2019-02-16 18:46:53 +01:00
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
|
layout: post
|
|
|
|
title: "LotR: Differences between book and film"
|
|
|
|
date: 2019-02-16 10:00:00 +0200
|
|
|
|
categories: blog
|
2019-03-09 10:14:13 +01:00
|
|
|
toc: true
|
2019-02-16 18:46:53 +01:00
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After a long time I have finally bought the books of Lord of the Rings. In this post I intend to show
|
|
|
|
the differences between the book(s) and the movies. Regardless of any shown differences, the movies are
|
|
|
|
and remain my most beloved of all and are a very good adaptation of the books.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
To clear up terminology, what we call books is called volumes in Lord of the Rings. The first volume entitled
|
|
|
|
"Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" is internally consisting of two books. The same is true
|
|
|
|
for the second and third volumes that correspond with the movies.
|
|
|
|
|
2019-03-09 20:03:44 +01:00
|
|
|
That said, let's start with the differences of (for now) the first two volumes/movies.
|
2019-02-16 18:46:53 +01:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
## Hobbiton to Buckleberry Ferry
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
It is difficult to clearly outline what is different from the movie as many things are never mentioned in
|
|
|
|
the movie and therefore even mentioning them would require an extensive summary of the book which I cannot do.
|
|
|
|
Nonetheless I will try my very best to give as much details as necessary to understand the background of things.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
### Book
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The time before the party of Bilbo is mentioned with detail. He receives presents from Dale and the Lonely Mountain
|
|
|
|
and dwarves are regular visitors. The Sackville-Bagginses are distant relatives of his and they already bought
|
|
|
|
Bag End in the auction at the end of The Hobbit story line. Ever since they had to give it back, they yearn for
|
|
|
|
owning it again. Bilbo makes Frodo (a cousin) his official heir, which makes S.-B. even more hatred, because
|
|
|
|
they see less of a chance to get Bag End again. At some point Bilbo places the sign "No admittance unless on party
|
|
|
|
business" at the entrance of the estate.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gandalf arrives in the shire for the feast. The party is held on premises of Bag End. When Bilbo does the speech,
|
|
|
|
he mentions that Frodo not only becomes of age at 33 years but also into inheritance. Everyone is puzzled. Then
|
|
|
|
he puts the ring on disappears. Gandalf added some light effects which make people think that Gandalf let
|
|
|
|
Bilbo disappear. Therefore he is named "disturber of the peace".
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After the guests were all home, Gandalf makes sure that Bilbo leaves the envelope with the ring in the house.
|
|
|
|
Frodo is given the ring and asked to keep it secure.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17 years pass in which Gandalf tries to figure out if the ring is actually "the one ring". Eventually he comes
|
|
|
|
back and has a lengthy talk with Frodo and tells him of the task ahead and that Frodo must go to Rivendell.
|
|
|
|
At this meeting the black speech on the ring is also revealed. To make his disappearance seem normal, Frodo plans
|
2019-02-16 19:53:56 +01:00
|
|
|
with the help of his friend Meriadoc to move to Buckland (east of the Brandywine river) and buys a small home
|
|
|
|
there, which is out of eyesight from other buildings. Bag End is sold to the S.-B. Sam was eavesdropping and was
|
|
|
|
conscripted to help Frodo in the endeavour.
|
2019-02-16 18:46:53 +01:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gandalf sets out again and on his return to the shire (some weeks/months before Frodos move) he meets Radagast near
|
|
|
|
Bree, who tells him that Saruman wants to see him. Gandalf now writes a letter and gives it to the innkeeper in
|
|
|
|
Bree who should send it to Frodo.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Finally the day of the move is there and Merry and Pippin help Frodo with moving the chairs and similar things
|
|
|
|
to the new home. Merry is riding ahead. Short before Frodo is set to depart, he sees a black man near the house
|
|
|
|
of Sam. At midnight Frodo goes with Sam and Pippin by foot through the countryside, trying to avoid the streets.
|
|
|
|
They go in a big berth south over the main east-west street and into Took land. Their journey lasts multiple days
|
|
|
|
and on the way they encounter black riders some number of times and meet the elves which travel from the
|
|
|
|
Grey Havens. One night they stay with the elves and Frodo talks about the problems and the black riders with
|
|
|
|
the leader of the elves. The leader promises to send out messengers to alert other elves of the problems.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The supplies of Frodo, Sam and Pippin are running already thin when they finally arrive during late evening at the
|
|
|
|
farm in the east of the shire. Pippin is known by the farmer so they are friendly greeted and have supper and
|
|
|
|
tell parts of their story. The farmer agrees to transport them with his carriage in the dark to the Buckleberry
|
|
|
|
Ferry. There a dark shadow on a pony comes close to them but it is revealed as Merry who was wondering where
|
|
|
|
Frodo was. The farmer said good bye and together they travelled with the ferry over the Brandywine.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
### Differences
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I already left a lot out but the gist of it should be clear. In the movie the seventeen years comprise of one scene
|
|
|
|
where Gandalf journeys to Minas Tirith to read the accounts of Isildur. Also Gandalf is disturber of the peace
|
|
|
|
prior of Bilbo's disappearance. Further the S.-B. are mentioned and Bilbo is wary of them but it is not clear
|
|
|
|
why exactly. All the dwarves and the connection to Laketown (and hence the key location of The Hobbit) are missing.
|
|
|
|
Pippin and Merry are not introduced during the party. The dragon firework however was in the book.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The journey through the shire is implied but Pippin is not part of it and they only see elves in passing. Pippin
|
|
|
|
and Merry are reintroduced running through a farm and afterwards they hide the first time from the black rider.
|
|
|
|
In the following they run to Backleberry Ferry and barely escape. The black riders asking around in Hobbiton
|
|
|
|
and the shire in general is shown, however.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The topic of supplies, eating and the duration of the journey is excessively mentioned in the book but
|
|
|
|
almost never in the movie.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
If you solely watch the movie you do not get a sense of the size of the shire, nor of the exact geography
|
|
|
|
of the things.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
## From Buckleberry Ferry to Bree
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
How shall I put it, in the movie it is instantaneous. The next scene after the ferry is Bree, heavily implying
|
|
|
|
it is a trouble free journey. In the book a whole part of the journey exists that was completely cut from the
|
|
|
|
movie.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
### Book
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A very short account of the narrative in the book follows.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
East of the Brandywine Merry is again riding ahead, since Frodo knows the way and Merry wants to prepare things.
|
|
|
|
After some foot walk they arrive at the new small home of Frodo. There they wash and eat. On the early morning
|
|
|
|
of the next day they want to go on. Frodo is feeling bad, because he wants to say goodbye. But it is revealed
|
|
|
|
that indeed Sam, Pippin and Merry guessed a long time ago the plans of Frodo and conspired to help him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The next day they start each with a pony through the forest east of the shire. This forest is troublesome
|
|
|
|
for them and the trees are blocking their way until they eventually arrive at Old Willow. There Pippin and
|
|
|
|
Merry are taken in by the tree [this type of scene was added to the Extended Version of the second movie
|
|
|
|
and is placed in the Fangorn forest]. Tom Bombadil comes to their aid and together they travel to Tom's home,
|
|
|
|
where Goldberry waited. There they recovered and heard stories. It was revealed that Tom was not influenced by
|
|
|
|
the ring.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After some time they went on but were caught by wights. They barely survived and their ponies went back to Tom.
|
|
|
|
Frodo sang a song that Tom taught them to sing when in peril. Tom came and freed the hobbits. Once more they
|
|
|
|
went to the home of Tom. Afterwards Tom brought them to the street to Bree. There they said goodbye and
|
|
|
|
went to the city gate of Bree.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
During this time Gandalf escaped from Saruman, rode with the fastest horse of the Rohans (Shadowfax) to Hobbiton
|
|
|
|
and then back to Bree and arrived there few days before the hobbits. He did not stay there and moved on towards
|
|
|
|
Rivendell.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
## Bree
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The entire presence in Bree is far more detailed than in the movie.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
### Book
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
They arrive at the Prancing Pony and get their rooms. There they wash and eat supper. Afterwards everyone but
|
|
|
|
Merry goes to the big room and joined the company there. Pippin told a lot of stories of the shire which got
|
|
|
|
a lot of attention. Also there were Underhills who thought Frodo was a long lost cousin.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frodo spoke with Strider who warned him of the attention that Pippin got. Then Frodo decided to sing a song to
|
|
|
|
get the attention away from Pippin. But ofter a while he fell and the ring slipped on his finger. The crowd was
|
|
|
|
crazy. Frodo took the ring off again and explained that he was not gone. The other people thought him a magician.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
They went back to their rooms with Strider who explained who he was. Then the innkeeper came and remembered that
|
|
|
|
he was given a letter from Gandalf. This letter explained who Strider is and urged Frodo to leave Bag End
|
|
|
|
immediately.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Upon the realization of the imminent danger, they relocated to another room and stuffed something in the beds
|
|
|
|
to irritate the black riders. Merry was still gone. The helper of the innkeeper was told to keep watch for
|
|
|
|
Merry. Later in the night Merry was brought back and was shocked.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Their deception proved important as the black riders went to the hobbit rooms in the inn and when discovering
|
|
|
|
that those were empty, they fled the scene. The ponies of the hobbits moved away as well. On the next morning
|
|
|
|
the innkeeper asked around in town who would be willing to sell a horse. Only one person proved willing and
|
|
|
|
that person was also implicated as working for the dark lord. Nonetheless the hobbits got the horse and
|
|
|
|
used it to pack the supplies and went with Strider out of the town.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
### Differences
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The key points are kept in the movie but overall the book gives much higher fidelity.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
## From Bree to Weathertop
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Strider leads them off-road to the Weathertop, which takes many days and supplies are dwindling. The journey
|
|
|
|
to Weathertop is very much shortened in the movie.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three days away from Weathertop the company sees lightning on the Weathertop. This is later revealed to be a fight
|
|
|
|
of Gandalf with the riders. Afterwards Gandalf rides fast to Rivendell.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
## Weathertop
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The events of the Weathertop are in effect similar but the exact location somewhat different. It is explained
|
|
|
|
in the book that the black riders cannot see normally. They need their black horses for visual direction.
|
|
|
|
Rather they smell things. As long as Frodo did not have the ring on, he was invisible to the riders without
|
|
|
|
their horses. The other hobbits were not endangered by the riders. Once Frodo took the ring on, they
|
|
|
|
saw him and stabbed him with a morgul blade. Gladly for Frodo they missed, otherwise he would have become
|
|
|
|
one of them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
## From Weathertop to Rivendell
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The journey to Rivendell was long and perilous. At some point they came across the trolls of The Hobbit and took
|
|
|
|
some weapons from there. Short before the Ford of Bruinen they met Glorfindel who came from Rivendell. Frodo was
|
|
|
|
to ride on the white horse on to Rivendell. When the riders came, Frodo did not want to ride fast away. Glorfindel
|
|
|
|
spoke something to the horse which then gallopped fast towards the Ford and barely came first place ahead of more
|
|
|
|
riders. Once over the Ford, Frodo stopped with his sword high and wanted the riders to stop. The riders stepped
|
|
|
|
into the river and were then flooded away. It is later revealed that the forms on the water (horses) were added by
|
|
|
|
Gandalf.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
### Differences
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In the movie the journey is very much shorter and it is not Glorfindel but Arwen that comes to their aid.
|
|
|
|
Furthermore Arwen is travelling with Frodo to the Ford and the chase to the Ford is made longer than it was
|
|
|
|
in the book. Lastly Arwen seems to cause the flood when in the book it is revealed that Elrond is the reason
|
|
|
|
for it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
## Rivendell
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rivendell takes a much longer time than it was in the movie. In fact is is so intensive that I cannot give
|
|
|
|
a clear abstract of the order of things.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
### Differences of the book to the movie
|
|
|
|
|
2019-03-09 10:33:59 +01:00
|
|
|
- prior to the council of Elrond, many months pass in which scouts are searching for the black riders
|
2019-02-16 18:46:53 +01:00
|
|
|
- the council itself is much longer, Gloin is present as well and tells from the Lonely Mountain
|
2019-02-16 18:50:49 +01:00
|
|
|
- Legolas reports that Gollum fled from imprisonment
|
|
|
|
- Gandalf tells the full tale of the betrayal of Saruman
|
2019-02-16 18:46:53 +01:00
|
|
|
- Aragorn has the broken Narzil with him, it is not lying in Rivendell
|
|
|
|
- the sword is reforged and Anduril, Flame of the West, is given to Aragorn
|
|
|
|
- many more scenes with Bilbo
|
|
|
|
- almost no mention of Arwen (connection of Aragorn and Arwen is not mentioned at all and only visible
|
|
|
|
if you know what to look for)
|
|
|
|
|
2019-02-16 18:50:49 +01:00
|
|
|
|
2019-02-16 18:46:53 +01:00
|
|
|
## From Rivendell to Moria
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The fellowship sets out with the pony. Supplies and the duration of the journey, as well as the specific route
|
|
|
|
are far more detailed in the book. Dark birds are flying over them but not in the least in the way it is depicted
|
|
|
|
in the movie. It is not an attack. At last they come to Caradhras (or Redhorn) and try to take the mountain
|
|
|
|
pass. In the book it is Aragorn who pushes for this route. They are defeated by the snow
|
|
|
|
and the snow is not caused by Saruman in a wizard battle with Gandalf.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
When back down, they are attacked by wargs which pushes them towards Moria, rather than the Gap of Rohan. After
|
|
|
|
a long journey they find the door. Gandalf takes quite some time until he finds out that the riddle is meant
|
|
|
|
literal, the door to Moria opens. The company has to leave the pony behind. After the water was disturbed,
|
|
|
|
an octopus-like being comes out of it and pushes them into Moria and then barrs the doors from the outside,
|
|
|
|
so that they cannot push the door open again from the inside (which they could have done otherwise).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
### Differences
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The movie makes the journey on the one hand shorter and more dramatic. Also it adds scene where Boromir picks up
|
|
|
|
the ring from Frodo, which has no resemblance in the book. Furthermore Saruman is mentioned far more often and
|
|
|
|
is a crucial plot device in the movie.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
## Through Moria
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The journey through Moria is longer and more detailed in the book. At the junction with the three pathways
|
|
|
|
(depicted in movie) there is an additional guard room where they make rest for the night. In that guard room
|
|
|
|
is an old well and there Pippin throws a stone inside which runs deep down. Gandalf's remark is the same as
|
|
|
|
in the movie.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gandalf leads the company at length to the room with Balin's last stand. Here he reads the accounts which
|
|
|
|
are written in various languages. The company hears drums in the background. They are attacked and Frodo
|
|
|
|
is hit. The company escapes through the second door which leads them down and Gandalf creates a magical
|
|
|
|
barrier but is throne back. It is not revealed from what or whom. The fellowship is moving towards the bridge
|
|
|
|
of Khazadûm. The Balrog is coming for them and Gandalf makes a stand and is thrown down. His last words are
|
|
|
|
"Fly you fools". After some further rooms the remaining fellowship makes for the main entrance of Moria,
|
|
|
|
kills the guards there and after a short momento stop for Gimli, they make haste for the forest of Lorien.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
## Lorien
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The overall journey through Lorien is way more detailed. An orc company is following them out of Moria.
|
|
|
|
In Lorien they make rest for the night and try to climb the trees. The elves in the trees say the famous
|
|
|
|
line that they could hear them from a mile away. Legolas negotiates with the elves and the company can stay
|
|
|
|
on the flots for the night.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Afterwards they are led to the central part of the forest, at some point they blindfolded to ensure the exact way is unknown to them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In the city they meet high up in the trees Galadriel and Celeborn. The dialogue is more detailed. The company
|
|
|
|
gets a pavillon to sleep in. Overall they stay many weeks in Lorien where time seems to be different.
|
|
|
|
The key scene of the mirror involves Sam as well and more visions are mentioned.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
## From Lorien to Rauros (big falls of Anduin)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lastly the fellowship is departing from Lorien and brought to the harbour. There they get Lambas bread, their
|
|
|
|
cloaks and the boats as well as rope for Sam. With them they travel in direction of Anduin, The Great. Before
|
|
|
|
leaving the forest, a large ship of Galadriel and Celeborn is towed to them and they eat on the grass next to the
|
|
|
|
river. There they get the presents.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Aragorn: a sheath for Anduril and the jewel that Aragorn received in the movie in Rivendell from Arwen
|
|
|
|
- Boromir: golden belt
|
|
|
|
- Legolas: a bow
|
|
|
|
- Gimli: three hairs of Galadriel
|
|
|
|
- Sam: a box with earth of Galadriel's orchard and a silver nut from a mallorn tree
|
|
|
|
- Frodo: the light of Earendil
|
|
|
|
- Pippin/Merry: silver belt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Afterwards they journey for a long time through various regions along the Anduin. One night they encounter
|
|
|
|
Gollum but after Frodo draws Sting, Gollum disappears and is not seen again, though he continues to follow
|
|
|
|
them. At some point they come to the rapids of Sarn Gebir and they transport the boats to the other end of the
|
|
|
|
rapids. Then they journey on to the falls of Rauros. At the beach they make camp for the night and finally
|
|
|
|
have to decide whether to go to Minas Tirith as Boromir was headed or to Mordor. Frodo asks for time to
|
|
|
|
think about it and walks away. Some time later Boromir meets him and the scene from the movie plays. Frodo
|
|
|
|
takes the ring on and runs to the top of the hill. In a stone chair he sits down and walks in all four
|
|
|
|
directions of the sky. In the east he sees the ever watchful eye and manages to take the ring of mere
|
|
|
|
seconds before Sauron would have known his exact location.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frodo made a decision to leave everyone alone and move to Mordor without saying goodbye. He slips the ring
|
|
|
|
back on trying to come to the beach without anyone noticing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Meanwhile Sam asks where Frodo remains. Boromir reappears and it is revealed that Boromir threatened Frodo.
|
|
|
|
Aragorn tries to keep order but fails. Pippin and Merry are running to the wood calling for Frodo. Legolas and
|
|
|
|
Gimli, being already friends, move together to search for Frodo. Aragorn asks Boromir to at least protect Pippin
|
|
|
|
and Merry. Aragorn is going with Sam. But Sam cannot keep the pace of Aragorn and falls back. He thinks that Frodo
|
2019-03-09 10:33:59 +01:00
|
|
|
needs a boat to get to the other side and runs back to the beach.
|
2019-02-16 18:46:53 +01:00
|
|
|
There he discovers that Frodo is in one of the boats. Sam is running into the water and is saved by Frodo,
|
|
|
|
who still has the ring on. Frodo takes the ring off, gets Sam aboard and rows back to the shore.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sam takes his things and makes hole into the other boats and sets off with Frodo to the other shore, where
|
|
|
|
they hide the boat and move on.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
### Differences
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The journey is shorter and the first movie concludes with a battle of the Urukhai, where Boromir dies. This part
|
|
|
|
is not even in the first book and only hinted at in the second (which I will feature later). The scene with
|
|
|
|
Boromir and the almost drowning of Sam is, however, depicted close to the book.
|
|
|
|
|
2019-03-09 20:03:44 +01:00
|
|
|
## Battle at Rauros (begin of 2nd volume and 3rd book)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before I start with the summary of the battle on the west coast of the Anduin, I will give some general
|
|
|
|
information about the second volume and how I will portray it here. The second volume focuses first only on the
|
|
|
|
things west of the Anduin (Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, Gandalf, Pippin, Merry) and then in the 4th book on the
|
|
|
|
things that Frodo and Sam are experiencing. This order will be preserved here. Furthermore, there will be
|
|
|
|
quite big differences between the book and the movie.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frodo and Sam have already departed when the battle begins. Aragorn is at the top of Amon Hen when he hears
|
|
|
|
the horn of Gondor. By the time he arrives Boromir is pierced by many arrows and Merry and Pippin are taken.
|
|
|
|
Legolas and Gimli arrive much later and were at a different part of the forest. After some parting words
|
|
|
|
with Boromir, Aragorn sends Legolas and Gimli back to Parth Galen, where the boats still lie. They take both
|
|
|
|
remaining boats and bring them close to the point where Boromir is. Boromir is put into one boat together with his
|
|
|
|
sword and tokens of the slain enemies. Then they paddle with the other boat close to the falls of Rauros and
|
|
|
|
let the boat of Boromir go over it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Afterwards they get back to the land and set out to hunt orcs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
### Differences
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The movie version at the end of the first movie is close enough. However, one major difference there is:
|
|
|
|
In the book the attack involves not only orcs from Saruman but also orcs under direction of Sauron.
|
|
|
|
Also, Legolas happens to be out of arrows in the book. In the movie he is never out of arrows.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
## From Rauros to Fangorn
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Both parts of the remaining fellowship travel to Fangorn forest.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
### Merry and Pippin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Overall the journey to the forest is more detailed in the book and the different orcs are fighting with each
|
|
|
|
other. This is actually indicated in the movie, albeit much shorter. Other than that there are no big diversions
|
|
|
|
to be noted.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before the Fangorn forest the riders of Rohan are encircling the camp of the orcs. Merry and Pippin manage to
|
|
|
|
flee into the forest.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
### Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas are running for days with minimal rest and cover a huge distance to keep up
|
|
|
|
with the orcs of Saruman that can travel both during day and night. Along the way they try to understand
|
|
|
|
what happens in the orc company and keep track of the lost hobbits. Eventually, they meet Éomer and have
|
|
|
|
some longer talk than during the movie. They get two horses and travel forth to Fangorn forest where they
|
|
|
|
encounter the camp of the destroyed orcs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
### Differences
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The major difference relates to the Aragorn part of the story. Éomer is not exiled but went on his own to hunt
|
|
|
|
the orcs. The horses are given to Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas with the clear instruction to give them back
|
|
|
|
in Edoras in a few days time. As usual the dialogues in the book are more extensive and give more insight
|
|
|
|
into what is going on.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Furthermore, in the dialogue of the orcs is revealed that the black riders are now using winged animals.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
## From Fangorn to Isengard (Merry and Pippin)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Merry and Pippin travel through Fangorn forest until and initially stay close to the river Entwash. After some
|
|
|
|
time they arrive at a plateau when they meet Treebeard there. It is revealed that his name is actually Fangorn
|
|
|
|
and he is the master of the forest. Together they travel a great distance to the home of Treebeard.
|
|
|
|
Ents do not eat and only drink. As a consequence Merry and Pippin are drinking their meals as well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The gathering of ents happens and Merry and Pippin meet a "hasty" ent. They talk a while and eventually
|
|
|
|
the ents have decided to go to war against Saruman. With Treebeard the hobbits now travel to Isengard where the
|
|
|
|
ents attack and put it under water.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
### Differences
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In the book there is a lot more information aboout ents and their lore. Plus, the entire story up until the
|
|
|
|
destruction of Isengard is longer. The biggest difference is that Merry and Pippin do NOT meet Gandalf in the
|
|
|
|
forest.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
## Fangorn to Edoras (Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Near the camp the three companions discover signs that the hobbits escaped into the forest. Before entering
|
|
|
|
it, they camp one night and seem to see Saruman but when they try to speak to the old man, he disappears.
|
|
|
|
Their horses also disappear during one night.
|
|
|
|
In Fangorn they eventually reach the same plateau. There they meet Gandalf again, who is revealed to be
|
|
|
|
the white wizard now. Together they leave the forest and find their horses again. Gandalf is again riding with
|
|
|
|
Shadowfax. Following Shadofax and Gandalf, they travel straight south towards Edoras.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
### Differences
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The encounter with Gandalf is different and, again, the dialogues are more detailed. No major plot differences
|
|
|
|
though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
## From Edoras to Helm's Deep
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In Edoras they are at first locked out of the city. Eventually they are allowed inside but have to leave their
|
|
|
|
weapons outside of the king's hall. Gandalf can keep his staff. Inside Gandalf frees king Théoden of Rohan from
|
|
|
|
the influence of Wormtongue. However, Saruman was not directly controlling the king. Éomer was arrested but is
|
|
|
|
now freed and gives the sword of the king back to him. With sword in hand, the king remembers his strength,
|
|
|
|
although the old age is not gone. Wormtongue is banished from Edoras, free to choose his path.
|
2019-02-16 18:46:53 +01:00
|
|
|
|
2019-03-09 20:03:44 +01:00
|
|
|
After a short meal the host of Edoras is setting out to make war to Isengard. Eowyn is given control of Edoras
|
|
|
|
and is tasked to guide their people to safety.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
On the way to Isengard they are informed that the Westfold defense has been broken by Saruman. The general
|
|
|
|
Erkenbrand is said to be in Helm's Deep. Gandalf leaves the host and gallops away. The rest of the host
|
|
|
|
move towards Helm's Deep. Éomer is riding with the king and Aragorn.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Helm's Deep is set behind a dike, which is open only for the road. They realise that it cannot be guarded against
|
|
|
|
the onslaught of the enemy. Therefore, they move to the Hornburg. The entrance to the caves is behind the Deeping
|
|
|
|
Wall and not through the Hornburg. It is revealed that Erkenbrand is not in Helm's Deep. Gamling is the leader of
|
|
|
|
the troops at Helm's Deep.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
### Differences
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
There are no warg attacks. Aragorn is not lost in the waters. There are no two young boys from the Westfold
|
|
|
|
that come to Edoras to report an attack. Éowyn does not travel together with Aragorn. No elves are coming
|
|
|
|
to help at Helm's Deep - knowing the distance from Rivendell to Helm's Deep, where the only pass is held
|
|
|
|
by Saruman, they would have to depart in Rivendell weeks before the fellowship is broken to arrive in time.
|
|
|
|
The only other elven stronghold is in Lothlorien and they would not leave their forest. Éomer and the rohirrim
|
|
|
|
are not banished and therefore are at the battle from the start.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
## Battle at Helm's Deep
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shortly after arriving in Helm's Deep the enemy forces are approaching. Among them are the urukhai but also
|
|
|
|
wild men from the western lands. The events of the battle:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- rearguard from dike is galloping to Hornburg
|
|
|
|
- gates of Hornburg are almost destroyed
|
|
|
|
- Aragorn and Éomer are entering the area before the gate to relieve it for a while
|
|
|
|
- Gimli followed them and prevents harm to Éomer
|
|
|
|
- the gate is blocked from the inside and holds for the remainder of the siege
|
|
|
|
- ladders were put against wall
|
|
|
|
- some orcs crept like rats through opening in wall (the one for the river) an were behind wall
|
|
|
|
- Gimli saw them, jumped down from wall and attacked them
|
|
|
|
- Gamling saw this and attacked the orcs with some men from the Hornburg
|
|
|
|
- the orcs were crushed
|
|
|
|
- bolders were used to block the inner part of the culvert for the stream of water
|
|
|
|
- a short pause in the attack
|
|
|
|
- culvert is blown to pieces while Aragorn, Éomer, and Gamling talk
|
|
|
|
- at the same time more ladders are put against the wall
|
|
|
|
- orcs are swarming in and the defense is driven to the caves or the Hornburg
|
|
|
|
- Aragorn and Legolas retreat into Hornburg
|
|
|
|
- Gamling, Éomer, and Gimli are driven to the caves
|
|
|
|
- a plan is made to ride out
|
|
|
|
- Aragorn parleys with orcs and wild men and warns them
|
|
|
|
- gate is blown to pieces
|
|
|
|
- sound of horn of Helm rings
|
|
|
|
- Théoden rides out with Aragorn, men in the caves attack the orcs and drive them back (the morning after a night
|
|
|
|
of fighting)
|
|
|
|
- Théoden rides up to the great dike
|
|
|
|
- all the orcs retreat behind the dike and stay there, in fear of both the king and the forest (the tree-like
|
|
|
|
ents marched to Helm's Deep instead of Isengard)
|
|
|
|
- Gandalf appears and close after a great host of men appear
|
|
|
|
- they are led by a great warrior with a red shield, Erkenbrand
|
|
|
|
- the king's company, Gandalf, and the host of men charge into the orcs and wild men
|
|
|
|
- the wild men lie down to the earth while the orcs are fleeing to the forest, where they are destroyed
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
With this the battle concludes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
### Differences
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The overall choreography of the battle is changed a little, made more linear, and shortened. That said,
|
|
|
|
the battle makes up a larger percentage of the screentime than it does in the book relative to the number
|
|
|
|
of pages in it. This is due to the paradoxical effect of writing length to filming length. Action can be
|
|
|
|
summarised quite succinctly. In a movie all these actions actually have to be shown. Conversely, a dialogue
|
|
|
|
that takes only a few minutes of talking will fill many pages in a book.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
## From Helm's Deep to Isengard
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After the battle it is revealed what Gandalf did, that Gimli, Gamling, and Éomer survived, and the captain
|
|
|
|
of the king's guard Háma was dead. The wild men were allowed to go home if they swore an oath never to
|
|
|
|
cross the fords of Isen again bearing arms or helping otherwise the enemies of men.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gandalf, Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, Théoden, Éomer, and some warriors travelled to Isengard. On the way Gimli
|
|
|
|
told Legolas about the caverns of Helm's Deep and that before their end Legolas had to visit them together
|
|
|
|
with Gimli. In turn, Legolas got the promise from Gimli that they would visit Fangorn forest together, despite
|
|
|
|
Gimli feeling unwell in it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arriving in Isengard, Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas met again with Merry and Pippin. While Gandalf and the king's
|
|
|
|
company went with Treebeard, the three companions stayed and a great deal was told about what happened to
|
|
|
|
each party. Eventually, the parley with Saruman took place but no useful information was taken from him.
|
|
|
|
Gandalf broke the staff of Saruman and removed him from the council of wizards, Saruman was now colour-less.
|
|
|
|
Wormtongue, who had fled to Isengard, threw out a palantir. Pippin found it but Gandalf quickly took it over
|
|
|
|
and covered it. Gandalf asked Treebeard to keep watch on Saruman, who might be encircled but had still the
|
|
|
|
power of Orthanc. Furthermore, Treebeard should let in the water once more to find out all drains that Saruman
|
|
|
|
might use to escape.
|
|
|
|
On their departure, they heard how Wormtongue was killed by Saruman, likely because he threw out the palantir.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A few hours of Isengard the company made camp. Pippin looked at the palantir and it was revealed that Sauron
|
|
|
|
thought it still in Isengard. Pippin told nothing but that he was a hobbit. Sauron likely thought him a prisoner
|
|
|
|
of Saruman and did not question further. Through this revelation it became clear how Saruman kept in touch with
|
|
|
|
Sauron. Aragorn was given the palantir to keep it secret. Shortly after a nazgul was over them and headed to
|
|
|
|
Isengard. Now they made haste and Gandalf took Pippin and rode swiftly towards Edoras and then Minas Tirith.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
### Differences
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For once, the journey to Isengard is the starting scene of the third movie. Aside from this, the major difference
|
|
|
|
is that Saruman remains alive and Wormtongue is killed by Saruman. Furthermore, the scene with the palantir
|
|
|
|
takes place on the road and not in Edoras.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
## From Rauros to Black Gate (begin of 4th book)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
### Differences
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
## Black Gate to Ithilien
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
### Differences
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
## Ithilien - Meeting with Faramir
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
### Differences
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
## From Ithilien to Crossroads
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
### Differences
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
## From Crossroads to Shelob's Lair
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
### Differences
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
## Shelob's Lair
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
### Differences
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
## To be continued
|
2019-02-16 18:46:53 +01:00
|
|
|
|
2019-03-09 20:03:44 +01:00
|
|
|
Once I finish the third volume, I shall continue the journey of describing the differences.
|