Kevin's Watch

Cagliostro wrote:I may have stated this elsewhere, but I was especially bugged with the line from Frodo to Sam about Gollum where he asked, "Why are you always tearing him down?" Way too modern for my tastes, and always rubs me wrong. Like the "Kill the halflings!" line.

Sometimes, it seemed that Boyens and Jackson were operating in a vacuum with some of the lines they added. You'd think anyone familiar with the books would have warned them of the consequences of Sam's line in Osgiliath, "We shouldn't even be here." No kidding! Takes me out of the movie every time.

For all my grousing, I did enjoy the movies. I even own the EEs. I just haven't watched in a few years because the faults grew too glaring. I do listen to the music often.

C'mon. "We shouldn't even be here" was a nod to the book-firsts. Kinda funny.

As for Gollum framing Sam: Frodo didn't even care about the food, or about Gollum's accusation. What he saw was Sam and Gollum being at each others throats. He realized he could no longer travel with Gollum *and* Sam, and he needed Gollum. As a guide. And as a reminder.

wayfriend wrote:C'mon. "We shouldn't even be here" was a nod to the book-firsts. Kinda funny.

Sure, it was funny. But it was not appropriate to the moment in the movie. If it was intended, it was in poor taste.

wayfriend wrote:As for Gollum framing Sam: Frodo didn't even care about the food, or about Gollum's accusation. What he saw was Sam and Gollum being at each others throats. He realized he could no longer travel with Gollum *and* Sam, and he needed Gollum. As a guide. And as a reminder.

I thought about that too, and if that--or Frodo trying to spare Sam from what he and Gollum were going through--was the intent I could have accepted it. But I've watched it several times, and I don't get that from Frodo. If there's anything certain about Jackson's storytelling, it's not subtle. No, if Jackson intended anything besides Frodo choosing Gollum over Sam, he would have made it clear.

Plus, Frodo needed Sam, like Aragorn needed Anduril. This was an immutable part of the story, and they messed with it.

ItisWritten wrote: If there's anything certain about Jackson's storytelling, it's not subtle.

You can say that again.