There are even times when the filmmaker wants to put a modern spin on the text.
This would be how everyDraculanow is a sexy rock star god.
Tolkiens mammoth climax for the story of Frodo and the One Ring into a coherent and satisfying Hollywood epic.
And two decades later, its time to give the Shires greatest gardener his due.
Finally, Gollum frames Sam for eating the last of their lembas bread.
He shall go on with only Gollum.
For some fans, this is contrived melodrama, creating a rift where none existed.
But that reading is not quite right.
He immediately, however, recognizes his folly and apologizes to Sam for his rude outburst.
And that is the end of that.
He is repeatedly described as a servant doing right by his master.
Still, Sam proves to be a more compelling hero inReturn of the Kingthan Frodo does.
And the movie leans hard into this fact.
Secondly, the film has Sam go back to rescue Frodo on his own initiative after being sent away.
He returns as a friend instead of a servant.
When Frodo turns cold and snatches for the Ring in Sams hand, Sam hesitates.
So it is against Sams better judgment when he hands the Ring back to Frodo.
These elements occur in Tolkiens prose, but in an adaptation a filmmaker must decide what to dramatically emphasize.
And here, at the end of all things, the emphasis is on Sams selflessness and heroism.
Its wise, becauseif we are again to court blasphemythe actual climax of Frodos journey is ultimately letdown.
At the end, he succumbs to the One Rings seduction and becomes Gollum in all but name.
The smallest of us, or most pathetic, indeed made a difference.
Nor did any of Middle-earth.
He is the one who gets to return home.
