The Dunedain?

[Elessar Telcontar]

Is there anybody else out there who felt highly disappointed with the lack of the Grey Company and Elrond's sons from RotK. For me the chapters featuring Aragorn and his kin conjured the most images and feelings into my mind.

Surely the inclusion of the Grey Company would have added to Aragorn's return to the throne in the movie by giving more detail on the bloodlines of Gondor and a more detailed explaination as to why Aragorn was an outcast.

By the way I loved the films and I dont want anyone thinking otherwise. Also this is my first thread so please go easy on me...

[Gothbogg the Ripper]

Hey, welcome to the 'Downs, you'll be fine.
Anyways the Grey Company certainly would have added a considerable ammount of weight to the narrative and would therefore fit right in in my opinion.

[Boromir88]

First off, trust me, as Gothbogg said you'll be fine, whatever complaints you have about the film, I will probably have 5 times that amount (of course I'm only assuming). But, point is, I don't get beat up too bad lol. Anyway on to the question.

Yes, I do feel they should have added Halbarad and Elrond's sons. Elrond's sons are the best orc fighters of this age, and would were key additions to Gondor's victory. As you already said with the Dunedain, it would add more of an explanation to Aragorn's "kingship."

[Tuor of Gondolin]

I'm trying to recall if there is any mention of other rangers in the movies.
I would think a nonbook movie viewer would think he was "The Last of the
Dunedain" to paraphrase an old movie. Presumably PJ cut them out to
"simplify" things, but, since he had to have elvsees at Helm's Deep I can see
no compelling reason for not including Halbarad, his band, and Arwen's banner.
Parenthetically, one of PJ's errors at The Pelennor Fields was to not show the
banner unfolded on the lead ship and Eomer's reaction. Another was to not
have the charge begin in the dark and then have morning come.

(Theoden's) golden shield was uncovered, and lo! it shone like an image of the Sun, and the grass flamed into green about the white feet of his steed. For morning came, morning and a wind from the sea, and darkness was removed, and the hosts of Mordor wailed, and terror took them, and they fled, and died, and the hooves of wrath rode over them. And then all the host of Rohan burst into song, and they sang as they slew, for the joy of battle was on them, and the sound of their singing that was fair and terrible came even to the city.

And as for the Army of the Green Slime attacking at the Pelennor Fields!

However, PJ did elements of the movies quite well. On balance I thought his
best effort was FOTR.

[Boromir88]

Tuor:

one of PJ's errors at The Pelennor Fields was to not show the
banner unfolded on the lead ship and Eomer's reaction. Another was to not
have the charge begin in the dark and then have morning come.

So true, that is one of my favorite parts of the whole book. Eomer seeing the ships and thinking, oh crap, then seeing the banner unfold, is just amazing.

"Let this be the hour where were draw swords together." <<<<great line.

The misplacement of the Rohirrim charge let a whole bunch of things out of order. For instance, we don't see Eomer's command skills because Aragorn arrived hours after Theoden's death, and we miss all that "rallying" by Eomer. However, I am content with the charge as the sun is rising, it is a well placed time to add in the Rohirrim charge, eventhough I would have preferred it to be at night.

And as for the Army of the Green Slime attacking at the Pelennor Fields!

All I have to say is LOL, and this greatly diminishes the strength of Gondor. Hmm, a point of this story was to show the strength and rise of men, but yet they can't win at helm's deep without elves having to interfere, or they can't have a bunch of "green slime" save the day instead of 50 ships full of men following Aragorn.

[Elianna]

I think Halbarad, Ellahir and the Dunedain would've been a good addition to the film.

Rangers have been introduced: They've already had Butterbur say about Aragorn "He's one of them Rangers. Dangerous folk they are; wanderin' the wilds." It would emphasis Aragorn's king-ness. If they brought the flag (or Andúril), it would give Aragorn something to use to show Sauron he is the King, when he looks into the Palantír (if the Dunedain got there early enough).

Here's how part of the scene could go, working in an ultra-cool line that was sadly left out of the movie: Someone names the group "Rangers" then Pippin or Merry asks "Rangers?! But Butterbur said they were dangerous?" Gandalf: "Dangerous! So am I, more dangerous than anyone you will meet unless you are taken alive before the throne of the Dark Lord himself..."

Maybe PJ thought a little band of Dunedain would look (to those who haven't read the books) too much like the little band of Elves showing up at Helm's Deep. But then the huge mass of chlorine (as my Chemistry teacher thought it to be) wasn't much different was it?

Personally, I like pretending that the elven smiths who reforge Narsil were Elladan and Elrohir, and Aragorn's standard bearer at Morannon was Halbarad (true, Halbarad died at Pelennor, but he was the standard bearer.) Why PJ didn't think of these loopholes, I don't know.