What's the worst that can happen?

[HCIsland]

From what I've read, I agree with Estel that scenes with a physical Sauron (other than the prologue) have definately been filmed. The question remains as to how much will make the final cut. Jackson is well known for shooting mountains of film in varieties of ways and then sorting it out in the editing room, so none of us really knows for sure until we see the final film.<P>Having said that, I disagree entirely that having a physical Sauron disagrees with the book or "is an invention of the filmmakers and does not represent Tolkien's intent". <P>There is nothing in the book that suggests Sauron does not have a physical form. In fact, when characters like Gollum and Shagrat talk about him, it sounds like they are talking about a physical person. Likely the reason that Sauron doesn't appear in the book is because of the way in which Tolkien chose to present his story. Lord of the Rings is meant to be a translation of the history of the War of the Ring, as told by those that participated in it, particular the four hobbits. This is part of what gives the book it's wonderful sense of authenticity but it meant that if Tolkien wanted to present Sauron in the book, he would have had to have one of his main characters interact with him.<P>Saruman got the same treatment. We only get first hand accounts of Saruman after Isengard is destroyed and the hobbits get a chance to meet the guy. Outside of Gandalf's brief description of the events of his imprisonment on Orthanc to the Council of Elrond, Saruman is completely absent up until this moment of the book. I think it would have been a mistake for Jackson to not have the extra scenes with Saruman in Orthance in the first two movies, and for the same reason I think it is completely appropriate to have scenes of Sauron in Barad-dur in the third. In fact, I want to see them. This freedom of perspective is an advantage that a film has over a novel and Jackson should feel free to take advantage of it.<P>Now Sauron fighting Aragorn ... that's a completely different argument. I for one won't judge something until I've seen it, but I can fully understand people's apprehension.<P>H.C.