What YOU would have done differently

[Elfhelm]

So you didn't like Arwen substituted for Glorfindel carrying a passed-out Frodo fleeing from the Ringwraiths?

So you didn't like the side trip to Osgiliath?

Yes, you would have done it differently, but HOW EXACTLY?!

I mean, who would you cast for Glorfindel's little cameo?

How would you show the suffering of Gondor during TTT?

What should Faramir have done?


So here's my first shot - Faramir's memory.

Faramir asks Frodo how Boromir dies, Frodo is shocked! We look in Faramir's eyes and fade to the river where Boromir floats by slowly ghostly white in the moonlight on the elf boat. Back to Faramir's eyes.

Or here's another - Faramir with Gandalf.

Gandalf goes to Gondor to look into the history of the Ring. In the library, scrolls spread out every which way, a young man is helping him. Later we come to realise this is Faramir.

Oh just one more - Sam puts his foot in it!

Sam blurts out the word Ring accidentally! Faramir gives a sly grin.
Sam: A chance for Faramir to show his honor (I hope I remembered that right).
Faramir: So this is it, Isildur's Bane. I'll have none of it. (I would use the text from the book which is sooooo cool!)


OK, who's next?

Remember, this is not where we argue THAT is should be different, that's a different thread. Say what you would do if you were a screenwriter.

[WhackoJacko]

Man, if Jackson had Glorfindel in the first film, he would have gotten killed at helm's Deep and imagine the uproar :D

[Gwaimir Windgem]

I would probably have had Sean Bean play Faramir, too, as I seem to remember Frodo thinking it was Boromir whom he saw before him.

[WhackoJacko]

it was Pippin and Merry who nearly cried out "boromir" when faramir entering minas tirith....

Screenplay:

Sean bean slowly turns to the camera removing the hood of his cloak.

Sam: Boro.....

Faramir: Boromir? How do you know Boromir?

Frodo: He was our companion. I was his friend
for my PART

Faramir: Many a night a dream come to me (flashback to a ship baring Boromir over the river)

Faramir: Boromir was my brother.....


PS> notice no "and who my you be?? his butler?? :D NO, his gardener" BS

[Elfhelm]

I would show Theodred's death at the First Battle of the Fords of Isen, complete with four companies of riders led by a very dashing Elfhelm arriving too late to save him. This same fellow, who I obviously like, will later help a certain Durnhelm and feature strongly among the warriors in the other battles. We the fans should at least have been able to pick him out from among Eomer's companions.

And my Aragorn would pick up a falling banner, if only as a symbolic gesture!

[Elf Girl]

Originally posted by WhackoJacko
Man, if Jackson had Glorfindel in the first film, he would have gotten killed at helm's Deep and imagine the uproar :D
If Jackson had killed Glorfindel at Helms Deep, I, with the help of Willow, would personally have tortured that infamous director for nine days, at which point we would burn him to death.

Fortunately for Jackson, he did not have Glorfindel die in Helms Deep.

I'm almost happy they left him out, he would never be satisfying to me.

In my flight to the Ford, there would be a flashback to Rivendell showing Gandalf and Elrond summoning floods.

[Sheeana]

What would I have done? Let's see: NOT made a movie in the first place?

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Somehow, I knew that was what you would say. ;)

[Sheeana]

That's what I get for being so damned freakingly predictable.

[Lizra]

Yes, Aragorn needs to pick up that banner! Amen!

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Originally posted by Sheeana
That's what I get for being so damned freakingly predictable.

:D

[galadriel]

Originally posted by Gwaimir Windgem
I would probably have had Sean Bean play Faramir, too, as I seem to remember Frodo thinking it was Boromir whom he saw before him. I think that would be too confusing. While they certainly looked alike, especially to two hobbits who weren't familliar with the Gondorian genotype, they surely didn't look *that* much alike. Personally, I think the actor who plays Faramir looks enough like Boromir to pass as his brother... although I think he should have had much darker hair. It was described as "raven" in the book, right? I'm sure his coloring was chosen to differentiate him from the other tall dark-haired characters, but it was a tad unnecessary.

Okay, so I don't like much else about Faramir... but I'm hoping that the extended version will prove him to be something other than a second Boromir.

[Balrog_of_Morgoth]

Gil-Galad would have played a strong part in the prologue and had mention at the Council of Elrond and at Lothlorien.

Glorfindel would have been there...

Gandalf would have been featured more heavily in TTT

Eomer would have had more screen time just because he really worked well for that part.

Saruman would be more dignified. He seems to petty in the movies. You really don't get a sense for how great he once was. He should have been a more "classy" thug.

[Anglorfin]

The biggest thing I would have done is make Faramir's character more book-accurate. That little Minas Tirith scene with Gandalf was a good idea too. After that Frodo would mention at their parting that Faramir does remind him more of Gandalf than anyone else.

I would not have broguht Elves to Helm's Deep. Instead Eomer would offer his service to Theoden again once the curse was lifted and they would go to Helm's Deep together so Eomer and Aragorn could draw sword together. As for the ending of the battle I'd have the Ents crashing into the rear of the Orc armies as Theoden charged out of the Hornburg.

[Sween]

I thought fellowship was fine a great transition from film to book not much wrong there!

Two towers on the other hand was all wrong.

It starts off well enough i though nice Galdalf balrog fight. The story lines were set up well enough only bone of contention could of made a point about orcs from mordor!

Sam and Frodo is fine until they meet farimir (well apart from that stupid sam falling off a rock scean)

the real problem with the film is the Aragorn Legolas and Gimli story. The role of theoden is all wrong. He was a great man full of strength. I wasnt too affended by Gandalf realeasing him from his spell. But as soon as he was healed they shpould of been right off to war. 'what must be done' thats not a right quote is it? Ne way nevermind. He wasted a good hour building up to helms deep with the silly warg attack and aragorn falling opff that rock. The riders should of been stright off to war forward eorlings and all that chased up the dike to helms deep would of been awesome. No Elves either deminished Rohan. Hours as well in the battle would also be good.

The ents should of decided to attack Isengard stright off and hourns as well ents by themselsves suck i wanna see a whole forest move.

By the end of the movie we should of had the voice of saurman etc.

Now frodo and Faramir he was allwrong he should of just sent them on there way there was no need to go to osgiliath its and awefull scean! The movie should of ended with them on the stairs looking at the Morgal hord pour out of Minus morgal and the witch king unhooded looking up at the stairs.Now that would of been a cliffhanger

[Dreran the Green]

For one thing, the ents shoulda gone straight off to war....And THEY SHOULD HAVE SUNG THEIR WAR SONG! Did anyone else miss the war song of the ents?? And Pippin and Merry should have met Gandalf the White the way they do in the book, he should have ridden up and stopped right in front of them.....

Pippin: ..............Gandalf????

Gandalf: Get up you tomfool of a Took! Where, in the name of wonder, in all this ruin is Treebeard. I want him. Quick!

*storms off looking for Treebeard leaving two very happy, very confused hobbits alone*

Well that's what I think anyway:D

[Bombadillo]

THey didn't sing it!? That was the second best part of the series! There was no reason to cut that out, or M & P's meeting with Gandalf... damn Peter Jackson.

[Elfhelm]

I would have the future "The Took" and future "Master of the Hall" drink Entwash and grow a bit taller.

[Lalaith]

I would have had Pippin and Merry doing the conspiracy together with Sam.
Sam would have gone to Buckland with Frodo and there he would have met Pippin and Merry and they would have parted together.

[azalea]

Yeah, the elimination of that part was one of the most lamentable to me.:( I understand why, because of time constraints, but they cut out so much of book one!

[Elfhelm]

What fun it would be if -

Movie 1: Everything up to arriving at Rivendell.
Movie 2: All the hobbit things done up till the Return.
Movie 3: The Scouring.

Now THAT's hobbit-centric!

And we'd get to reuse that gorgeous Shire set. :D :D :D

[Wayfarer]

I'd have made it in six films, each 2-2.5 hours long, following the original outline Tolkien wrote in. That way:

Film 1: Begins with the long expected party, ends as Frodo collapses unconscious at the ford.
Film 2: Begins with Frodo waking up at rivendell, ends with him leaving the fellowship.
Film 3: Begins with the three hunters, ends with Gandalf riding for Gondor
Film 4: Begins with Frodo and Sam, ends with Sam thinking Frodo is dead.
Film 5: Begins with Gandalf's arrival at gondor, ends at the black gates.
Film 6: Begins with sam in Cirith Ungol, ends with him saying 'well, I'm back'.

Admittedly, there would be problems doing it that way, especially in the middle where there are two seperate storylines. Nevertheless, I love the way tolkien ends every single book save the last with a cliffhanger. :P Yep, I'm a sadist.

[mithrand1r]

I can accept most of the events in the shire upto Bree. ( I think it was done well for the most part)

I would like to add the following:

After Biblo leaves from his 111th Birthday party.

Have a brief scene with Gandalf & Frodo indicating that Bilbo left Frodo Bad End and other items.

Then Go to a scene of hobitts at an inn. (could even make it similar to the discussion between Sam and the Miller's son) During the discussion have a reference to Bilbo's departure 17 years earlier

After Discussion move to Bag End, with Gandalf returning to Bag End to meet with Frodo and have the discussion of the ring.

Although I was not completely pleased with the speed of events from Bag End to Bree I can accept most of the cahnges except for these two items:

(1) when the Black Rider was looking for the Hobbits while ther were "hiding" under the tree.

(2) The escape of the hobbits via the ferry.

(1) Although this made for a dramatic and nerveracking scene, it would have made more sense to me if there was more distance between the Black Rider and the hobbits. Although the Black Rider could not "see" as we do, the Black Rider's horse could see. The Black Rider could use what his horse saw and "see" the hobbits.

(2) I would have like the Ferry scene better if the ferry was further away from the western shore before the Black Rider appeared. In the way the movie showed the scene, I was left wondering why did not the Black Rider's horse jump the distance between the shore and the raft. A horse could have made the jump. I would also think that a Black Rider would be willing to risk much in his pursuit of the hobbits and what they carry.

At Bree I could live with most of the Scene. I would spend more time after Fordo's disapearing trick with Aragorn trying to convince the hobbits into accepting him as a guide.
=============================================
This would be a start of how I would film the movie differently.

When I think about other parts more carefully, I'll put my thoughts down.

Sincerely,
Anthony
:cool:

[Elvengirl]

Well, if PJ could learn how to duplicate I wouldn't have any complaints. But to add to everything that has been said

I wish Aragorn had revealed himself in Bree with his poem:
All that is gold does not glitter..........

One little thing I wish I had seen was Legolas riding bareback on Arod.

I'll think of more.......hmmmmmmmm..........

[Lalaith]

Originally posted by Wayfarer
I'd have made it in six films, each 2-2.5 hours long, following the original outline Tolkien wrote in. That way:

Film 1: Begins with the long expected party, ends as Frodo collapses unconscious at the ford.
Film 2: Begins with Frodo waking up at rivendell, ends with him leaving the fellowship.
Film 3: Begins with the three hunters, ends with Gandalf riding for Gondor
Film 4: Begins with Frodo and Sam, ends with Sam thinking Frodo is dead.
Film 5: Begins with Gandalf's arrival at gondor, ends at the black gates.
Film 6: Begins with sam in Cirith Ungol, ends with him saying 'well, I'm back'.

Admittedly, there would be problems doing it that way, especially in the middle where there are two seperate storylines. Nevertheless, I love the way tolkien ends every single book save the last with a cliffhanger. :P Yep, I'm a sadist.
uh, that would have been soo cool
And definitely non-main-public-but-pro-tolkien-fans

[elf queen]

Well I think I would have Shealob in TTT.

[Aewionen]

1.I wouldnt have made the character haldir die at the battle of helms deep
2.The whole thing with Faramir being somewhat "evil"
3. had Shelob in TTT
4. I heard that PJ wasnt going to do the scouring of the shire and if he doesnt, i would have done it the way Tolkien wrote it.

PJ is still an awesome director though!! GO PJ!!
:D :D

[Elvellon]

What YOU would have done differently?


I didn't saw TTT, so I can’t answer your question. :p :D

[Lollypopgurl]

Elvellon- You haven't seen TT?! :eek:

I wasn't too happy about the Arwen-rescuing-Frodo thing, but Glorfindel is one of my favorite Elves. I don't want him to be in the movies unless he's absolutely perfect. :p

I would DEFINATELY make the Ents sing in TT. But I would still keep the singing that was there for Gimli's running-up-to-horn scene.

Also, I would make Faramir a lot nicer with flashbacks of his childhood with Boromir etc.

[Aewionen]

Yeah, I agree Lollypopgurl, that would be cool if Faramir had the whole flashback thing. And Glorfindel should have saved Frodo. I would also liked to have seen even a little of Tom Bombadill. Like the hobbits hear him singing his song or something.
PJ is still cool.:p

[galadriel]

Originally posted by Aewionen
3. had Shelob in TTT:D :D Nah... although I was looking forward to Shelob, in retrospect, the book ending would leave an audience absolutely paralyzed with horror. The movie ending was enough of a cliffhanger to do the job without scaring the socks off everyone.

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Don't forget, the people had to wait for a long time for RotK to come out in book form; they would have been subjected to the horrific paralysis. ;)

[Ararax]

OMG that would be horrible, id read TT 500 times jsut to keep form goign crazy waiting for ROTK

[Gwaimir Windgem]

If I am correct, that would require a little under one reading a day. Not sure if that's a humanly achievable feat. ;) 'Sides, it'd ruin any future readings for good. :(

[Elf Girl]

I could do that. I read HP 5 in 14 hours.

But I wouldn't want to.

[galadriel]

Originally posted by Elf Girl
I could do that. I read HP 5 in 14 hours.
Eh? Don't you mean HP 4? Or have you blackmailed Rowling into shipping you an early copy? :D

Yes, you're right that, back in the 50's, readers had to suffer through the long wait between TTT and RotK. Don't know how they did it. I think I would have driven everyone around me crazy, speculating on all the possible ways the story could end.

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Originally posted by Elf Girl
I could do that. I read HP 5 in 14 hours.

But I wouldn't want to.

But could you do it 500 times in a row? ;)

[Tuor of Gondolin]

I found a reference to this old thread (by Elfhelm) so, even though some may be repetitious, here goes:

1- Flight to the Ford---When they get to the ford Frodo (in place of weak Arwen movie line)waves sword and says "By Elbereth and Luthien the Fair, you shall have neither the Ring nor Me." Raises stature of Frodo, takes no more time to do, and Arwen can still steal Elrond's summoning of the river.

2-Hobbit "conspiracy". Granted, Fatty Bolger is out. But, instead of ridiculously improbable meeting of merry and Pippin with Sam and Frodo in Maggot's fields have P. and M. upset having to wash dishes, watch Bagend and see Frodo, Sam, and Gandalf go, say "Sam will botch it up" so they follow to protect Frodo. Then meet in Maggot's field or road, admit concern over Frodo's strange behavior and volunteer to accompany them.

3-Theoden's exorcism---Just have it more low key, treated more like Theoden waking from a bad dream {in the movie you had to be thankful they didn't have Theoden's head spinning around).

4-Ents attack. Entmoot decides to attack. If Merry, Pippin screen time needed let them give a speech about protecting the Shire, forests, etc. (Oh yeah, if they do, make sure no mention is made of the Brandybucks umm, history, with the Old Forest.

5-Cut out 10 minutes of Helms Deep, add 10 minutes to Ent events. This would be a deliberate change of pace and would give, especially to a non-book viewer, a better understanding of the Ents and Fangorn. But I have doubts PJ could pull off such a concept, rather alien to his view of constant fast action, but an occasional change of pace could be effective.

[hectorberlioz]

I would have opened TTT directly with the orcs carrying merry and pippin.

[Elfhelm]

Those are great suggestions. I misremembered. There are a lot of good suggested differences here. :)

One of the things I wanted was a flashback for Faramir to finding his brother's body floating by. It seems that will be in the extended edition now.

My main difference. When we first see Gandalf investigating the One Ring in Gondor, I would have had Faramir assisting. Then when Sam blurts out about the Ring and let's the cat out of the bag, Faramir would flash back to that moment and the viewers would put two and two together. Then Faramir will show his true character and give the hobbits the aid they need.

[galadriel]

Originally posted by hectorberlioz
I would have opened TTT directly with the orcs carrying merry and pippin.
Nah... the start of TTT was too cool as it was. Possibly I'm just a sucker for cool graphics, but the very fact that it was unexpected added to the excitement. I knew what was going to happen: but PJ was showing it in a new, different, and somehow appropriate way.

I agree with a lot of the comments, though... especially the idea of seeing Faramir at the beginning of Fellowship. Most non-book fans wouldn't connect the dots, but it would still be a nice touch. As for the change in his character... hopefully the extended version will at least give him some more depth!

[azalea]

Discussion in the other thread about Gandalf's imprisonment on Orthanc made me think of a new way I might have done it:

Instead of showing the scenes of him talking to Saruman, I might have had this:
The four hobbits in The Prancing Pony, and a reference is made (concern:"where is Gandalf?"). At that moment, we get a sweeping shot of Orthanc (no need to be told what it is -- readers will know, and it will add to the mystery for the nonreaders), and zoom in on Gandalf at the top.
Then we could still have the scene where he whispers to the moth, either at that point or later when Aragorn tells them he doesn't know where Gandalf is or something. Then when he is sitting at Frodo's bedside we can have the same scene when Saruman confronts him up there about joining him (maybe a little more dialogue to est. that this is Saruman who = "the head of my order" that we already heard Gandalf tell Frodo he was going to see) , blah, blah, then the same shot of him jumping off and leaving on Gwaihir. Then at the council a line or two regarding his imprisonment, and that combined with the dialogue w/ Elrond should be plenty.
(Note: I actually liked the wizard's duel, but I probably would have done something more like this, if I had made the movie. I think the way it was done does more to establish Saruman's character and motive right then, but I would have just done it with the other character's dialogue.)

[Black Breathalizer]

Your approach would have been okay azalea except that Jackson had additional film needs to address.

He had to introduce the audience to the whole idea of Saruman building his own orc army in Isengard. And, in the interest of saving time, he also had to establish the relationship between Saruman and Sauron.

[azalea]

The scenes that he had with Saruman building the orc army and all that ("what does the eye command," etc.) would have all been in there, I think. I was just refering to the meeting between Gandalf and Saruman, and Gandalf being imprisoned. (The way I imagine this is as if I were a co-writer with PJ, but that I was also the director, so that I would still have had his input -- basically using the films as they exist as the starting point -- but that the final result would be what I wanted, hence, "what would YOU have done differently." If I were to start writing the movie from scratch, I would probably do it more differently still.)

[Elfhelm]

Originally posted by Black Breathalizer
Your approach would have been okay azalea except that Jackson had additional film needs to address.

I must insist that this thread is not for arguing pro- or con- any PJ decisions. It is for brainstorming your own creative ideas. Shooting down other ideas is anathema to creativity. Please do that on your own thread. Thanks.

[hectorberlioz]

Nah... the start of TTT was too cool as it was. Possibly I'm just a sucker for cool graphics, but the very fact that it was unexpected added to the excitement. I knew what was going to happen: but PJ was showing it in a new, different, and somehow appropriate way.

But hey, this thread is about what we would have done differently;)

[Beor]

I would've kept Eomer with Aragorn, and Had Erkenbrand show up at Helms deep, but that was already mentioned anyway (that part kind of irks me).

Mainly, though, I would've included the part in The Fellowship of the Ring where the Hobbits and Aragorn look across the plain to Weathertop and seen the fires. I have always liked the sort of suggestive mystery of that part.

(and, though the music is excellent, I like James Horner better than Howard Shore)

[hectorberlioz]

NO! please dont suggest james horner. howard shore did an excellant job.

[thranduil]

jackson said that he cut bombadil because it didn't add to the progression of the ring. so why does he have 1/3 of the film on helms deep? i would cut helms deeps screen time and made more depth to treebeards charachter. Along with making a more respetcfull charachter out of gimli, instead of making a joke out of him

[hectorberlioz]

jackson said that he cut bombadil because it didn't add to the progression of the ring. so why does he have 1/3 of the film on helms deep? i would cut helms deeps screen time and made more depth to treebeards charachter. Along with making a more respetcfull charachter out of gimli, instead of making a joke out of him
Thats true, but this thread is about what we would have done differently;)

[Elfhelm]

If I could do whatever I want, it would have been 6 movies, or even 7 with the Hobbit as prologue. Then Tom Bombadil in the Book I and Book VI movies would make sense.

[thranduil]

imagine if they did a marathon for your movies. Better bring your sleeping bags!

[Elf Girl]

That would be awesome. So if we've got 7 three hour movies, that's 21 hours. Throw in another movie for the Sil, and that's a whole day. :D

[hectorberlioz]

Now that would be cool:)

[Brimstone]

make 6 movies.

[Elfhelm]

Originally posted by Elf Girl
That would be awesome. So if we've got 7 three hour movies, that's 21 hours. Throw in another movie for the Sil, and that's a whole day. :D

Sil... now that is about a dozen movies by itself!!! But that's another thread. hehehe

[squinteyedsoutherner]

I really missed the suspense particularly of the first book. I don't remember a lot of things about the very first time I read the story, but the suspense left a big impression on me. I think maybe sometimes we forget what it was like to read the book for the first time.

-Who is this mystery man in the shire asking about baggins?

-Where is Gandalf?

-Who is the "big person" on the horse?

-Why is he sniffing?

-Why is Maggot surprised to see a Baggins in his lane?

-Is it the same rider, the second time or another?

-Is the rider even a man at all?

-Why is Gildor so afraid to give advice?

-What does Butterbur know?

-What will Frodo learn at the Pony?

-Is Strider a good guy?

-Is the letter from Gandalf real?

-Is this the real Strider?

-Are the wraiths going to attack again at Weathertop?
(Weathertop could have been a real nail biter.)

etc etc etc


I think in general, the screenplay let the audience in too quickly on many points.

I would kill for a chance to read the book again for the first time.