The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy Improves on the Book

I appreciate Pro's arguments and position, but strongly hold that the books written by Tolkein are far superior to the movie renditions. Indeed, conflict is important to a story, but conflict as it is presented in time-limited movies is often rushed, and quickly resolved. In the Lord of the Rings novels, conflict is drawn-out, tormenting characters in a real way, and being a driving force in their growth and development.The books contain a living, breathing world. There is a real sense that things are happening everywhere in the world, not just in what the author is telling us. There are intersecting plots, realistic character development, and possibly the most importantly, there is a great deal of appreciation for life, freedom, and beauty. There is song, dance, and poetry. It is a beautiful world the reader can get lost in, compared to a captivating story for a viewer to watch.-----Aragorn-----First, I will speak to the issue of Aragorn taking up his birthright. The sword wasn't reforged in the novels until the council of Elrond. His task at the time was the most important task among the people of Middle-Earth; to escort the Ring to Mt. Doom. Pro's assertion that Aragorn took the sword but didn't 'step up' is unfounded, as destroying the Ring was much more important than taking the throne.Pro also states that the forging of the sword in the movies means more, but in reading the books, there is truly a much greater story, greater struggles, and greater meaning to this event. Imagine if the fellowship had arrived at Rivendell only 5 minutes into the movie. There would be even less meaning. Essentially this is what happened from the books to the movie; the story was cut short, and the meaning as well, due to time-constraints.In addition, Aragorn put off claiming the crown until Sauron was dealt with, as he knew that his claim would likely be contested, and cause strife and division among men at a time when they were fighting for survival. He showed his wisdom in doing so. This wasn't, as Pro states, 'no reason at all'.-----Tom Bombadil-----Tom Bombadil is an important part of the Lord of the Rings story. He is one instance of a great and mysterious world, that doesn't revolve around Hobbits. Not only that, but the journey through the Old Forest is tremendously important to the growth of the Hobbits. They start out wide-eyed and innocent, but the conflicts they run into in the Old Forrest and Barrow-Downs help prepare them for the rest of their journey, instead of the movie's adaptation of them walking out of the shire and hiding from one of the most powerful servants of Sauron by sitting under a tree-root.As for Tom Bombadil proper, he is, as I said, part of the mystery, story, and wonder of Middle-Earth. These wonderful details are the breath of a living, breathing world. Without supporting characters, intersecting plot-lines, and history, the Lord of the Rings would be reduced to a battle of will between a Hobbit and Sauron. This speaks to our lives. We have our most important goals, but no matter how much we try to focus on them, other things happen. There are distractions and set-backs. This is the human condition; chasing our goals in imperfect conditions.-----Faramir----- As I have said, one of the greatest feats in the Lord of the Rings novels is the scope involved. Tolkein created a world in which there is a sense that the world lives on outside of the story. Faramir is an example of an encounter that gives the reader a taste of another great story, the story of Faramir.First, Faramir is not a normal man. He is descended from the Numenorean, like Aragorn. As such, he is privy to not only a longer life, but to greater personal characteristics. One great example of the strength of Faramir comes in his reply when Frodo asks him if he(Faramir) had been attempting to ensnare Frodo with his questioning. Faramir replied `I would not snare even an orc with a falsehood.'. Faramir serves as a reminder that the power of evil(the Ring), is not instantaneously, all-encompassingly corrupting. We know Frodo to be struggling after carrying the Ring with him for as long as he had been, and that contrasts with Faramir's ability to resist. This speaks directly to the human character. We can resist temptation. The more we are faced with a temptation, we can become weakened, but we always have the strength to resist.As to the idea of creating conflict, Tolkein included Faramir's personal conflict in the story: "I should now take you back to Minas Tirith to answer there to Denethor, and my life will justly be forfeit, if I now choose a course that proves ill for my city. So I will not decide in haste what is to be done. Yet we must move hence without more delay." This was included in Osgiliath in the movie, but not as powerfully as it came from one of Faramir's men, rather than from his own mouth. Later, as he spoke with Frodo, Faramir said "But fear no more! I would not take this thing, if it lay by the highway. Not were Minas Tirith falling in ruin and I alone could save her, so, using the weapon of the Dark Lord for her good and my glory. No. I do not wish for such triumphs, Frodo son of Drogo.". Faramir, knowing the penalty on his own life, understood the nature of the Ring, and understood the tragedy it would bring if he took it. While he desired to defend his people as best he could, he had the wisdom to choose the better path. What intrigue is there in a story where all human wisdom and courage is for nought? Certainly, if the Ring were so powerful as to overcome a decendent of Numenor in a matter of hours, then no man, hobbit, dwarf, or elf would be able to resist as long as the fellowship did. The movie's rendition of Faramir brings a great contradiction into the movie as to the influence of the Ring.-----The Battle of Pellenor Fields-----The battle for Minas Tirith is severely reduced in meaning in the movie rendition. Men defend against Sauron's armies, but fail. They are only saved at the last minute by an invincible army of spirits. Where is the human connection in that? Where is the human triumph?In the books, men are losing the battle, but Aragorn shows up with his companions and a host of men. This turns the battle in men's favor, and men(not spirits) win the day. This speaks to the human spirit, as we can overcome any obstacle we face.-----The Conclusion-----The movie renditions fail tremendously in how they handled the end of the story. The Lord of the Rings isn't a 'happily-ever-after' fairy-tale that can fit in 20 pages of a child's storybook. The Lord of the Rings is an epic tale, a living, breathing world, where life will never stop. I will expand in later rounds on the problems with what was left out of the ending in the movies.