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.

The passage Jess quotes brings up something that I feel was lost in the movie (though perhaps not necessary) - the massive suspicion that the Hobbits had toward Strider. (yes, I know they had a few lines about it in the film, but it wasn't anywhere near as pronounced) I remember the first time I read the book I actually gasped aloud when it was revealed that Strider was the heir the throne of Gondor.

I read the Eye appearing and Gandalf's reaction as Gandalf's fear that to touch it would be to reveal himself to Sauron. The temptation read didn't come in for me until Frodo says "You must take the ring!" and Gandalf tells him not to offer it.

Separating books from movies, you're right, Beverly. And I suppose they had to put each of those characters in the way of temptation to show how big a threat the ring was (although that didn't completely work, apparently). Still, would've been nice if someone other than the Fellowship (minus Boromir) was incorruptible. What with Faramir's actions, avoiding the Gap of Rohan in favor of Moria seems like a pointless exercise, when it's likely the ring will go through Gondor/Ithilien anyway.

I like the Best Possible Gimli and Best Possible Legolas, although I would mix in Legolas at the coronation and graceful, savage, Amon Hen Gimli, also.

ETA: Link is a review which contains spoilers and offensive abuse of grammar.

Oh, that was the other thing. I may have missaw because I was stuck a bit forward in the theater for my taste, but at the battle before the Black Gate, right before Sauron gets an eye full, was Aragorn parrying strikes from a Troll? I didn't see clearly, but if he was, then that's a head shaker too, given the established strength of the things.

And speaking of which, when the Gondorians barred the door and the big ram knocked it open, did anyone else hear Boromir say in their heads ' They have three cave trolls. '?

Edit just to say I'm leaving 'missaw' in there even though it's not even remotely a word. So there.

I'm with MM. I hate Legolas jumping on the horse (in front of its legs!?!), the snowboard shield, and the death of the oliphaunt.

I would've been ok if Legolas had simply dealt with the oliphaunt riders, left the beast unfettered and free to follow its own directives. 'Cause it wasn't the oliphaunts' fault. If you've gone and removed the threat, killing it is just gratuitous.

I may be alone in this. Incidentally, I also agreed with MM about Theoden's tactical ability. Charging the oliphaunts actually threw me out of the moment. Get some fire in play, panic them. Take out the drivers with missile fire, and let the uncontrolled behemoths disrupt the enemy ranks. Elephants aren't that easy to control.

9. "'Middle Earth' scenes clearly shot on regular Earth"

It wasn't! It was shot in New Zealand! They had the world's biggest eagles! And still do, apparently.

4. "If they're going to have magic, why not bring back the rapping kangaroo?"

t falling over laughing