What gives with Galadriel?

Rating: 7/10 (21 December 2001)

One of the "holiest" characters in the book version of the Lord of the Rings is Galardriel. In the movie she comes off as, well, creepy.
What happened to the Old Forest and Tom Bombadil?
What gives with Bree? In the book it is a Homely House with good company and good cheer, albeit there is one or two unsavory characters present. In the movie it is more like a Hells Angels bar.
How is it that the Hobbits could easily outrun and outwit the Black Rider and yet we're supposed to scared silly of the likes of him. Later, Aragorn takes on all five and wins.
My guess as to why the Fellowship had such a hard time with the cave troll in Moria is that he was "poppin' fresh." Had he been less fresh, he'd be a little easier to subdue. Those who have seen the movie know what I mean.
Sam acts far too much like Frodo's peer in the movie. I'm not sure that he ever called his master "Frodo" in the book unless it was something like "my dear Frodo." Typically it was Master or Master Frodo. Further, in the book Sam is rather "cockney" in a most endearing way.
What of Gimli's adoration and love of Galadriel?
Could the introduction of Merry and Pippin into the "Fellowship" while still in the Shire be more clumsy? They "happened" to stumble upon the other hobbits and then join up with them?
Believe it or not, I appreciate the way Arwen was substituted for Glorfindel on near Weathertop. I was fearful that her introduction to the plot would be a blatant and overly sweet attempt to lure the fairer sex to the movie. As it is, it works.
The balrog was great. The snows of the pass were great (but in the book, unless I'm mistaken, they were NOT a product of Saruman's conjuring). The creature in the pool before the gates of Moria was superb. Using the battle of the Last Alliance as an introduction to the movie was an excellent way to introduce the importance and history of the ring, allowing the movie to proceed without the intrusion of a narrator's voice. Jackson did a splendid job of representing the short stature of the hobbits. It was nearly seamless. Orcs? Yuck, yet perfect. Gollum? We'll really have wait and see.
Ok, I gave the movie a "7" because I am so familiar with the original story and really miss the fine points that gave the story such depth, feeling, and spiritual sensibilities. Had I not been familiar with the original work, I suppose I would have rated it "9." After all, the ending is WEAK. Tolkien never intended the work to be divided into three parts. That was entirely a product of the publishing houses' insistence. I'm guessing that the ending will leave some viewers flat. I also suspect that having the next installment come out in 6 months rather that a year would be much appreciated.
Still loved it.