[Jeremy V. Krause]

Though I had certain problems with the visual presentation of Tolkien's work I will say that the depiction of Grond was almost precisely the way I imagined it.

What would have made it extra cool if they showed the orcs operating it go insane and fall on the ground as described in the book.

[Julien M]

I loved the visual impact of Grond as well, even if mechanicly it doesn't make sense that it should be hollowed at the impact point (the fire mouth) while used to take down such mighty gates as the ones of Minas Tirith.

[Steven McIntyre]

My main problem with the films is how weak mankind is portrayed aside from the main characters. In the first film Gandalf and Elrond talk of how the fate of Middle-Earth rests on mankind, but in the other 2 movies they need outside help to win.

I didn't mind the elves being at Helms Deep, but the battle of Minas Tirith was too lop-sided in favour of the evil forces. No matter what the humans did, they would be countered and demolished until, as Julien said, the undead scrubbing bubbles came and wiped the battlefield clean. It's a shame because that battle had such great build up but felt flat.

As for the arms and armour, I fine with most, but I haven't read the last 2 books yet(next on my reading list). I'm fine with the older civilisations having plate armour, but I didn't like that every Gondorian had full plate. Especially since it didn't seem to help anyone one bit. I'd be ok with a very few higher ranking people having full plate, but I would have liked it better if they were more 13/14c (grieves, bracers, coat of plates, etc.).

[Gavin Kisebach]

M. your comments made me die a little inside. Tolkein defined the entire genre of modern fantasy literature as we know it; all subsequent fiction either imitates and draws direct inspiration from his work, or consciously seeks to be different to avoid comparison. You simply must read the books before you make any grand pronuncamentos as to the story. You probably won't find the same magic that someone who reads it as a child, but I promise you will find it rewarding. The movies cut out significant amounts of excellent story to make room for some absolute drivel (Arwen replacing Glofindel, Arwen taking up vast and inordinate amounts of screen time in apocryphal scenes, Gimli as some sort of severely diminished comic relief, and so on )

From what I have read of Tolkein's intent was to create a uniquely English mythology (he found the body of British mythology to be lacking, apparently) to support and explain the three languages that he was creating. He drew heavy inspiration from the Norse sagas, heroic and dark age mythology, as well as dark age history in general. I've always suspected that the Dúnedain as an "imported" race of kings was a reference to the Rus and the Slavs, but I digress.

Anyhow I took it for granted that all of the weapons and armor would be akin to Migration or Viking Era weapons and armor.
I love a lot of the weapons and armor that they included in the movie, even though they part significantly with my imaginings. I never cared for the axes that they gave Gimli, but everything else was brilliant; better than I had imagined and well thought out. The elf swords were interesting and took a bit of convincing but ultimately I found them fascinating.

Overall then I say they got it right.

[Luka Borscak]

I was very disappointed with the lack of Glorfindel, Elladan and Elrohir, and the rangers at the Helm's Deep. Glorfindel, Elladan and Elrohir are few remaining great elven warriors and would make great characters for the movie if depicted right. Elves of the wood like Legolas can't compare with them. And the Arnor Dunedain are fascinating to me as they remained true to original Numenorean people and the southerners, Gondorians became somewhat, I don't know how to say it, diluted, decayed? Remains of Arnor Dunedains are pure blooded Numenoreans like Aragorn and his ancestors, still tough people, wise, aware of the situation, and of course, powerful warriors. They would raise people's opinion on the power of men when watching the movie. Similar with the Imrahil of the Dol Amroth. Powerful men, with some elven blood from the distant ancestors. Reminder of the old glory. Aragorn is not depicted with enough wisdom, kingly authority and not very noble looking. A bit wild and tough, but still nobel and wise looking. It should have been some other actor. And Boromir and Faramir are specifically for Numenoreans dark haired, not like in the movie. Faramir's decision about the Ring should be instant, immediately when he heard about the Ring he said he wouldn't take it even if Frodo offered it. He was more like a typical knightly figure, honorable and noble, doesn't have to think a lot to know what is the right and honorable thing to do.
Regarding the weapons... Although it all is heavily inspired by the Dark age legends and warriors, Tolkien did imagine equipment to be more later medieval. Imrahil and his men wore plate armour. Most of the elves and Gondorians are something like 13th century, mail with maybe some plate, Noble elves and men should use longswords, I think Anduril and Glamdring actually represent these swords well, elves in the movie doesn't wear them and that really bothered me. Gimli is very underrated, he should be much more powerful warrior, not restricted with his height. And he should always wear mail. Rohirrim were quite well represented, although at Helm's Deep, reinforcements should be Erekenbrand with infantry, not Eomer's cavalry. Eomer was inside the Helm's Deep. Orcs were quite good, just the lack of the wild men at Helm's Deep and men of the East at Minas Tirith is disappointing.

[M. Eversberg II]

So for all that budget they couldn't get the story right?

M.

[Michael Ekelmann]

Personally, I was hoping for armour more like what The Lonely Mountain Forge makes. Inspired by the Migration Era and Eraly Medieval world. Mail, single hand swords, round shields, spears, spangenhelms, greave and vambraces on the men of Gondor and Dol Amroth, long handled axes. The Orcs should look like the old Grenadier miniatures.

Still, I appreciate the care and effort that PJ and WETA workshop put in to the production design of the films. It is a visually stunning cinematic expiriance.

But I can't forgive PJ for how he butchered and emasculated the characters in the name of relevance and modernity. Aragorn is a hero because he isn't full of self doubt as a person would be in real life. Faramir is a paragon, a throwback to the Gondorians of old, not a weak broken hearted wretch because his father didn't love him best. Gimli is a warrior who takes joy in the song of the axe, not some comic beer swilling blunderer. The hobbits are in the books to provide us regular folks a frame of reference, they are supposed to be afraid, have doubts, be filled with wonder at these strange sights, just as we would be, had we been transported to Middle Earth.

But that's just me.

[Wade Casto]

[quote="Michael Ekelmann"]Faramir is a paragon, a throwback to the Gondorians of old, not a weak broken hearted wretch because his father didn't love him best. [quote]

Great point! Faramir is my favorite character because of his pureness. He's not tempted by The Ring and happily moves the hobbits along their way. Although, I did like the look of the Rangers of Ithilien. PJ and crew did well against Hollywood constraints. I have always said they got more right than wrong, taken some acceptable artistic liberties (the Elves @ Helm's Deep), but overall read the books.

[Gavin Kisebach]

[Lafayette C Curtis]

[Stephen Renico]

[Marcos Cantu]

[Gary Teuscher]

Marcos Cantu wrote:

[Luka Borscak]

Imrahil's shiny plate is blurred with Eowin's breath when she is wounded by Witch King and he realize she is alive. I think that is the only place mentioning plate specifically. A few other parts where I imagined plate but it was not specifically said that it is. I'll try to find them. I think they are all in the Return of the King. But I read the books in Croatian so they might be interpreted wrong by the translator.

[Marcos Cantu]

[Luka Borscak]

Yes, I thought it could be something like that. Well, that confirms the theory of 13th/14th century equipment rather than the film version.

[Gary Teuscher]

Or Carolingian era equiment as well, or Roman for that matter. Vambraces were not uncommon during these times/cultures as well

[Tim Ormsby]

I hate to be this guy but the Tolkien nerd in me just kicked in when I read this:

[Gene Green]

I saw LOTR well before I found out about this site, so I must've missed a lot of things. Anyway, even now, the wild-donkey armor and arms don't upset me at all in a fantasy movie (unlike in 13th Warrior which was supposed to take place in a historic setting). I have no problems with "samurai elves", nor with "gay spartan" elves of the earlier battle of Mordor. Heck, I could even believe that Legolas would stab with an arrow. What did make me cringe, though, were the insults to common sense.

1. Gondor plate armor was made of paper. Otherwise I can't understand why it could be cut through with a single light slashing motion. Why wear armor if it makes no difference ? I have no problem with XV c armor on Gondor and X c armor on Rohan but please, make it work.

2. Why would an Orcish army need long pikes to attack a fortified walled fortress ? What use are these pikes in a siege ?

3. Why did an attack of Rohirim cavalry on a piked Orcish formation go through it without as much as slowing down ? Were the pikes made out of straw ?

[Ian Hutchison]