boromir's more sinister appearance than was true?

[the_master_of_puppets]

After reading alot of entries on here i'd have to say that Boromir has been given a more sinister edge in both book and film than was really in his nature, as we can tell from some occational actions of his. Especially his friendship with Merry and Pippin, which we can see most obviously when he come charging in and gives his life for them....(very moving: caused me to cry until the end of the movie hereafter! lol).<BR> <BR>Does anyone else feel the same?

[mark12_30]

Boromir's good points:

Passionately devoted to his city.
Loves his brother deeply.
Loves his father deeply.
Loves his country deeply.
Is a beloved leader and captain-general, and respected by subjects and neighbors.
Heads off into the northern wastelands looking for the answer to a dream in the hopes that that answer will help defeat the enemy and save his beloved city.
Despite all this, is willing (almost, mostly, for a while) to support a quest that he sees as threatening to the safety of all of the above.

I like Boromir a whole lot. Always have. I think that when he was decieved by the ring, he saw the ring as a last hope for his city, and the inroad, the foothold into his soul that the ring had, was that love for his city; he would do anything to save Minas Tirith.

It seems to me that after he comes to his senses after attacking Frodo on Amon Hen, he deeply and completely repents for what he has done; he is ashamed of it, paying (as he says) with his own blood. Too bad Frodo never saw that final sacrifice or the repentance that went along with it, and only came to understand it after everything was over.

I think the light that Faramir sees shining around the boat implies that Boromir was forgiven by other authorities in addition to Aragorn.

[Elven-Maiden]

I agree, in the movie, Boromir was just plain bad, with very few good points! The first time I saw the movie, I hadn't finished the book, and I was glad he was dead (don't kill me-read on first!). Now that I'm done all the books, I just about cried! I feel really sad that Boromir had to die! I really wish themovie had brought out that part of him. He's so good, just not very strong.<P>I wonder how they'll do Faramir?

[Glenethor]

I don't see him as sinister in the book, but there is, from the very beginning of his role in the movie, foreshadowing that he wants the ring. In the movie he seems proud ('Gondor needs no King') and concerned more with how to stop Sauron from overrunning Gondor than with the policies determined at the Council of Elrond. There are two times where I do see him as sinister, and both times he is, more or less, under the spell of the Ring: On Cahadhras where he gives Frodo back the Ring (and tousles his hair, as if he was a child) and when he tries to seize the Ring from Frodo. Now, if memory serves from this part of the text, when Boromir falls under the influence of the Ring at Rauros, Tolkien mentions something about his face twisted in a grimace of rage, or something like that. Just before he starts to run after Frodo, you see that change take place on his face (' You FOOL!'), and he is pretty fearsome then. I got the idea that Bean had actually read the text rather than the script for his characterizatiion at that point.<P>All in all, I see him, in the movie and the book, as a Man who is concerned with pleasing his father and winning back the glory of Gondor, who knows what forces are arraying against him, and who succumbs for one moment to his own desperation (was that a run-on sentence???) in hopes of pleasing Denethor and giving his people hope. He is not sinister, but rather seduced <I>in extremis</I> to take action by the will of the Ring. <P>I liked Bean's characterization. I wonder what Faramir is going to be like?<BR>

[Birdland]

Oddly, I found myself liking Boromir more in the movie than in the book. He seems so prideful and - well - narrow in the book; forgetting his position as a Steward of Gondor, and ignoring the lessons of history. He also looks down his nose at Hobbits. (Blatant Hobbitism!) <P>His brother Faramir loved him, but saw this side of him clearly.<P>In the movie, he came across more nobly, and portrayed the effect of the ring on his mind, and his struggle against the lure of it, very movingly.<P>Of course, I thought all the actors portrayed the chilling effect of the ring wonderfully. It's one thing to read in the book, "No, don't tempt me!"; quite another to see the reaction as they resist the temptation.

[Rose Cotton]

After i read The Breaking of the Fellowship i thought Boromir was bad and weak willed.<BR>During the movie i kept that thought because of the way he acted. But than a the end of the movie when Boromir tried to steel the ring i relised Boromir was a very brave and wonderful man. If anything the Movie showed Boromir's better side. Though i still think his will is rather weak. That's why i liked Faramir because unlike his brother he wasn't tempted.

[Gayalondiel]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Elven-Maiden:<BR><STRONG>I agree, in the movie, Boromir was just plain bad, with very few good points! The first time I saw the movie, I hadn't finished the book, and I was glad he was dead </STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>You really thought so? I thought the film made him more 'good' than the book in places. In the tempetation scene he says 'all i ask is the strength to defend my people' suggesting that he's motivated as a protector. The book has '...and all men would flock to my banner!' Here the ring brings out MUCH more in the way of a bad side: he's all 'me me me'<P>

[Starbreeze]

I liked the way Boromir was protrayed in the film, i did him justice. But I agree partly that the film made him seem too proud and selfish, where as the book did not. Maybe it is just my interpretation.

[sassyfriend]

I loved the film Boromir didn't like the Book one. But I saw the movie before i read the books!!!!!