Below is an analysis of the differences between the extended DVD version of the 2002 motion-picture adaptation and J.R.R. Tolkien’s original works. Generally, it follows the order of the scenes in the movie. At the end is a short author’s commentary about the film. For an excellent evaluation of the theatrical version of the film, I recommend the following Movie-goer’s Guide courtesy of the Encyclopedia of Arda website (http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/).
The movie made many changes
to Tolkien’s book. Most are minor,
understandable, and forgivable, but a few are real howlers that we wish could
be undone. Well, that’s what this
first section attempts to do—to suggest scene edits (listed by hour : minute : second) that can be made
using The Tower Towers Extended DVD
to create a version closer to Tolkien’s book. All of the cuts below are on Disk 2 (nothing from Disk 1 is
particularly offensive and cries out to be removed). I should also point out that these edits make
for a slightly shorter, tighter story with less gratuitous hack-and-slash at
Helm’s Deep.
Perhaps someday someone with high-quality DVD editing equipment will
make such a “fan edit” of The
Two Towers.
Stop at: Start
again: What is cut out:
0:43:40 0:43:48 Faramir’s “The ring
goes to Gondor!”
0:48:18 0:49:04 Aragorn encouraging Theoden to send
out for allies
0:58:26 0:59:56 Arrival of Haldir and the Elves of
Rivendell
(
Head’s up,
Frodo…catch my box!
In the movie… As Frodo and Sam climb down a sheer cliff in Emyn Muil using Elven-rope which Galadriel gave to Sam in Lórien as her farewell gift, Sam accidentally drops a small box. Frodo saves Sam’s box, which contains cooking salt he has been carrying from the Shire. As Sam wishes that he could somehow retrieve the rope, the coil suddenly comes undone and returns to Sam.
In the books… Frodo and Sam do climb down a cliff using a coil of Elven-rope, which Sam acquired from the Lórien Wood-elves and not from Galadriel. Galadriel’s gift to Sam was a small box of magical soil from her garden. Sam also does carry some spices and cooking gear from home, which he sadly abandons in third book. Sam does not drop anything while climbing down. The rope magically returns to Sam when he speaks the name of Galadriel.
The Eye of
Sauron…no, wait, the Eye *is* Sauron
In the movie… Sauron exists only as a gigantic fiery Eye atop the pinnacle of Barad-dur.
In the books… Sauron lacked a physical form for centuries after his defeat at the end of the Second Age, but around the Year 1000 of the Third Age he reformed in a physical body and became known as the Necromancer of southern Mirkwood. In 2941 Sauron was driven from Mirkwood, but he retreated to Mordor and openly revealed himself as Sauron reborn. His new body is presumably a wretched husk of his previous body: he only ever gazes with a single fiery eye, and his hand that wore the One Ring has only four fingers, missing the ring finger cut-off by Isildur.
Orc quarrels
In
the movie… The troop of Uruks who scattered the Fellowship at
the end of the first film is carrying Merry and Pippin back to Saruman in
Isengard. Merry is dazed, and he is
force-fed a drink to rouse him back to consciousness. Some of the Orcs begin to bicker, but they
are kept in line by Saruman’s Uruk-hai.
When one of the Orcs tries to devour Merry and Pippin, the leading Uruk
chops his head off and feeds him to his hungry mates. During the confusion Merry and Pippin sneak
away but are pursued by one particularly persistent Orc, and the hobbits are
only saved by the attack of the Riders of Rohan. However, yet another Orc chases them into
In
the books… Merry and Pippin are being carried to Isengard by a
mixed troop of Orcs. Merry is hurt, and
his wound is slathered with a slimey Orc-medicine and he is forced to drink a
vile Orc-draught. The lead Orcs are
Saruman’s Uruk-hai commanded by Uglúk, who is under strict orders to
bring any hobbits to Saruman unspoiled.
The followers are a gaggle of lesser goblins from the
Legolas doesn’t
need glasses, but he could use a compass
In the movie… Aragorn leads Gimli and Legolas on a cross-country marathon in pursuit of the Orcs who have captured Merry and Pippin. Gimli huffs and puffs and performs a few comic prat-falls as he runs. Aragorn asks Legolas to observe the Orcs in the distance, and the far-seeing Elf warns his friends that the Orcs have turned northeast toward Isengard.
In the books… Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas do pursue the fast-marching Orcs across the plains of Rohan. Gimli complains about his fatigue and lack of sleep, but he soldiers on without any comic-relief prat-falls. Legolas does not tell Aragorn that the Orcs have turned northeast toward Isengard, for they all know Isengard is northwest of Rohan.
Saruman’s
EZ-Bake Orc oven
In the movie… Saruman breeds the Uruk-hai in large numbers in the pits beneath Isengard, seemingly baking them in vats. His lesser goblins pull the Uruk-hai out of the vats, cut them out of their baking sheaths, and inspect them for quality.
In
the books… The Uruk-hai were created
by Sauron several hundred years earlier, back when Sauron was keeping his
identity secret. By the time of the War
of the Ring, Saruman had managed to recruit an army of marauding Uruk-hai that
served him exclusively and faithfully.
Saruman does not create his own Uruk-hai. The Men of Rohan imply that Saruman has also
recruited some lesser goblins (probably from the
Stay alive whatever
happens, I will find you!
In the movie… Saruman stirs up the displaced neighboring barbarians to attack the western villages of Rohan. They burn down the houses and force the people to flee before them. A mother puts her young son and little daughter atop a horse, telling them to ride to the capital and raise the alarm.
In the books… Saruman recruits into his service the wicked Dunlendings, sworn enemies of the Riders of Rohan ever since Helm Hammerhand and his son drove them out of the western region of the country. Tolkien does not mention any mother, son, or daughter in particular, but it is learned at Edoras the capital that the Wild Men have invaded the Westfold and are burning every village in their path. Presumably many families have fled east to Edoras.
The Fords of Isen
In the movie… Éomer and his men come upon a great battle by a river, finding King Theoden’s mortally wounded son Theodred and carrying him back to Edoras. Theodred lingers on his deathbed for a few days before expiring.
In the books… Two great battles are fought at the strategic Fords of Isen on February 25 and March 2 in the Year 3019 of the Third Age between the defending Riders of Rohan and Saruman’s army of Orcs and Dunlendings. In the first battle Theodred Theoden’s son is killed, but the heroic Erkenbrand rallies the survivors and holds back the invaders. In the second battle the defenders of Rohan are defeated and scattered in many directions by a river torrent. With the remaining defenders scattered in small groups, Saruman’s forces are free to overrun the Westfold. Éomer is not sent to search for Theodred’s body. Without orders, he leads a patrol to seek out Orcs invading Rohan, eventually encountering and destroying the Orcs that captured Merry and Pippin.
Your name is
Wormtongue? Your parents must have
really hated you…
In the movie… Everyone calls Grima “Wormtongue” as if it is his last name. Grima holds excessive influence over the decrepit King Theoden, who will not even go to see his dying son.
In the books… Grima is the son of Galmod, and his family apparently has long been in royal service. “Wormtongue” seems to be the popular sobriquet that his detractors hurl at him for the poisoned advice he gives to King Theoden. According to Tolkien’s synopsis of the story, Grima uses spells (presumably taught to him by Saruman) to manipulate the king. King Theoden is aware that his son was killed far away in battle, but under Grima’s wicked spells he does not care much.
“We ride
north…I hear it’s nice this time of year.”
In the movie… Éomer is banished from Rohan by order of the king, under Wormtongue’s influence, and thousands of the Riders of Rohan choose to go into exile with him. On their way out of Rohan they gave battle to the Orcs that captured Merry and Pippin. They encounter Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas the next morning, giving them a pair of spare horses before heading off north to exile in an unspecified locale.
In the books… Éomer encounters and destroys the Orcs that captured Merry and Pippin because he is leading an unauthorized patrol to seek out invading Orcs. He encounters Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas the next morning (much of this dialogue is included in the movie), and lends them a pair of spare horses so long as they promise to return them to Edoras when they are finished searching for the missing hobbits. He and his men ride back to Edoras, where on Grima’s orders he is arrested and imprisoned for leading a war patrol without orders.
“The White
Wizard will know”
In
the movie… Merry and Pippin flee into
In
the books… Merry and Pippin flee into
Corpse-candles
In
the movie… Gollum leads Frodo and Sam through a swampland
filled with the bodies of slain warriors of old, over whose remains eerie
flames burn. Frodo gazes too long at one
of the bodies, and in a trace he plunges into the water and is nearly
surrounded by the specters. Gollum saves
Frodo by pulling him out of the haunted
In
the books… Gollum leads Frodo and Sam through the “Dead
Marshes” that have grown over the ancient battle plain of Dagorlad, where
the “Last Alliance of Elves and Men” defeated Sauron’s army
at the end of the Second Age. The
hobbits notice the spectral remains with strange fiery “candles”
burning over them, and Gollum warns the hobbits not to follow the lights. No one falls into the
Would the real White
Wizard please stand up?
In
the movie… Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas track Merry and Pippin
into
In the books… Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas track Merry and Pippin into Fangorn, and the “White Wizard” is spotted coming their way. The companions are wary that Saruman is on the prowl, because the night before a cloaked old man sneaked into their camp and seemingly chased their horses away. Gimli pleads with Legolas to shoot him before he can arrive and cast a spell on them, but Legolas ignores the request and Aragorn refuses to attack an old man unchallenged and unannounced. When the wizard arrives, the companions call for him to identity himself; when they raise their weapons, the wizard reveals his magical power. Aragorn’s blade Andúril alights with fire, and Legolas’ arrow bursts into flame. The friends then realize that they are looking at Gandalf, who has been brought back to life by the Valar who watch over Middle-earth and returned to Middle-earth as the new White Wizard.
Shadowfax…er,
Whitefax
In the movie… Gandalf calls to his side a beautiful white steed named Shadowfax, the prince of all horses who has been his long-time companion. The horses give to Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas are waiting patiently nearby. Gandalf and his companions ride to Edoras, where Gandalf somehow knows that something is amiss.
In the books… Gandalf calls to his side a lordly gray horse named Shadowfax, the lord of the Mearas, horses descended from Nahar, the horse of the Vala spirit Orome. The Mearas were tamed by Eorl the Young, the first king of Rohan. The lordly horses would only permit those of royal bearing to master them, and Shadowfax had so far proven unwilling even to let the kings of Rohan ride him. When Gandalf first came to Edoras after escaping from Saruman’s tower, he came to Edoras and was greeted coldly by King Theoden, who was already under Grima’s spell. Theoden ordered Gandalf to take a horse and leave his realm, and Gandalf slyly chose Shadowfax, who would submit to Gandalf and no other. Gandalf already knows what is amiss in Edoras because he has been there recently. He also knows he will not be warmly received, for Theoden is furious that Gandalf took away the finest horse. Arod and Hasufel, the horses lent to Aragorn, Gimli, and Legoals by Éomer, return to the companions with Shadowfax; they had left the night before when the recognized Shadowfax’s neigh, running off to greet their lord.
Uneasy lies the head
that wears the crown
In the movie… At night Gandalf speaks with Aragorn in private about the danger he is in. Sauron is afraid that an heir of Isildur still lives, and he will seek to destroy Aragorn when he is discovered.
In
the books… Sauron has long suspected that an heir of Isildur
lived among the Dúnedain of the North, and for many years he has sent his foul
servants to prowl northern Arnor and hunt them down. Aragorn’s father Arathorn was slain by
an Orc-arrow through the eye when Aragorn was only a child. After that time, Sauron apparently was
satisfied that the
A massive detour
around Mordor
In the movie… Gollum leads Frodo and Sam to the “Black Gate” into northern Mordor. The hobbits find the gate shut and heavily guarded, but then a column of marching men from their right (meaning they came from the south) heads toward the gate. The army is identified as wicked men in service to Sauron. After hiding from the men, Frodo and Sam prepare to sneak through the gate while it is briefly open. Gollum begs them not to go, for he can show them a secret way into Mordor.
In the books… Gollum leads Frodo and Sam to Morannon, the “Black Gate” of northern Mordor. The hobbits find the gate shut, but it opens when a troop of men from the east (meaning they are coming from the hobbits’ left) arrives on the scene. The men are Easterlings long allied with Mordor; they are notorious horse-soldiers and wagon-riders who have assaulted the West several times through the past few centuries. Frodo and Sam are not spotted, and they do not have to hide. They do consider trying to sneak into the gate, but Frodo instead agrees to follow Gollum to the secret entrance.
Ent-draughts
In the movie… Merry and Pippin are carried by Treebeard to some place deep in the woods, where they drink bowls of a mysterious liquid. The drink makes Merry and Pippin taller, and the hobbits engage in some horse-play with each other to get more of the liquid. The hobbits accidentally chase each other into the grip of an ill-tempered enchanted tree, which nearly swallows them up until Treebread returns and commands the tree to let go of the hobbits.
In the books… Treebeard carries the hobbits to Wellinghall, his home. He shares with them his Ent-draughts, a pleasant drink that is like a liquor to the Ents and a growth potion to the hobbits. No tree tries to swallow up Merry and Pippin, although Treebeard does warn the hobbits that sometimes enchanted trees called Huorns can go back and become dangerous. Merry and Pippin no well how dangerous bad trees can be: when they passed through the Old Forest beyond Buckland, they were nearly swallowed up by a wild tree named Old Man Willow until they were rescued by the mysterious nature spirit Tom Bombadil. (Treebeard’s command to the Huorn is borrowed from Tom Bombadil.)
The Exorcist
In the movie… Gandalf and his companions enter Meduseld, the royal hall of Edoras. Grima and Gandalf (in words taken from the book) quarrel with each other, and Theoden is revealed to be under Saruman’s possession. Gandalf approaches Theoden, casting a counterspell to exorcise the king from Saruman’s control. Grima’s thugs shadow the companions, and when they try to interfere they are trounced by Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas. Gandalf finally succeeds in breaking Saruman’s control, and Saruman far away in Orthanc is knocked to the ground by the psychic blow. Freed from the spell, Theoden quickly transforms from a decrepit old man into a virile middle-aged man.
In the books… Theoden’s possession is more subtle, and Tolkien does not describe him as directly under Saruman’s control. Rather, the king seems to have been under Grima’s spells in service of Saruman. Grima does not have any thugs in his employ, and no one attacks Gandalf or his companions. Gandalf reveals his magical splendor to the king and leads the old man outdoors, where in private under the open sky he breaks the spell over Theoden. Saruman is not knocked to the ground, nor does he even seem to be aware that Theoden is free of Grima’s influence. After he is saved by Gandalf, Theoden seems no longer decrepit but he is still a 70-year-old man.
The whomping of Wormtongue
In the movie… Once free of Saruman’s possession, Theoden angrily turns on Wormtongue. The king personally throws Grima out of his hall and raises his sword to slay him, but Aragorn stops him and proclaims that enough blood has already been shed. Theoden instead allows Wormtongue to flee.
In the books… Even after Gandalf has broken Wormtongue’s spell, Grima tries to manipulate the king. Éomer angrily threatens Grima, but Gandalf stops him. Theoden tells Grima that he has the choice to follow him into battle or to flee, and he will prove himself by his choice. Grima angrily spits on the floor and chooses to flee.
Theodred, we hardly
knew ye
In the movie… After being freed from Saruman’s possession, Theoden asks to see his son. Only then does he learn that Theodred is dead. A funeral is held for the young man, and Éowyn sings a lament (in Anglo-Saxon) for him. Afterwards Gandalf and Theoden speak in private, and Theoden mourns that “the young perish, while the old linger.”
In the books… Theodred died several days before the arrival of Gandalf and his companions, and he presumably already knew that his son had been killed at the first battle of the Fords of Isen. Theodred was not actually a young man, but was 40 years old when killed. Éomer already knew of it when he met Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas. There are several poems and songs sung in Edoras, but none by Éowyn. Theoden does lament that “the young perish, while the old linger” – but he says this in response to learning that the brave Boromir is dead.
The road to
Helm’s Deep
In the movie… Theoden recognizes that he cannot defend his people at Edoras, so he orders the capital abandoned and the people to prepare to march to the secure mountain fortress named Helm’s Deep. The king believes that he can hold Helm’s Deep against Saruman’s army and there destroy the enemy. Gandalf and Aragorn disagree with the king’s decision, afraid that he is leading the people into a hopeless trap. Éowyn accompanies the people marching to Helm’s Deep.
In
the books… Theoden decides that he will lead his remaining
warriors into battle against Saruman’s army, a decision that Gandalf and
Aragorn support. They believe that
Erkenbrand, lord of Westfold, still holds the fords
across the
On the fifth morning
he arose…
In the movie… Gandalf and Aragorn walk to the stables of Edoras, where Gandalf mounts up on Shadowfax. Gandalf charges Aragorn with helping to get the people of Rohan to Helm’s Deep and with holding out against Saruman’s assault until he appears again on the morning of the fifth day to the east…
In
the books… Gandalf, Aragorn, and the others ride out of Edoras
along with King Theoden and his men.
Also with them is Éomer, who was freed from imprisonment as soon as
Theoden was freed from Grima’s influence.
The army is riding to the
Aragorn the
horse-whisperer
In the movie… After Gandalf rides away on Shadowfax, Éowyn introduces Aragorn to an uncontrollable horse named Breggo. Aragorn comments that it is a kingly name for a horse. Aragorn calms the horse with gentle words and sets the horse free on the plains of Rohan. Éowyn swoons for the hunky horse-whisperer.
In the books… This scene is not in the books. The only clever part is giving the horse the name Breggo, which was actually the name of one of the old kings of Rohan.
Dungeons-and-Dragons
called, they want their armor back
In the movie… King Theoden wears a heavy suit of red-painted banded-mail armor. The knights of Gondor wear heavy suits of plate-mail armor.
In the books… Tolkien does not describe Roman-style articulated armor or late-medieval plate armor. His characters wear shirts or hauberks of mail, made of either scales or chain links. Some characters wear leather-armor jerkins.
Get the door,
it’s Wormtongue
In the movie… Wormtongue flees Edoras and almost immediately arrives at Isengard. He joins Saruman while the wizard is still preparing his army, and he is at Saruman’s side when the wizard orders his Uruk horde to march against Rohan.
In
the books… Wormtongue requires many days to travel by himself
to Isengard. After all, he only departs
shortly before the Riders of Rohan ride to the
Honey, can I have my
ring back?
In the movie… When Wormtongue joins Saruman in Orthanc, he informs the wizard about what happened in Edoras. He mentions the arrival of Aragorn by describing the man’s unusual ring. Saruman looks it up in his encyclopedia of Middle-earth lore, discovering that it is Barahir’s ring worn as an heirloom by the heirs of the king.
In the books… Wormtongue does not notice Aragorn’s ring because, well, Aragorn doesn’t wear one. Barahir’s ring is indeed an heirloom of the kings, but Aragorn long ago gave it to Arwen when the pledged their love to each other.
Stinker
In the movie… Sam calls Gollum “Stinker” and Frodo grows cross, berating Sam for being so hard on Gollum. Sam explains that he doesn’t trust Gollum, and neither should Frodo. Later, Gollum has a debate with the two sides of his personality, and eventually the good side wins out over the evil side. He decides to trust in Master Frodo now.
In the books… Sam notices that there are two sides to Gollum’s personality, which he calls Slinker and Stinker, and he doesn’t trust either one. Gollum has a series of debates with himself, and he does come to trust in Master Frodo.
The Rangers of
Ithilien
In the movie… As Gollum leads Frodo and Sam south toward the secret passage into Mordor, the hobbits find themselves in the middle of a battle. A column of wicked men in service to Mordor march into the valley, and with them are a pair of enormous war-mammoths. Mysterious men hidden in the thickets ambush the wicked men and chase off the “Oliphaunts” (who nearly trample the hobbits). Gollum has managed to slink away, but Frodo and Sam are caught by the Rangers who are defending the land against intruders. (They are apparently doing a poor job of it, because in the scene in which Frodo and Sam reached the Black Gate the army that entered Mordor had to come from the south this way). Faramir, their captain, accuses the hobbits of being spies and has them blindfolded and marched to their secret base.
In the books… Frodo and Sam are captured by the Rangers of Ithilien before the battle, though Gollum does indeed manage to slip away first and avoid capture. Frodo and Sam are kept under guard by a pair of Faramir’s men, while Faramir and the rest of his troop ambush the enemy Haradrim marching up from the south. These “Southrons” have Mumakil war-elephants with them, a creature Sam knows only as an “Oliphaunt” from an old hobbit legend. During the battle a Southron tries to escape and is killed near Sam, who is sickened and feels pity for the man (in the movie, Sam’s internal thoughts are put into words by Faramir). Faramir does indeed blindfold the hobbits and take them to his secret base, Hanneth Annun.
The comic stylings of
Gimli
In the movie… On the way to Helm’s Deep, Gimli jokes with Éowyn about Dwarf-women. He then spooks his horse and is knocked to the ground, providing chuckles for one and all.
In the books… Gimli does not make light about Dwarf-women with Éowyn (who is not present, because she is leading the people to safety in the mountain stronghold of Dunharrow). He certainly does not fall off a horse for everyone’s amusement. However, Gimli’s speech about Dwarf-women is nearly word-for-word from the appendix at the end of the third book.
He looks pretty good
for his age
In the movie… On the way to Helm’s Deep, Éowyn prepares a bowl of stew for Aragorn. While he chokes down the slop, Éowyn tells him that Theoden remembered meeting Aragorn many years ago when he was younger. Aragorn admits to her that he is 87 years old, and Éowyn realizes that Aragorn is one of the long-lived Dúnedain.
In the books… Although this scene did not happen in the books (Éowyn did not go to Helm’s Deep), it is a nice piece of background. Aragorn did indeed meet Theoden years ago when they were younger, and Aragorn is indeed 87 years old (a full-blooded Dúnadan, descended from the lordly men of Numenor, will live for more than 200 years). Though Éowyn does not ever cook a bowl of soup for Aragorn, in Edoras she does serve him a cup of wine—and it is then that Aragorn first touched her hand, feels her tremble, and knows that she is in love with him.
I dream of Arwen with
the dark-brown hair
In the movie… Aragorn has several flashbacks to time spent with Arwen, the Elf-maiden he loves. He remembers their conversations before he departed Rivendell with the Fellowship. He recalls speaking with her father Elrond that night, when Elrond persuaded him to renounce Arwen so that she would take the Elf-ship to the Undying Lands of the West and live forever. Before leaving with the Fellowship he tried to return the Even-star jewel Arwen gave to him, but Arwen refused to take it and told him to keep it as a gift. Elrond later convinces Arwen that there is no hope for her to remain in Middle-earth to perish, describing for her images of what it would be like to stay with Aragorn and die.
In the books… Aragorn does not have any flashbacks; indeed, Arwen does not ever appear in this book. However, the “Tale of Aragorn and Arwen” in the appendix of the third book describes how Aragorn and Arwen met and fell in love. At one time Elrond did try to persuade Aragorn not to keep Arwen in Middle-earth, so that she would follow him to Aman and live forever. Aragorn presented Arwen with the choice, and Arwen choose to stay with Aragorn even though it meant giving up her immortality. This drama was in the past by the time of the Fellowship of the Ring: Elrond sadly accepted his daughter’s fateful decision, and Aragorn never tried to return the Even-star to Arwen (because, actually, it was given to him in Lórien by Galadriel, Arwen’s grandmother). Arwen never wavers from her decision to stay in Middle-earth with Aragorn, and she lives until the Year 120 of the Fourth Age; shortly after Aragorn accepts death from old age, Arwen wanders alone into Lórien and gives up her life’s spirit. A great burial mound is built where her body is found.
Send out the
warg-riders
In
the movie… Saruman orders his Orcs to mount up on giant
war-dogs called wargs and attack the people of Rohan marching to Helm’s Deep. Theoden’s
door-guard
In
the books… Tolkien does not describe any specific warg-attack
against Theoden’s army on its march to the
Gunpowder
In the movie… Saruman invents gunpowder. He uses it to make explosive mines which will be placed in the small drain under the wall of Helm’s Deep.
In the books… Tolkien is ambiguous about Saruman’s powers. When his army blows up the wall of Helm’s Deep, the defenders bemoan the “blasting fire” and the “devilry” of Saruman—but it is unclear whether it is magic or technology. Certainly one of Tolkien’s themes is that Saruman represents the destructiveness of industrialization, so it is a perfectly reasonable inference (and possibly one Tolkien meant) that Saruman created gunpowder bombs.
Elrond, you’ve
got a collect call from Galadriel. Will
you accept the charges?
In the movie… Galadriel telepathically communicates with Elrond’s mind, showing him what was happening to Rohan and to the Ring-bearer. She calls upon him not to leave Men to stand on their own in the darkest of hours.
In the books… Galadriel and Elrond do not have a long-distance teleconference, although this apparently is not beyond their power. At the end of The Return of the King, Frodo observes the Elves communicating with each other through their minds alone. The Wizards and Elves also seem to have the ability to watch events from afar—Tolkien explicitly states in “The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen” that Arwen watches over Aragorn from afar during his journeys.
Faramir and the
Precious: the Ring goes to Gondor
In the movie… Faramir has a brief chat with Frodo and Sam about the Fellowship and the death of Boromir, but he doesn’t learn about the Ring. Only when Faramir and his men capture Gollum and learn about his “Precious” does Faramir get a vital clue that Frodo is carrying the Ring. Faramir confronts Sam and Frodo, deciding to take them and the Ring to Gondor.
In
the books… Faramir has a very long chat with Frodo and Sam,
mostly about the history of the Men of Numenor and the
Victory at Osgiliath,
the Steward’s flag, and the Council of Elrond
In the movie… In a flashback, Faramir remembers when his brother Boromir led the forces of Gondor to victory at Osgiliath, retaking the ruined city from the forces of Mordor. Boromir hoists the Ruling Steward’s standard above the city: a white flag with the symbol of a tree. Their father Denethor, the Ruling Steward, comes to the city to praise Boromir and chastise Faramir for failing to win on his own. Boromir defends Faramir, but Denethor will hear none of it. Denethor reveals to Boromir that Elrond has summoned a Council at Rivendell, and he orders Boromir to attend and bring him back the Ring.
In the books… Osgiliath was ruined centuries before the War of the Ring. The best the forces of Gondor could do is maintain control of the bridge at the west bank. In 3018 the forces of Mordor tried to overrun their position, and in a daring defense Boromir and Faramir held back the assault, destroyed the bridge so the enemy could not cross, and then dived into the river to escape. The ruins of Osgiliath were lost, not recovered. The Steward’s standard does not fly over Osgiliath, and it does not have a tree on it—the flag is a plain white field, since the tree is the symbol of the rightful king (and Denethor is merely the Ruling Steward in the king’s place). Denethor praised Boromir for his daring, but he did not blame Faramir for losing the city (though in the third book he does blame Faramir for failing to win at Osgiliath). In the books Denethor’s chief reason for disliking Faramir is because his younger son has been too much influenced by Gandalf, whom Denethor regards as an interfering rival. Denethor does indeed send Boromir to the Council of Elrond, but only because it is Boromir who has the mysterious dream about Rivendell. Denethor does not know about the Ring (although he likely had suspicions), and he does not tell Boromir to bring it to him (although it is Boromir’s immediate intention as soon as he learns about the Ring).
Kiss me, Breggo
In the movie… After falling off the cliff, Aragorn washes up on a river bank. He is revived when the far-off spirit of Arwen appears above him and kisses him, blessing him with the grace of the Valar. Aragorn wakes up to find Breggo, the wild horse that he freed in Edoras, nuzzling his face. Aragorn mounts up and rides toward Helm’s Deep, spying Saruman’s mass army on the move. He reaches Helm’s Deep and is reunited with Gimli and Legolas, who returns to him Arwen’s Even-star necklace. Éowyn longs to run to him, but she hesitates when she sees Legolas give him the gemstone. Aragorn then enters the keep and reports the ill tidings to King Theoden. Aragorn urges Theoden to send out riders to seek allies, but Theoden darkly broods that Rohan has no friends upon whom they may count, not even Gondor.
In the books… None of this happens. Aragorn comes to Helm’s Deep with the rest of the army. There is never any discussion of sending out riders to seek allies. Rohan has no claim to Gondor’s aid in the first place—it is Gondor that gave the Rohan (formerly the province called Calenardhon) to the Eorlings, and it is Gondor that may call upon Rohan for aid.
A woman in love
In the movie… Éowyn complains to Aragorn that her uncle will not let her fight in the battle, but instead has ordered her to lead the women and children in the sparkling caves behind the fortress. She begs Aragorn to let her fight alongside him because she cannot bear to be parted from him again, but Aragorn tells her she should obey King Theoden’s wishes.
In the books… Éowyn does not beg to fight at Helm’s Deep because she is actually far away in Dunharrow. However, her speech to Aragorn is almost entirely from a chapter in The Return of the King, when she begs to follow Aragorn and the Grey Company into the Paths of the Dead. At least the “glittering caves” of Aglarond are in the book.
Gamling
the not-so-old?
In the movie… King Theoden is assisted by a middle-aged lieutenant named Gamling.
In the books… When Theoden arrives at Helm’s Deep, he finds it in the charge of an elderly warrior called Gamling the Old (“Gamling” even means “old man” in Anglo-Saxon).
Halleth,
In
the movie… On the eve of the battle at Helm’s Deep,
Aragorn comforts a young boy conscripted to fight named Halleth, the son of
In the books… Though Gamling admits that some of the defenders at Helm’s Deep have “seen too few” winters, Tolkien does not mention any boys specifically. Aragorn does not speak with any boy. However, a featured character in the third book is a young boy named Bergil, who is the son of one of the Tower Guards named Beregond.
Gimli suits up for
battle and serves up comic-relief
In the movie… Aragorn intensely readies himself for battle, joined by an equally serious Legolas. Suddenly Gimli appears with a long coat of mail from the Helm’s Deep armory and tries to put it on, but it is too long and too tight for him.
In the books… Aragorn and Legolas are both issued hauberks of mail, helmets, and shields from the Helm’s Deep armory. The Riders of Rohan do not insult Gimli by daring to give him a suit of their armor: they see that Gimli already wears a coat of Dwarven-mail, far better crafted than anything made by Men.
Ent-moot…thanks
for nothing!
In the movie… Merry and Pippin accompany Treebeard to a gathering of Ents called an Ent-moot, and they wait impatiently throughout the night for the Ents to decide if they will help in the fight against Saruman. After many hours and a subsequent scene, the Ents decide…not to join the fight. The Ents disperse, and Treebeard carries the hobbits out of the forest so they can make their way home to the Shire. On the way, though, Pippin tells Treebeard to take them south. Treebeard quibbles that this will go by Isengard, but Pippin tricks him into agreeing that this is a wise route.
In the books… Merry and Pippin accompany Treebeard to the Ent-moot, but they are not left alone during the long discussions. The hobbits are left in the company of Bregalad (“Quickbeam”), a “young” Ent who serves as their companion. After a couple days of deliberating, the Ents vote to go to war against Saruman. The Ents set off to Isengard on their “last march” with Merry and Pippin. Pippin does not trick the Ents in any way, shape, or form.
Haldir,
noooooooooooooooooooooo!
In the movie… On the eve of the battle at Helm’s Deep, an army of Elves from Rivendell suddenly appears. They are led by Haldir, one of the Elves whom Aragorn and the Fellowship met when they first arrived in Lórien. Haldir explains they have been sent by Elrond to honor the alliance that once existed between Men and Elves. Aragorn commands the Elves in battle when Saruman’s army attacks. When the Orcs break through the outer wall and rush into the gap, Aragorn leads the Elves in a charge to hold back the enemy long enough for the defenders to retreat into the inner keep. However, in the melee the Elves are all slain, including Haldir.
In the books… No Elves show up at Helm’s Deep. For one thing, there are no longer enough Noldor-elves left at Rivendell to form an army. For another, the alliance that once existed between Men and Elves was between a different group of Men (Elendil’s Dúnedain) and a different group of Elves (Gil-galad’s Elves of Lindon). And as if that is not enough, a Wood-elf from Lórien would not lead a Noldor company from Rivendell in the first place. How could Haldir even get from Lórien to Rivendell fast enough to march with the Elves from Rivendell to Helm’s Deep, even given Elves’ legendary speed? Needless to say, Haldir does not die at Helm’s Deep. His fate is not recorded, though he and his brothers Rumiel and Orophin likely fought for the defense of Lórien when Orcs from southern Mirkwood attacked shortly after Helm’s Deep.
If Dwarf-tossing
wasn’t funny once, of course it will be funnier twice
In the movie… At the height of the battle of Helm’s Deep, after Saruman’s forces have blown up the outer wall and flooded into Helm’s Deep, the Orcs attempt to batter down the gate of the inner keep. Aragorn and Gimli slip out through a hidden side door and sneak around the flank of the advancing Uruks. There is a gap separated their ledge from the causeway leading to the gate, so Aragorn must “toss” Gimli over and then jump across himself. Aragorn and Gimli drive the Uruks down the causeway, giving the defenders time to reinforce the gate.
In the books… Saruman’s Orcs and Dunlending allies do attempt to batter down the gate of the outer Deeping Wall, and it is Aragorn and Éomer who slip through a hidden door and drive back the attackers. Éomer is tripped by the Orcs, and Gimli leaps to his rescue. Once the heroes are back inside Helm’s Deep, Saruman’s “devilry” blasts a breach in the wall: his forces swarm inside, and the defenders are forced to fall back on the inner citadel (the Hornburg). During the melee Aragorn and Legolas are separated from Gimli and Éomer, who are forced to fight their way to safety in the caves of Aglarond.
Blow, Gimli, blow
your horn
In the movie… When Saruman’s army has overrun most of Helm’s Deep and are about to break into the inner keep, Aragorn encourages Theoden to lead his remaining Riders in a final desperate charge against the Uruks marching up the causeway. Theoden calls for the horn of Helm Hammerhand to sound once more, and Gimli eagerly runs up the stairs and blows the enormous horn built atop the keep. As the Uruks break into the keep, Theoden and Aragorn and the Riders charge through them and gallop down the causeway. Suddenly, dawn breaks and to the east Gandalf appears—and with him is Éomer and the renegade Riders who went into exile with him. Gandalf in the lead, the reinforcements join the fray and route the enemy. The Uruks flee back out of Helm’s Deep, only to find a menacing forest has advanced to block their path. The Uruks flee into the dark wood and are entirely destroyed.
In
the books… When the Hornburg is about to be overrun, Theoden
orders his Riders to prepare for a final desperate charge, and Aragorn agrees
to ride with them. Dawn begins to break,
and Aragorn attempts to parley with the attackers to convince them to retreat
before they are destroyed.
Saruman’s soldiers jeer Aragorn, and chase him back from the wall
with a blast of fire. Theoden,
Aragorn, and the Riders charge out of the Hornburg and down the causeway,
driving back the enemy.
Saruman’s army breaks and retreats out of Helm’s Deep, only
to find a dark
Rohrrim!
In the movie… Éomer joins Gandalf upon the ridge to the east overlooking Helm’s Deep, and he addresses his men as “Rohrrim” when he orders them to join the fight.
In the books… “Rohirrim” is the Sindarin (Elvish) name for the Men of Rohan. This is what they are called in Gondor. The Riders of Rohan call themselves the “Eorlings” (the sons of Eorl, the founding king) and their land the “Riddermark”.
Flooding Isengard
In the movie… Treebeard, carrying Merry and Pippin, lead the Ents into battle at Isengard. The Orc defenders fight back with axes and fire, but they are no match for the Ents. Treebeard orders his Ents to tear down Saruman’s dam, freeing the river and flooding Isengard. All of Saruman’s works and remaining Orcs are washed away. Saruman watches in horror and flees back into the tower, not to be seen again in this film.
In the books… Merry and Pippin later describe to Gandalf, Aragorn, and the others that the Ents attacks Isengard at the same time Saruman’s army was marching on Helm’s Deep. Few remained to defend Isengard, and Treebeard sent the Huorns south to Helm’s Deep to take their revenge on the Orcs. The Ents, meanwhile, tore down all of Saruman’s works in Isengard, “gathering the waters of the Isen” to flood the valley and wash away Saruman’s pollution. After the Ents seize Isengard, there is a lengthy scene in with Gandalf and the others come and try to convince Saruman to surrender. The wizard refuses: he is stripped of his magical authority by the newly ascendant Gandalf the White, and he is left with Womrtongue as a prisoner inside Orthanc, under the watch of Treebeard. In rage Wormtongue hurls at his enemies a stone from inside the tower: it is the Palantír which Saruman had used to communicate with Sauron, thus falling under his sway.
“By all rights
we shouldn’t even be here…”
In the movie… Faramir takes Frodo, Sam, and Gollum to Osgiliath, which has again come under attack by the forces of Mordor. During the battle one of the flying Ringwraiths descends upon Frodo, sensing the nearness of the Ring. Frodo nearly succumbs to its power and tries to surrender the Ring, but Sam pulls him away before he can be grasped by the winged beast. Frodo nearly goes mad and stabs Sam with Sting, but Sam manages to bring Frodo back to his senses. Faramir witnesses what the Ring has done to Frodo, and he now understands why the Ring cannot stay in Gondor. He gives the travelers his blessing to leave, and shows them a secret way out through the sewers beneath Osgiliath. Faramir warns Frodo that the path Gollum wants him to take into Mordor holds a dark danger, but Frodo says he must go on regardless.
In the books… This is perhaps the gravest and most unnecessary change from the book. Faramir does not take the hobbits to Osgiliath. The Ringwraiths do not almost catch Frodo and the Ring—this, in fact, is quite problematic, because in The Return of the King Sauron is supposed to be afraid that the Ring is with the hobbit at Isengard. If a Ringwraith found the Ring at Osgiliath, wouldn’t he have been so kind as to inform his master? In the book Faramir realizes at Henneth Annun that the Ring is too dangerous for Men to keep, and he gives the hobbits fresh supplies and sends them on their way. He does come to suspect that Gollum is leading them to the pass at Cirith Ungol, and he gives Frodo a cryptic warning of the danger.
The Ending: The film concludes with Frodo and Sam following Gollum closer to Mordor. Much of this charming dialogue is taken straight out of the book. Of course, this is not the entire end of the book—this part of the story concludes with the hobbits sneaking passed the cursed vale of Minas Morgul, climbing up into the pass of Cirith Ungol, and encountering the spider-demon Shelob. Presumably this will be the opening of the third film.
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Author’s Comments
“The
Of
course, some things have to be changed or left out when turning a lengthy book
into a movie. “The
Unfortunately,
the screenplay for “The Two Towers” does fumble slightly in a way
similar to its predecessor. In
“The Fellowship of the Ring” the characters of Gandalf and Aragorn
are depicted as flawless leaders incapable of error. Gandalf perishes because he gives in to the
urging of his companions to risk the Mines of Moria (in the book it is Gandalf
himself who urges the Fellowship to go there); Aragorn nobly lets Frodo and the
Ring go (in the book Aragorn does not “let” them go—Frodo and
Sam flee because Aragorn cannot keep the Fellowship together). This interpretation weakened the humanity of
both characters, writing-out Gandalf’s folly of arrogance and
Aragorn’s failure of leadership.
“The
As
we came to expect from the first film, “The Two Towers” continues
to amaze us with gorgeous scenery, dazzling visual effects, breathtaking
cinematography, and brilliant direction (special mention must be given to Peter
Jackson’s work in the scene in which the two sides of Gollum debate each
other). The film is full of digital
effects, and most of them are astounding (the film’s opening is a special
treat for fans who always wanted to see the sword Glamdring put into real
action!). But the highest praise has to
given to the creation of Gollum (Andy Serkis), an all-digital main character
that has to do serious acting.
Especially considering the obnoxious or irritating track record set by
previous all-digital characters (Jar-Jar Binks, anyone?), Gollum is all the
more amazing: we can see actually emotions on his face, we can both pity and
loathe him, and we can sympathize with his internal struggle. I was afraid that no alternate Gollum could
ever replace the version planted in my head by the 1970s “The
Hobbit” animated film, but very quickly this Gollum became my new vision
of the character. The casting of real
people for this second “Lord of the Rings” was outstanding,
too. The actors from the first film
again prove their talent, and there are some excellent new additions. Brad Douriff is inspired as Grima Wormtongue,
John Rhys-Davies pulls off a marvelous double-role as Gimli and the voice of
Treebeard, and Miranda Otto is perfect as Eowyn (her low voice and slender
build are essential for her role in “The Return of the King”). In short, “The Two Towers” is
every bit as good a film as the first and is somewhat better—though far
from perfect—as an adaptation of Tolkien’s book.