The One Change in Jackson's LotR Even Tolkien Might Have Applauded
Tom Bombadil was a one of the most prominent characters from the novel The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien who did not make an appearance in Peter Jackson's adaptation of the acclaimed fantasy novel.
While reactions to Amazon's The Rings of Power have made it clear that adaptation of Tolkien's work is a challenging task, Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings did not escape criticism either.
One of the most significant changes Peter Jackson made in his adaptation was the removal of Tom Bombadil's character.
In Tolkien's novel, Tom Bombadil played a crucial role in aiding Frodo and his companions through the Old Forest after being captured by Old Man Willow and later by the Barrow-wights.
Surprisingly enough, Tolkien himself might have agreed with the change made in the movie adaption.
The key reason for the removal of Tom Bombadil's character was to push the narrative forward while increasing the pacing of the film.
In The Fellowship of the Ring DVD extras, Peter Jackson explained that while there was indeed some ring-related material present in Tom Bombadil's episode, it did not contribute to the primary plot structure.
Interestingly, even though Tolkien believed that Tom Bombadil played a critical role in the novel, he also stated that "Tom Bombadil is not an important person – to the narrative".
So, there's a sent-through-time permission to cut Bombadil out of the movie, with no hard feelings.
The decision to remove Tom Bombadil's character from the Lord of the Rings adaptation was a wise one, as it helped the story develop more quickly and maintain its narrative momentum, resulting in retaining the viewer's attention through the film's long runtime.
Although Bombadil's episode was a whimsical and charming experience in the novel, leaving it out allowed the story to center around the Hobbits' journey from Shire while also avoiding the Nazgul.
Peter Jackson's decision not to include Tom Bombadil's character in the adaptation of The Lord of the Rings was well-thought-out and aided in keeping the momentum of the plot.
With this creative decision Jackson once again proved that he was more than capable of standing on his own and designing the plot vehicle that is less dependent on its novel origins, while still maintaining the unique and wonderful atmosphere of the original.