riding into that hopeless battle to reclaim the city--that was such a incredible song.

[RickP66]

Originally posted by Lady Luthien
I would say the worst change would have to be Battle of Pellenor fields scene...it wasnt really different(well the lines were), but it just wasn't very effective, imho.

Wow, totally disagree. The Battle of Pelennor Fields was an incredible scene, best in all three movies. In fact, it has to rank up there as one of the best battle sequences ever put on film.
And it wasn't actually a change either, as Tolkien tended to skip lightly over the details of a battle.

[RickP66]

My favorite change was using the Army of the Dead to defeat the orcs at Gondor...I never understood why they just used them to take the Corsair Fleet and then let them go in the books.
Least favorite was Denethor, pending the EE.

[Boromir123]

Most favorite: Inclusion of Gamling.He's cool.


Least: Disclusion of Halbarad. He's cooler.

[Saruman]

Changes for the Better: Lurtz (an honourable hero needs to be killed by an honourable villain!), strengthening Arwen's role, but only to a certain extent.

Changes for worse: Most of the changes in the second two movie I'm afraid. The decisions seemed to me to have been made without thinking ahead, and, as a result, the flow faltered and some parts contradicted each other (Elrond riding to Rohan in a day).