a great story,but....

Rating: Null/10 (7 January 2004)

I noticed with interest (in fact a great deal of interest!!) that the movie is supposed 3hours and 30minutes. I timed the movie when i watched it in malaysia and it was 3hours and 07minutes. Where did 23minutes of the film went? Censorship is a normal occurrence in our country as we are such a diverse race of people we always have to be careful what we show on our screens to avoid raising sensitivities amongst the people. But censorship is usually confined to nudity and sexual scenes and perversions which i am positive were not in any scenes in this movie.
I am writing to clarify with any viewer:
01) was there a scene to show the defeated face of saruman as he was kept in his tower by the walking trees?
02) was there a scene where the black orb belonging to saruman was destroyed?
I came out of the theatre with my wife feeling that the movie although it was very absorbing at most times,it could have been more so had it had a tangible evil persona. Having an eye staring at me just did not get me angry and rooting to see it(the eye) being destroyed eventually.
I was so looking forward to see Arwen(liv tyler) at least have a dream sequence with Aragorn to boost his courage before he searched for help on the eve of the great battle, but it did not happen. I know and truly understand the importance of keeping true to the book, but could not the powers that be have inserted a dream sequence?