Padding, padding, padding everywhere. It is clear from minute 1 that the decision to make 3 films was coming from the top “let’s make another ton of cash and keep this rig spinning until it blows”
So let’s start being literal to the book, going over every chapter and showing it in the screen verbatim (that scene with dwarves cleaning up… genius mate, good work), but then towards the middle we will have to divert from the story to include the big cameos, Elrond, Saruman, Galadriel, they are famous now, so we have to give them screen time, a lot of screen time
Don’t forget we are making films for the wider audience, not only the freaks that read the books 50 times, so let’s patch a love story right in the middle and make it tragic, what about an elf-on-dwarf action? Now, that’s a rule 34 if I’ve ever seen one
The bit about Moria? we have the technology now, so let’s make the whole thing as credible as a grand theft auto video in youtube . But what about the dragon?, the very same entity that caused havoc in the distant past and brought misery and terror to thousands… it has served its purpose now, so it will be dispatched in a minute, like a nit, off you go, we hardly knew ye.
And now, let’s focus on the final battle, we have to make it big, but it can’t be bigger than the one in Pelennor Fields, so what can we do? I know, lets steal them big worms out of Dune’s ass and plonk them right in the middle. What? giant worms? yeah mate, we’ll say everybody forgot about them, so let’s get cracking
But Mr Jackson, this battle is only going to last 5 - 10 minutes max, and we have 40 minutes of movie to fill left, so what are we going to do? No problem my dear chums, we can get some dwarves to form a crack commando and have a little seek and destroy mission on the side, something epic and tear-jerking to finish off. And don’t forget our signature ending, you think this is it, but we still have to show you the return home journey, fixing some shit with the neighbours, cook dinner and go over the past due bills in the post. End credits… DONE!
