Review of extended scenes in Two Towers (spoilers)

[kengar]

Yes, noble rangers. Barliman Butterbur was out-and-out wrong on his characterization of the rangers.

In the books, the rangers are perceived by common folk (like Butterbur) as shiftless and wild. The truth -which is spelled out prettty plainly in the books- is that the rangers are actually the last of the Numenorians. They are actually the most noble men in Middle Earth. They "wander" in the wilds protecting the north from orcs & worse. Granted, this isn't made plain in the movies, though.

However, you also have to keep in mind that Faramir's rangers aren't the same rangers that Aragorn leads, they are men of Gondor, most of them of the middle race. They are decent men and not brutes in the book, though.

 

[kkoie]

You never expected bickering when the works of Tolkien are mentioned?

I'm sorry but I don't believe someone can be that naive.

True, one of the most heated arguments in Tolkienism conserns the Balrog.

Anyway I thought the added scenes were great. Specially the ones with Faramir.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

The scene in Gondor was ALL wrong. Osgiliath falling because of Faramir and won back by Boromir? I don't think so.

Important note: That's what Denethor said. Everyone else stepped up for Faramir and defended him on this point, so I think it's fair to say that Denethor was off-base, considering his opinion of his second son. Overall, I think the Faramir scenes helped him out.

I noted the "nervous system" remark, but it was a funny one.

 

[Piratecat]

They probably cut the nervous system scene because it was slightly anachronistic; I wish they had said "skull" instead. What a great scene!

Seriously, with the additional footage almost everything I disliked about the theatrical release has been fixed. I'm much, much happier about the middle movie.

 

[Pants]

Take it easy, gang. Sheesh, I never expected arguments about this.

And yup, Denethor knew about the ring of power because of his palantir. That's pretty straight-forward, I think.

It's not mentioned in the movies, but Boromir was also having dreams of Isildur's Bane. I *Think* that was one of the reasons for going to Imladris.

 

[Rhialto]

It's not mentioned in the movies, but Boromir was also having dreams of Isildur's Bane. I *Think* that was one of the reasons for going to Imladris.

Umm, yes it is. Fellowship of the Ring, Extended Edition. Council of Elrond.

 

[kengar]

It's not mentioned in the movies, but Boromir was also having dreams of Isildur's Bane. I *Think* that was one of the reasons for going to Imladris.

As Rhialto mentioned, it is touched upon in the extended version of FOTR.

In the books, Faramir has this dream a few times (six?) and Boromir once. Boromir insists upon being the one to go to Imladris (Rivendell), however. It should also be noted, though, that in the books, they (Boromir & Faramir) don't initially know what "Isildur's Bane" refers to.

 

[Pants]

Umm, yes it is. Fellowship of the Ring, Extended Edition. Council of Elrond.

It is?
I'll be damned...

 

[Farland]

And yup, Denethor knew about the ring of power because of his palantir. That's pretty straight-forward, I think.

I don't think so. If Denethor could know about the Ring of Power using his Palantir, couldn't Sauron (who was undoubtedly looking for it specifically and not happening upon it by chance) have known about it the same way. He certainly did not know about it through his Palantir, so I think it is unrealistic to assume that Denethor could have. Nor would he have learned about it by observing, say, Rivendell, because the Stones didn't transmit sound, and they could also be occluded by some special technique. If any places in Middle Earth would be occluded it would be Rivendell and Lorien.

So I think that the Palantir option is out.

And they didn't "also" know about Isildur's bane from a dream in the book... that was the only way they knew. It is clear, plot-wise, that it basically had to be this way, or things would have been quite different. The Nazgul might not have been the only horsemen Frodo had to dodge on the way to Imladris... he might have had to dodge armed Gondorian riders who were also seeking the ring.

 

[Tarrasque Wrangler]

Palantir, Shmalantir. Didn't Denethor know about the ring because he'd received the summons for the Council of Elrond?