Part 3/8:
Debunking Common Misconceptions
It's essential to challenge this notion by noting that the films are not entirely faithful to the books. Many liberties were taken throughout the trilogy, including character arcs and scenes that do not appear in Tolkien's writing. For instance, the origins of the wizards, the character of Tom Bombadil, and certain battles were all either condensed or excluded for various reasons related to time constraints and narrative focus.
Jackson inherently recognized that an adaptation would require selectivity; despite aiming for fidelity to the source material, he also understood the limitations of cinematic storytelling.