Helms Deep? Book Vs. Movie?

I may have to write two blog posts today. I have a lot on my mind, but they are in NO WAY related. Okay… Here goes my first train of thought.

I returned to reading the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and finally finished reading the fight at Helms Deep. In watching the movie I had expectations for how the scenes would be written, but after reading them I discovered the Movie decided to rewrite everything that actually happened. So, to those who had not watched, (or read), the Lord of the Rings, please be aware that this post will have spoilers in it.

You have been warned.

Okay. So, the book and movie portray the battle differently from the moment Gandalf, Aragorn and the others come into Rohan to meet with the King. Wormtongue was not beaten in the book, but he did run back to Isengard, (He did not make it there until after the Ents had already destroyed it, with a CONTROLLED flood, another difference in between book and movie. The Ents were fully tactical with the siege, since they are not brainless trees. I’m getting off subject in this side-note. Please excuse me). However, how this battle was written is truly a way to see into the mind of J.R.R. Tolkien. He took part in the First World War and had seen much. He would not send a woman to war. It is a terrible thing. Women and children do not need to see such things. People In this day and age see no problem with that. In some cases I see no problem with it either, but the civilly of J.R.R. Tolkien is admirable and sorely missed in too many young men.

J.R.R. Tolkien did not send Eowyn to war! She was chosen by the people to guard them in King Theoden’s place in case the battle turned ill and war came to them. Theoden took every able-bodied man to Helms Deep. They did not evacuate the village; this stood out to me. The movie writers were doing to Theoden what they had done to Treebeard. They made him out to be more of a fool than the main characters who were leading us through the movie. He was not a fool. He did what was best for his people in the book. In the movie we pretended he did, but using logic to think through everything that really could have happened makes Movie-Theoden’s plan very foolish.

The heck, right? I know times have changed, and I can see now more clearly how people in this world take the wise men of the past and try to make them appear dumb. Or perhaps they thought too many wise men would make the movie boring? I’m not sure. A bunch of rugged men charging to assist in a skirmish sounds like a neat scene in a movie to me. Better than screaming women and children carrying baskets, and then Aragorn fell off a cliff, (Note to those who don’t like spoilers: Oops. You shouldn’t have read this far!). He did no such thing in the book. They did lose track of Gimli in the fight and feared the worse, and the kill-count game between Legolas and Gimli is, in fact, a part of the story. I find it more entertaining to read because of the base created earlier for their uncommonly strong friendship.

I will momentarily drop off my topic for them. They inspire me.

Elves and Dwarfs do not befriend one another. That is the bottom line. Elves fear and resent caves, but admire and love forests above anything in the world. Dwarfs, on the other hand, detest forests. They see tunnels and caverns as wonderful works of art. The two beings have no reason to friend one another, but trial brought these two into a friendship that would not be shaken. In the battle at Helms Deep Legolas was worrying about Gimli when he vanished and still kept count of his kills. When Gimli finally came back Legolas was so relieved and happy that he didn’t care Gimli had one more kill than himself.

Later they promised each other that Gimli would go into Fangorn forest with Legolas if the elf would accompany him into the majestic caves of Helms Deep after, (The caverns were filled with gems which Gimli would never mine because they were so beautiful). I admire strong friendships which bring people to face their fears together like this. Brotherhood is what it should be called, yes? Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli become as close as brothers in this series. It truly is a wonderful book to read if you can open your mind enough to digest the scenery and deep description. All of it has such a wonderful flow that sends shivers up my spine. I wish I could write as J.R.R. Tolkien did…

I have digressed for long enough.

On their way to assist in war they see signs of random fights between humans and Orcs here and there. The thing which caught me off guard was the fact that there was no one battlefield. This is another sign to me that the writer had experienced war in person. When I write I create one battle ground. When J.R.R. Tolkien writes there are fights everywhere. People who ran and were pursued, plans to weaken the enemy by coming from another side, or just groups of enemies that met by accident. The world opens up so much and I can hardly take it in.

Then after the fight has ended there is no real sense of victory. It is not a joyous moment, though indeed they are glad they defended their keep. However the fact that it is a small step towards a greater goal still hangs above their heads.

I don’t feel I should go farther, lest I risk quoting the whole book to you. I also have another post to write after this one. If I do not write it I risk exploding. That wouldn’t be a very pretty sight…

In closing I have a few notes which remain:

The movie trilogy is very creative and fun to watch. A little long-winded for those who want action, but the characters are bright and clever as they intended to be.

The books are a great read, even if it takes a while for some of us to complete them. The story is thick and rich like a frothy milkshake and the inspiration it pours into me wells up until I overflow…

I want a milkshake now.

Have a good evening! I have to write my second post now.

~E.L. Mendell

“For greater things I’m searching. To newer lands I’m reaching.”