This is what I mean about the Middle Earth's never ending war between Legolas and Physics. It pretty much blows the threat curve of all the baddies. Enh, just throw SuperElf at 'em and let's all get drunk. It's annoying. Oddly enough, I think the most annoying was the Last Toboggan Ride of the Elf. Much moreso than the Oliphaunt . I really prefer FoTR Legolas. I mean all else aside, the stuff gets so over the top that I can't enjoy it anyway. Of course that's a broad generalisation, but everybody makes broad generalisations. At least I do.

On the other hand, I much prefer movie Faramir. In the book he pretty much stole all the heat from the ring. It's established that the ring wants to be taken by Man, because they're more easily corrupted. Aragorn managed to resist it enough to let Frodo leave, thus removing temptation before it can set in on them. Faramir does pretty much the same thing, with a bit more tension. Tension is good.

Finally, the Son of Gloin. Definitely, if we combined TTT neck hewing with RoTK dialogue, we'd have the best of all possible Gimli's.

if we combined TTT neck hewing with RoTK dialogue, we'd have the best of all possible Gimli's.

Yes. And if we combine the FotR fighting with the RotK Gondor sickroom appearance, we get the best of all possible Legolases.

You know, I don't recall ever feeling that Aragorn was tempted by the Ring in the books either.

I vaguely remember him making one or two Gandalf-esque "You'd *really* better not offer me that thing" statements to Frodo, but it's possible I'm misremembering.

I recall that Aragorn was afraid that it would have power over him. More of a preventative temptation avoidance thing.

I remember a line to the effect of "If I wanted the Ring, I would have it," but I'm too lazy to walk across the room to look it up.

If I wanted the Ring, I would have it

That's definitely Gandalf's line. (In the movies, it's "I'm not trying to ROB YOU! I'm trying to help you." I liked the book version better.)

[eta: No, I take that back, I think -- Gandalf says it to Bilbo at Bag End, but then Aragorn says almost the same thing to Frodo in Bree. Lemme look it up.]

Here it is:

Pippin subsided, but Sam was not daunted, and he still eyed Strider dubiously. "How do we know you are the Strider that Gandalf speaks about?" he demanded. "You never mentioned Gandalf, till this letter came out. You might be a play-acting spy, for all I can see, trying to get us to go with you. You might have done in the real Strider and took his clothes. What have you to say to that?"

"That you are a stout fellow," answered Strider; "but I am afraid my only answer to you, Sam Gamgee, is this. If I had killed the real Strider, I could kill you. And I should have killed you already without so much talk. I was after the Ring, I could have it -- NOW!"

He stood up, and seemed suddenly to grow taller. In his eyes gleamed a light, keen and commanding. Throwing back his cloak, he laid his hand on the hilt of a sword that had hung concealed by his side. They did not dare to move. Sam sat wide-mouthed staring at him dumbly.

"But I am the real Strider, fortunately," he said, looking down on them with his face softened by a sudden smile. "I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn; and if by my life or death I can save you, I will."

Hm, that's a good point. In the movies, the good guys (other than the Fellowship) are represented by a country run by a madman and a country run by a guy with a death wish and no tactical skills. Not much to root for, when you think about it.

And Jess pegs the reason I'm a Canadian sympathizer rather than U.S. or Great Britian.

In the scene in FotR, Bilbo leaves Bag End, and Gandalf reminds him, "Bilbo, the ring is still in your pocket," and Bilbo lets it fall on the floor. Gandalf goes to pick it up, and sees the Eye of Sauron. However long it is later, Frodo comes in and the ring is still on the floor and Gandalf is muttering by the fire.

He hasn't let himself touch it, but he has been affected by its pull. And then he holds out the envelope and seals it away so neither he nor Frodo has to touch it, bids Frodo hide it away until Gandalf can return from his fact-finding mission.

It was obvious Gandalf was tempted, but managed to resist. On his return from Minas Tirth, when Frodo tries to give him the ring, Gandalf's recoil is plain, and he still refuses to even touch the ring. "Do not tempt me with this ring!"

Galadriel reaches toward it, but stops herself from touching it, also.

Movie-Faramir didn't touch it either, using his sword's point rather than bare skin to get a better look at it. For that matter, neither did Boromir or anyone else, save Bilbo and Gollum, and Sam in RotK. I think the movie makers did a good job of showing the characters resisting the pull of the ring.