Johnny Simmons

It’s hard enough being in one film with a huge cast, but when you’re in one of three films all with huge casts, someone is going to end up getting lost in the rubble. When the film in question is The Lord of the Rings, you’re just happy you’re in the biggest trilogy of all time. You’re not a hobbit, you’re not Gandalf, and you’re not Aragorn…so you probably will be forgotten. Like this entry.

                                                        

We first meet Boromir at the Council of Elrond as the representatives ponder what to do with the ring. Boromir goes against the grain, why not keep it and use it’s power – for good. He immediately rubs us the wrong way. Obviously his persona is in complete opposition to Aragorn – or Strider as we know him. This is not the noble man; there is a lust for power in his eyes that is not lost on us. When he realises that Aragorn is the heir of Isildur his contempt is not hidden well. “Gondor has no king”, he sneers to no one in particular. Aragorn is our hero and that is where our allegiance lies, but we can understand Boromirs feelings. With his father as Steward of Gondor he is the imminent steward and Aragorn poses a direct threat to him.

                          

Boromir is one of the nine chosen for the journey to Mordor and the Fellowship continues as good as can be expected. All memory of Boromir coveting the ring is gone until that day that Frodo lets it drop carelessly. Boromir picks it up “It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so a small thing”…we have forgotten that this ring really is something dangerous, no matter how small it is.But that malevolent look in Boromir's, who has become friendly with the hobbits, eyes is something distressing.

                                     

In the entire of the trilogy Boromir’s death stands out for me as the most profound. After becoming overwrought with his lust for the ring he frightens Frodo into putting on the ring and breaking the Fellowship. With the donning of the ring the Orcs arrive and wreak havoc on the Boromir, Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas. Boromir has already become enraged with himself and he fights valiantly to protect the little ones…but he dies, poetically of course with an arrow through him. It’s that final scene that sells me…as he pleads to Aragorn forgiveness. "I have failed you all." And then those final lines "I would have followed you, my brother...my captain...my king"…it is the saddest moment in the film. We realise that this is not a superhero film or a fantasy flick that ends in happiness for the good guys or those trying to be such. This is a poignant and somewhat tragic tale of man. I don’t think I’ll ever forget Sean Bean’s performance.

                         

           
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