All Bets Are Off - 1/30/2002

The Lord of the Rings: Was it Really True to the Book?
By Jon, Conval High School

Since I work at a movie theater that is currently showing The Lord of the Rings, I have seen it many times. I just wanted to take the time to elaborate on my thought that The Lord of the Rings movie has held true to the book more than any film I have seen. Usually when a book is made into a movie, the story is changed and it just is not the same. After completing the book The Fellowship of the Ring, I immediately went out and saw the film. The story was so fresh in my mind, for I had even quickly skimmed the book before I went, that I found myself noticing the few things that were different, but at the same time the things that were exactly the same. 

Of course if they had included every detail in the movie, it would have been over six hours long. The biggest part they left out of the film was the scene with Tom Bombadil and the party's adventure with Old Man Willow, from which Tom saved them. That chapter or two of the book involved traveling through a mystic wood with trees which moved and paths that changed. That scene took place just after they left the town of Bree. They also never told that Bill the pony, who they left behind just before going into the Mines of Moria, was given to them by Tom Bombadil.

Another thing I noticed was the way in which the hobbits got their swords in the movie was different from the book. In the book they acquire the swords after being captured by a Barrow-wight in the Barrow Downs. As I recall, they took the weapons from the creature's treasures after driving him away, with the help of Tom Bombadil. 

The last big thing that changed was when Frodo was told that Gollum was following them. During their travels in the book, different members in the fellowship thought they saw eyes behind them, or thought they heard muffled footsteps in their wake on many occasions, but they didn't think much of it. Frodo was not told that the eyes were those of Gollum from Gandolf in the Mines of Moria, but much later on, after Gandolf was gone. He did not truly know that it was Gollum until he saw him paddling along on a log behind them toward the end of the film, just after they left the elven city of Lothlorian. 

There were a few other things that were changed, but those were the major differences. Although those few things were different from the book, the movie magnificently depicted the story. I was surprised to see the dragon during the fireworks display at the long expected party because it was so close to how I had imagined I while reading, if fact, it was uncanny how it was almost exactly how I envisioned it. I thought that The Lord of the Rings was ten times better than I had expected it to be. I am sure that fans of the books would agree that it was like bringing the pictures in our heads to life. I know, having such a clear picture in my mind, that I could judge the movie more efficiently than most. I thought that The Fellowship of the Ring was a spectacular display of a long loved tale. It had such amazing special effects and imagery that I believe that JRR Tolkien himself would enjoy the film. The movie was so true to the book that I can even remember lines that were taken directly from original dialogs in the story and put into the movie. The Fellowship of the Ring has earned my approval and I am sure the approval of all Tolkien fans. 

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