Agreed, Eä. It would've have been good if it was like 'welcome to the former lands of the Númenoreans--be terrified!' That wouldn't have been so great.

I suppose that PJ's decision was a good one. Whenever I read that passage in the book, Aragorn's calmness washes away the terror that the hobbits feel. Though, if you read back, they were actually somewhat scared because the current got rather rapid going through there, and the water was rough, etc.

But anyways, I'm mostly satisfied with the way that they portrayed the Argonath in the movie.

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its one of the awsome scenes from the book.they give you glimses of the might of numenor with ruins and the statues.

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proud to be a pipe smoker like JJRT

I think it's actually kind of a sad scene (well, that whole bit, plus The Breaking of the Fellowship). Yes, it gives you glimpses of the might of Númenor, but with the ruins, Tolkien reminds us that the might of Númenor is no longer. It fell, subject to the folly of man, not because of warfare. Sauron could not have twisted Tar-Calion's heart to evil unless he was already leaning that way himself. To me, at least, that section serves as a poignant reminder of the fact that not even the greatest mortal power is safe from evil.

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That's true, Aerlinn--I said 'mortal', though, because Númenor was the greatest mortal power/kingdom. Its might was unequaled by any other mortal nation, though it would've lost to the Elves.

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i agree with most above but i also think that it shows us as an audience some of the depth to aragorn and the reactions relieves tension

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Calathiel

They weren't so much 'scared' by the Argonath and the statues in Minas Tirith as they were in awe of the former glory of the Dunedain Kings of old.

Something I got from the books was the river was more rapid as it cut through the rocky Undeep and the Emyn Muil. It may have been more like white-water rafting as opposed to the lazy paddle shown in the movies. Thats why they were happy to see the Argonath, which marked the river was near to Nen Hithoel, the lake before the Falls of Rauros.

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Hanasian
Annalist, Physician, & Historian
of The Black Company of the Dúnedain,
The Free Company of Arnor
~ ~ ~
Durian: Dúnedain Ranger of the North: Rhudaurian Lineage
- - - -
Roleplay Repository

I liked how in the book, it was worded as a warning.

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Faith isn't the ability to believe long and far into the misty future.
It's simply taking God at His Word and taking the next step Joni Erickson Tada

(Hahaha, lazy puddle [Hanasían] sorry it just made me laugh. )

I would've said something except every thing's pretty much been covered by everyone else!

*ponders*

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Mae govannen, mellon nin. Coramin linduae elle le!



^Thanks to Elenriel of Mirkwood! c:

Culúrien

(Though I did say "paddle", not puddle)

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Hanasian
Annalist, Physician, & Historian
of The Black Company of the Dúnedain,
The Free Company of Arnor
~ ~ ~
Durian: Dúnedain Ranger of the North: Rhudaurian Lineage
- - - -
Roleplay Repository

I just got to this part in my re-reading of FotR. Both of the reactions in the book and movie are great to me. The movie doesn't have to play out every. single. reaction. exactly. and I don't think the book's reaction would have worked as well in the movie. It's one thing in print to say "Awe and fear fell upon Frodo, and he cowered down, shutting his eyes, and not daring to look up as the boat drew near." but on screen it would be much harder to convey the intimidation, and not everyone would understand. However, it was still in the spirit of the book, I thought, because the music sets a mood of something wonderful and great, but also disturbing and threatening.

Personally, I was too awe-struck of them myself to really pay attention to what the actors were doing!

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