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Lord of the Rings: Differences III |
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Here's a list of differences for those that are completely unaware of the things that were left out from the books and/or what was added or changed in the movies. I hope this educates or helps people in some way. Either way I find this very interesting!
And kudos to Jack Flannel who created this list in the first place and spent his time doing it.
Warning: This is very long and filled with spoilers for those who do not wish to know the differences between the movies and the books.
Edit: Originally I posted this all at once but it seems there's not enough space in this journal to fit it all. So I'll have to break it into parts. This is part III, for part I just head to the one titled "Lord of the Rings: Difference I" or for part II just click on the on title with the two "II". XD
The Return of the King:
1. Gandalf and Pippin witness the lighting of the beacons of Gondor from the back of Shadowfax as they ride from Rohan to Minas Tirith. Jackson has Pippin light the beacon of Gondor.
2. Gandalf dismounts Shadowfax before the Seventh Gate of Gondor for no horses are allowed on the level of Gondor wherein lies the White Tree before the Citadel. Jackson has Gandalf ride Shadowfax right up the White Tree.
3. Gandalf warns Pippin that Denethor will expect to hear about Boromir from him but cautions him not to mention Aragorn. Jackson has Gandalf tell Pippin not to speak at all.
4. Denethor is already aware that Pippin was with Boromir when he died. Jackson has Denethor unaware that Pippin was with Boromir when he died.
5. When Pippin offers his service and sword to Denethor, he swears fealty then and there. Jackson has Pippin offer his service upon arriving in Minas Tirith and then swear fealty the next day.
6. Pippin and Gandalf eat with Denethor after Pippin swears fealty. Jackson has Pippin swear fealty with Faramir (not Gandalf) as witness and then eats in front of Pippin (not with him).
7. Gandalf does not consider Pippin's offer of fealty foolish. Jackson has Gandalf tell Pippin that his offer was foolish.
8. There are no women and children left in Minas Tirith -- except those in the Houses of Healing. The women and children had been sent off to the refuges. Jackson has Minas Tirith brimming with women and children.
9. Beregond says to Pippin that the calm is the "deep breath before the plunge". Jackson has Gandalf speak these lines.
10. Beregond tells Pippin that the "hammer stroke" of the Enemy will fall hardest on Minas Tirith. Jackson has Gandalf speak these lines.
11. Pippin expresses his feelings about "waiting on the edge of [a battle] that I can't escape is worst of all" to Beregond. Jackson has Pippin express these feelings to Gandalf.
12. Elrohir, son of Elrond, encourages Aragorn to seek the Paths of the Dead. Jackson has Elrond show up at Dunharrow to encourage Aragorn to seek the Paths of the Dead.
13. In an extended scene Theoden already has plans to take Merry with him to Dunharrow as an esquire when Merry kneels before Theoden offering his service -- in a sense, formalizing the arrangement -- while at Theoden's table at Helm's Deep...in Eomer's presence. Jackson has Merry come upon Theoden while he is watching the Rohirrim march out of Edoras toward Dunharrow and offer his service as esquire. Of course, this is muddied by the fact that Theoden rode to Helm's Deep after departing Isengard, not Edoras.
14. Aragorn gains knowledge of the black ships of the Corsairs from the palantir. Jackson has Aragorn learn of the Corsairs from Elrond who, if I haven't mentioned this already, never came to Dunharrow.
15. Aragorn tells of his intentions to walk the Paths of the Dead and even asks Gimli and Legolas to come with him. Not only that, he is also joined by Elrond's sons and the Dunedain. Jackson has Aragorn trying to sneak off without telling anyone and saying to Gimli and Legolas, "No, not this time."
16. Aragorn arrives at Dunharrow before Theoden and takes to the Paths of the Dead before he arrives. Jackson has Aragorn and Theoden ride to Dunharrow together.
17. In an extended scene Aragorn passes into the Paths of the Dead, calls out to the Dead there, and they follow without discussion convening at the Stone of Erech and then setting out to war. Jackson has Aragorn parley with the King of the Dead who refuses to answer his summons instead disappearing into the dark with his army.
18. All of the Rohirrim respond to the muster of Rohan. Jackson has Theoden ask where the Riders from Snowbourne are and is told that they haven't shown up.
19. In an extended scene it is when Hirgon, the errand-rider from Gondor, presents the Red Arrow that the dire peril of Gondor is made plain to Theoden King. Jackson omits the Red Arrow and has Theoden respond to the beacons of Gondor.
20. Merry does not recognize Eowyn in armor until she confronts the Lord of the Nazgul. Jackson has Merry recognize her right away. In fact, Jackson has Merry and Eowyn converse on the journey to Minas Tirith at one of the camps though Tolkien says that Eowyn (aka Dernhelm) speaks to no one and that Pippin longs for someone with whom to talk.
21. Pippin does not sing for Denethor. Jackson has Pippin sing a song for Denethor.
22. Faramir crosses the Pelennor with four comrades. Jackson has Faramir cross the Pelennor with 50 or so riders. Also, he is coming from Ithilien, not Osgiliath.
23. Gandalf rides out to aid Faramir and his comrades by himself. Jackson has Gandalf ride out with Pippin to aid Faramir and his comrades.
24. Faramir tells Gandalf and Denethor that he has seen hobbits before in council. Jackson has Gandalf guess that Faramir has seen a hobbit before just inside the gates of Minas Tirith.
25. Denethor is upset with Faramir for not bringing him the Ring. Jackson has Denethor upset with Faramir for abandoning Osgiliath when, like I mentioned, he didn't come from there nor had Osgiliath been abandoned.
26. In an extended scene Gandalf tells Denethor that if Boromir had taken the Ring, he would have fallen and that, upon returning to Minas Tirith, Denethor would not have recognized him. Jackson has Faramir tell Denethor that the Ring would have corrupted Boromir.
27. Faramir is sent to Osgiliath by Denethor to bolster the defenses there. Jackson has Denethor send Faramir to Osgiliath to retake it.
28. When Faramir leads his men in the retreat from Osgiliath, he is aided by the Prince of Dol Amroth and his riders. In fact, the Prince of Dol Amroth bears the injured Faramir back to Minas Tirith. Jackson has Faramir dragged by his horse back from Osgiliath alone.
29. The range of the trebuchets of Minas Tirith is too short to reach the armies of the Enemy. Jackson has the trebuchets of Minas Tirith toss blocks of stone onto the armies of the Enemy.
30. The first volley from the catapults of the armies of Mordor consists of missiles -- some of which explode on impact. The second volley consists of the heads of fallen Gondorian warriors. Jackson has the armies of Mordor sling the heads of the fallen as the sum of the first volley.
31. The airborne Nazgul are careful not to fly within range of the arrows of the Gondorian archers. Jackson has the Nazgul swooping down and picking up Gondorian soldiers from the battlements...something they never do in the book.
32. Gandalf takes command of the defense of Minas Tirith because Denethor refuses to leave Faramir. Jackson has Denethor despair, tell his troops to abandon their posts, and then has Gandalf whack him on the head and take command of the defense.
33. Pippin does not accept his dismissal from Denethor's service. Jackson has Denethor physically remove Pippin from his sight. This issue is muddled by the fact that Denethor's dismissal of Pippin occurs in the Citadel, not in the tombs. Thus, in the books, Pippin is not locked out of the tombs after being thrown out by Denethor.
34. The tombs of the Stewards are in the 6th circle of Gondor. Jackson has a burning Denethor flinging himself to his death from the level of the Citadel which would require quite a trek for a burning man. Of course, this is muddled by the fact that Denethor never jumps from the level of the Citadel, nor any other level, to his death (more on this below).
35. When the gates of Minas Tirith are broken down, the first through the gate is the Witch-King, the Lord of the Nazgul, on horseback -- all others had fled save Gandalf on Shadowfax. Jackson has trolls and orcs charge through the gate when it is broken down and has Gandalf confront the Witch-King later on the battlements of Minas Tirith.
36. The Witch-King is wearing a "kingly crown". Jackson has the Witch-King wearing a bulky, spiked helm.
37. The Rohirrim show up just as the gate is broken down. Jackson has the Rohirrim show up when all but the last circle of Gondor has been taken. In fact, the armies of Mordor never get past the first circle of Gondor.
38. Theoden's horse is shot by a poison arrow and then falls on the King of the Mark. Jackson has the steed of the Witch-King grab Theoden and his horse in its mouth and fling them and, thus, mortally wounding both.
39. Eowyn declares herself as woman before killing the steed of the Witch-King. Jackson has Eowyn declare herself after killing the Witch-King's steed (and after, I might add, Merry stabs him in the leg).
40. Eowyn cuts off the head of the Witch-King's steed with one, swift stroke. Jackson has her hack at the neck twice before separating the head from the body.
41. The Witch-King wields a mace. Jackson has the Witch-King wielding a flail.
42. Eowyn's sword shatters in a shower of sparks when she stabs the Witch-King. Jackson has her sword remain intact.
43. Theoden's horse rolls off of him before Merry and Eomer hear his last words. Jackson has Eowyn hear Theoden's last words while his horse still lies on top of him. This is muddled by the fact that, in the book, Eowyn lays unconscious near the King of the Mark, and it is Merry and Eomer who hear Theoden's last words before Eomer notices Eowyn lying nearby.
44. Eomer shouts, "Death! Ride to ruin and world's ending!" after finding Theoden slain on the field of battle. All the Rohirrim then cry "DEATH!" with one voice and charge into battle. Jackson has Theoden lead the Rohirrim in the Death! chant before the initial assault of the Riders of Rohan.
45. The mumakil are not engaged by the Rohirrim for their horses refuse to draw near to them. Jackson has the Rohirrim ride right up to the mumakil and take them on.
46. The Dead who followed Aragorn from the Paths of the Dead are told that their oath has been fulfilled in Pelagir, 42 leagues south of Minas Tirith. They never show up to take part in the battle on the Pelennor. Jackson has Aragorn show up at Minas Tirith with the Dead when, in the book, Aragorn shows up with soldiers mustered from Lebennin, Lamedon, and the fiefs of Gondor south of Minas Tirith -- along with the Dunedain and Elrond's sons.
47. In an extended scene Beregond was holding the door of the tombs against the Tower Guard preventing them from assisting Denethor in lighting his funeral pyre. Jackson omits Beregond from his telling and has Denethor's servants preparing the pyre for Faramir and himself unhindered.
48. Gandalf jumps up and removes Faramir from the pyre prepared in the tombs. Jackson has Pippin roll Faramir off of the pyre. Note that in the book, the pyre had not been lit when Gandalf removed Faramir.
49. Denethor's speech about not being supplanted by some Ranger from the North occurs in the tombs. Jackson has Denethor give this speech when Gandalf and Pippin first come before Denethor after riding from Rohan.
50. Denethor burns to death on the pyre in the tombs -- holding the palantir of Minas Tirith, I might add. Jackson has Denethor run burning from the tombs and then jumping to his death.
51. Pippin finds the injured Merry in the streets of Minas Tirith. Jackson has Pippin find Merry on the field of battle.
52. Aragorn tells Eomer that in him Eowyn only loves "a shadow and a thought". Jackson has Aragorn tell this to Eowyn herself back in Dunharrow.
53. Merry still has some of Saruman's pipeweed in his pack. Jackson has Merry giving Pippin the last of his pipeweed in Rohan.
54. Pippin still has some Longbottom Leaf of his own left. Jackson has Merry giving Pippin the last of his pipeweed in Rohan because he knows that Pippin has smoked all his already.
55. The Dead were like a "grey tide" according to Gimli. Jackson has the Dead appear as a sort of sickly green.
56. In an extended scene when Aragorn and the Army of the Dead come upon the main fleet of the Umbar, there were "fifty great ships and smaller vessels beyond count". Jackson has a despondent Aragorn (for the Army of the Dead had yet to answer his call) spy the fleet of the Umbar which numbers a mere 13 ships. In addition, Jackson has Aragorn spy the ships immediately after coming out from under the mountain whereas Tolkien does not have them reach the Pelagir, where the main fleet lay, until Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, and the Army of the Dead had traveled 93 leagues, i.e., 279 miles.
57. In an extended scene Aragorn releases the Army of the Dead after they aid him in defeating the fleet of Umbar. The freed slaves and men from southern Gondor then man the ships. Jackson has the Army of the Dead remain in Aragorn's service until the Battle of the Pelennor Fields has come to an end.
58. The Captains of Gondor convene their council in Aragorn's tent outside of the walls of Minas Tirith. Jackson has this council take place in the throne room of the Citadel.
59. In extended scene Gandalf states that Sauron cannot be defeated by force of arm. Jackson has Eomer speak these words.
60. In an extended scene Aragorn reveals himself to Sauron via the palantir of Orthanc while encamped at Helm's Deep. Jackson has Aragorn reveal himself to Sauron after the Battle of the Pelennor Fields in the Citadel of Minas Tirith.
61. Gandalf suggests sending an army to the Black Gate as a diversion. Jackson has Aragorn suggest the diversion.
62. Merry does not ride to the Black Gate with the host from Gondor because of the injury he took when stabbing the Witch-King. Jackson has Merry go to the Black Gate.
63. The Black Gate is a rampart with three archways beneath which are three gates. Jackson portrays the Black Gate as a singular, swinging gate.
64. The hosts led by Aragorn and the Captains of Gondor are arrayed on two hills before the Black Gate. Jackson has the hosts of Gondor massed on a single, low rise in front of the Black Gate.
65. The heralds of the Captains of Gondor demand that Sauron come forth to receive justice. Jackson has Aragorn and his Captains ride forth to the Black Gate without heralds or helardry and then has Aragron demand that Sauron come forth.
66. In an extended scene trumpets and drums sound from atop the Black Gate before it opens. Jackson simply has the gate open.
67. In an extended scene the Mouth of Sauron rides forth at the front of a small embassy from Sauron. Jackson has the Mouth of Sauron ride forth alone.
68. In an extended scene the Mouth of Sauron looks at Aragorn, Gandalf, and the others when he speaks to them. Jackson has the Mouth of Sauron wearing a helm that covers his eyes.
69. In an extended scene the Mouth of Sauron shows Gandalf and the others Frodo's cloak and mithril shirt as well as Sam's sword. Jackson has the Mouth of Sauron present only the mithril shirt as "proof" of Frodo's capture.
70. The Mouth of Sauron states that Frodo's fate depends on whether Gandalf and the others accept Sauron's terms. Jackson has the Mouth of Sauron state that Frodo has already been tortured, going so far as to refer to Frodo in the past tense.
71. In an extended scene Gandalf takes the mithril shirt, cloak, and sword from the Mouth of Sauron. Jackson has the Mouth of Sauron throw the mithril shirt at Gandalf.
72. In an extended scene the Mouth of Sauron rides back through the Black Gate after talking with Gandalf and his companions break down. Jackson has Aragorn ride up and behead the Mouth of Sauron.
73. Aragorn has no time to deliver a speech before the Orcs come streaming out of the Black Gate. Jackson has Aragorn deliver a speech while the armies of Mordor simply walk out and surround the host of Gondor without even firing arrows (which, of course, they do in the book).
74. Pippin imagines that he hears someone shouting, "The Eagles are coming!" as he lies beneath the corpse of a fallen troll. It is actually Gandalf. Jackson has an unscathed Pippin spy the Eagles and shout, "The Eagles are coming!".
75. In an extended scene Sam passage through the gate of the Tower of Cirith Ungol sets of an alarm, "a high shrill cry that echoed in the towering walls". Jackson has Sam simply walk through the gate.
76. Sam scares one Orc off as he ascends the stairs in the Tower of Cirith Ungol. Jackson has Sam kill three Orcs as he ascends the stairs in the Tower of Cirith Ungol.
77. Shagrat leaps past Sam and runs off to Barad-dur to deliver the items taken from Frodo while another Orc, Snaga, guards Frodo. Snaga, in turn, is not killed by Sam, but has his arm cut off, trips, falls, and breaks his neck. Jackson has Sam kill Shagrat. In addition, Jackson has Gorbag make off with the mithril shirt. This is odd because Jackson just had Gorbag and Shagrat start fighting because Gorbag wanted the mithril shirt while Shagrat was going to see that it was taken to Barad-Dur, yet, since the shirt shows up later in the hands of the Mouth of Sauron, one can only assume that Gorbag ended up delivering the shirt to Barad-Dur after all.
78. Frodo was naked when Sam found him in the tower. Jackson has Frodo slightly clothed.
79. Sam offers to help Frodo bear the burden of the Ring after rescuing him from the Tower of Cirith Ungol. Jackson has Sam make this offer on the Straight Stair. This decision of Jackson's leads to another one of his Major Mistakes: having Frodo send Sam home.
80. Frodo is wrapped in Sam's elven cloak when he and Sam make their way up the slopes of Mt. Doom. Jackson has Frodo wearing his shirt but no cloak as he and Sam trudge up the slopes of Mt. Doom.
81. The Orcs camp mainly along the Morgai, a range of foothills along the western mountains of Mordor. Jackson portrays the Orcs of Mordor as camped not only along the Morgai but all the way to Mt. Doom and covering all of the space in between. Also, in the film, when you consider the size of the plain of Gorgoroth (e.g. 60 miles from Mt. Doom to Barad-dur), it is amazing how quickly those torches move when Sam and Frodo witness the Orcs empty the plain as they move toward the Black Gate.
82. In an extended scene Sam and Frodo escape from the marching Orcs when two regiments of Orcs arrive at a crossroads at the same time and begin fighting. Jackson has Frodo and Sam start a fight when their line is stopped for inspection.
83. In an extended scene Frodo is barely able to crawl 20 yards from the road before collapsing in a pit after escaping the regiment of Orcs. Jackson has Frodo and Sam run to a tent to escape.
84. When Gollum tackles Sam and Frodo as they climb Mt. Doom, Frodo clasps the Ring in his hand and orders Gollum away. Sam never lays a hand on Gollum. Jackson has Gollum tackle the Hobbits and then has Sam wrestle with Gollum as Frodo makes a dash for the Crack of Doom.
85. Gollum bites off Frodo's third finger, dances with the Ring, slips, and falls into the fires of Mt. Doom. All of this occurs while Frodo merely lies on the ground in pain. Jackson has Gollum bite off Frodo's index finger and then has Frodo wrestle with Gollum. Jackson then has both of them fall (though Frodo finds a handhold instead of following Gollum into the fire). This is just another example of Jackson adding some bit of, in my opinion, unnecessary drama to Tolkien's tale.
86. When the Ring is destroyed, the Orcs attacking the hosts of Gondor before the Black Gate flee. Jackson has the Orcs attacking the hosts of Gondor swallowed by chasms that suddenly appear beneath them.
87. Frodo and Sam are reunited with their friends in Ithilien and are there received with great honor by the Captains of the West. Jackson has Sam and Frodo received with great honor by the Captains of the West in front of the Citadel in Minas Tirith.
88. In an extended scene Faramir tells Eowyn of his recurring dream in which a great wave rolls over green lands. Jackson has Eowyn relate this dream as her own to Aragorn in Meduseld at Edoras.
89. The crown of the King has wings upon it like that of helms of the Guard of the Citadel. Additionally, Tolkien has a drawing of the crown in letter #211 wherein the crown is pictured as standing tall on the head -- somewhat akin to the crowns of the Egyptian Pharoahs (Tolkien's Letters). Jackson has Aragorn given a crown without wings.
90. Aragorn is crowned King of Gondor before the gate of Minas Tirith. Jackson has Aragorn crowned in front of the Citadel.
91. Frodo informs Bilbo that he "lost the Ring" while visiting with him in Rivendell. Jackson has Frodo inform Bilbo of the Ring's fate while the two of them journey from the Shire to the Grey Havens.
92. The Hobbits return to Hobbiton on foot. Jackson has the Hobbits return to the Shire on horseback.
93. Hobbiton has been marred horribly by Saruman. Jackson has the Hobbits return to find Hobbiton much as it was when they set out on their quest. Of course, this is all muddled by Jackson's decision to leave out the Scouring of the Shire, what I consider to be another of Jackson's Four Major Mistakes.
94. In an extended scene Frodo tells Wormtongue that he need not stay with Saruman. Jackson has Theoden tell Wormtongue this at Orthanc.
95. In an extended scene Wormtongue jumps on Saruman, pulls his head back, and slits his throat. Jackson has Wormtongue repeatedly stab Saruman in the back.
96. In an extended scene Wormtongue is slain by three Halfling archers after slitting Saruman's throat. Jackson has Legolas kill Wormtongue with a single arrow.
97. Sam moves into Bag End with Rosie. The Gaffer lives in 3 Bagshot Row. Jackson has Sam live in 3 Bagshot Row with Rosie...even after Sam has returned from the Grey Havens.
98. Sam recalls that Frodo felt the pain in his shoulder on the anniversary of his confrontation with the Witch-King on Weathertop. Jackson has Frodo tell Sam that his pain has returned on the anniversary of that confrontation.
99. When Frodo tells Sam about his wound not healing, only two years had passed since the attack on Weathertop. Jackson has Frodo tell Sam that its been four years.
100. Bilbo's handwriting is described as 'thin' and 'spidery'. Frodo's is described as 'firm' and 'flowing'. Jackson has the handwriting of the two looking darn, near identical.
101. Frodo gives his written account the title: The Downfall of the Lord of the Rings and the Return of the King. Jackson has Frodo give the account the simple title: The Lord of the Rings.
102. Sam and Frodo meet up with Bilbo and the Elves in the countryside outside of Hobbiton. Jackson has Sam and Frodo meet up with Bilbo in Hobbiton.
103. Bilbo rides to the Grey Havens on a pony. Jackson has Bilbo ride to the Grey Havens in a covered wagon.
104. Celeborn was not with Galadriel when she took the boat to Valinor with Frodo, Elrond, and Gandalf (In the Return of the King book and Foster's Complete Guide to Middle-Earth also mentions that Celeborn was in Middle Earth during the Fourth Age). Jackson has Celeborn at the Havens with Galadriel. We don't see him board the ship, but we don't see him on the landing with the Hobbits watching it sail off into the sunset either.
105. Tolkien describes the approach to Valinor with the bit about "a far green country under a swift sunrise". Jackson has Gandalf describe the afterlife to Pippin with these words when, in The Silmarillion it is stated that no one knows what awaits Men (and, by extension, Halflings) in the afterlife. Valinor is only for the Elves...Frodo and Bilbo (and possibly Sam) being the exceptions.
106. Sam goes into Bag End and sits down before saying to Rosie, "Well, I'm back". Jackson has Sam tell Rosie he's back in front of 3 Bagshot Row before they go inside.
 DamnBlackHeart · Fri Nov 26, 2010 @ 03:13am · 0 Comments |
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