Did Theoden get changed younger by Gandalf in the book? I don't remember that. That is a huge part to add to the movie!

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Oh gosh..I should remember this, seeing as I finished TTT back in Sept.

I..think..maybe he would have, perhaps? Or, now that I think of it, maybe he wasnt really..old old as they made him in the movie.
Perhaps, they were just using how old he was in the movie as like a metaphor. to show how weak he was by Saruman's power.

I just went and looked in the books. (I haven't read them in forever...) In them, he is very old, but Gandalf doesn't make him "younger" like in the movies. Instead, I think it's more of a psychological thing. He feels younger, even though he doesn't look it. That paragraph is probably open to interpretation though, that's just how I see it.

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Yeah, its like, he's still his same age, but he is weaker than he normally is, and just..looks old, different from his normal physical appearance.

Yeah, in the books it's psychological, because Theoden is still old. Of course, what makes me laugh is that Aragorn is twelve years older than Theoden.

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Respect for the elder! Aragorn is dunadan!

Yes, after all Theoden is old, and Gandalf doesn't make him younger, I think that would be beyond his powers, but since he relieves Theoden of the great burden from Saruman's possession it might feel/look that way.
When I read the book I actually found it amazing that Theoden can still lead a battle.. but then again it makes more sense when he dies at the Pelennor field, because he is old... and *sniffle* it was his time!
In the movie he looks young and it makes it look so unfair that he must die, the unjust casualties of war...

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I agree that I found it surprising that Theoden could lead them to battle, but a big deal is made of him being old (and in the movie he is portrayed sometimes as seeming wiser than Aragorn) when Aragorn is really twelve years older.

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I don't think age matter as much. After all, Theoden is king and he must make decisions for his people, and he has been a ruling king for many years. His people's lives depend on his decisions and he has a great responsability to live up to. Aragorn on the other hand has traveled a lot, he has seen more and he might be more skilled in reading the enemy's moves. He might view the situation from a more strategic perspective. Aragorn has "only" had leadership training with his host of Dunedain, warriors and rangers like himself, not with a kingdom.
(But yeah, Theoden is ridiculously slow and stubborn in both movie and book!! )

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.....Aragorn, as Thorongil, led the armies of Gondor to victory. He was the chief advisor of Ecthelion II. He had an understanding of leadership.

But he probably was looking at it from a strategic perspective. Which I think Théoden should have been looking at it from, too.

Is there really that great of a difference between a strategic perspective and normal perspective when it's wartime, though? Neither Aragorn nor Théoden wanted to lose the lives of those under them--they both wanted to win, with the least possible casualties. Still, Théoden in the books seemed a lot more reasonable than Théoden in the movies. He looked older, he acted older, and he acted smarter--he took Gandalf's advice about Saruman.

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Aragorn is a leader, no doubt about that.
Nothing is normal during times of war. With a more strategic perspective I meant war strategies as in defence/attack, which is what Aragorn is the advocate for. He knows what Sauron can do and he realizes the bitter gravity of the situation if the Quest should fail. So I believe for Aragorn it's more of an All Or Nothing strategy, whereas Théoden may not be having the same fear of doom. He cares for his people first of all and sees things in a smaller perspective. He is first of all protecting his own borders and his own people, and only second comes his concerns for the new Western Alliance.
So yes, I would say they both think strategically, but with slightly different perspectives.

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lol. thx guys. Aragorn is sweet. Legolas is the best though. Lotr is genious!

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No problem, Legolas___101

Okay, Eä--I think I see your point now. Yeah, that makes sense. But Aragorn is still way better than Théoden.

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Very subjective comment! But I'm glad I was able to explain myself better!

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Well, do you disagree with it?

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Aragorn is the main hero-hero of the Lord of the Rings, hallowed by Tolkien himself, how can I disagree with that?
What I mean is that it is another unsubstantiated argument, which is impossible to add anything to. Also comparing Théoden and Aragorn don't do any of them justice, at least if we do, we should try to elaborate on the statement!

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Well, still, Théoden is cool, considering that he was just a normal human being. He certainly became a very cool character in the end.

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