For me, the biggest shame is the heavy emphasis on medievality in architecture and (apparently) horse saddles. I fear the weapons and armor will also be too medieval in look and feel, and the clothing as well. I did have some input on swords, but we only discussed Anduril and Elvish weapons.

[more snipalipadoo]

with all due respect, I can't believe that *that* is your major complaint, Michael! I know most of your arguments about medieval whatnots and hoosiwhatees, and I agree with a good many of them--partly out of seeing the soundness of your arguments, partly because I don't know any better--but come on! Even I think you overstate your case a bit too much by being so self-assured. Your arguments are just that - positions which you've chosen to defend. Other positions - even the medievalists - have quite a bit to add to the mix, and on some counts they can score a point or two against you. Since Tolkien never described in detail the socio-economic organization of Middle-earth at the time of the War of the Ring, all arguments must necessarily be conjecture. So I guess my point is, please don't let that (of all things) spoil the movies for you.

Getting back to the original subject, I have heard that it is actually Gimli who they have chosen to be the "comic relief." Of course, this was in the old, two-movie version which has been well reworked and reworked again. But in that one, he was a bit more crass and off-the-cuff then he appears in the books. Hopefully they've fleshed out his character a bit more.

Personally, I think the choice of Gimli as a "comic" character is wrong. I think he has some funny lines in LotR - like when he begs Legolas not to run off into the thick of the huorns outside Helm's Deep.

But on a recent re-read, I actually found Legolas to be quite amusing. I had never considered it before, but I think a lot of what Legolas does and says is really funny. I now see him as a very aloof, even sarcastic character. His behavior at Caradhras and Lorien, his explanation to Strider and Gimli of how Merry and Pippin escaped, his opinion of the dead men of Dunharrow (in the movie in my head, I would have a cut-shot of Legolas yawning or cleaning his fingernails or at least raising an eyebrow a la Spock while all the others try with all their might to cope with the terror of the spirits)--I found quite a (very understated) type of air of superiority. It was an attitude kind of like that the whole business was beneath him... well no not that. More like he saw everything that was being done as a passing moment whose significance is not quite as desperate as it seems at the time. Appropriate to an immortal, but also potentially (and in fact) quite funny.

Unfortunately, I think that it is probable that this *did* in fact escape PJ & Co (hell, it escaped me until this past month or two). Legolas will probably be cast as a typical D&D style elf who takes himself too seriously. As an example:

Remember the conversation between Gimli and Legolas about the fate of Men, how they will outlast both elves and dwarves. And Gimli mentions that for all of the promise and hope in Mankind, he thinks they will come to nothing "but might-have-beens." And Legolas responds, "To that, not even the Elves know the answer." Now choice A is that you can have him say this with a really ponderous, very serious, far-sighted, mystical expression of concern and thought. Choice B is that he says it with a wry glance and a wink at Gimli.

My choice would be B. To me, the lines recall all the strife between L & G in a back-handed but friendly way. To me, it's a comment that would be a poke at Gimli and the dwarves, fitting his standoffish character, but also recognizing with his smile that those thoughts and rivalries are behind him.

Anyway, sorry I went on so long. End Rant.

But on the subject of humor, I think Gollum does have quite a few good lines (I love it when humor and tragedy blend), as does Pippin and Gandalf and of course Sam. All in all, the movie should not only inspire us and leave us breathless with awe, but it should also leave us with quite a few chuckles in our bellies and tears in our eyes. Here's hoping...

Dave C-Q