Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy is without a doubt one of the hallmarks of modern movie making, showing that fantasy could be a profitable cinematic genre. And with new series The Rings Of Power on the way, it seems fans could be in for another mesmerizing experience. In the previous movies, Jackson managed to capture a great deal of Tolkien’s original vision while also leaving his own mark on the final product.
While the movies included most of the key scenes associated with Tolkien’s magnum opus, it also needs to be pointed out that there were several scenes from the original book that were simply too difficult to ever be fully realized in the final product.
Tom Bombadil
Tom Bombadil is noted for being one of the many characters that were left out of Jackson’s movie. There are many reasons why including Bombadil would have been impossible, not the least of which is the fact that, as he’s written in the book, he is a rather ridiculous (if also incredibly powerful) entity.
Just as importantly, however, including him would have even further delayed Frodo’s flight to the town of Bree and thus added more time to an already very long first movie.
The Barrows
In the book, a key part of the sojourn with Tom Bombadil is his rescuing of the hobbits from the clutches of the Barrow-wights, spectral creatures that inhabited the tombs near Tom’s house. While it’s an exciting and terrifying part of the original book, it’s easy to see why it would be impossible to film.
It would have not only added yet more time to the already-extended movie, but it would have been difficult to capture all of the complex mythology involved with these particular entities in Middle-earth.
Aragorn’s Original Personality
In the original book and as one of the most powerful beings in The Lord Of The Rings, Aragorn is a bit of a cold and distant figure. This is hardly surprising, given that he is a very old-fashioned sort of hero. This is evident from the moment that he appears in the inn’s common room in Bree.
While he makes for an imposing and impressive figure in the book, it would have been very difficult to translate this into the movie, since movies typically require a hero that is at least somewhat explicable to the modern audience.
The Original Council Of Elrond
Elrond is one of the most powerful characters in The Lord of the Rings, and he is also responsible for summoning the Council that debates the fate of the Ring. It would have been impossible to translate this directly to the movie as it’s related in the book, since the novel version is essentially one long conversation among the various people who are involved.
This would have been quite tedious viewing for most contemporary audiences, who require more action sequences in order to stay entertained.
Pippin Bonding With The Guardsmen Of Gondor
Even though the relationship between Merry and Pippin is one of the most important bromances in the movies, it’s also true that in the books Pippin also has an extraordinary bond with those charged with guarding the White Tower.
While this would have made for some fascinating character development in the movie version, it would have been impossible to film since it would have required adding yet another set of characters for audiences to keep track of, in addition to lengthening the run time.
The Mustering Of Gondor
In the novels, it’s made clear that Gondor isn’t quite alone when it comes to defending itself, and there are levies from its various realms. In fact, there’s an important scene in which Pippin bears witness to a whole series of warriors arriving in Gondor.
While this is important for the way that the novel shows the nation’s attempts to defend itself, it would have been impossible to translate to film, as it would have required the audience to keep track of a number of different characters that don’t ultimately play a large part in the overall story.
The Visit To Farmer Maggot
There are many great hobbits in the story, and many of them make their way into the movie. Unfortunately, one of those who doesn’t really get a great deal of screen time is Farmer Maggot, who only appears waving a scythe at Merry and Pippin.
In the book, however, he has a great deal more to do, and Pippin, Frodo, and Sam all spend time with him. Unfortunately, this would have been impossible to film, as it would have required casting yet another hobbit and delaying the necessary departure from the Shire.
The Scouring Of The Shire
Arguably one of the greatest changes to the novel in the process of filming was the omission of the Scouring of the Shire, in which Frodo and the other hobbits have to overcome Saruman’s corruption of their homeland. There are many reasons why this was ultimately impossible to film. For one thing, it would have delayed the ending even more than it was already.
For another, it would have required the addition of several other characters, as well as a confrontation with Saruman that would have robbed the homecoming of its joy.
The Full Lothlorien Sequence
Lothlorien is one of the most beautiful locations in the movies, and it serves as a fitting setting for the Fellowship’s encounter with Galadriel. However, the way that it’s described in the books would have been impossible to translate to a film, since it takes quite a while for them to actually reach their final destination.
What’s more, it would have also had to include another moment when the Orcs appear, as well as a run-in with Gollum, all of which would have added yet more money to an already enormous budget.
Gandalf’s Encounter With Radagast
Though Gandalf is an iconic side character who deserves his own movie, and along with Saruman, they are the series’ two most prominent wizards, there is another, Radagast. In the novel, he’s the one who sends the eagle to Orthanc and thus allows Gandalf to be rescued, whereas in the movie it’s a moth.
While it would have been a boon to readers to see Radagast in the movie version, the truth is that it would have added yet another character to the cast, as well as detracted from Gandalf’s own ingenuity in escaping from captivity.
