Temptation

There is only one real difference between Book-Faramir and Movie-Faramir; in the movie, he was tempted by the ring, and in the book he...well, wasn't.

Obviously, we all know why he wanted the Ring - because the Ring is Evil and Tempts the Heart of Men. We know. But what did he want to DO with the Ring? If you notice, he does not take it for himself, but instead intends to give it to Denethor. Furthermore, he says that if he has the ring, he can finally "prove his quality". I, personally, think that he wanted the ring to show his father that he wasn't worthless, as he said - that he was just as good as his brother was, or maybe even better. Now, Faramir is generally a very, very noble and kind person, and loves his brother - however, the Ring brings out the dark side in...just about everyone, really. So, he can hardly be blamed for what he did in the movie, since the Ring IS an object of pure evil, and if Galadriel can go slightly insane over it, I think he can, too.

By the way - I don't think Faramir was bastardized in the movies. I mean, flaws make people human, and...well, it could have been worse. I'm somewhat pissed about getting Boromir Version 2.0, and I would have liked it better had they kept it true to the book, but I like him in the movies as well, and...it could have been worse. And we DID see a glimspe of what he was originally like at the ending, when he disobeys his father and lets Sam, Frodo, and Gollum go. Just keep saying that over and over and you should be fine.