.... true, re: Aragorn. Didn't think of that; he really should have it together by age seventy or eighty, or they shouldn't have mentioned it (like they didn't mention so many other things, for similar reasons).

Denethor: In the books you do get the sense that he was once greater than he is now, and there's a lot more depth to his clashes with Gandalf. But, while he's not depicted as completely batshit insane (because he isn't), his decisions didn't change that much, and deeper understanding of his motivations also doesn't help me that much, personally. You're right, they took his paranoia and despair and ran with it in the wrong direction. I'm not sure it ultimately changed him that much, though, I guess...? It's like they had to put him in, and they needed some dramatic tension because waiting just isn't enough, and POOF, Denethor is suddenly an antagonist.

I will admit I dislike him a little bit. Not a lot, just somewhat. That bias is showing. :/