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The One Ring

The Complete List of Film Changes

General Changes
The Fellowship of the Ring
The Two Towers
...Part 1
...Part 2
...Part 3
Return of the King

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The Two Towers - Part 3


Frodo Battles Ringwraith

FILMS: Frodo, under control of the ring, is summoned to the top of a structure in Osgiliath where a Ringwraith flying a fell beast tries to snatch the Ring from Frodo's grasp. The Ringwraith is shot by arrows from the men of Gondor and Frodo is taken down the steps by Samwise.

BOOKS: There are no such scenes in the books.

PRO: This addition gives Faramir reason for deciding that the Ring is too dangerous to keep.

CON: This is a total fabrication of the filmmakers.

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CREDIBILITY: 2/5

Ents Storming of Isengard Shown in Real Time

FILMS: The Ents storming of Isengard is shown.

BOOKS: This event is merely discussed by Merry and Pippin, albeit in great detail.

PRO: It is more interesting to show events rather than have characters talk about them.

CON: The script would require additional dialog and scenes written by the filmmakers rather than by Tolkien.

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REFUTED BY:

CREDIBILITY: 4/5

Merry and Pippin Visit Isengard Storeroom in Real-Time

Merry and Pippin in Isengard storeroomFILMS: Merry and Pippin are seen in the storerooms of Isengard, enjoying the food.

BOOKS: Gandalf, Théoden and company come upon Merry and Pippin in Isengard, after they have pilfered Saruman's storerooms.

PRO: It is more interesting to show events rather than have characters talk about them.

CON: The script would require additional dialog and scenes written by the filmmakers rather than by Tolkien.

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CREDIBILITY: 5/5

Voice of Saruman Sequence Appears in Third Film

FILMS: After the Battle of Helm's Deep only ten minutes remains in the film.

BOOKS: The Battle of Helm's Deep occurs about one-third way into the book.

PRO: Not enough time is left after the Battle of Helm's Deep to get everyone to Orthanc and still have the Voice of Saruman Sequence.

CON: Too much time is being devoted to scenes that aren't in the story.

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CREDIBILITY: 4/5

Shelob Appears in Third Film

FILMS: The film ends with Frodo and Sam leaving Faramir's refuge and heading to Cirith Ungol, while Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and the Rangers/Elves about to enter the Paths of the Dead.

BOOKS: The second book ends with the spider Shelob poisioning Frodo, Sam stabbing said Shelob, and the poisoned Frodo being captured by orcs.

PRO: According to Peter Jackson, "''If we started Return of the King after Shelob - the way the books do - there'd be very little for Frodo and Sam to do," It also allows the time frames of the separated characters to more closely match each other.

CON: Frodo being stabbed by Shelob and taken prisoner by the orcs was the perfect cliffhanger on which to end the second film.

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CREDIBILITY: 5/5

Second Part Ends with Gollum Deciding to Sick Shelob on Frodo and Sam

FILMS: The very last scene, which takes us into the credits on a very weary note, is a sequence with Frodo, Sam, and Gollum drudging towards Mordor once again. As they headed into the wild, Gollum goes into his schizophrenic split personality mode once again. He argues with himself about killing the Hobbits and taking the ring. His Smeagol side was against it, while his Gollum side struggled for control. In the end, his Gollum side wins, and convinces his Smeagol side to allows "her" to kill the Hobbits..

BOOKS: The last scene is Sam realizing that Frodo, who was stung by Shelob and then taken by the Orcs of Cirith Ungol, is not dead after all.

PRO: Ending the movie on a very unstable note was pure genius. References to "her" pay a bit of homage to the book readers and give way for an outstanding intro sequence in the next film.

CON: Tolkien's ending was perfection.

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CREDIBILITY: 3/5

Debunked Rumors

Film Opens With Saruman Spying on The Three Hunters

FILMS: The film opens with a scene of Saruman spying on Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli via his palantír. The scene then fades in to Aragorn picking up one of the Hobbits' lost brooches.

BOOKS: There is no such scene of Saruman spying on anyone in the books. The Two Towers opens with Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli discovering the fatally injured Boromir.

PRO: With Boromir's death having occurred in the first film, starting with the "Three Hunters" is a reasonable scene to begin with. Having Saruman spy on them is a reminder to the audience who the most current threat is.

CON: This line is an invention of the filmmakers and does not represent Tolkien's work.

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CREDIBILITY: -3/5

Film Opens With Gollum in Swamp

FILMS: The film opens with a scene of Gollum in the swamps.

BOOKS: The book opens with Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli discovering the fatally injured Boromir. Gollum does not appear until the middle of the book, where he is caught by Frodo and Sam crawling down a cliff in the Emyn Muil.

PRO: More attention is given to Gollum in the films so as to explore in greater detail the psychological dynamics of Gollum, Frodo and Sam.

CON: This line is an invention of the filmmakers and does not represent Tolkien's work.

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CREDIBILITY: -4/5

Film Opens With Frodo and Sam

FILMS: The film opens with a scene of Frodo and Sam.

BOOKS: The book opens with Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli discovering the fatally injured Boromir. Gollum does not appear until the middle of the book, where he is caught by Frodo and Sam crawling down a cliff in the Emyn Muil.

PRO: More attention is given to Gollum in the films so as to explore in greater detail the psychological dynamics of Gollum, Frodo and Sam.

CON: This line is an invention of the filmmakers and does not represent Tolkien's work.

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CREDIBILITY: -3/5

No Ent Draught

Ent draught is not in the films -- and neither is this Hildebrandt Brothers' depiction of TreebeardFILMS: Treebeard does not offer Pippin and Merry a drink of his glowing green brew.

BOOKS: When Treebeard brings Pippin and Merry to his home, he offers them a drink of what he calls "Ent draught." This drink not only invigorates the two thirsty hobbits, but also causes them to grow a few inches..

PRO: Having Merry and Pippin appear to be a few inches taller in the rest of the films is not worth the effort for such a minor element of the story.

CON: Such minor elements are what makes Tolkien's work special.

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CREDIBILITY: -1/5

Hama Visits Lothlórien

FILMS: Hama visits Galadriel and Haldir.

BOOKS: Hama remains in Rohan and Haldir remains in Lothlórien.

PRO: This provides an explanation for how Elves (and possibly Arwen, if she is visiting Galadriel) arrive at Helm's Deep.

CON: This change is an invention of the filmmakers and does not represent Tolkien's work.

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CREDIBILITY: -2/5

Boromir Makes Encore Appearance

FILMS: Faramir, Boromir, and Denethor appear in a flashback, in which Faramir is thinking back to how he got into the situation he's now in.

BOOKS: The only Boromir sequences in The Two Towers are his death (already shown in the first film) and Faramir telling Frodo and Sam about the discovery of Boromir's funeral boat. Denethor does not appear until the third book.

PRO: This scene would provide insight into Faramir's character.

CON: This change is an invention of the filmmakers and does not represent Tolkien's work.

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CREDIBILITY: -1/5

Sam Doesn't Chew Out Faramir

C'mon, Sam, you're not going to put up with this!FILMS: There is no scene from the book as described below

BOOKS: Sam gets impatient with Faramir's questioning of Frodo and chews him out, addressing him as he would a young hobbit.

PRO: This scene does not justify the film time.

CON: Sam's character is diluted by having this line stolen from him.

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CREDIBILITY: -3/5

XenArwen

FILMS: Arwen arrives at Helm's Deep disguised as a cloaked archer and participates in the Battle of the Hornburg, wielding a sword.

BOOKS: Arwen remains in Rivendell.

PRO: According to Peter Jackson, "we have to find a way to include Arwen in more of the story, to have a chance at creating a meaningful screen romance. " Since Aragorn is fighting a war in the second film, so must Arwen. However, according to Liv Tyler, "it was nice to have some female energy in the story."

CON: This change drastically alters Arwen's character as Tolkien wrote it, and it is insulting to women to portray them as being worthy only if they can fight alongside men.

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  • SFX Magazine Brian Sibley Interview 9/15/02 (confirmation)
    • CREDIBILITY: -1/5

    It appears that scenes of Arwen fighting at Helm's Deep were filmed, but Peter Jackson decided not to use them. According to Beren, who worked on the production, Liv Tyler didn't suit the Xena-type roll that Arwen was going to have, so it was rewritten to suit her acting style.

    Arwen at Helm's Deep (AAHD)

    Close-up of Arwen and AsfalothArwen and Asfaloth at Helm's DeepFILMS: Arwen arrives at Helm's Deep after the Battle of the Hornburg, bringing Narsil, reforged into Anduril, to Aragorn.

    BOOKS: Arwen's brothers, Elladan and Elrohir brings Aragorn the banner Arwen made for him, while she remains in Rivendell.

    PRO: This change provides a way to bring Arwen into the second film and makes her marriage to Aragorn in the third film less of a surprise.

    CON: This change is an invention of the filmmakers and does not represent Tolkien's work.

    SUPPORTED BY:

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    CREDIBILITY: -1/5

    Morwen

    FILMS: Arwen aids the people of Westfold, including a woman named Morwen, after the Battle of the Hornburg and remains with them until she goes to Minas Tirith for Aragorn's coronation and wedding.

    BOOKS: Arwen remains in Rivendell, and there is no specific Rohan refugee named Morwen.

    PRO: The Morwen character gives "a face" to Rohan's suffering and helps to dramatize the sacrifice Arwen is considering should she marry Aragorn and become human.

    CON: This change is an invention of the filmmakers which takes screen time away from scenes that Tolkien actually wrote.

    SUPPORTED BY:

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    CREDIBILITY: -1/5

    Edoras Scenes at Helm's Deep

    FILMS: The remainder of Saruman's army - Orcs and Wildmen attack Edoras after the Uruk-hai are defeated at the Battle of Helm's Deep.

    BOOKS: No battles take place at Edoras.

    SUPPORTED BY:

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    CREDIBILITY: -4/5

    Note: When the projects was to have originally been shot as two films, some Edoras and Helm's Deep scenes may be been combined to make more efficient use of screen time. However, when the budget was expanded to allow for three films, this idea was abandoned.
    Edoras Battle

    FILMS: The remainder of Saruman's army - Orcs and Wildmen attack Edoras after the Uruk-hai are defeated at the Battle of Helm's Deep.

    BOOKS: No battles take place at Edoras.

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    CREDIBILITY: -4/5

    Arwen Toots Her Own Horn

    FILMS: Arwen blows the horn at the Hornburg during the siege.

    BOOKS: Théoden's men blew the horn.

    PRO: According to Peter Jackson, "we have to find a way to include Arwen in more of the story, to have a chance at creating a meaningful screen romance." This gives her character something to do during the battle.

    CON: This change is an invention of the filmmakers and does not represent Tolkien's work. It also short changes from Erkenbrand's character.

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    CREDIBILITY: -4/5

    No Huorns at Helms Deep

    FILMS: The Battles of Helm's Deep ends with Gandalf and the Riders of Rohan defeating the orcs. No Ents or Huorns appear.

    BOOKS: It is a forest of Huorns, who are even more tree-like, that finish off the orcs.

    PRO: The audience would confuse Huorns with Ents.

    CON: This change leaves out one of the nuances of Tolkien's world.

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    CREDIBILITY: -1/5

    Witch-King Leads Army Through Mordor's Front Gate

    FILMS: When they arrive at the Black Gates of Mordor, Frodo, Sam and Gollum see a massive army coming out, lead by the Witch-King.

    BOOKS: Frodo and company see this sight several chapters later, at the city of Minas Morgul.

    PRO: This is a good way to compress two similar scenes in order to save screen time.

    CON: Such a change departs from Tolkien's story structure.

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    CREDIBILITY: -1/5

    NOTE: It is actually an army of Easterlings that Frodo and company sees.

    The Sewers of Osgiliath

    FILMS: Once Faramir is persuaded to let Frodo, Sam and Gollum continue their journey to Mordor, he leads them to the old sewers where they can pass underneath the patrolling Orcs.

    BOOKS: There are no such scenes in the books.

    PRO: The sewers are a creepy environment.

    CON: The trip to Osgiliath is an unnecessary sidetrip taking screen time away from actual scenes from the book.

    SUPPORTED BY:

    CREDIBILITY: -1/5

    REFUTED BY:

    Go to The Return of the King Part 1 >>

    The Complete List of Film Changes

    General Changes
    The Fellowship of the Ring
    The Two Towers
    ...Part 1
    ...Part 2
    ...Part 3
    Return of the King

    Want to add a change we missed?  Contact Us!

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