I think it would've really helped

I went last night with a non-book reader and asked what, if anything, she was confused by and the ONLY thing she said was "I just don't get at all why Frodo had to leave for the Havens." I explained the pain and the hurt and the lingering burden, etc. and she still didn't get it. I am fine with the Scouring being left out (which I didn't think I would be) but this might have helped clear things up for her.

Interestingly she totally got from Faramir's "How you doin'" glance at Eowyn during the crowning ceremony that they were going to hook up. Thus disproving my theory that all non-book readers would be unsatisfied with Eowyn's ending as presented in the movie.

Ian just *is* Gandalf.

Wrody McWrodiger. Friend and I were talking about our favorite actors of the the three movies.

Friend: Viggo Mortenson would be my second choice but I just have to go with Ian.
Me: Who'd he play?
Friend: Come on. You're such a freak - Gandalf.
Me: Whatev. *Gandalf* played Gandalf and I'm sticking by that.

So, last night, I thought I was going to be A Big Girl and not bawl through the whole movie because (drum roll) I made it through Mippen parting without a tear! But...at least I could dissect my big cry points this time:

Tears started when Pippin finds Merry on the Pelennor Fields. Oh Merry just looks soooo beaten and Pippin is so worried. Meep.

Sam fighting the Orcs: "This is for Frodo. That is for The Shire. And this is for my Old Gaffer!"

Sam picking Frodo up to carry him up Mt. Doom. It's not the words - it's the physical act of him picking him up that breaks me.

And here is one that didn't really get me the first time, but damn did it hit me hard the second.

In front of the black gates, Aragorn turning around and facing the men, dead silence, and then "For Frodo." I sobbed.

I tried REALLY hard to keep it together after that but damnit, if the scene at the harbor didn't make me cry, too.

So, better than the first viewing, but I still need to get steeled up a bit in order to see it with my Dad without just losing it.

Also? I enjoyed it much more on the second viewing (even though I loved it on the first as well) but it did feel really long this time.

I really enjoyed just getting lost in the fricking unbelievable CGI stuff this time instead of watching it with a "Oh, I hope this doesn't look fake" kind of feeling.

tina, your penultimate crypoint is the single time my heartstrings were tugged by Aragorn. He looked so consummately exhausted and human.

I think we'll need a second viewing this weekend or even maybe Christmas day. I was in too much of a smart-ass mood when I saw it Sunday, didn't take it serious enough.

Same here ita - Aragorn doesn't tug for me the same.

I edited my post but it was all spoilery when I first posted - sorry.

eta: Gah! I am having whitefont issues - sorry!!

As a non-book-reader, I picked up on the "How YOU doin'?" look between Eowyn and Faramir. Although it's possible I had read stuff in peoples' LJs regarding that and so I knew what that glance was supposed to imply.

I sobbed when Frodo woke up, and saw Gandlaf there. I have bugging bugging bugging people to tell me if Frodo sees Gandlaf again, to know he didn't die. No one would tell me. So THAT was the sobbing point for me.

Didn't cry at all during the movie. Did get choked up, but it was at a weird point and it's probably just a stupid me thing.

The other friend I went with is a mid-level Tolkein geek (read the books several times but has never bothered with any of the appendices) didn't cry at all and said he didn't even kind of get misty.

Soulless freaks.

On another note - I love Arwen in the books. I didn't read the appendices until my third or fourth time reading the books and when I found the Aragorn/Arwen story there I was THRILLED. Now, I loved Eowyn in the books too - but I wanted Aragorn and Arwen to be together forevah!!1!. I think one of the saddest things Tolkein ever wrote was Arwen's death in the appendices. Breaks my heart to think of her just walking through the forest alone.

but it was at a weird point

Was it when Shelob was flailing about in her death-throes?

Can we stop whitefonting now that Aimee's seen it?

Hec, I think we're waiting through the weekend. But don't quote me on that.