The Scouring of the Shire: Should it have been in the Film?

Well, Gandalf's lines from that scene are taken from the book, only they're not Gandalf's lines there. One of the "Coven's" more brilliant ideas, if I may say so

Still my favourite scene! (Do I hint a tiny bit of sarcasm Ringdrotten...?)

Not at all! It is my honest opinion, I think giving Gandalf those lines was a brilliant idea. Would be a shame to leave such excellent writing untouched (though I must say, they did leave a lot of excellent writing untouched, and for that I will never be able to completely forgive Jackson and friends )

The dribbling scene was utter crud, way off the mark, Denethor wasn't a rustic oaf in a hay barn, how can you guys say it was a great scene? You people do make me angry at times. Like you don't get Tolkien at all.... I concede Pippin's singing was nice, though still Wrong I'm afraid. And Faramir riding out was okay in a so-so way - but still Wrong! But DENETHOR! He was from a long line of Gondorian Stewards - with at least a spattering of Numenorean blood. You guys are mad - mad, I say!

I find the Pippin singing whilst Denethor dribbles blood red tomato juice down his chin and Faramir rides to danger to be one of the biggest stinking piles of cheese in the entire trilogy of films. I actually laughed out loud in the cinema at the crassness of that scene. Its about as subtle as PJ coming round your house and rubbing onions in your eyes whilst screaming "This is an emotional bit!" through a megaphone.

And that's before you take the technical problems into account- mainly the position and distance of Osgiliath in relation to Minas Tirith seems to shrink and grew to suit the plot of the moment. But then this is a film where a man on fire can run for more than half a mile to throw himself off the top of a building for no other reason than it looks 'cool'.
Utter rubbish.

So it should to be shure, the scouring is essential. Stops Merry and Pippin from becomin PJs twats and shows them becumin all growd up. Its the best feel good bit in d book.

Darn tootin!

odo banks wrote:

Films can be made again. One day... yes, one day. I dare to dream.

I hope for a long life, at least another 50 years and in that time I do not have your hope that anyone will ever do another remake or adaption of LOTR. The scouring is lost forever.

"Stops Merry and Pippin from becomin PJs twats"- Brian Boru

I think we may share a view or two on PJ's treatment of characters!

Desmund tuuttin'!

ITS MY BIRTHDAY TOMMOROW!!! I WILL BE TWELVE (FINALLY!!!)

No, I havn't had some of mum's buckie. I think. I am just really excited for my birthday!! Me and mum made an awesome cake today and it has purple icing on the top! (Red food colouring + Blue food colouring = purple icing. Purple icing = my favourite colour!)
You had better all wish me a happy birthday tommorow or... I don't know, you will just ruin my whole birthday! AND put me in a crabbit mood beyond belief as well! (Need a smilie with arms folded and a pouty face!) Gonna try and wake up really early so i can open prezzies!

Night!
Squachumz

Squach wrote:ITS MY BIRTHDAY TOMMOROW!!! I WILL BE TWELVE (FINALLY!!!)

No, I havn't had some of mum's buckie. I think. I am just really excited for my birthday!! Me and mum made an awesome cake today and it has purple icing on the top! (Red food colouring + Blue food colouring = purple icing. Purple icing = my favourite colour!)
You had better all wish me a happy birthday tommorow or... I don't know, you will just ruin my whole birthday! AND put me in a crabbit mood beyond belief as well! (Need a smilie with arms folded and a pouty face!) Gonna try and wake up really early so i can open prezzies!

Night!
Squachumz

Just in case I don't pop along on Monday (I'm a busy dwarf- don't want to let things slip over my head) I wish you an very happy birthday! Sounds like a splendid cake, let's hope it tastes as great as it sounds!

Thanks! The only downside is that I have to go to school today. Honestly. School on your birthday.

Happy birthday, have a great day at school.

Happy birthday, Squach

Happy birthday, Squach! I remember being 12, I was very excited, especially since it's my favourite number. Hope you had/have an awesome day!

I wonder if Peter Jackson will include elements of the Scouring at the end of the second Hobbit Movie?

why would he do that. that has nothing to do with the hobbit. oh.. wait...

Saradoc wrote:Hope you don't mind me going off at a slight tangent here, but I think PJ did have valid reasons for leaving the Scouring out. Firstly, is the widely varing demographic of cinema-goers. It's all right for fanmade films- we know only LOTR fans are going to watch it. But I'd say there would be a fair amount of people who would see ROTK without seeing the other two. Like people see Harry Potter films without seeing most of them. They wouldn't know what the Shire was, and for them it would certainly be very anti-dramatic because they don't know Tolkien, haven't read the books.

Apolgies if this view has already been made before on the thread, but its just how I see it.

I have often thought about the scouring but i too felt that the majority of viewing folk would not appreciate what was going on so why bother.

Scouring could have worked brilliantly, but it would have to have been written for, Otho and the Sackville's would have to have featured in the begining, and more made of Saruman having pipeweed from the Shire and the meeting with him and Wormtongue on the way home.
It couldn't just be tacked onto the current films but if it had been planned for I see no reason it could not have been very effective and supplied a more satisfying conclusion to the hobbit characters stories.

And great to see you back again Leelee,

I really don't think the scouring would have worked well in the three movie format. The climax was past, you have to wind it down, not have a whole mini-story tacked onto the end. It's really a matter of timing: would have been okay if the movie was split after the fall of Mordor: then the last movie would be the marriages, the journey home, the last battle, and the grey havens.

I reckon if it was written for from the outset and was part of it you could do it.
You sow the seeds at the start with Lotho and Ted instead of Merry/Pippin firework stealing, use Sams glimpse in the palantir to set up Lotho a bit more, insert a small bit when they confront Saruman: he makes allusing to the hobbits homeland in a sinsiter fashion, include more of Sams mentions of his gaffer and his store of names for Sam to remind the viewer more of the Shire throughout, and it would be a natural finish to the films and the hobbits tale, as well giving Saruman and Wormtongue a proper send off.

(And if you move everything from PJ's Rotk back where it belongs into TT, RotK EE edit is only two and a half hours long instead of over 4, so plenty time)