"Whinging" about "interpretation" of the book?

Rating: Null/10 (20 December 2001)

I saw the movie on opening day, with a packed (of course!) theater.
To the person who complained that people were "whinging" about the movie's interpretation of the book being different from their own: we're not talking about an interpretation of the books. We're talking about events that actually happened in the books being changed for what seems to us to be not a very good reason. The things that stuck out in my mind were: (1) Arwen's replacement of Glorfindel (it would have been fine with me if she just took his place in the action of the book, but having her ride Frodo across the river and then unleash the river's power herself really ruined what was for me a moment in the books that characterized Frodo's strength of spirit, when he crossed the river alone, almost dead, and not knowing that there were powers on the other side that could control the river); (2) Merry and Pippin not being in on the journey from the start; and (3) No mention of Gimli's entrancement with Galadriel.
The movie already dragged, I thought, so goodness knows I wouldn't have wanted to lengthen it, but these things would have taken a minute or two to establish and they would have explained characters and motivations that continue through all three books. A few minutes could have come out of some of the battle scenes.
I also thought the movie became something like "wizards and elves and men go on a quest and take along some hobbits and a dwarf" rather than showing the strength and pluckiness of hobbits, but maybe that will come through in the later movies.
That said, I thought the movie was gorgeous and some of the acting was very fine. I won't be rushing to see this again, though.