OK, dudes- I want to know one little thing- (having watched it, and enjoyed it)- WHERE ARE ALL THE EASTER EGGS?! Thanks! 
myles there is a substantial difference in a believing a fantasy world of fantastic creatures, which is entirely consistent within the world created, and the somewhat ridculous aspect of Aragon cradling the lead Elf in his arms while Ura-Kai rage on all around him.
Hello Again I don’t doubt that the book has similar aspects (I read the books too long ago to remember those details), all I can comment on is that there were a few secenes like that in the movie that stretched credibility.
Don’t get me wrong, I very much enjoy TTT:EE. (although I think my complaints apply generically to the theatrical as well to the EE version).
Considering that the scene is in slow motion, I don’t think it would really take more than a second or two in real-time, and as I recall, Aragorn leaps straight back into battle immediately afterwards. Most of the scene focuses on Haldir’s death itself (and his own conception of dying) rather than Aragorn’s reaction, anyway.
Well, okay, if the world is completely internally consistent, but completely different in many respects from our world, why should people behave exactly the same as they would in our world?
I was with you until the last sentence. Once you’ve made the decision that Faramir has to be tempted by the ring (otherwise it makes the Ring, Frodo, Galadriel, and Aragorn all seem weaker), then the way it plays out in the movie is the only way that makes sense and doesn’t depart even further from the book.
You say “if they had left the party in Ithilien” – who’s “they?” If it’s just Frodo & Sam & Gollum, then how do they get away from Faramir? They could just escape, but that leaves Faramir looking like a bad guy, which he’s not. The filmmakers still want Faramir to decide to let them go, to realize that the ring is too dangerous not to be destroyed. So how do you visualize that decision?
Instead of inventing something completely new, they borrow a scene from later in the book that shows just how powerful the ring is, the hold it has over Frodo, and that it will drive him to turn on his best friend and even turn himself over to the ring-wraiths. And because this is a movie, Faramir has to witness this. So where does this scene happen?
It could happen at the cave hideout, but that would just seem kind of silly. Plus, it would be an even bigger departure from the book than having elves at Helm’s Deep (which I still don’t see the problem with, but that’s another topic).
It could happen where it did in the book, but why would Faramir take Frodo & the ring towards Minas Morgul? That’s the last place he’d go – he wants to head back to Minas Tirith and give the ring to his father.
So it could happen on the way to Gondor, but not as far as Osgiliath. That would be okay, except I think in the filmmakers’ minds it’s not enough tension. In the EE, Jackson points out an establishing shot of Osgiliath that shows Minas Tirith in the background; it shows you where they’re headed and how close they are. (Jackson explains that it was removed from the theatrical release because audiences thought they were looking at Helm’s Deep). It’s tense because you know that once the ring falls into the hands of men, everything is going to be over. It’s not just that Faramir changes his mind, but he changes his mind at the last minute. Plus, I think it makes sense that a nazgul would be at Osgiliath, since the city is under seige from Sauron’s forces anyway.
That’s how I interpreted the commentary, but I’ve got a vague unease that I’m not describing it correctly (because it’s been a while since I last read the book). I really do recommend at least the second disc of Jackson, Walsh, and Boyens’ commentary; it’s extremely interesting and actually pretty funny.
“They” meaning the writers–Jackson, Walsh, et al…if they had left the party in Ithilien, and Faramir had come to understand the danger from the ring before leaving, then there wouldn’t be all this bitching from fans.
I understand that “they” made the decisions they felt necessary, and have been very successful doing it. It’s what it is and there are many good things about the films and that’s why I have both EEs, will be in line at the theater on the 17th and will buy the 3rd EE when it is available.
On a completely different front: The two scenes that I cannot understand being cut from the Theater Release:
- Gandalf saying (to Aragorn) “It has never entered his mind that we might seek to destroy the ring.” That’s the whole reason why sending 2 hobbits into the Dark Land makes any sense!
- Faramir expressing Sam’s thought from the book about the dead Haradrim. “if he was really evil of heart, or what lies or threats had led him on the long march from his home…” one of JRRT’s primary themes.
Together they might have added 90–in my opinion critial–seconds.
Only one that I know of: On the first movie disk go to the scene selection screen. When you get to the last set (pair really) go one more notch south, and a gold ring lights up. Click it, and you see Gollum accept an award from MTV for “Best Virtual Performance” or something like that.
DD