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Excellent! I will think hard about this while in class, there's plenty I could say about Aragorn. Um, we'd better be restrained and not post a lot of pictures here, since we're trying to keep this thread from getting cluttered with stuff.

To hopefully start some discussion: Aragorn is really cool. Book or movie, the way he comes into the story is equally dramatic. He seems incredibly self-assured next to poor doubting Frodo. He's an adventurer; what these hobbits have been struggling with for the past few days is his whole life. He knows what hunts them, and he's still willing - insistant - on taking care of them. But he is still a bit of a sinister character, kind of like all of Bree. It's sort of on the edge of the wild. Nobody's quite as nice as they are in the Shire. The nicest person is Butterburr, who'd probably be more worried than he is if he had any idea what was really going on...

Yes, I agree, I like the roughness of Aragorn when he is introduced, both in the book and in the film. (OK there is a lot I like about Aragorn, but I am talking character here)

I was about to respond to Penny's post from this morning on this very topic...

Penny: The only quibble I have with PJ, and it's just a minor one, is the way Aragorn was throwing Frodo around when they first met...

I don't quibble with the way Strider grabbed Frodo at all... I liked the way it was done... "hmmm... who is this guy? he's something to contend with! When the hobbits bust in and he draws his sword... "Okay then! - Here's a guy that can keep these kids out of trouble!"

I like the dialogue in the film, captures that roughness...
Strider: You draw far too much attention to yourself, Mr Underhill.
Frodo: What do you want?
Strider: A little more caution from you, that is no trinket you carry.
Frodo: I carry nothing.
Strider: Indeed.... (continued... movie script)

The movie is missing one of my favorite exchanges. It's where Sam says (from memory), "This Strider, 'e says be more careful. I say let's start with 'im!" Then Frodo says that he thinks that an agent of the Enemy would "seem fair but feel foul," whereupon Strider laughs grimly and says, "whereas I seem foul and feel fair, is that it?"

I also like where Strider (in the book) says about the Wraiths, "They are terrible!" — and looks like he's remembering the time someone pulled his spine out and beat him with it.

But the movie catches that feeling pretty darned nicely with Strider's, "Are you frightened?"
Frodo: "Yes."
Strider: "Not nearly frightened enough. I know what is hunting you."

Dan