[Cheeze]

I enjoyed so much of these movies, and where they were strong they were unbelievably fantastic!! All three are simply beautiful to watch and enjoy, and do justice to this story.

Tom Bombadil's section I have come to enjoy more and more as I re-read these books. But there is no way that some guy who looks like he's come right out of Oktoberfest, sings and dances everywhere AND somehow is the most powerful being in Middle Earth really fits in the movie. A friend pointed out the image of Bombadil holding the ring and his blue eye showing through it, in contrast to Sauron's red eye.

Changing Faramir was a let-down. I have read articles where they thought making him a more flawed character made him more interesting to see grow over the two movies. The movie does capture the relationship between Faramir and Denethor, but pursues it differently than the books. Denethor comes off far worse in the movies, and I hope the Extended DVD shows him with the palantir.

My biggest complaint with the films was with Gimli. He is little more than a comic relief character, always the butt of the joke and always in jeopardy. I would like to have seen that oliphant slaying scene done by him rather than Legolas, to give some impression of the strength of the dwarves. Then Legolas could have said "That counts only as one" and see Gimli fume over it.