I demand some explanations from Peter Jackson

Rating: 8/10 (7 January 2003)

I hadn't read the story until last summer. I read it all. I hadn't given it a second look by the time Two Towers came out. One thing about the storyline needs to be addressed ASAP: THERE WERE NO ELVES AT HELM'S DEEP! Nowhere in the text are any more than one elf, Legolas, even mentioned. There is no mention of the Last Alliance of Men and Elves at the defeat of Sauron, like in the prologue of Fellowhip. Eowyn was not at Helm's Deep, but that addition to the story is understandable, it makes female parts bigger. There is no mention of the Entwash and no mention of when Merry and Pippin drink from it, they end up being four or five inches taller than they were before drinking the water. The Entmoot was smaller in the movie, but digital characters take a lot of time to render, so that is understandable as well. I think that New Line and the producers of this movie messed big time even before releasing the movie. They showed Gandalf in the trailers. That is one of the best parts of all the Middle Earth stories, when Gandalf comes back from death and you think it's Saruman. By showing in the trailers that he is alive, it removes almost all of the suspense. I think that this was an idea of the people of New Line more than it was on the part of Mr. Jackson. I think he would have realized this but New Line had the final say. I hope this was the case. I give this theatrical version an 8 out of ten because of all the missing stuff and craptacular addition of the elves at Helm's Deep.