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[redfiona99]

It was the opposite of FOTR EE, most of these extended scenes ought to have been in the original. They also seemed to fit in much more smoothly.

Like the extra scene with Theodred, so at least we have a person to attach to the name. And didn't he look like Eomer.

Merry was so sweet, covering up his injury so Pippin wouldn't worry.

I still love the confrontation between the Orcs and Uruk-hais.

I hate Grima. Really, I do. I hate him.

I also love the scene where the Rohirrm come across Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli. Mainly for Legolas sticking up for Gimli and Aragorn trying to calm the situation down. Makes a good counterpoint to the same scene in Lothlorien where Legolas and Gimli are at each other's throats and Aragorn is trying to calm things down.

Legolas comforting Gimli when they think the hobbits are dead.
The look of relief on Aragorn's face when he sees hobbit tracks.
That trick with the voice still gets me. I know it's Gandalf but the voice is Sauruman.

I love Hama. And indeed the whole exorcism scene. I've only just noticed Bernard Hill is left-handed. Then that look when he notices Theodred's not there, complete with a great fade to his burial. I don't know if it was because of the tune being a little atonal, or because of Eowyn's singing, but the funeral dirge worked. As does the fiddle Rohan tune. The scene afterward with Theoden crying always gets to me. Because he's right.

That's one of the running themes though, father's burying children; what with Theoden and Theodred and Denethor and Boromir. Admittedly it makes Denethor's actions seem even worse but...

Elrond still has a point, to the point where I'll forgive him the emotional blackmail. He just doesn't want his daughter to die, particularly not a long, lingering death.

I grow more and more convinced that although it looks like Aragorn is leading Eowyn on, he's not doing it deliberately, he's just being kind - the only word for willingly eating a stew that Gimli ran from - plus I'm not certain he notices women who aren't Arwen.

Gimli on the ride to Helms Deep, I know people object to him being comic relief but he's only trying to keep everyone's spirits up. I love Gimli more and more each time.

Theoden's speech about Eowyn to Aragorn. My heart breaks for him.

Is the horse that rescues Aragorn the one he ordered to be let go before? I really liked the horse whispering scene too, if only because right when Aragorn says the horse has seen too much of war, the horse gives this world weary look.

Gimli reminds me of my mother when he threatens to murder Aragorn when he comes back. The scene where the men are saying goodbye to their familes, and the boys are being taken gets to me.

Okay so the whole of the battle of Helm's Deep gets to me but that bit in particular.
And when Haldir and the elves turn up. The look on his face when Aragorn hugs him. I like Haldir more and more each time.

Then finally the Rohirrm turn up - Eomer's reply of "Theoden does not stand alone" that also gets me.

Back to Merry and Pippin

Loved the bit with the Entwater. Especially the on-going height competition. Not that they sound anything like me and Phil or anything.

Love Treebeard.
Like Merry's little speech.
And Pippin's brainwave. That's what I like about the films, you see Pippin grow up. His progression is like Aragorn's, subtle but there.

Treebeard's speech about the last march of the Ents still gives me goosebumps. The finality of it. Plus the bit about knowing them from acorn and nut, it just works.

I should probably say more except it's more of the same, love, love, love.

I've been putting off talking about Frodo and Sam because Gondor's Stewards eat into it, and I'm sure you're all sick to death of hearing about them.

When I was talking about scary scenes I'd forgotten about the Dead Marshes. Which are freaking scary.

Love the scene where Gollum's debating to himself what to do, and chooses to be nice to Master. Why isn't Andy Serkis up for an award somewhere because crikey, he has to do all that without his face. I love the way WETA distinguish the two faces of Gollum. And hee, I heard the gollum cough.

I'd forgotten about how good the cooking scene was.

And Faramir. Why oh why didn't they leave his speech about the young Easterling in the film release because it works to set out his character so well. And is so true.

Of course just when I thought I was cured and like every other sensible person preferred Faramir to Boromir, they stick in the scene in Osgiliarth.

Boromir smiling.
And other Gondorians actually looking happy.
I'm of the opinion that it's a very good speech because it got the point across. And Sean Bean's accent. (Is it deliberate that he sounds more Sheffield when he's in Gondor, or just a lucky accident, because that's such a leader thing to do, try to be one with the men. Plus, and this must be pointed out for reasons of regional pride, during the big scene when he tries to grab the ring, that's the point where he speaks with the most rp accent. Always told you Southerners were evil.)
Beer. Beer is always good.

How much did Sean Bean and David Wenham act like brothers. I mean, the bit about the speech. And then that look when Denethor approached, who hasn't used that look with family. Then when Boromir tries to give the credit to Faramir and Denethor, well, Denethor is himself. I want to strangle Denethor. Mainly because the whole shinding would have been easier if Faramir had gone instead, and because Boromir blatently didn't want to go. (which I know bears no resemblance to the book but...)
The way he looked at the flag. I'll go off and be depressed now.

Why is it the added scene that gets me the most is the only one which is actually superfluous to the plot?

Faramir is a tricksy one.
Loved the way we saw Osgiliarth ruined but with people hoping in the flashback, and then saw it back to its usual state of warfare.
So glad Sam is there. Great intercutting between his speech and Theoden et al. Loved the blast of the Shire tune in the middle of Osgiliarth.

And Faramir slowly getting it. Which I think works far better from film purposes than if he'd immediately been able to say no.

Plus he's protective of hobbits too. Must run in the family.
I wish they'd kept that scene with Sam being reasonable to Gollum in because it does make him seem less randomly angry at Gollum. He's just being wary, and is then won round. Just as Gollum swings right the other way.


In short, loved, loved, loved.

Comments

[biorhythm.livejournal.com]

I still like Boromir better than Faramir, though I like Faramir very very much. :)

Re:

[redfiona99.livejournal.com]

I'm not the only loony, wheeeee