May 11, 2000

theonering.net reports, "There has been little to no information to date regarding the inclusion of Ents in the film trilogy, or how they will be brought to life. In Jackson's original interview with Ain't It Cool News, he stated that the films would contain scenes of the Ents storming Isengard. Recent rumors, however, indicate that the Ents may not play a part in the films at all"

This has filled me with a fear that no words of Saruman could allay.

There are three factors one must weigh when deciding whether or not to include a part of the book in the film.

Putting the Ents to this test, we find that they have two of these three factors against them. They take up valuable screen time in a place where much needs to be told elsewhere, and as stated in a previous essay there are very few talking trees in the Screen Actors Guild.

Nontheless, the Ents must remain in the Two Towers for reason number one alone.

Tom Bombadil fanatics, flame me if you desire, but you can skip over Tom and the Barrow Downs with only the Hobbits losing their swords- something any sane person would be able to live with- and any movie could fix without a riverdaughter batting an eyelash.

How in Middle Earth could you ever tell the Lord of the Rings story without the Ents? Now I've been racking my brain with this very thought- and I've not been able to come up with one plausible solution. I suppose Peter Jackson believes he has one. All I can think of is that Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas with maybe the help of Eomer manage to free the Hobbits from the Orcs and reunite before Helm's Deep. But apart from this causing the heart failure of anyone in the theater witnessing these events after reading the book, what's the point of Merry and Pippin being captured by orcs in the first place? In fact, what's the point of Merry and Pippin being in the Lord of the Rings movie at all? Yes, they are our eyes and ears in Rohan and Gondor respectively in the Return of the King, but that's a long time to wait before we see the two hobbits gain any value.

Or maybe they won't be captured by orcs. Maybe Gandalf will appear after Boromir dies and give us a gratuitous light show while saving our two young friends. Then, after assembling the remaining Fellowship, he'll give his speech that before was reserved for Gimli, Legolas, and Aragorn in Fangorn Forest, and they'll all ride to Edoras.

After destroying Saruman's army at Helm's Deep (with Mr. Took and Mr. Brandybook joining in on the orc slaying contest), they'll sack Isengard and go about their merry way to Minas Tirith.

Alright now, seriously, is there any less ludicrous way to tell the story in the Two Towers without the Ents? I realize in a film you can gloss over inconsistencies you'd never get away with in a novel, but there is no way Jackson would ever be able to pull this off.

And all that aside, so much of the richness and expanse of Tolkien's imagination would be lost.

Let me put this plainly:

If the producers choose to include the Ents in the Two Towers there is a chance that the movie could be one of the best films ever.

If the producers choose not to include the Ents in the Two Towers this film will never be able to break out of being another Tolkien half assed cinematic effort which lacks the clarity, depth, and beauty everyone has been charmed with in the novel.

I realize it's difficult to produce the special effects needed for the Ents to be brought to life. I have sympathy for those involved in this part of the project. I also am not ignorant of the risk involved with trying to include the tree shepherds in the movie(s). The last thing Peter Jackson wants is for these movies to look cartoonish and/or silly.

But the tempting solution the rumor offers will not work. It's just that simple. It would be so sad if the Two Towers were to fail before ever given a chance to succeed.

Lately, NBC and ABC have been trying to tap into fantasy for their made-for-tv movies. Perhaps this is partly due to greater acceptance of the genre by mainstream America, or perhaps they feel it's a good forum to display new special effects. Whatever the case, none of their creations, outside of the heavily hyped Merlin (which had so much advertisement you would have sworn it was the Second Coming), had any real financial or artistic success.


Let me say: I don't blame the networks for producer their mediocre products. Firstly, I'm happy that they're attempting to explore the fantasy world at all. And secondly, it will probably take decades of practice before any network understands how to write, direct, and film good fantasy.

But in the meantime, here is one of their problems: unfamiliarity. Not their unfamiliarity with fantasy- though that does exist- but the unfamiliarity the audience feels when watching the made-for-tv movies. The writers and directers of the present network creations believe that if you live in a world of wonder, magic, and mystical forces, by all means that must be shown off! Consequently, when you journey around these creations you'll continually be bombarded with showoffs who are interested more in impressing you and less with displaying character. The audience quickly becomes bored and sometimes intimidated.

Tolkien's world looks like our world- the land, the stars, the people. Wizards and warriors don't feel the need to display their power. In fact, for anyone to show their hand in the complex poker game good and evil play would be strategic folly.

Thats not to say that hidden powers, or magic and wonder don't exist in Middle Earth- but they're kept hidden. When you walk around this world it looks very much like our own. You feel comfortable. You feel at home. And yet at the same time you don't want to blink for fear of missing a dragon flying through the air, a spell by some sorcerer... or an Ent striding by.

Yes, Ents. Their purpose in the film is not a gratitous display of, "Look at what our special effects team can do," but rather a needed exposition of depth in the heart of the Lord of the Rings story.

Tolkien wisely opens the Lord of the Rings with an anticipation of the discovery of secrets in this dangerous world, but then forces us to find our feet. Then he slowly reveals the ancient, complex, and astounding marvels of Middle Earth while we still have a foot in reality- which makes it all the more scary and grand... and real. Scary, when we see a shape of a Nazgul suddenly appear against the Moon- grand, when we see the destruction of Isengard as if the great sea itself had swallowed it. Real- always.

You see, the Ents don't have to have a lot of screentime. And what time they do have can be filmed in an artistic way as to limit the special effect shots. But even just touching upon them in the Two Towers adds needed layers to this story of good vs. evil- and saves Merry and Pippin from virtual character suicide.

It would be a pity to lose the visual battle of the Ents vs. Isengard, though. I realize everyone's looking forward to Helm's Deep- and Peter Jackson's spent a lot of time and thought on that segment. And all the more power to him. I, too, want to see a stellar looking battle at the ancient fortress. But you know, there have been so many battles of this sort in movie history- and everyone knows who's going to win anyway. Now the Ents vs. Isengard... there's something that has never been seen! And what a contrast it would be to see a battle of men and elves vs. orcs and then to cut to the Trees vs. Stone. Natural vs. unnatural.

I say this out of chronological order, which Jackson has said he wouldn't do- the Battle of Helm's Deep takes place after the storming of Isengard, though it's told in reverse order. If I were making the movie I'd have Helm's Deep first and then just like the book I'd have the reunion of the Fellowship in Isengard and have Merry and Pippin explain what happened (with visual enhancements).

I think the Battle of the Ents in the Two Towers really separates the book from most stories about war. And needless to say it, it's like stepping into a dreamworld where anything seems possible while still remaining comfortable and familiar with your surroundings.

If I were making the movies I would also end the Two Towers with the Fellowship's reunion, a farewell visit to Saruman, and Gandalf riding to Minas Tirith with Pippin after the Nazgul scare. It's tricky to know where to end the Two Towers as its climax, the Battle of Helm's Deep, happens kind of in the middle. But if you look at "Book III" the whole plot of it is the Fellowship trying to get back together after being shattered at the end of "Book II". I'm sure Frodo will be given his due in the movie, too, but I'd end his part with him saying goodbye to Faramir, and then cut to Gandalf and company for the final ending of the movie. The reunion would be an uplifting climax for the audience, and a farewell visit to Saruman expected and not anticlimatic in the least. It's a short visit anyway. I'd skip the Palantir completely.

Of course, if I was making these movies I wouldn't be working nights in a glass factory and trying to scrape up money for my bills every month while driving my 87 Cavalier either. As you may guess, I'm not making them. And since I'm not paying any of their bills either, my feelings are rather meaningless. If you're interested, both palantirs will be in the movies. At least they'll be pronounced correctly.

But will the Ents be in the movie? There will be tears on my part when I find out the answer. But will they be gentle tears of happiness? Or will they be sorrowful tears of pity? It's a pretty big decision. I can only hope the right choice is made.

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