February 20, 2005:
The decline of morality in the epoch of imperialism.
In the book "The Mouth of Sauron" is rightfully despised yet treated according to the rules of war. His rights are violated in one instance only, when Gandalf snatches away Frodo's mithril shirt. The scene is written in a way that implies great indignation on the part of the heroes: nothing less would push them to an act so dishonorable.
In the movie the Western captain Aragorn beheads the fellow without warning, as a trick.
My point here is not the fact that this particular writing team are beyond helpless. Rather, the observation that contemporary audiences accept the scene with satisfaction, while old Professor Tolkien, an imperialist of a different era, would have been shocked to his bones.