The NitPicker's Guide to LotR

[Ilúvatar]

This is an interesting read. What do you all think of this?

jackflannel.org/lotr/

[Kitoky]

I think who ever wrote that is just really a pessimistic because of all of that....


A - if Jackson did the movie exactly like the book - it'd be extremely dull and LONG. And Tolkien's writing can get that way.

Gandalf first grabs Sam by the shoulders outside the window of Bag End and scolds him, then he carefully lifts him through the window (FOTR p.97-98). 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? It was also an obvious stuffed dummy prop.

Y'know why don't we give this smartaleck a shot of making the movie, see how many fans HE gets for his version.

Gil-galad and Elendil smote Sauron (though they died in the process). Isildur merely cuts the Ring from the defeated Sauron's hand (FOTR p.83,319). 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.

He left Gil-galad out? Uh hello, no we know which elf is Gil-galad.

Tom Bombadil gives the Hobbits blades taken from the Barrowdowns (FOTR p.200-201), 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 (ROTK p.143,146). 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.

Merry's dagger is questioned, but this is why the movie can convince people to read the book and find out new things.

Glorfindel finds the party in the wilderness (FOTR p.279). Jackson has Arwen find the party. Building up (and distorting) Arwen's role was one of Jackson's Four Major Mistakes, in my opinion.

I disagree with this entirely. Again, I'd like to see HIM try an attempt film making.

Jackson has Bilbo lunge at Frodo and hiss like some sort of crazed leprechaun.

I wish you were a leprechaun so I can introduce you to the bottom of my shoe.

Bilbo was at the Council of Elrond (FOTR p.314) and even offering to be the Ring-bearer (FOTR p.353). Jackson does not have Bilbo at the Council.

Having Bilbo there will just cause the scene to be longer than it already is.




-I'll continue my nitpickers on this nitpicking article later.

[Ilúvatar]

The person who wrote this does like the movies for what they are movies. He's really just pointing out the differences and adding some opinion to them.

I must say that I am a bit of a purist too and would have loved to see the whole book made into a movie. I would sit through a very long movie, just to see it all.

I do like the movies, but some things they changed really took away from the book (like Faramir).

Just some of my thoughts. I am enjoying reading your nitpicking of the nitpicking guide Kitoky

[Kitoky]

Thank you Eru. By the way this author was putting it, it seemed like he hated the film....

Frodo does not drop the Ring during the ascent of Caradhras (FOTR p.377-382). Jackson has Frodo dropping the Ring and Boromir picking it up.

Should this really be a nitpick? So maybe PJ added a scene to show Boromir's character, and Aragorn's distrust.

The Fellowship turns to go back down the mountain when a final fall of snow and rock falls behind them (FOTR p.383). Jackson has the Fellowship turn back because of the final fall of snow and rock.

I really don't see how you can have Aragorn and Boromir one by one picking up the hobbits and going down around the snow block.

The only battle with Wargs described in the book occurs at the foot of Caradhras (FOTR p.389-390). Jackson omits the Warg attack at Caradhras and inserts one into his (already) battle-heavy second chapter of the film, The Two Towers.

The only battle? Um...Wargs raided the city of Edoras - forcing the people out of the city. There are battles there. I thought it was a smart change....Sure - choppy, but still good.

Boromir throws a rock into the water outside the Doors of Durin thus disturbing the Watcher in the Water (FOTR p.401). Jackson has Merry and Pippin throwing stones into the water which only serves to play up Merry and Pippin as foolish in the films (which I felt was unnecessary).

Merry and Pippin were y'know those - characters that CAN be foolish and having them as a comedic kind of way is good.

Gandalf is suddenly inspired to speak the Elvish word for 'friend' at the Doors of Durin (FOTR p.401). Jackson has Frodo figuring out the "riddle".

Actually Merry helped him.

There are no dead Dwarves with Goblin arrows sticking out of them just inside the Doors of Durin (FOTR p.403). They do not find dead Dwarves until they reach Balin's tomb (FOTR p.415-416). Jackson has the Fellowship finding Dwarves just inside the doors.

So what would you do? Have the Fellowship, carefree, happily walking in through the mines with no sign of life but no sign of death and not be cautious?

[Ilúvatar]

Kitoky said:

Quote:There are no dead Dwarves with Goblin arrows sticking out of them just inside the Doors of Durin (FOTR p.403). They do not find dead Dwarves until they reach Balin's tomb (FOTR p.415-416). Jackson has the Fellowship finding Dwarves just inside the doors.

So what would you do? Have the Fellowship, carefree, happily walking in through the mines with no sign of life but no sign of death and not be cautious?

---

Well that's what they did in the book. Although they didn't walk in happily and carefree. They were very cautious. They were chased in there by the watcher. And the fact that there was no signs of anyone made them even more careful.

(I love talking about this stuff!

[Kitoky]

Well...I was being sarcastic but okay!

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" (FOTR p. 405). Jackson has Aragorn carrying a torch in the film.

It's not a bad touch.

Pippin merely drops a stone down the well--which is not immediately answered by drums (FOTR p.408). Jackson has Pippin knocking a skeleton, bucket, and lengthy chain down the well.

Which is much more convincing then just a rock that is unbelievable sometimes.

Gandalf makes up his mind which way to go at the passage with three archways while on watch, that is, while the others slept (FOTR p.409). Jackson has Gandalf decide on the way at the end of a conversation with Frodo while all members of the Fellowship are awake.

Atleast it saves time....

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 (FOTR p. 422,425). 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 (FOTR p.436).

When Aragorn was tending to his wounds, he came upon it, I might add. Aragorn still discovered it none the less...just in a more...intimidating scenerie... and it's a good stopping point between major action sequences.

Legolas names the Balrog (FOTR p.428). Jackson has Gandalf name the Balrog.

Well...having him say it just adds to the "Mr. Obvious" list of quotes for Legolas. And besides - just seeing the "omg! fangirls" fear look on his face, was just simply. Priceless.

Sam breathes so loud that the Elves of Lorien claim they could have shot him in the dark (FOTR p.443-444). Jackson has the Elves tell Gimli that he's the loud breather.

Hey? Why pick on Sam? Gimli's the great comedic pick-on...eee.

Boromir does not quake under the gaze of Galadriel (FOTR p.463-464). Jackson has Boromir looking distressed and turning away from the gaze of Galadriel.

Who says he quakes? He does shiver a bit and then look down from her gaze...close enough.

Aragorn says "a shadow and a threat" in reference to his suspicion that there are Orcs on the Western shore (FOTR p.511). Jackson attributes these lines to Legolas.

Giving it to Legolas - gave Legolas more time to shine and have more lines...
"A shadow and a thread has been growing in my mind."

Frodo talks with Boromir, sits, and accepts his counsel before seeing the strange look in his eye (FOTR p.514). Jackson portrays Frodo as immediately suspicious of Boromir.

Faster conflict....here's a picture of it....

[pipsmyman]

OMG!!!....Im sorry but I hate how people always find the bad in it, he has a very good case, but I think he has too much time on his hands. I agree with you, I could sit through a very very long movie to watch it, but not many other people would. Personally I like it how the movie has arwen in it much more oftener, when I read the book I wanted to know more about her. Well anyways, I think Peter did the things he did beause it was so much easier to understand, or else there would of been like 20 minutes of prolouge.