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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Edena_of_Neith" data-source="post: 468951" data-attributes="member: 2020">The long opening scene with Bilbo has it's flaws, but it has it's advantages too.    It is true it slows down the film.   It is true that, in the beginning, Bilbo is the main character!    However, the transition to Frodo occurs relentlessly.  It is not just an abrupt transition from Bilbo to Frodo:  the story transfers to Frodo, and then Frodo becomes more and more the main character as the film continues.  Might I add ... the BURDEN of being the main character of the story slowly falls on Frodo, relentlessly, piling up into a weight beyond carrying, even as the story shifts to make him more and more the main character.  The lengthened scenes with Bilbo give a MUCH greater insight into hobbits and the Shire.  The ominous nature of the story begins earlier, right at the beginning practically - and from there it builds without relent.  In the theatrical version, the true ominousness begins after the Birthday Party - not here in the theatrical version!  Frodo's character and background are explored, and Frodo's relationship with Bilbo is now understood (and this adds further angst to a film already filled with angst.)  Sam's background and character are strengthened.  The Ring is the main enemy in the extended version.  Not Saruman.  Not the orcs.  Not the balrog.  Not even Sauron per se ... Sauron is, paradoxically, the Ring, and the Ring is Sauron.  In other words, Sauron is omnipresent.  He is there, right there, throughout the whole film from start to finish.  Gandalf even says it:  They are one, Sauron and the Ring.  Now, the Ring cannot directly kill people, as say the orcs can ... but the Ring can do far worse than kill people!  Death would be a mercy compared to the fate the Ring would choose for a person.  The dark fate promised by the Ring hangs over everyone.  In the extended version, it REALLY hangs over everyone.  Over Aragorn.  Over Boromir.  Over Frodo.  Over Bilbo.  Also over Legolas, Gimli, over Elrond himself.  Certainly over Galadriel.    The horror hangs over Gandalf, briefly.  Then he seems to be the only one safe from the horror ... until the Ring draws evil to itself, and Gandalf is the first to die.</blockquote>

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