Saw the movie. Did the Grand Nitpick with my brother. Felt the better for it (got it out of my system). Will see again soon.

So many little things I wanted to see, and didn't, but so many other little things I was sadly expecting to be cut out, that weren't. A mix of thrilling and brief WTFery. Don't know why Minas Tirith has a helipad. Very odd, that.

I recognized Christian Rivers just as the signal-fire sequence got underway, and in a strange way it felt more like mine, you know? Like, Oh, I like that guy, I pull for him and for his city, and the sequence had more power than if he'd been Random Gondor Guy. Good cameo. Especially as -- Brother noted this -- in some ways we're not in Minas Tirith long enough to give a care about its inhabitants. No Ioreth or Beregond or anyone small to relate to. Just Christian Rivers, possibly the only other person in the movie who didn't need a wig.

The length of the Minas Tirith Helipad meant that Denethor ran about 2 football fields in flames before taking his swan dive. "So passes Denethor..." indeed, right under your nose, and you didn't offer your voluminous robes to stifle the fire, did you? Minor detail, that on some thought is vaguely funny.

I wasn't expecting them to keep the part where Sam lifts Frodo up on his back. I was so pleasantly surprised when that bit of hauling happened.

Last comment for now, and a snark at that: When Elrond came in and said "Arwen is dying", I didn't go into immediate WTFery. No, I was flashing back to Anya saying, "I'm dying! I only have 40 or 50 years left!!" and it made me chuckle. Till I realized it wasn't that kind of dying that Elrond meant.

A perfect scene for me when everyone's coming in to say "Frodo, you're alive!", I was thinking "Where's Sam?" Then Sam comes in and just kind of leans against the doorway with this tired, knowing smile on his face. Frodo ignores the giggling Merry and Pippin and returns the smile. It was so lovely to see Frodo smile again.

Did you notice the raw spots on Frodo's neck from the chain? All right, so I was quite blatantly ogling the lovely Mr. Wood's torso, sue me. What an adorable belly button. I recognized the scar from the Morgul blade, but what was the round wound on the other side? Was that from the troll spear in Moria?

That was my guess, connie.

Nutty -- yes, the long flaming run bugged too. I'd have preferred burning D go and hug the dead tree, sending it up like a torch.

Caught up.

I think I need to see it again. I did some sniffling, but no bawling. Gasped outright at the White City, which was jaw-dropping. Loved the battles.

Less enthused about Denethor, who suffered greatly in translation. Sadly, I don't expect it to be rectified in the EE. So much else will be, though.

Sean, I did want to hear "Begone, foul dwimmerlaik!" But you take what you can get. That scene did get a cheer for us, though.

I'm mostly saddened because there isn't any more. I mean, there's the EE, but that's it. ::sob::

God, that was a beautiful movie, editing issues or no. Just gorgeously filmed. Pippin and Sam were both marvelous.

Just caught up with the thread after seeing the film...

I think I need the 30 hour version of the film. Even as long as it is, so much gets left out. I just want more.

I was manly and didn't cry once. Nope, not at all, no sir, noway, nohow. Well, maybe a little the Gray Havens killed me, and the entire theater was sniffling thorughout that scene. Even though I knew what was going to happen, it still hit me like a ton of bricks.

I am disappointed that they didn't have the scene of Gandalf facing down the Witch King at the gates of Minas Tirith. I could have sworn I saw something resembilng it in the trailer. Maybe it will make the EE. Still, I have already reconciled with the decision and now figure that I can still keep the image I have in my mind's eye and not have it displaced by a cinematic version.

Nobody has mentioned how unearthly beautifull Edoras looked at night. I'm going to love finding out how they filmed those scenes.

Off to bed. I'm not going to be able to see the movie again for a while, with all the holiday frenzy about to hit.

possibly the only other person in the movie who didn't need a wig.

Who else didn't need a wig?

That Legolas hand-on-bow shot from the promo pics -- that wasn't remotely in the movie, was it?

So I'm the only one here lukewarm on EW in this one?

In your corner, Jess. I wouldn't even have said "phenomenal" for FOTR. I've been lukewarm on him the whole time. But it's a tough role, and physically he looks right. And I give him full props for exactly recreating Isildur's expression in Mount Doom. He looked great crazy.

Of course, I've also been lukewarm on Viggo too. Fan heresy, I know, and I don't know how much of it is the writing and directing choices for Aragorn and how much is Viggo. Coz dammit, Aragorn wasn't dodging his destiny! He'd spent his life preparing.

Nutty, that run scene got a huge laugh from my crowd, esp. with the line. Wonder why test audiences didn't catch that?

When Arwen saw the kid run across her path, I thought she was remembering Aragorn's arrival at Rivendell. But I guess they didn't want to get into THAT.

The couple that we went with had interesting reactions. They really wanted to see it - hey, they wanted to see the Trilogy. They sat there through the entire thing, not clapping or cheering or crying. On the way home, I said something about Faramir and Eowyn, and they said, "I thought he was her brother." Then one of them said, "You know, I don't think Theoden redeemed himself. I mean, he drags his entire country to war because he's got a death wish? I didn't like him.

There was more, but that will do for an example of why adapting a book (esp. this book) is the hardest thing ever.

Good lord -- I can't imagine submitting myself to 10+ hours of viewing when I'd be missing that much.

I don't get it either. But I figure the pretty scenery kept them happy.

Who else didn't need a wig?

PJ's daughter, when she was a Cute Hobbit Child.

Of course, I've also been lukewarm on Viggo too. Fan heresy, I know, and I don't know how much of it is the writing and directing choices for Aragorn and how much is Viggo. Coz dammit, Aragorn wasn't dodging his destiny! He'd spent his life preparing.

Oh, word word WORD. DH mentioned after we saw it the second time that a big non-book thing missing from this movie is Aragorn's "superhero moment" where he decides to become King. It was almost there in the Paths of the Dead, but we cut away before the climax. And as a result, Aragron spends too much of the movie looking worried and confused for me to really buy him as King at the end. Also, he looked really uncomfortable in his robes/armor.