LOTR: The Two Towers

After I watched the extended version of The Two Towers all the way through, I went back to listen to commentary on selected scenes.

Writer Phillippa Boyens, Director/Writer/Producer Peter Jackson, and Writer/Producer Fran Walsh identified three deviations from the book:

1. The Ent-moot results in a decision to stay out of the war.

2. Faramir takes Sam and Frodo to Gonor, and orders that they - and the Ring of Power -be handed over to Denethor.

3. Eomer is not inside Helm's Deep when the fighting starts, but instead comes in with Gandalf from the east.

They pointed out that many people complained about items #1 and 2, but nobody seems to be bothered by #3, which is just as big a change. The subtext (I suppose) is that the "purists" aren't that pure; they just glom on to some changes but don't mind others. Boy, aren't these purists inconsistent or maybe even hypocritical?

My answer to the implied question is an unequivocal No. I see item #3 as very different in nature from items #1 and 2. Eomer's character is not changed by whether or not he is in Helm's Deep during the siege - he can be every bit as noble, loyal and brave either way.

But the character of the Ents and of Faramir is tarnished by their initial bad decisions in the movie. The Ents are more narrowly selfish and short-sighted in the movie; they don't have the wisdom or compassion to see the need for their involvement in the war (even to help their new friends) until they really take a good look at the southern edge of Fangorn.

Similarly, in the movie, Faramir basically falls under the spell of the Ring, not understanding its corrupting influence even when he hears about Boromir's fate. He is no real foil for Denethor and Boromir, but instead is cut from the same "Gondor first!" cloth. And he is childishly eager to win his father's favor by sacrificing Frodo and Sam, even when he starts to realize that what they say is true. He is not as mature or wise as he is in the book, and is unable to make the tough (but correct) choice to set Frodo, Sam and Gollum free until the chaos and distraction of a Nazgul attack.

So I can't speak for everyone, but my own complaint about the first two changes is that they undercut some otherwise interesting and complex characters by having them act out in response to simple and selfish reasons to do the wrong thing. The third change doesn't bother me because it doesn't raise those kinds of issues.