LOTR: Return of the King

[My_Preciousss]

I am a huge LOTR fan, and am eagerly anticipating the next 2 films.

One of my favourite bits in the books is The Scouring of the Shire, in The return of the KIng, but I read in a recent interview that Peter Jackson has decided to leave out this part of the story, just because it isn't part of his visualisation, and that it doesn't "add" to the story.

The Scouring of the Shire is very important to LOTR, and I am very angry that they are leaving it out, as it "adds" a great deal to the story, and helps you to learn about Hobbits.

[Common Sense Man]

Welcome to the boards, you may have found a better audience for this in the TTT thread.

But yes scouring is out as far as we know. PJ said that it would be redundent to have the ultimate climax on MT. Doom then to basically try to start another story and have another climax at the Shire via the scouring.

I have to say I agree. I have dug everything PJ has done so far so I give him the benefit of the doubt, and as we all know this is an adaptation, and as far as that goes it is a damn good one.

And DF try not to get too pissed that someone else started a ROTK topic I am sure Jo has you tapped for the ROTK countdown thread. Relax my brotha.

Out.....................

[This message has been edited by Common Sense Man (edited 08-11-2002).]

[scottish-movie-freak]

Hi Alexina. A little off the subject of ROTK but are you enjoying JOBLO? For everyone reading this, I recommended it to my friend Alexina (My Preciouss). Anyway, not to sound self obsorbed, but I am anticipating TTT so much I really dont care about ROTK. I'll deal with that when it comes along!

[James Logan]

I agree with CSM, The Scouring of the Shire isn't essential to the climax. And I trust Peter Jackson too...he's done a fantastic job up to now.

[docholiday_13]

Okay. I think I read somewhere that the battle between Sam and Shelob was going to be bumped up from TTT into ROTK. Is this true? If it is that would suck. That fight at the end was probaly my fave part in the entire series. It created such a cliffhanger where I practically broke my leg in my rush to get the next book to see what happened.

[fryman_3000]

Yep, Shelob will be in ROTK. The ending to TTT is most likely when Frodo and Sam see the statue of the King.

[Dumb-Fokker-**]

Yeah, I think it makes alot more sense for Shelob to be in RotK. If you would like to hear my reasoning behind it, just ask, because I have gone over it before. But, yes, structurally, and emotionally, it makes alot more sense.

[LordKaruku]

Shelob in ROTK is probably necessary simply because in the books there are 10 chapters of "everyone else" to only 3 chapters of Frodo/Sam before the climax. Something had to be bumped to the third film in order for the Mount Doom sequence to be near the end. I think it's kind of cool, because now we don't know exactly how TTT is going to end (or how ROTK will begin).

I'm interested to see how PJ is going to dramatically structure Two Towers to have a satisfying ending. The last major dramatic event to happen to Frodo/Sam is the events with Faramir. Perhaps the whole Gollum aspect of the story will be played up, and Gollum's decision to betray them will be the emotional climax to Two Towers...

[Dumb-Fokker-**]

I believe that TTT will end with Gandalf and Pippin heading off to Gondor, and Frodo and Sam seeing the fallen king. That would be a good ending.

[xirtam]

I am hugely disappointed that The Scouring won't be in the films. It is one of my favorite parts in the whole book and in my opinion, it's what the whole book leads up to--the hobbits, after saving the world, have to save their own home, and without the help of men, elves, dwarves or any other magical creature.

Of course, I do understand why he decided to leave it out. When I was reading it, even though it was my favorite part, I realized that it wasn't very filmable, considering it broke the movie formula of beginning, middle end, by creating a whole new (short) beginning, middle and end. (I guess that's why books are better than movies).

It would be nice to see The Scouring on the Extended Version of the film at least, but I know that he isn't even going to shoot it. Poo.

[fryman_3000]

***Spoilers - just in case***

Yep, no scouring is in I'm afraid. Still, Saruman is going to die in ROTK so you never know, there may be some sort of 'Sharky' reference which would be cool. They could just talk about how the Shire is ruined and mention that Saruman is behind it.

This is a fun bit of trivia, but did you know that PJ was originally going to shoot a scene that shows Tom Bombadil? He was going to show a hat with a feather in it, in the distance bobbing along whilst you can hear Tom singing, purely as a thing for the fans. But he ran out of time so couldn't shoot it and realised that non fans might be confused by a singing feather in the distance :D

[Common Sense Man]

Well there where references to the scouring in FOTR, during the Mirror scene and I think there are going to be more references in TTT.

But I think it was a good choice. Maybe by the time they get around to doing the pick up shooting for ROTK PJ will have the time and unlimited power to make what he wants even if it is only for the DVD.

Out..................

[movie monstro]

Scouring of never really seemed that important to me and it is undrstandable that pj would leave it out of ROTK. It doesn't really contain any story altering events and would probly slow the climactic pace of the final movie. And it seems strange that they would bump shelob up to ROTK becasue in a pirated trailor for TTT you see what seems to be a very sickley frodo but it is unclear.

[Mast]

The Scouring of the Shire is an important chapter in terms of character development (though if you haven't figured them out by now, give up) but not so much in regards to the plot. And he's got to cut something, after all. It is a shame that it has to be cut though, because it shows that the Hobbits can be "fierce when roused", which isn't so clearly displayed in the rest of the book; they are mostly hangers-on, in a way - the underdogs; determined and underrated.