Lord Of The Rings: 10 Best Scenes NOT From The Books
1. The Battle Against Sauron - The Fellowship Of The Ring
Because Sauron is such an integral part of The Lord of the Rings, it's easy to forget he never physically appears in the novels.
Although he's mentioned throughout, the titular villain never shows up as anything except a flaming, lidless eye. The Dark Lord is never described and the events that led to Isildur defeating him are barely touched upon.
But because film is a visual medium, Peter Jackson knew Sauron had to pop up at some point. That's why it was a genius move to have The Lord of the Rings open with... the literal Lord of the Rings.
Within three minutes, we witness Sauron at the peak of his power, annihilating droves of soldiers with a single swipe of his mace. Even though he is vanquished immediately after, viewers fully understood the power and danger Sauron harboured if resurrected, heightening the tension of the story dramatically.
As an added 'bonus', this is one of the best opening sequences in cinematic history. If Sauron was never revealed, viewers could've never truly grasped the power he wielded, and the threat the heroes faced throughout the saga.