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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Edena_of_Neith" data-source="post: 685637" data-attributes="member: 2020">SPOILER CAUTION - If you have not read the book The Two Towers, please do not read this.  -  -  -   -  -  -   SPOILER CAUTION  -  -  -  -  -  -  SPOILER CAUTION  -  -  -  -  -  -  In the book The Two Towers, Treebeard indicates initial horror and anger at Saruman and his doings, without any need for help from Merry, Pippin, Gandalf, or anyone else.  Long prior to Saruman's army marching, the Ents hold the Entmoot, called by Treebeard, to discuss what to do with Saruman.  The Ents decide on war.    The Huorns are summoned by the Ents.  The Ents and Huorns surround Isengard on three sides.  Isengard sends it's army out, to march to Helm's Deep.  The Ents attack.  A very few defenders are quickly defeated, or flee to be killed by the Huorns (except for some of the Dunlenders.)  Isengard is overrun.  The Ents dam the River Isen.  The Ents release the dam and flood Isengard (this occurring more than a day after the assault.)  The Huorns destroy Saruman's army at Helm's Deep.  The point above which I am trying to stress is that Treebeard made the decision to call the Entmoot, without input - input that concerned Saruman - from Merry or Pippin.  Treebeard was already outraged over Saruman's behavior.  He was already determined to deal with Saruman.  Although Gandalf hints that Merry and Pippin play a crucial role in inciting the Ents to war, I do not see where - in the book - they say the crucial things that would have inspired Treebeard.  - - -  In the film The Two Towers, Treebeard makes many references to Saruman.  It is clear that Treebeard is disgusted and angry with Saruman, but war is a consideration only, not a done deal.  Merry, Pippin, and by default Treebeard, see the Army of Isengard march out against Helm's Deep.  Treebeard calls the Entmoot.  Treebeard and the Ents decide NOT to go to war, and disregard Merry and Pippin ... it would seem Treebeard thinks very poorly of the thinking of these two hobbits.  (He most certainly does not listen to them.)  Pippin tricks Treebeard.    It would seem Pippin has an inspiration, that Treebeard will see something not so good, if he passes near Isengard ... and the inspiration proves true.  Treebeard discovers destruction which in the book he knew about already, and in outrage makes a hasty decision ... the decision to go to war.  The Ents assault a heavily defended Isengard.  The Ents break the dam holding the River Isen.  The Entish assault and the flood kill the defenders and destroy Isengard.  I felt it a bit weak, the storyline, in that the Entish assault which made so much of a difference, was the result of a trick played by Pippin.  Why did Treebeard not already know of the destruction?  It was in his own forest, Fangorn, and in regions adjoining Fangorn.  Why did Treebeard make such a hasty decision (haste is anathema to Ents) after viewing the destruction?  I guess I am saying that in the book, Treebeard just ... well ... MADE the decision, to call the Entmoot, his outrage having built to a sufficient level, and this coincided with the hobbits showing up.  In the film, Treebeard did not know, and had to be tricked by someone he obviously looked down upon (thought he was stupid, it would actually seem) in order to driven into war, and then his decision was hasty.  I was wondering if Peter Jackson could have done it better?  I was wondering what you'all think?  If you have alternative ideas as to how Peter Jackson could have done it, I would be interested in hearing them (yeah, I know they are What Ifs, but I'd still like to hear your thinking.)  If the story is different in the Extended TTT film, I am interested in any changes.  I mean, when you consider the genius level of adapting the complicated and delicate Frodo-Gollum / Frodo-Sam / Sam-Gollum / Gollum-Smeagol situation to the screen (I thought it was that good an adaptation, at least), why couldn't Treebeard have been adapted better?  Surely, a trick by Pippin should not be the reason for the victory at Isengard ... or should it?  Is that the strongest storyline that could have been presented?</blockquote>

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