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The Life and Mind of DamnBlackHeart
This is to help me stay actively writing. So expect to see rants, tips on writing, thoughts on subjects, me complaining of boredom, reviews, anime, movies, video games, conventions, tv shows and whatever life throws at me.
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Lord of the Rings: Differences I |
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Here's a list of differences for those that are completely unaware of the things that were left out from the books and/or what was added or changed in the movies. I hope this educates or helps people in some way. Either way I find this very interesting!
And kudos to Jack Flannel who created this list in the first place and spent his time doing it.
Warning: This is very long and filled with spoilers for those who do not wish to know the differences between the movies and the books.
Edit: Originally I posted this all at once but it seems there's not enough space in this journal to fit it all. So I'll have to break it into parts.
The Fellowship of the Ring:
1. It was both Bilbo and Frodo's birthday party -- Bilbo's 111th and Frodo's 33rd and Jackson failed to mention Frodo's birthday in the movie.
2. Tolkien states, regarding the arrival of Gandalf with his fireworks, that "not a single squib or cracker was forthcoming". Jackson has Gandalf set of a few fireworks for the children of Hobbiton as he rides into town.
3. Gandalf sets off the "dragon" firework. Jackson has Merry and Pippin set off the "dragon" firework.
4. There is a flash of light -- thanks to Gandalf -- when Bilbo disappears. This helps to explain Bilbo's vanishing act. Jackson has Bilbo simply disappear.
5. Bilbo leaves the Shire with Dwarf companions. Jackson has Bilbo leave Hobbiton alone.
6. There is a 17 year span of time between Bilbo's departure and Frodo's departure from Hobbiton. Jackson makes it seem like, at most, a year has passed. And that cuts out all the time during which Aragorn and Gandalf track down Gollum, Gandalf searches the archives of Denethor, etc.
7. Gil-galad and Elendil smote Sauron (though they died in the process). Isildur merely cuts the Ring from the defeated Sauron's hand. Jackson leaves Gil-galad out and has Sauron unharmed up to the point at which he has Isildur cut the Ring from his outstretched hand.
8. Gandalf first grabs Sam by the shoulders outside the window of Bag End and scolds him, then he carefully lifts him through the window. Jackson has Gandalf pull Sam quickly through the window and onto a table. Unnecessary and poorly handled. Why did Gandalf need to treat poor Sam so violently?
9. Frodo leaves Hobbiton with Sam and Pippin. Jackson has Frodo leave Hobbiton with Sam, and then has them run into Pippin and Merry near Buckleberry Ferry. Of course this is muddled by Jackson's omission of the whole Crickhollow ruse.
10. Frodo had stolen mushrooms from Farmer Maggot as a younger lad. Jackson has Merry and Pippin (who seem to be on good terms with Maggot in the book) stealing Maggot's crops.
11. Farmer Maggot takes the three hobbits to Buckleberry Ferry in his cart -- they meet a fourth, Merry, along the way. Jackson has the four Hobbits running to the Ferry to escape the Black Riders. Had Jackson allowed the Maggot scene to progress as it does in the book, it would have allowed some examination of Hobbit community, friendliness, even forgiveness (on Maggot's part).
12. There is no chase to the Ferry. Jackson has the Hobbits running from the Black Riders. In the book, the Black Riders are not spied until the Hobbits are half-way across the Brandywine River.
13. Sam does not lament leaving home until the Hobbits are crossing the Brandywine on the Ferry. Jackson has Sam lament leaving before he and Frodo meet up with Merry and Pippin.
14. Merry and Pippin knew Frodo was leaving the Shire before Frodo even set off to go -- thanks to Sam. Jackson has Merry and Pippin finding out about Frodo's departure from Frodo himself.
15. Tom Bombadil gives the Hobbits blades taken from the Barrowdowns, blades of Westernesse, one of which -- Merry's -- plays a significant role in Eowyn's confrontation with the Witch-King at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. Jackson has Aragorn arm the Hobbits at Weathertop. No significance is ascribed to the blades. Of course, this point is muddled by the fact that Jackson chose to leave Bombadil out of the films.
16. Tom Bombadil is the one who suggests the Hobbits make for Bree. Jackson has Gandalf make this suggestion though, having left Bombadil out of the film entirely, this is somewhat understandable.
17. One can look over the gate at Bree. Jackson has a gate that is at least 10 feet high.
18. The patrons at the Prancing Pony are hospitable and greet the Hobbits with a "chorus of welcome". Jackson has the patrons at the Prancing Pony seem crude and intimidating. They are sloppy and, one might venture, that Jackson is trying to make it seem like the Hobbits should be scared.
19. Strider introduces himself to Frodo before Frodo does his "vanishing act". Jackson has Frodo meet Strider after Frodo has accidentally put the Ring on (though he had seen him across the room prior to his "vanishing act" wink .
20. Frodo vanishes after accidently slipping the Ring on while performing a song for the folks in the Prancing Pony. Jackson has Frodo trip while trying to stop Pippin from blabbing on to the Prancing Pony patrons about the Baggins he knows.
21. Strider carries the shards of Narsil with him. Jackson has the shards on display at Rivendell.
22. The Black Riders enter Bree without their horses. Jackson has the Black Riders enter Bree on horseback. He has them knock down the gate -- something they don't do until Aragorn and the Hobbits have left Bree and entered the wild. Additionally, the gatekeeper was working for the Black Riders and is not killed in the book -- though he is crushed under the gate in the film.
23. The party had seen the Riders on the road from Weathertop and were expecting them. Strider had even built a fire to use as a weapon. Jackson has the party caught unawares by the Riders after the Hobbit's cook fire is espied from afar.
24. Frodo tries to stab a Black Rider at Weathertop. Jackson has Frodo lying prone and unarmed.
25. Glorfindel finds the party in the wilderness. Jackson has Arwen find the party because he wanted to give her more screen time.
26. Frodo is placed on Glorfindel's horse alone for the flight to the Ford. Jackson has Frodo ride with someone, namely, Arwen.
27. Frodo remains defiant up to the point when the Black Riders are unhorsed by the river. Jackson has Frodo barely able to breathe and half-dead...and defended by Arwen.
28. Six of the nine Black Riders are forced into the flood by Glorfindel. Jackson has all nine Riders enter the river and swept away without anyone coming up from behind.
29. Bilbo does not "freak" when he sees the Ring, instead Frodo sees him as a Gollum-like creature merely reaching out for the Ring. Jackson has Bilbo lunge at Frodo and hiss like some sort of crazed leprechaun.
30. Arwen and Aragorn appear together with Elrond after the feast the night before the Council. Jackson portrays Elrond as disapproving of Arwen and Aragorn's relationship and has the couple appearing alone, conceivably (one might say), keeping out from under the watchful eye of Arwen's father.
31. Bilbo was at the Council of Elrond and even offering to be the Ring-bearer. Jackson does not have Bilbo at the Council.
32. Isildur is counseled to destroy the Ring by Elrond and Cirdan. Jackson has Elrond (alone) lead Isildur into the Crack of Doom. This was a poor decision because rather than portraying Isildur as unwilling to listen to counsel, Elrond is portray as unwilling to try and stop Isildur in the Crack of Doom and simply letting Isildur walk away with the Ring.
33. Narsil is only broken into two pieces. Jackson has Narsil broken into six or seven pieces. If you ask me, the idea of reforging a blade in two pieces to be battle-ready is a much more believable than assuming a blade in seven pieces could be reforged into something battle-ready.
34. Elrond names Aragorn at the Council. Jackson has Legolas name Aragorn when he explains who he is to Boromir.
35. Gandalf asks Frodo to "bring forth the Ring". Jackson has Elrond ask Frodo to bring forth the Ring.
36. Boromir does not dismiss or disrespect Aragorn but instead states how his return would be welcomed in Gondor. Jackson has Boromir say something to the effect that Gondor doesn't need a king.
37. Isildur burnt his hand when he first picked up the Ring. Jackson has Isildur pick the Ring up without suffering any pain or being burnt.
38. When Gandalf speaks the tongue of Mordor, it is part of his tale to the Council and occurs within the context of a long statement of Gandalf's. Jackson has Gandalf speak the tongue of Mordor to grab everyone's attention and to make a point to those who might be thinking like Boromir, that the Ring should be used against Sauron.
39. Saruman does not plan to share power with Mordor though he does offer to share it with Gandalf. Jackson has Saruman trying to convince Gandalf to side with Sauron and him.
40. Gwahir comes looking for Gandalf and thus helps Gandalf escape. Jackson has a moth show up as some sort of messenger of the Eagles (a very slow messenger, if you ask me) who later returns with Gwahir in tow.
41. Frodo offers to be the Ring-bearer while the Council is silent and deep in thought. Jackson has the Council arguing, and Frodo has to shout to be heard when he agrees to take the Ring. That is to say, in the book the Council is much more rational. For example, just look at the way Boromir is portrayed in the book.
42. Merry and Pippin find out about the Council after the fact. Jackson has Merry and Pippin show up at the Council in much the same fashion as Sam had.
43. Frodo wanted to stay in Rivendell with Bilbo, not return to the Shire. Jackson has Frodo pining to return to the Shire with Sam.
44. The number of the Fellowship was to be nine as a counter to the nine Black Riders. This number is set before anyone volunteers to join the Fellowship. Jackson portrays the number of companions in the Fellowship being the result of another logic (i.e. Sam, Merry, and Pippin all showing up). In addition, the members of the Fellowship are chosen after the Council whereas Jackson has the membership of the Fellowship set and the conclusion of the Council. The idea that there are nine companions in the Fellowship to counter the nine Black Riders is never touched on in Jackson's film.
45. Narsil is to be reforged before the Fellowship departs Rivendell. Jackson has Narsil reforged after Helm's Deep.
46. The Fellowship sets out at night so as to avoid being seen by spies of the Enemy. Jackson has the Fellowship set out during the day.
47. Only Sam and Aragorn see the crebain (birds) in Hollin. The others are all asleep because the Fellowship is sleeping by day and traveling by night. Jackson has the whole Fellowship up and running around when the crebain show up.
48. Gandalf is the one who wants to try to pass through Moria. Jackson has Gimli pushing for the trek through Moria and Gandalf opposed.
49. Boromir names the "fell voice on the air" during the ascent of Caradhras. Jackson has Legolas name it.
50. The snowstorm that forces the Fellowship back down the mountain is blamed on the mountain itself. Jackson has the Fellowship blame it on Saruman. The book never even suggests that Saruman is to blame -- though at one point the Fellowship considers blaming Sauron beforing setting the blame on Caradhras.
51. Frodo does not drop the Ring during the ascent of Caradhras. Jackson has Frodo dropping the Ring and Boromir picking it up.
52. The Fellowship turns to go back down the mountain when a final fall of snow and rock falls behind them. Jackson has the Fellowship turn back because of the final fall of snow and rock.
53. Both Glamdring and Sting glow in the presense of Orcs. Jackson always has Sting glow blue in the battle in Balin's tomb, but Gandalf's sword does not shimmer at all.
54. The decision to take the road through Moria is made after descending Caradhras. Jackson has the decision made in the mountain pass as a precursor to going back down the mountain. In fact, Wargs gathering to attack the Fellowship cement their decision to take the road through Moria, not the arbitrary decision of Frodo alone (as Jackson portrays it).
55. The only battle with Wargs described in the book occurs at the foot of Caradhras. Jackson omits the Warg attack at Caradhras and inserts one into his (already) battle-heavy second chapter of the film, The Two Towers.
56. Boromir throws a rock into the water outside the Doors of Durin thus disturbing the Watcher in the Water. Jackson has Merry and Pippin throwing stones into the water which only serves to play up Merry and Pippin as foolish in the films.
57. Gandalf is suddenly inspired to speak the Elvish word for 'friend' at the Doors of Durin. Jackson has Frodo figuring out the "riddle".
58. Bill is spooked by the Watcher in the Water and dashes away in fright. Jackson has Sam and Aragorn send Bill off before the Watcher in the Water spooks anyone.
59. Only one tentacle grabs a hold of any member of the Fellowship. Jackson has Hobbits being flung in the air by the Watcher in the Water.
60. The Watcher in the Water shuts the Doors of Durin and then there is a landside heard through them. Jackson has the Watcher in the Water pulling the doors off their hinges and causing a massive cave-in.
61. There are no dead Dwarves with Goblin arrows sticking out of them just inside the Doors of Durin. They do not find dead Dwarves until they reach Balin's tomb. Jackson has the Fellowship finding Dwarves just inside the doors.
62. The only light the party has in the Mines of Moria is Gandalf's staff as the party had "no fuel nor any means of making torches". Jackson has Aragorn carrying a torch in the film.
63. Pippin merely drops a stone down the well -- which is not immediately answered by drums. Jackson has Pippin knocking a skeleton, bucket, and lengthy chain down the well.
64. Gandalf makes up his mind which way to go at the passage with three archways while on watch, that is, while the others slept. Jackson has Gandalf decide on the way at the end of a conversation with Frodo while all members of the Fellowship are awake.
65. Gandalf decides to take the path that goes up because the middle path feels wrong and the air smells foul coming from the path that leads downward. Jackson has Gandalf choose the path that leads downward.
66. Gandalf stumbles upon Balin's tomb quite by accident. Jackson has Gimli see something that looks like a tomb and then has Gimli charge off against the will of Gandalf.
67. Frodo does not show the others his mithril shirt after being "speared" by a huge orc-cheiftan (not a cave troll) while the Fellowship are in the Mines of Moria. Jackson has Frodo revealing his mithril shirt after their brief battle with the Orcs. In fact, in the book Frodo does not reveal his mithril shirt to the party until they reach the eaves of Lorien.
68. Legolas names the Balrog. Jackson has Gandalf name the Balrog.
69. Gandalf's staff breaks when he uses it to break the Bridge of Khazad-Dum. Jackson does not have Gandalf's staff break. Instead, it merely falls into the abyss when Gandalf is pulled down from the bridge by the Balrog.
70. Boromir refers to Lothlorien as "perilous". Jackson has Gimli refer to Lothlorien as "perilous".
71. Sam breathes so loud that the Elves of Lorien claim they could have shot him in the dark. Jackson has the Elves tell Gimli that he's the loud breather.
72. Boromir does not quake under the gaze of Galadriel. Jackson has Boromir looking distressed and turning away from the gaze of Galadriel.
73. Both Sam and Frodo are offered a chance to look into the Mirror of Galadriel. And both do so. Jackson only has Frodo being offered a chance to look in the mirror.
74. The idea of taking the Ring to Gondor is not an idea that Aragorn finds objectional. Jackson has Aragorn vehemently opposed to the idea of taking the Ring anywhere near Gondor.
75. The Elves leave three coils of rope in each boat. Jackson portrays Sam as the only member of the Fellowship who receives rope.
76. Sam first mentions Gollum to Frodo. Jackson has Frodo spying Gollum in Moria and mentioning him to Gandalf. In fact, in the book Aragorn is the one who has long been aware of Gollum's pursuit, not Gandalf.
77. Aragorn says "a shadow and a threat" in reference to his suspicion that there are Orcs on the Western shore. Jackson attributes these lines to Legolas.
78. Frodo asks for an hour to consider his decision and walks away from his companions with instructions not to wander too far. Jackson has Frodo suddenly gone and Sam surprised to learn as much.
79. Frodo talks with Boromir, sits, and accepts his counsel before seeing the strange look in his eye. Jackson portrays Frodo as immediately suspicious of Boromir.
80. Frodo slips on the Ring before Boromir lunges at him and, thus, escapes Boromir unscathed. Jackson has Boromir tackling and grappling with Frodo before Frodo slips on the Ring and escapes.
81. The Ring alters Frodo's perception for the first time when he reaches Amon Hen -- the "Ring was upon him". Jackson has the Ring altering Frodo's perception every time he puts it on. This made me constantly question why Bilbo would have such a nonchalant attitude toward the Ring if wearing it was such a horrifying experience (what with the Eye and all).
82. Frodo perceives that the Eye is searching for him for the first time on Amon Hen. Jackson has the Eye looking for Frodo every time the Ring is placed on his finger. In fact, in the book Frodo pulls the Ring off at Amon Hen just before the Eye finds him whereas Jackson has the Eye constantly finding Frodo throughout the film and the voice of Sauron saying things like, "I see you!"
83. Aragorn does not find Frodo at the Seat of Amon Hen for Frodo has already fled to the river. Jackson has Aragorn find Frodo near the Seat of Amon Hen. He also has Frodo offer the Ring to Aragorn -- a deed that never happens in the book. Another point: since Aragorn does not find Frodo on Amon Hen, he does not see Frodo's sword glow blue -- though he did see it glow blue the day before.
 DamnBlackHeart · Fri Nov 26, 2010 @ 02:43am · 0 Comments |
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