| I would never say that Peter Jackson should not | | | | of an Indiana Jones movie. It seems that such |
| have made The Lord of the Rings trio of movies | | | | scenes have become obligatory in movies these |
| but the biggest mistake by far was not making | | | | days. The actual encounter between Gandalf and |
| the fourth. Not making The Hobbit while they had | | | | the Balrog on the bridge of Khazad-Dum held true |
| all of the actors, locations, sets and props was a | | | | to the book. The scene that I found most |
| huge mistake. Do not get me wrong. I am not | | | | objectionable was the battle in the fields of Pelinor |
| blaming Peter Jackson. It was probably a hard | | | | when Legolas surfs down the trunk of an |
| enough sell to convince the powers that be to do | | | | elephant-like Mumakil. I was totally engrossed until |
| the trilogy no matter how popular the stories are | | | | that jarred me back into reality.The trilogy also |
| in print. Still, every time I watch one of the films, | | | | succumbed to the modern practice of selling |
| I find myself saying, "If only they had made The | | | | movie-related items. Replicas of the swords, |
| Hobbit!"New Zealand was an excellent choice for | | | | helmets and shields used by the characters in the |
| location. There is widespread agreement that the | | | | movie are one example. We added this licensed |
| Middle Earth we experienced in the film was an | | | | line to our new internet business and, upon |
| entirely believable realm. The wide variety of | | | | investigation, found some interesting things. |
| terrain in the country made it ideal. The | | | | Returning to the books, we found that there is no |
| landscapes, even when not enhanced, were often | | | | reference to any Sword of Arwen called |
| breathtaking.There were however, as always | | | | Hadhafang. We know that Eowyn uses a sword |
| seems to be the case with movies, certain | | | | but there is no description of it. Most of the |
| liberties taken that departed from the books. The | | | | swords being sold were created just for the |
| uninitiated would not know but they did not | | | | movie. Narsil and Anduril do exist in the books as |
| escape the notice of true Tolkein mavens and | | | | do Glamdring and Sting. Their replica designs come |
| detracted somewhat from the films. One of the | | | | very close to their Tolkein descriptions.Am I being |
| most notable instances of departure was when, in | | | | too picky? Probably! All in all, the trilogy is great! |
| the movie, it was Arwen who carried the | | | | As long as the movies were, I still found myself |
| wounded Frodo to Rivendell. In the book, it was | | | | wishing there were more. Can the deviations from |
| Frodo himself that forded the river on a white | | | | the books be forgiven? Certainly! The trilogy was |
| horse belonging to an elf named Glorfindel. He | | | | an accomplishment of epic dimensions and |
| then fell unconscious after seeing the ringwraiths | | | | deserved to win an academy award. But still, at |
| washed downstream. In the movie it was Arwen | | | | the end of the day, I find myself saying, "If only |
| who summoned the waters that washed the | | | | they had made The Hobbit!"I am a retired school |
| ringwraiths away but, in the book, Gandalf tells | | | | teacher (Jr. High Science) who got involved with |
| Frodo that it was Elrond. Another example was | | | | my sons and their friends in playing role playing |
| the impressive army of elven archers who | | | | games like Dungeons and Rolemaster for years. I |
| arrived to help in the battle for Helms Deep. In | | | | am guilty of being a fantasy and science fiction |
| the book, Legolas was the only elf that fought in | | | | buff and an environmentalist. I hold a B.A. in |
| that battle. Strider fought through most of the | | | | Zoology and Entomology and a B.S. in Education |
| films using his ranger sword. Actually, the shards | | | | from Ohio State University but I have learned |
| of Narsil were re-forged into the sword Anduril, | | | | more about the world by watching PBS than I |
| which was then given to Aragorn before the | | | | ever learned in college. As a Freshman, I paid |
| fellowship left Rivendell. Most of the events in the | | | | $90.00 per quarter and an expensive book was |
| dwarven mines of Moria followed the book. The | | | | $20.00. How the times do change! My son and I |
| hordes of orcs streaming down the vertical walls | | | | recently started an internet business, dealing with |
| like swarms of ants were a bit of a stretch but | | | | fantasy and medieval replica collectible weapons. |
| the collapsing stone bridge was more reminiscent | | | | |