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I was thinking of Silmarillion battles where the piles of orcs corpses left by the elves reach to the sky! 10,000 would be nothing! But then, there are a lot of Uruk-hai in there (not all, but lots). 
They did film Xenarwen in action, didn't they? I saw some pictures of her in Helm's Deep, and it looked like she's having a disagreement with Aragorn. Caused by Eowyn, perhaps? 
Ah Grondy, what a sense of humour. love you.
I just felt ill when the first elf was pinioned by a spear by one of the orcs, and I felt devestated by the death of Haldir, after all he had brothers back home. And then when I read the book I was just a tad ticked. All that needless weeping. 
It was completely unnecessary indeed. I think the only reasonable explanation for this is showing more elves in battle and the tragedy killing an elf is (film the Silmarillion if you want that, man).
And, if they wanted more elves fighting, why don´t put Elrond's sons in the battle? They only fight in the final battle in front the black door, but they could be introduced here, if they wanted more elves in scene without re-inventing the story completely...
Fngeor , that would have been alright with Elrond's sons, I wonder how that would have looked? I have always wished that their characters would have been fleshed out , I believe there was so very much to them.
However in my opinion throwing in the elves completely undid a lot of what JRR was meaning to convey and the ambience, the strict feeling that was in the book. I just don't like a lot of poetic license being taken.
The problem including Elrohir and Elladan in the battle could be the need to introduce them previously, in Rivendel, for instance, which means more scenes and more time spent unnecessary.
It was very simple for PJ and co....: They wanted more elves in TTT (maybe also because it was going to be the only film with only one elf appearing: Legolas), so they sent some to the Helm's Deep.
Peter Jackson, his wife and Boyens surely discussed something like that, with some beers (or something stronger):
- Ok girls, we have to decide who will be the captain of those elves?
- Arwen?, and so we can have some romantic scenes during the final battle... You know, shot of Legolas skating, after that a shot of Aragorn killing some Uruk-hai while kissing Arwen...
- No, we are changing the story but everyone has has a limit. And she just appeared at the scene of the wargs, she took the control of Aragorn's horse body using her magic and licked his head, remember?
- What about Haldir, who was introduced in the first film?
- Ok, he's a very dispensable character, so no one would worry if he dies. Because, yes, he has to die.
- Yeah, I never liked his manners.
- And he is certainly going to make shit after that. My elf eyes see something that is going to be called "The legend of the seeker".
- Peter, you look like a Beorning more than an elf.
- Yes, Haldir deserves to die. Let's choose him.
Sorry, just joking 
I must emphatically agree with Vir. The Elves had no reason at all to be at Helm's Deep. And, if Peter would have not done the silly thing of making those of Rohan enemies with the Golden city under Denethor, so many ridiculous scenarios would not have to be part of the whole thing.
The Last Alliance was aptly named. As Elrond states: 'Never again shall there be any such league of Elves and Men; for Men multiply and the Firstborn decrease, and the two kindreds are estranged.'
Note Eomer's reaction to the Lady of the Wood. Or Faramir's words: that in Middle-earth Men and Elves became estranged, and by the slow changes of time each kind walked further down their sundered roads. Faramir even says...
'For I deem it perilous now for mortal man willfully to seek out the Elder People.'
... even though he envies Frodo and Sam as having spoken with Galadriel. And there are by far more Men than Elves in Middle-earth:
'It may be noted that by the end of the Third Age there were prob. more people (Men) that knew Q., or S., than there were Elves who did either! Though dwindling, the population in Minas Tirith and its fiefs must have been much greater than that of Lindon, Rivendell, and Lorien.' JRRT, Letters
So estrangement and few relative numbers, as Elrond noted.
'For I deem it perilous now for mortal man willfully to seek out the Elder People.' Those words Galin so strongly put me in mind of the truths the boy chosen to keep the star on his forehead, now grown ,learned when he would wander of an evening or morning and stay away from wife and family for many days at a stretch walking through different parts of the Perilous Realm and seeing and talking to some of the strange folk in it. Folk, like the Elves who were so noble and mysterious and mystical that is was almost painful and overwhelming. I really like those words, they sweep me away.
Leelee and Galin, I dont know why, but your last two posts remind me of the ability of certain birds of Erebor who could understand the language of Men of Dale and visa versa. This ability was lost somewhat after the devastation of Smaug, but seemed innate, well at least for Bard and the giant thrush. It was the Men who forgot about this relationship. I think there may be parallels between this, time and the quotes regarding Men and Elves and their gradual separation. Could be way off the mark here, but something ticked a electron in my brain to this of it. Perhaps its also a warning regarding Men forgetting Nature.....
I understand the addition of the elves at Helm's Deep, and I do like the scene, it is very well done. Although, I also understand why one would not like the addition of them. I, personally, thought that it was a good scene, even it wasn't the way it really happened. I do feel as though it could have been better if it had been done exactly like in the book, but really that's a dream we will never see realized.
Brego,that is very interesting, and those situations do seem very similar. It didn't even come to me remotely, but when you said it it makes perfect sense. I don't think you're way of the mark, in fact I think you're quite close if not right on top it.
I'm sure I saw a version where marching badgers were substituted for the Elves arriving at Helm's Deep.
Probably on youtube though 
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