So I just finished watching The Two Towers yesterday, and I figured I can continue my rereading of the series without having my enjoyment of the book/movie influence the other.

Have to say that I'm more impressed by Gollum each time I see the movie. Allison tells me there are rumours that the actor who played Gollum might be nominated for an Oscar this year? Peter Jackson and his team did such a wonderful job at translating the description in the book to the screen, don't you think?

Now and again it lifted its head slowly, turning it right back on its long skinny neck, and the hobbits caught a glimpse of two small pale gleaming lights, its eyes that blinked at the moon for a moment and then were quickly lidded again.

Again, I have to be astounded at anyone who claims that Tolkien's characters are flat and two-dimensional. I dare anyone to read the books and not be conflicted about Gollum's character. On the one hand, the creature is vile, threatening, and not to be trusted. On the other hand, you can sense the good in Gollum, the remnants of the person he used to be before he was corrupted by the Ring.

Although the way Gollum got the Ring wasn't mentioned in great detail in the movie, I shivered when Gollum's "bad" side accused the "good" side of being a murderer. Just the way he said it, and the stricken reaction after, seemed to indicate that Gollum/Smeagol felt some measure of guilt that he had killed a close friend in order to get the Ring.

It's a shame that the movie (at least the theatre version) cut out all mention of the rope that Sam received as a gift from the elves except for in this chapter, when the hobbits use it to tie around Gollum.

Interesting to reread the part about Gollum's apparent change of heart at the end of this chapter. Even in the movie, I found myself wondering how genuine a change it was. I know that part of it was because he wanted to avoid the pain of wearing the Elven rope. But part of me has to wonder whether it was partly because Gollum wasn't used to being shown mercy before.

'Take the rope off, Sam!' said Frodo.

Reluctantly Sam obeyed. At once Gollum got up and began prancing about, like a whipped cur whose master has patted it. From that moment a change, which lasted for some time, came over him. He spoke with less hissing and whining, and he spoke to his companions direct, not to his precious self. He would cring and flinch, if they stepped near him or made any sudden movement, and he avoided the touch of their elven-cloaks; but he was friendly, and indeed pitifully anxious to please. He would cackle with laughter and caper, if any jest was made, or even if Frodo spoke kindly to him, and weep if Frodo rebuked him. Sam said little to him of any sort. He suspected him more deeply than ever, and if possible liked the new Gollum, the Smeagol, less than the old.

I also loved the scene where Frodo first calls Gollum by his original name, Smeagol, and Gollum's reactions.