I would like to see more of the relationships in the movie also. Tolkien had such deep faith. There is a small reference in the beginning of The Hobbit about a night fire, in the distance. Rangers were guarding the Shire, maybe even at that time, and I like to see that as a Ranger's campfire as he is watching over the hobbits. Also looking forward to seeing the characters develop as they encounter the other races in the story and their prejudices are challenged, along the lines of the Gimli/Legolas friendship in LOR. Best wishes to Viggo and hope to see him finish his role as Aragorn.

I agree with Viggo, that is why the extended versions are so much better, and probably each should have been, yes, a little bit longer. Two Towers simply strayed too far from the book and the Rohan characters didn't quite connect with the others as they should have. Anyway, I hope Viggo returns, he is a great actor, and was great as Strider.His role should be prominent in the second film, along with Gandalf. Ah, Viggo and McKellan reprising their roles as these great characters, second film can't miss, can it? Hope GDT doesn't shy away from 'Gandalf the Grey uncloaked', as PJ did somewhat.

Dear Mirabella

I remember reading the same - wasnt their some Elves watching over the shire as well? Curious why were the Rangers watching over the Shire - did they know that Bilbo had the ring? PS I have a web site www.pujdak.com Im an artist I have a painting of the fellowship in their that I did ..check it out..blessings Nicholas

Yes it could be Elves, maybe just passing through, maybe going to the Grey Havens. I suppose it was the elves who would have given Gandalf news of the Shire before any of The Hobbit took place, I think Sauron was around at that time (as the Necromancer) and Gandalf kept tabs on him and all peoples in Middle Earth. I just like the image of that fire being a Rangers , I guess. It all points to the detail and depth that Tolkien gives the story and so then the importance of highlighting the relationships in the movie storyline, so it isn't just characters showing up out of nowhere,having a big action sequence and then on to the next. So I was so glad to hear VM express a wish to remain true to the spirit of Tolkien and I hope they do, because this to me is what made the LOR movies great and will set the Hobbit right alongside them.

If i remember correctly, the rangers were not invented until well after the hobbit was published. It was only while creating the LotR that tolkien decided to retroactively make the "magic ring" The Ring of Sauron, and again, the Necromancer was retroactively changed to be Sauron in disguise. Gondor had not been created yet, nor the legends of Numenor, and all that stuff until way into the LotR, and even when he was finished, he still needed to tidy up all that back-stuff into the Silmarllion. While it would be nice to have a 'nod' at the rangers and elves in the hobbit, the truth is the concept did not fully evolve until much later.

Firstly, in reply to Jedman, I don't think its a case that 'rangers' or 'Gondor' or anything else wasn't created at the time of the publication of The Hobbit. The Silmarillion was never intended as a completed worx by Tolkien, but rather was a collection of all his background notes and formulations of the world he'd created. The Hobbit was intended as more of a childrens' story rather than an epic like the LotR trilogy, and thus would not be expected to contain all the detail found in the latter. There is very little time between The Hobbit and LotR, in which case Aragorn certainly was alive during the time of The Hobbit. These things did not need to be mentioned 'in' The Hobbit to prove they did already exist; the creation of Middle-Earth was still only young in Tolkien's develoment at this time, but his intention to develop an epic for the modern generation of adults was (almost) a continuation on from the Hobbit, which several 'leads' in The Hobbit being developed later in the LotR (Mirkwood, Balin's tomb, etc).

Regardless, I would have to say that I really agree with Mortensen about the development of the Trilogy. For me too, the second and third films focused too much on special effects, lacking the beauty and subtlety of the FotR. It's nice to know that someone so intrinsic to the films shares those views, and is committed enough to finally express those views now that the hype around the LotR Trilogy has passed.

Question then to all : Im a real admire of Tolkien's work but not as well versed as the rest of you are..

So why was Viggo watching over the shire at all - like I previously asked did he know the ring was there?

So Elves did not visit the Shire at all but knew of its exsistance?

I thought it was a shame that more of the Rangers were not in the Return of the King and or Elronds sons - but I guess only so much time to get so much in a film..

thanks for your help - Nicholas