| I would never say that Peter Jackson should | | | | of an Indiana Jones movie. It seems that such |
| not have made The Lord of the Rings trio of | | | | scenes have become obligatory in movies these |
| movies but the biggest mistake by far was not | | | | days. The actual encounter between Gandalf |
| making the fourth. Not making The Hobbit | | | | and the Balrog on the bridge of Khazad-Dum |
| while they had all of the actors, locations, | | | | held true to the book. The scene that I found |
| sets and props was a huge mistake. Do not get | | | | most objectionable was the battle in the |
| me wrong. I am not blaming Peter Jackson. It | | | | fields of Pelinor when Legolas surfs down the |
| was probably a hard enough sell to convince | | | | trunk of an elephant-like Mumakil. I was |
| the powers that be to do the trilogy no | | | | totally engrossed until that jarred me back |
| matter how popular the stories are in print. | | | | into reality.The trilogy also succumbed to |
| Still, every time I watch one of the films, I | | | | the modern practice of selling movie-related |
| find myself saying, "If only they had made | | | | items. Replicas of the swords, helmets and |
| The Hobbit!"New Zealand was an excellent | | | | shields used by the characters in the movie |
| choice for location. There is widespread | | | | are one example. We added this licensed line |
| agreement that the Middle Earth we | | | | to our new internet business and, upon |
| experienced in the film was an entirely | | | | investigation, found some interesting things. |
| believable realm. The wide variety of terrain | | | | Returning to the books, we found that there |
| in the country made it ideal. The landscapes, | | | | is no reference to any Sword of Arwen called |
| even when not enhanced, were often | | | | Hadhafang. We know that Eowyn uses a sword |
| breathtaking.There were however, as always | | | | but there is no description of it. Most of |
| seems to be the case with movies, certain | | | | the swords being sold were created just for |
| liberties taken that departed from the books. | | | | the movie. Narsil and Anduril do exist in the |
| The uninitiated would not know but they did | | | | books as do Glamdring and Sting. Their |
| not escape the notice of true Tolkein mavens | | | | replica designs come very close to their |
| and detracted somewhat from the films. One of | | | | Tolkein descriptions.Am I being too picky? |
| the most notable instances of departure was | | | | Probably! All in all, the trilogy is great! |
| when, in the movie, it was Arwen who carried | | | | As long as the movies were, I still found |
| the wounded Frodo to Rivendell. In the book, | | | | myself wishing there were more. Can the |
| it was Frodo himself that forded the river on | | | | deviations from the books be forgiven? |
| a white horse belonging to an elf named | | | | Certainly! The trilogy was an accomplishment |
| Glorfindel. He then fell unconscious after | | | | of epic dimensions and deserved to win an |
| seeing the ringwraiths washed downstream. In | | | | academy award. But still, at the end of the |
| the movie it was Arwen who summoned the | | | | day, I find myself saying, "If only they had |
| waters that washed the ringwraiths away but, | | | | made The Hobbit!"I am a retired school |
| in the book, Gandalf tells Frodo that it was | | | | teacher (Jr. High Science) who got involved |
| Elrond. Another example was the impressive | | | | with my sons and their friends in playing |
| army of elven archers who arrived to help in | | | | role playing games like Dungeons and |
| the battle for Helms Deep. In the book, | | | | Rolemaster for years. I am guilty of being a |
| Legolas was the only elf that fought in that | | | | fantasy and science fiction buff and an |
| battle. Strider fought through most of the | | | | environmentalist. I hold a B.A. in Zoology |
| films using his ranger sword. Actually, the | | | | and Entomology and a B.S. in Education from |
| shards of Narsil were re-forged into the | | | | Ohio State University but I have learned more |
| sword Anduril, which was then given to | | | | about the world by watching PBS than I ever |
| Aragorn before the fellowship left Rivendell. | | | | learned in college. As a Freshman, I paid |
| Most of the events in the dwarven mines of | | | | $90.00 per quarter and an expensive book was |
| Moria followed the book. The hordes of orcs | | | | $20.00. How the times do change! My son and |
| streaming down the vertical walls like swarms | | | | I recently started an internet business, |
| of ants were a bit of a stretch but the | | | | dealing with fantasy and medieval replica |
| collapsing stone bridge was more reminiscent | | | | collectible weapons. |