RotK felt like a huge step backwards in character development without any reason for it.

The only time it bugged me was when he actually received the crown, where he looks kind of miserable and befuddled and anxious. By then at least, he should be ready to be King.

Aww, the scene with the crown I really liked. No matter how ready he is to be king, actually being crowned is going to be a freaky moment.

Plus, the robes looked really uncomfortable. I'm sure he would have looked much more kingly if he'd been able to move his arms.

And that crown had to weigh a ton!

"Heavy is the head that wears the crown" indeed. "Heavy is that fucking crown."

All I'm sayin' is Aragorn is gonna need him a good chiropractor.

All I'm sayin' is Aragorn is gonna need him a good chiropractor.

I think the trick would be to glue his hair into a support network of flying-buttress dreadlocks.

I think the trick would be to glue his hair into a support network of flying-buttress dreadlocks.

BWAH!!

I cannot describe the hysterical visual image I have in my head...

I secretly suspect that any disappointment with movie-Strider in ROTK relates to the fact that he, for me anyway, makes an excellent disgruntled loner, and a pretty good renegade king-in-exile, but he's not all that much as a king-in-kingdom.

I take for proof of this his speech before the Morannon. It was -- eh. I mean, especially in comparison with Theoden's at the Pelennor Fields, which (1) had the advantage of being actually adapted from what Tolkien wrote, and (2) had a rip-snortin' delivery of the lines. Strider's speech, by contrast, felt like the preamble to a therapy session, both in word and delivery.

What Jess and Nutty said.

I'm all about showing us the character growth of Aragorn; I like him visiting the memorial to his mother in the EE. I subscribe to the belief that the people who make the best leaders are the ones who are so very aware of the cost and responsibility. I think you could have that and yet have less Thera!gorn.

Part of it is casting also: Viggo was perfect for Strider, but was often out-kinged by Bernard Hill. But, if you have to choose between someone to play Strider and someone to play King Elessar, go with Strider.

I'm trying to wait until the ROTK EE to really critique it, though. The additional footage may very well enhance Aragorn's kingliness.

I kind of like an uncomfortable king. There's a character reason why Elessar chose to become Strider. But yeah, I know what you mean.

We don't know when we're getting the extendoversion for sure yet, right? November?

Thinking about it at work today, I decided that I like what PJ did with Aragorn's character. I actually don't get a real sense of "I don't wanna be king!" from Aragorn so much as "I don't know if I'm worthy to be king"--which I think is a more interesting storyline anyway, and one that has more basis in the book.

Part of it is casting also: Viggo was perfect for Strider, but was often out-kinged by Bernard Hill. But, if you have to choose between someone to play Strider and someone to play King Elessar, go with Strider.

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense to me too.

I take for proof of this his speech before the Morannon. It was -- eh.

(The Morannon is the Black Gate, right?) Is it just me, or was there a slightly different version of that speech in the previews? I remember it giving me huge chills in the preview, due in part to the ringing tones in which it was delivered, and it seemed thinner, somehow, in the movie itself. His voice seemed a little more strained, a little weaker, and so the speech wasn't as powerful as I'd remembered it. Anyone else notice that? Or are we talking about a different speech entirely?, in which case, never mind.