Mood: Rambunctious
Music: True Faith, New Order
So, Andy and I were IMing a bit, discussing the fact that he just completed the Holy Trinity that is the Lord of the Rings trilogy on DVD, Director's Edition. (Side note: The actual Holy Trinity when discussing films are "Office Space," "Baseketball," and "Orgazmo." Just take my word for it. Ron Huber taught me that...and while I was initially a disbeliever, I must admit that I have since caught religion, and I believe. Now...about those TPS reports....)
Now, as far as I'm concerned, the first two of the trilogy are fine, fine movies. The casting is excellent, with the exception of Elrond, and that's only because we couldn't stop saying "Welcome to Rivendell, Mr. Baggins" in an Agent Smith voice. Hugo Weaving is basically done as an actor. Sorry, Hugo. These things happen when a decent actor plays the role of his life in a seminal masterpiece. Alan Rickman...great actor, right? He will always be cast in a frothing maniac role...between the Sheriff of Nottingham and Hans Gruber, he's done. Yippee Ki-Yay, Muthafucka. But I digress.
The story remained faithful, to a fairly decent point, and although some minor liberties were taken with the story and timing, mainly to emphasize some very subtle storylines which were very important, nothing was TOO out of place. And no one missed Tom Bombadil, anyway.
But in the third movie, all hell broke loose, in my mind. Yes, the battle is great, and yes, the chaos everywhere flows beautifully. But there's ONE THING...ONE THING...that shatters almost all of it for me.
Why does Frodo go on the boat with the elves?
WHY?!
OK, it goes without saying that this little fiasco of a scene does not appear in the books, nor is it even remotely hinted at. With that simple scene, you rip the heart out of the trilogy. What am I talking about? The trilogy is about sacrifice and love. It is only through great sacrifice and love that the story progresses as it does, and good wins over evil.
The sacrifices are everywhere. Bilbo must give up the Ring. Frodo must leave the shire. Gandalf DIES fighting the Balrog. Arwen gives up immortality and her family. Eowyn gives up her life and hope of being wife to Aragorn. The thousands of elves and humans that give their lives at Helm's Deep and again at Minas Tirith. And ultimately, Frodo gives his finger and the Ring.
This is no small amount of sacrifice.
Then why does the boat scene annoy me so? Because arguably the most poignant sacrifice is that of Arwen. She gives up immortality, her life, and all that she knows, to be with Aragorn. Her father, Elrond, knows that this is foolish...to be happy for the lifetime of a human, only to be unhappy forever after. Yet Arwen believes that it is worth it...and her father cannot stop the leaving of the elves for her. She will be left behind. There is no turning back. Her father gives his blessing, and leaves elves to guard her...but he leaves! Galadriel LEAVES. Elrond LEAVES. They are GONE. No more elves.
And Arwen is left to die with the humans. And a bunch of elves who decide to stay to honor the loyalty of the elves with the humans. This is no small sacrifice.
If Arwen goes, arguably, Eowyn is at Aragorn's side. You can debate that Aragorn would never have anyone again, but you can make a perfectly good argument that, but for Arwen, Eowyn is with Aragorn. If this happens, who slays the Witch King? It is Eowyn, no man, who slays the Witch King. With a hearty help from a hobbit, of course. But it is her.
It is Eowyn's sacrifice, made possible by Aragorn's rejection of Eowyn, made possible by Arwen's sacrifice, that allows the humans to win the day.
So naturally, at the end of the movie, Bilbo and Frodo get on a boat to go be with the Elves.
WHAT BOAT? ALL THE ELVES ARE GONE! The way is closed! Otherwise, why wouldn't Arwen just get on board too?! Why can't she go later? Sheesh.
By adding that absurd, unnecessary scene, replacing the hobbits going back to the shire to kick Saruman's ass again (as in the book) is just a huge letdown.
The cost has been paid...don't trivialize it by tying up a loose end with a pneumatic car welder.
The film SHOULD end with the hobbits going back to the shire, seeing all the horrible things that thugs and bandits have done to it at Saruman's behest, and the hobbits, who have changed drastically, deal with the problem all by themselves. The biggest journey, the hobbits learn, has been taken inside themselves. They are not scared or confused, nor do they need Gandalf to handle a wizard any longer. A huge journey from the start of the trilogy indeed.
But instead, they leave the hobbits sad, confused, and crying, with Frodo being enigmatically dazed as if he were drugged, climbing on board a boat with people who should be long gone.
How disappointing.
One should not mess with the great works in such a manner. If you're going to remain faithful, remain faithful. If you're not, do what they did with I, Robot. Gut the story, use the name, grab a premise, maybe, a couple of names from within, and build it from scratch. I'm not saying I, Robot is a great movie...it's not. But it is, at least, enjoyable.
I think I've calmed down enough now. More tomorrow.
Posted by Glenn at December 20, 2004 03:03 PM