There is a (simple) reason for all the changes!

Rating: Null/10 (5 January 2003)

I´ve read so many reviews concerning the plot changes concerning this movie. So many fans were disappointed. Certainly most people (especially in the first view) do not understand WHY PJ and his co-writers did it. I was confused as anyone. Viewing the movie for a second time gave me a clue...
My thesis is that THEY TRIED TO REPEAT OR AT LEAST ECHO CENTRAL PLOT ELEMENTS OF PART I!!!
Parallels to "The Fellowship" are at least (I´m convinced there are still a lot more to discover):

Frodo falling two times into the "ghost world" with the green spherical light.

the exorcism of Theoden as a duel with Saruman (fight of the wizards in Orthanc in Part I)

the threat of a nazgul early in the film (quite smaller though but remember the introduction of Gollum is also a threat to the ringbearer!)

the attack of the warg-riders as a parallel to the orc-attack in Moria (Just to throw some action in???)

Aragorn falling down an abyss with a creature and eventually dying (like Gandalf in Part I but saved earlier because he needs to be at Helms Deep!)

Arwen "rescueing" Aragorn. (After rescuing Frodo in Part I.)

the appearance of Elronds home and the "love story" in the middle of the film

the narrator speech of Galadriel

a "good guy" dying in the end battle (This time its the elf Haldir instead of Boromir in TFOTR and one reason to kick a guy into the end battle that doesn´t appear in the book and isn´t central to the plot.)

Frodo in danger to lose the ring of power to Faramir (the "Boromir" of Part II and the reason why he´s a different character than in the book.)

the somehow "cheesy" speeches in the last part of the film this time by Sam. (Unavoidable???)

the movie ending with the 2 Hobbits facing to get into Mordor with a clear reference to the end pictures of Part I (The main reason why Cirith Ungol and Shelob were left over for ROTK.)

There are some thoughtful references in Part I you can understand now. Remember the shock when Bilbo tried to get the ring in Part I at Elronds home? Remember the face and the teeth? A thoughtful display of what might happen to the weak ringbearer. We saw the Gollum in Bilbo!
Excuse my BAD english but maybe the ideas are useful.
My personal score ist 7 out of 10 for an excellent action movie blockbuster.

Jens Flottmann
PS: If you love to see a monumental literature film that manages to create a world and a meaning of its own go for "Once Upon A Time in America" one of my personal favourites and a true work of art.