One of the pleasures associated with watching the new series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has been seeing how it engages with Peter Jackson’s iconic trilogy. Though not directly related to its predecessors, it is still easy to see how this new series draws from its iconography and approach to Middle-earth.
While there are still many things to appreciate about what Jackson was able to accomplish, it also has to be said there are some things that do not hold up particularly well when rewatching it in 2022. Even a masterpiece, it seems, doesn’t perfectly hit every note.
The Faramir Storyline Just Doesn’t Work
For many, Faramir is one of the best characters in The Lord of the Rings. Unfortunately, he is also one who suffers the most when it comes to the change from book to screen.
While it’s understandable that Jackson and his fellow creators would want to give him more of an arc, it is far too rushed for it to really land in the way that they intend. What’s more, the moment when the Nazgul almost claims the Ring, only to abandon it at the last minute, is a bit of a glaring plot hole.
The Elves At Helm’s Deep Don’t Make A Lot Of Sense
The Elves are obviously some of the most powerful beings in Middle-earth. Their appearance at Helm’s Deep is a change made specifically for the movies, and while its intent was to show the various races coming together to fight back against the forces of evil, it’s one that doesn’t really make a great deal of sense, particularly since none of them seem to survive the battle.
Ultimately, their deaths seem to serve little purpose in the story as a whole. It is especially strange not to see their passing commemorated or remarked upon in any way once their initial charge occurs.
Return Of The King Is Rather Narratively Messy
Even though Return of the King is one of those movies with many Academy Awards, it has to be said that upon a rewatch, it can be a bit messy. This is particularly true of the theatrical edition, which, among other things, leaves Saruman’s fate hanging with no clear resolution.
However, there are a number of other glaring problems even in the extended version. To take just one example, even though Aragorn kills the Mouth of Sauron, there is no sign of his body in subsequent shots. It’s a notable editing problem for a movie with such a major budget.
Gimli Doesn’t Do Very Much
For many, Gimli is one of the best characters in The Lord of the Rings. He is, to be sure, a bit of fun in a trilogy that otherwise takes itself very seriously.
However, a rewatch reveals a very uncomfortable truth: he really doesn’t do all that much in the story. He is, in essence, little more than comic relief, particularly compared to both Legolas and Aragorn, both of whom at least have a bigger role to play in the story and the events of the War of the Ring.
The Orientalism Is Egregious
Like the original novel, the Peter Jackson trilogy has some major issues when it comes to its representation of “the other.” This is particularly true in its portrayal of the Easterlings and the Haradrim, who emerge from this movie in all of the tropes usually associated with Orientalism.
This is an unfortunate holdover, and while Jackson was clearly staying true to the text, it is nevertheless something that is a little difficult to watch in 2022. Fortunately, this is something that has largely been abandoned by The Rings of Power.
Some Sloppy Editing In All Three Movies
There’s no question that Peter Jackson’s movies are a testament to the power of the movies. With their big budgets and large set-pieces, they are extraordinary cinematic achievements. Even so, there are some things that are particularly vexing upon a rewatch.
Given just how much labor went into their creation, it’s rather distressing to see how sloppy some of the editing is (including, in Fellowship, the moment when Frodo appears to have green mucus on his face, only for it to disappear a few scenes later). It’s forgivable, to be sure, but it is also something hard to wrap one’s head around from the standpoint of the present.
The Story Inconsistencies Caused By The Extended Editions
Anyone who is a fan of The Lord of the Rings knows that the theatrical and extended editions are very different viewing experiences. Unfortunately, the theatrical editions suffer in comparison to their counterparts, particularly since some important story elements are left out.
Most notably, the deletion of Saruman’s scenes from The Return of the King makes the version released in theaters seem half-done. It would have been better had they simply included the character in the theatrical edition, especially considering that his death scene isn’t particularly long.
Nuclear Galadriel Is Overdone And Rather Silly
Galadriel is one of the most powerful Elves in Middle-earth, in part because she is one of those who wields one of the Three Rings. In an attempt to convey this, the audience sees her go into what has been described as "nuclear mode" when Frodo offers her the Ring.
Though meant to convey her might, from a 2022 rewatch, it comes across as being more than a little overdone. In some ways, it really undercuts the moving and haunting performance that Cate Blanchett gives, and it’s a reminder that sometimes less is more when it comes to cinematic storytelling.
Omitting The Scouring Of The Shire Was A Mistake
Though Jackson’s movies take considerable liberties with the source material, one change is particularly notable: the excision of the Scouring of the Shire. In the books, Frodo and company have to expel Saruman from the Shire, where he has managed to set up his own petty dictatorship.
While this might have made sense at the time–especially considering just how long the movies already were–it is something that doesn’t hold up well on a rewatch. In a very real way, it robs Tolkien’s work, and the adaptation, of one of its key themes: that evil is never defeated, that it must always be fought against, even when one thinks one is safe.
The Climax In Mount Doom Falls Flat
The destruction of the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom is the most important scene in the entire trilogy. However, it is one that happens very differently in the book, in that it appears that Frodo pushes Gollum off of the ledge.
Obviously, this is done to ratchet up the tension, but it is one of those changes which, upon a rewatch, just doesn’t seem to make that much sense. Ultimately, it would have been better to simply have Gollum stumble and fall, rather than making Frodo seem almost murderous in his intensity.