Nice get, Steph, on both points. I think it is ironic that PJ, who has made a number of creative choices on the (quite reasonable, but I'm obsessive) grounds that you have to consolidate plot threads for the cinema, fails to get across one of his primary threads (war is hell, it changes people, there is a price) in the main character, for viewers who haven't read the books.

I hadn't read the books yet when I saw the movie (actually, haven't read the end of RotK yet -- I'm about 1/3 of the way through reading TTT), and when I saw that scene, my thought process was pretty much, "Why's Frodo leaving? Oh, right, I guess when he came back, he couldn't really fit into his old life in the Shire anymore. Like shell-shocked veterans, I guess. Oh. OH! Duh. Wonder what's been happening to him? How much time has passed now, anyway?" So, I got it, but it was more of a working-backwards thought process than seeing things that would inevitably lead to him having to leave.

But didn't he explain the pain of staying was too much, because the wounds would never heal?

I think something missing is where he was going, and why that would be better, but I'd always thought the reason he couldn't stay was plain.

This is, of course, near valueless because it's coming from someone who's read the books a bunch of times.

For me, the symbolism of Bag End made the clues of the Green Dragon and the voiceover about the "some wounds never heal" completely clear. It wasn't just a decorating choice, the stripped interior mirrored Frodo's mental and emotional interior. Even the warm golden cheery color had changed to a bleak blue-grey. I think it's all there, but then I did read the books, long ago.

But didn't he explain the pain of staying was too much, because the wounds would never heal?

He may have, but I think that came after he said he was going. I think it would have made a little more sense if there was some exposition of "there's pain" then "the pain is too much" then "therefore, I must go," rather than "there's pain" then "I must go" then "because the pain is too much." So it was there, but, IMO, kind of awkwardly.

I think something missing is where he was going, and why that would be better,

Definitely. It took me a while to figure it out, and I don't think I totally processed it until he was actually at the boat.

Well, the folk I know who didn't read the books and saw the film all got it--including my teenage nieces and nephews and a friend who not only didn't read the books, she didn't really like the first movie o much and had to be coaxed to see the last two. I was surprised by this, as I myself thought it wasn't that clear to non-readers.

Another non-book-reader here. Don't forget that if you haven't read the books and don't know that Frodo is leaving, it packs much more of a punch (similar to that felt by Sam and Mippen) when you realise that he's going too.

I got it: it isn't really spelled out explicitely until Frodo talks to Sam, but there are lots of little clues, which obviously weren't enough for some people, though.

RotK dvd and vhs cover art!

And the Rolling Stone (dated sometime in early March) with Beyonce on the cover has an article about PJ and RotK.

The Horse is Good Viggo's new book of photographs. . . I may have to have it -- cause: HORSIES!

Interview with Viggo Mortensen

Ooh! Thanks for the link to the horsie book, sumi. You have just solved the dilemma of what to get my stepmom for Mother's Day.

Glad to help.