GREAT movie!!! FANTASTIC and POWERFUL acting!!! The sound effects and rumblings are awesome. I was glad they stopped where the book actually ended instead of going halfway through the next book and getting things confused like Bakshi did. No talking trees or gloomy finale battle scenes in this one. GO SEE IT FReepers and post what you noticed (or didn't) here!

There most definitely was a troll in Moria

I'm planning on seeing it over the Christmas holiday, but am in the process of re-reading the FOTR before I go.

Bilbo dissapears without any added special fireworks from Gandalf.

In the book there were fireworks at Bilbo's party, but I don't think they were a part of the disappearance. Bilbo said goodbye to his guests, slipped on the ring and vanished from site.

I thought he was taking a wagon full of furniture ahead of the group to simulate a move.

I realize this is an odd question, but has Jackson also left Fatty Bolger out of the movie? I haven't seen it yet, but was wondering what he had done with Fatty's "Fire! Foe!" stint.

Pinging the one ping ring ping king. :-)

In the book, as I recall, Gandalf says afterward that he shot off a few fireworks so the guests would be distracted from the disappearance, which might have given away the secret of the whereabouts of the ring.

Unless I missed it, they didn't show the sword of Elendil being reforged and it's not made clear that Aragorn is fighting with that sword.

A much bigger deviation is the way the film ends. In the book, Frodo sneaks away with Sam, but here he goes with Aragorn's knowledge and blessing.

He stepped down and vanished. There was a blinding flash of light and the guests all blinked. When they opened their eyes Bilbo was nowhere to be seen.

Sorry...Now I know what it feels like to be one of those people always quoting scripture on those Harry Potter threads. Ugh.

In the movie, all the characters are visible and they speak audibly.

ping

There was a blinding flash of light

Well, that could be attributed to Gandalf...

Well, that could be attributed to Gandalf...

It WAS Gandalf...Bilbo had planned on just disappearing into thin air, and was slightly upset with Gandalf for getting in on the act.

I've only seen the documentaries on SciFi and Fox, but here are some things I noticed just in those clips: when Pippin starts talking too much at the pub, Frodo runs over to stop him and falls, and THAT's when he accidentally ends up with the ring on. (Also Pippin is just talking, rather than telling the story of the Birthday Party, which would have taken too long.) That one I can understand, since they left out most of the singing and originally it slipped on when he jumped into the air during the song he was doing.

Also, in Moria it looks like instead of Pippin dropping a stone down the well, he knocks a skull or something into it accidentally. That one bothers me a bit since it takes something away from his character. He's supposed to be a mischevious little guy, which gets him into trouble more than once. Making that an accident changes that a bit.

Going to see the movie in less than three hours!

I haven't seen the movie yet, but I'd guess that the flick logically ends with the 'Parting of the Company', right?

If so, I thought that Aragorn's sword isn't re-forged until the end of where the second book would put them. Aragorn presents the sword in front of the Council of Elrond (showing the sword that cut the ring from Sauron's finger) which technically establishes him as the rightful owner of The Ring in Frodo's eyes.

... Right?

BTW: As another poster mentioned above, there was a Giant Cave Troll in Moria. In the book, Aragorn bars the door and tells Gandalf that he sees x number of Orcs and "... a giant cave troll, I think.".

> a troll in Moria

Sounds familiar... catchy. "Moria... I just met a troll in Moria! And suddenly my knees are trembling like the trees... Oh, me! Moria... You're dark and I can't really see ya. But am I in New York? And did I glimpse an orc... or three?"

Merry joined the other three hobbits enroute to Bree instead of meeting them at The Prancing Pony. - I thought he was taking a wagon full of furniture ahead of the group to simulate a move.

Just re-read this last night... Merry had gone ahead like you said to Crickhollow, but came back and met them as Farmer Maggot was bringing them to the ferry. The four of them did all travel together from Crickhollow Hall.

Are you trying to spoil my holiday viewing pleasure?! I ain't reading this thread.

It WAS Gandalf...

Thanks, that's what I get for reading in bed with my eyes closed...

Just got back from the theater. I guess one change that has already been mentioned on other discussions is that Arwen subs in for Glorfindel at the ford with the Ringwraiths. There was no Glorfindel.

WOW! What a movie, though. I'll be buying a 2nd ticket very soon.

Okay, I don't think there's any other way to say this but

I DON'T CARE

I will admit that I was truly worried about the artistic license issue(especially with the exclusion of Tom) and to say that the first fifteen minutes after the intro I didn't point out to myself subliminally where Jackson took license would be a fib, but after 15 minutes I was overwhelmed!!

The artistry, the background, the care with which Tolkien's world was rebuilt, I can honestly say the special effects were so well done I felt I could reach out and touch some of the creatures. I thought they built the statues of the kings, it was amazing!!

The acting, good grief!! These people were so into their character it was unreal. Two points which I didn't wholly like and to be honest I would have to point them out to be fair. Bilbo's overcome with anger at Frodo in Rivendell was a little over done, and Galadriel's entire attitude. I mean I know the Wood Elves are more cautious, but they came across as down right hateful. I was worried if the actor for Strider would be right, and the same for Boromir, but they both did a wonderful part. In the books I never felt sorrow for Boromir, but the humanity the actor added to him, I'll admit I was crying when he died.

Another thing that struck me as odd after I left the movie but quite refreshing and knowing it's not in the books(but I thought Hollywood would try to slip it in somewhere). Three hours of a movie with not one curse word. Not one!! Just found that amazing for some reason.