I think on the whole I prefer a "new" character that's true to the spirit of the original novel than badly adapted film versions of a character from the book.

Have been watching The Two Towers tonight and Faramir is so much less heroic and noble than in the book and I think it affects (badly) the theme of what-a-hero--really is that has already developed between Frodo and Boromir.

Though S. Bean as Boromir is *very* watchable ;)