Lord Of The Rings: 10 Smartest Changes Peter Jackson Made From The Books

Showing Aragorn as a reluctant hero gave his character a far more riveting arc throughout the movies.

In the books, Aragorn is pretty much set in his ways. He knows and accepts his destiny as the future King of Gondor, and from the outset he intends to reclaim his birthright. Although he has moments of self-doubt - particularly after the Fellowship is scattered at the end of book one - he's nevertheless always confident in the knowledge that he will challenge Sauron.

Peter Jackson's version of the character actually has far more nuance than the book version. He's both, brave and loyal, and more than willing to help Frodo on his quest; but when it comes to reclaiming the throne of Gondor, or leading men in battle, he seems somewhat hesitant.

This internal struggle made the character far more engaging to watch; not only did he have physical and external obstacles to overcome, but he was forced to come to terms with his own self-doubt. For one thing, It gave Boromir's death scene all the more gravitas. When he acknowledged Aragorn as his King, it forced the ranger to face who he really was.