Movie Vs Book - The Fellowship of the Ring

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 I just read the book The Fellowship Of The Ring. Today we compare it to the Peter Jackson film - the extended edition. Let's go!


Today I'm highlighting the differences between the movie and the book. This is because books don't directly translate to film. You have to convert the dialogue into a script, film stuff (not as easy as they make it look), and edit the result. Some scenes didn't work, or some set piece doesn't work (like Jaws), and you get a different result than the book. It is never exact. 

With all that in mind, we dive into the film itself. The main plot is intact, minus Tom Bombadil's role. He was cut from the film. 

The  comparison

The shire and the birthday party are pretty close. The only real differences between the book and movie in the first part are these: you are missing the other black rider encounters between the first and last one before Buckleberry Ferry. Oh, and Tom Bombadil. It skipped the months of planning that went along with Frodo leaving. Instead, it skips straight to the running without the fake house plot and the house going to the Sacksville-Baggins'. Pippin and Merry are patched in at the farmer's field instead. 

Leaving the shire was a longer process in the book. They still head for the Buckleberry Ferry. There are no elves saving them from the black riders, because they skipped it. They did show wood elves on the way to the harbor, though. 

Radagast lured Gandalf to Saruman in the book. The book and movie differ on this. Gandalf in the movie comes for counsel. The tower result is still the same. The interaction is slightly different. 

Pippin does shoot his mouth off, but there is no song in the Prancing Pony. There is a fall and the ring slips on. Strider is still in the inn and talks to Frodo. They sped up the Strider dialogue and events. Any travel is sped up. 

Another difference is which elf finds Frodo and the party after weathertop. It is Arwen in the movie and a male traveling elf in the book. We don't meet Arwen until Rivendell in the book. Frodo is also more able to ride and travel in the book post-weathertop. 

The Council of Elrond is slightly different. Gimli never tried to bash the ring in. The story of what happened to Gandalf is also never shared in the movie, and Gollum's escape is talked of later instead of at the council. They also don't go into argument about the ring and instead in quiet discussion, Frodo says he'll take it. Elrond also chooses the company a day later than the discussion. And Boromir is brought along by Aragorn. 

The blind folding part? Not here in the movie, only the book. You still have elf hostility toward Gimli, but it is a bit varied from the book. Not by much, though. Sam doesn't look in the mirror of Galadriel in the movie.  As for Gollum, he is following, but he's explained earlier on in the movie than the book. We do see him paddling on a log. 

Boromir and Aragorn also just meet in Rivendell, but in the book they already knew each other. Also, Arwen doesn't talk about going to the undying lands and the first book never addresses this. The book also never shows what happens to Boromir. It follows Frodo to the boat after Boromir tells the others an amended tale of Frodo running off. Boromir is not forthcoming with saying he tried to take the ring. 

This movie also cuts out half of Boromir's whining and complaining. It also changes his response to Galadriel. The discussions of the party change slightly right before Boromir follows Frodo. There is no "the ring bearer will decide and he has one hour". After that, Aragorn finds him before he can get to the boat, which is different than the book. 

The book ending ends with Frodo rowing off with Sam. The movie elaborates on the fellowship as a whole, which is pulling from the second book. 

Conclusions

It's just as good. While some lament the absence of Tom Bombadil (I know at least one person who does), I do understand these movies were already long. I'm watching the extended edition. That means I have 12 hours and six minutes to watch. I love all of it, but I do know movies have running time limits. 

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Morrow is released! This novella is the story of two women writing a family history for the Morrow family. They find a nasty secret while researching. Will they survive their internship? 

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