I’m talking about LITTLE things. Those here who want Peter Jackson drawn and quartered due to his tampering with text etc can go mutter to yourselves in the corner, kay? Little things.(and some things irk and please me at the same time!) I’ll start:
Irks:
“Do you remember the when we first met?” said by Arwen to Aragon. He should have shoved her off that log for such a trite, banal and shallow sentence. What was next–what sign are you? :rolleyes: It clangs ever. time. I. hear. it. Philippa whoever should have been shot at dawn for that one. I blame her–no, I don’t know if she wrote it, but I still blame her (she was so obnoxious in the EE interviews).
The hobbit who is digging in his ear for wax (or god knows what) and then flicks it off his finger. I get that it’s to set the mood or be funny–it’s not. Move on, already.
Ditto the scene with the pig in the town and the hobbits.
The eagles–but that irks me in the books, as well…convenient plot device, that.
The scene where Aragorn “discovers” marks left by Merry and Pip as they escaped the orcs. There ain’t nothin’ there but some dried grass and it shows…
The whole depiction of Galadriel and her telepathy, plus her “great and terrible” temptation image. It looked cool the first time, but subsequent viewing have made it comic to me.
The same can be said for Frodo’s big moment just after they leave the mines of Moria. The first time I saw Frodo’s face as Aragorn approaches him (just after Gandalf’s fall), I was shocked and thought, wow–Wood’s got “it”. Now, he just looks tired and petulant to me. (this may say more about me, but still).
Why are there so many scenes of “Dorothy waking up surrounded by her dear ones”? i.e., there are too many scenes of Frodo waking up in a bed, with the Hobbits jumping about and the non-Hobbits looking on indulgently. Gah.
Pleases:
The depth and amount of detail crammed into this world. It truly adds to the experience and does not detract from the action or the story.
The fall of Arwen’s cape as she confronts her father re his “lack” of foresight. Plus his vision for her of her life post Aragorn’s death. Compelling, but saturated in a Maxfield Parrish world–art within a film. And to use Tolkien’s lines–some of the best lines he ever wrote–amazing.
The look Arwen gives Aragorn has they take their public leave. It is so telling and is only explained much later. I like that we don’t know what to make of it and then it all falls into place.
The tension between Eowyn and Aragorn as he leaves to take the paths of the dead.
The way in which Wormtongue’s eyes watch Eowyn… creepy as hell, but good.
The face off between Theoden and Aragorn when he makes the decision to go to Helm’s Deep. And again when Aragorn has learned something from Theoden when Aragorn now takes Theoden to task for his helplessness in the face of so much evil.
The beacons–to see that in the theater was thrilling. Its impact is lost on a TV screen, though.
Aragorn putting on Boromir’s gauntlet thingies (can’t remember correct term).
There are (of course) many, many more. I didn’t really touch on Gandalf at all. When I say the character’s name, I also mean the actor’s depiction of that character. I don’t think that anyone was miscast for these films (Liv Tyler was a bit weak, but I think she did what PJ asked of her–that is another thread).
What say you?